Chaparral 210 SunCoast Sport and Ski/Fish: Review

Chaparral has been building boats in America for more than 50 years, with an extensive range of 37 models today. But for the first time in 37 years, the company has returned to outboard-powered boats. That’s the SunCoast range and we had two 21-footers in different guises to drive on a blustery test day.

OVERVIEW
- Smooth riding, beamy with a stylish appeal
Unperturbed by the ‘cat paws’ dancing across the surface near Cape Woolamai in Western Port, Victoria, we took to the water in the new Chaparral 210 SunCoast Sport and the Ski/Fish.

Using the same hull, but with different nomenclature and internal fit-outs, the Chaparral 210 Suncoasts span a three-boat range that reflects the enduring appeal of the bowrider layout.

Visually pleasing, uncluttered and spacious, the 210, 230 and 250 are on trend for 2017 for the very fact they run outboard engines instead of inboards with sterndrives.

The entry-level SunCoast 210 featured here has a high windscreens that kept us dry, while the adjustable steering wheel and seat height adjustments improve vision for the vertically challenged.

The large rear view mirrors are intended to let you keep an eye on what’s happening astern, especially when towing Little Johnny, which you will want to do on both these boats.

With 189 litres of fuel and 38 litres of water, plus a 10-person carrying capacity and loads of storage, this brace of bowriders is pretty much turnkey.

Just add your crew, some water-sports gear, a fishing rod or two, and you’re set for a day of sun coasting.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Premium 21-footers with the works
The 210 SunCoast Sport was bundled with a 200hp Honda outboard, Sea Star hydraulic steering and a pressure water system. Other features included removable aft centre seat and backrest, snap-in cockpit carpet, and walk-through bow with close-off door. There was a dual battery with crossover switch.

The arch or tower was powder-coated black with a matching black mooring cover and tower bimini. It had fixed board racks, tower speakers and Wet Sounds stereo upgrade. The dash featured a Garmin 7404 GPS/sounder touch screen. Cockpit upholstery was graphite.

The loaded Chaparral 210 SunCoast Sport was delivered to Rhyll boat ramp on an EasyTow custom trailer made from galvanised steel with allow wheels, spare wheel and electric brakes. This smart outfit as tested cost $124,999, but is priced from $95,999.

The sister ‘ship’, the 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish had many similar features. However, the outboard was a smaller 150hp Honda, a four-cylinder instead of the V6 200hp. In engine terms, this meant there were 2354cc versus 3417cc, but 220kg of engine weight compared to 272kg.

The steering, dual-battery system, close-off bowrider/cockpit door and cockpit upholstery were the same.

The Ski/Fish had a black canvas bimini, cockpit and bow cover, and the deluxe package featuring eight pull up cleats, stainless steel speaker grill covers, bow scuff plate, transom stereo remote, air pump, silver swim platform and bow filler cushion.

There was a comfort compartment with Porta Potti and opening port light, stainless steel drink come rod holders, saltwater electric trolling motor and removable ski pylon. An EasyTow trailer also carried this boat to the boat ramp.

The 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish was priced at $111,999 — that's $13k less than the Sport — and the starting price was $97,999.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
- A sports bowrider and a watersports ute
Features of the 210 SunCoast Sport include an enclosed privacy compartment, albeit not for the claustrophobic, adjustable steering wheel, hydraulic steering, dual batteries with crossover switch, pressure water system and black folding arch tower. Fixed board racks were fitted along with tower speakers.

The Sport had a removable aft centre seat and backrest and walk-through bow with close-off door for full access to either end of the boat. Stainless steel bow and stern ladders assist your access the water or shore, with both ladders folding and sliding away in compartments.

The instrument panel layout is worth a mention. All switches are back-lit and there is no visual impairment for the driver to view the RPM, speedo and touch screen Garmin 7404GPS/Sounder.

The 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish or SF had similar instrumentation, but the layout was a better all-round offering. Besides the bowrider seating, there were two trick aft-facing seats outboard on the enlarged swim platform.

Chaparral has done a top job of maximising the boarding platform area on this outboard boat and, with plenty of room out the back, the SF model is a decent multipurpose bowrider.

"This is a crossover, aimed at people who haven’t made their minds up about what they most want to do in their boats so there is no emphasis on skiing or fishing," explained Scott O’Hare, Chaparral Australia and New Zealand importer.

"It’s more about people who haven’t had a boat before and are unsure of what they want to do, be it fish, ski or cruise. We sell purpose-designed sportfishers in our Robalo range," O’Hare added.

To cater for the active boater, the 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish had stainless steel drink/rod holders, electric trolling motor and a removable ski pylon that adapted to be a seat if required.

