Chaparral 250 SunCoast: Review

The SunCoast 250 is almost 25 feet long (hence the 250 designation) and is the first of the new outboard-powered series which will be bolstered by a 21ft and 23ft version later this year.

It’s clear that Chaparral wanted to retain some of the features of its inboard watersports boats with this model, and that’s evidenced by the big swim platform down aft. The walkaround platform surrounds the engine and makes it easy to move from side to side and helps getting on and off the boat. Or you can use it as a staging point for skiing or swimming with the help of the standard boarding ladder.

This is certainly a stylish boat with its handsome profile and high freeboard. Chaparral has not cut any corners and the boat has all the quality fit and finish that we’ve come to know of the brand.

While not solely a watersports boat, the SunCoast is a great all-rounder and can be fitted with optional extras to suit your boating style. For this test, we took it into the heart of Melbourne for a bit of cruising, city style.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- This one was loaded!
The SunCoast 250 as a boat/motor/trailer package starts at $125,000 but, as with most manufacturers, Chaparral offers a host of optional extras with which to personalise your boat.

Our test boat was loaded with goodies which brought the price up to $152,250 as a drive-away package. Some of the upgrades included the Garmin Echo Map sounder/plotter, black hull colour, Chaparral’s Deluxe package, electric toilet, graphite interior colour, pressure water system, carpet upgrade to Chaparral’s Beach Weave, Sea Star steering, covers and Arch Tower fitted with board racks.

The trailer was also upgraded to a Magic Tilt item with electric brakes, mag wheel upgrade with spare and keel rollers.

 With all the options, the boat was a true all-rounder that could be used for sports, cruising, picnicking, or just gadding about the waterways.

The bow is wide and takes the beam forward giving what Chaparral says is the biggest volume in its class. Four people can easily sit up here and, with the table installed, it becomes a great place have lunch or socialise at anchor.

There is a standard bow ladder that fits neatly into the anchor locker and really big storage compartments under the seats. Unfortunately, with the bow ladder, there’s no place for a bow roller so you’ll have to be careful when on the pick.

Alongside the lounges, twin stainless-steel drink holders and speakers are fitted neatly into the coamings and stainless grab rails and pop-up cleats adorn the deck. It’s one of the neatest and friendliest bow setups we’ve seen.

Moving back to the helm through the standard door and folding windscreen, we find a big comfortable perch in front of the neat fascia. The seat is adjustable and features a flip-up bolster if you prefer to stand at the helm.

Seated here, though, it is very car-like. The dash is symmetrical, well laid out and trimmed beautifully in faux leather. The Garmin unit sits in the middle of the twin Honda digital/analogue gauges with rocker switches below for lights, bilge pump, water pressure and the like.

Lower on starboard is a sign of the times with a 12-volt socket and a USB plug for your tunes. Sound is by Clarion and the head unit is over on the port side with a remote on the dash in front of the driver.

The throttle falls nice to hand and the whole thing comes together as a wonderfully ergonomic package.

Across the way, the co-pilot gets a comfortable seat that can be reversed to form a rear-facing chaise lounge.

In front of the passenger is the console that opens to reveal the electric