Along the transom, facing aft, were those two seats designed for people seeking a leisurely time, perhaps even soaking a bait in comfort. It would be a bit like fishing from your lounge chair out here.

There was no bowsprit and access to the anchor meant first folding the bow ladder out of the way. This was a bit fiddly. But the boat was fitted with an electric motor to position yourself within casting range of fish and snags anyway.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Quality construction
Chaparral pays close attention to the details and all fitments are high-end products, whether it be the pop-up cleats, snap in cockpit carpets, or the grade of vinyl upholstery. Apparently, even Texta pen wipes off the seat covers.

The hull has no plywood, but is a fibreglass-Kevlar-fibreglass sandwich construction so it’s super strong. Our test showed the 18-degree variable-deadrise hull teams stability with surprisingly good performance.

ON THE WATER
- A sports performer and a great all-rounder
The 210 SunCoast Sport powered by 200hp Honda outboard had excellent acceleration with a skier behind. For pleasure cruising, the boat rode so well that you felt in complete control no matter how hard you ran it.

Running downwind and downsea, the boat transitioned out of the hole with some bow rise at 3000rpm but planed level at 3200rpm.

True to name, the 210 SunCoast Sport hit 39.1 knots at 5700rpm wide-open throttle, returned a fast cruise of 30.7 knots at 4500rpm for about 35lt/hr, with eco cruising around 3500rpm and 21 knots for 21lt/hr. That's a litre per nautical mile, which is good going.

Clearly, this is a party boat aimed at people who want to have fun with their family and/or friends and it is difficult to be critical of the 210 SunCoast in this context.

The 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish is more of a compromise, as most crossover boats are, and is designed to cater for all kinds of on-water agendas.

Obviously, with the Honda 150hp outboard, it wasn’t as fast as the Sport version. But it still had power enough to push the bowrider along to almost 35 knots, at least according to the speedo during my drive.

Maybe some re-propping was in order, as the 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish was a little doughy getting out of the hole. The BF150 took until 4500rpm to run at a decent cruise of 24-25 knots for 26lt/hr. WOT of 6000rpm returned 34.8 knots.

With 189 litres of juice in the tank, this BF200 and BF150 should give you a decent day of boating. But you will want to make sure these boats are propped right for low-down torque if you are skiing and, in this regard, the BF200 is definitely the preferred power plant.

For fishing, I have no doubt this 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish variant would work for flicking lures around the snags. But for serious fishing, the live well on the Fish/Ski has limited
space, and there is a need for a bowsprit and a larger anchor well.

On the open water, both 210 hull set-ups proved seaworthy, had a tough feel, and felt like stable platforms, even to the point they would be capable offshore on a good day.

VERDICT
- Fun is the number one focus
The Chaparral 210 SunCoast Sport is a fun family boat suited to leisure pastimes like water skiing or cruising to an isolated beach for a swim and picnic.

To boost the party atmosphere, there was a Wet Sound stereo system with amp and subwoofer, too. But even just sitting idle, this is a smart looking sports bowrider with a strong saltwater fit-out.

Thanks to the outboard, you get a practical boat for nosing into the beach and exploring shallow water, too.

While the boats haven’t a deep-vee hull, the moderate 18-degree variable-deadrise design offers a smooth ride. This we can attest as the white horses danced across the surface near Cape Woolamai in Western Port.

If fishing is part of your agenda, then the 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish is the pick. And with inshore, estuary, harbour, bay, lake and dam fishing being highly productive these days, the outboard-powered fishing bowrider makes perfect sense.

But we’d definitely opt for the Honda BF200 for that sporty performance.

LIKES
>> Spacious and comfortable
>> Excellent handling, ride and stability
>> Console toilet compartment

NOT SO MUCH
>> Live well could be enlarged
>> No cockpit side pockets
>> Recommend adding removable bait board to SF model
>> Test boat seemed a bit doughy with the BF150

Specifications: Chaparral 210 SunCoast Sport and 210 SunCoast SportSki/Fish
Price: The loaded Chaparral 210 SunCoast Sport was priced at $124,999 with 200hp Honda on trailer (from $95,999), while the 210 SunCoast Ski/Fish with 150hp Honda on trailer was priced at $111,999 as tested (starting price $97,999).
Length Overall: 6.35m (20ft 10in.)
Beam: 2.59m (8ft 6in.)
Dry Weight: 1497kg
Fuel: 189lt
Water: 38lt
Deadrise (variable): 18 degrees
Draft Down: 76cm
Draft UP: 36cm  
Engine (max): 200hp

Supplied by:
Aussie Boat Sales
34 The Strand
Williamstown, Vic, 3016
(03) 9397 6977
See www.chaparralboats.com.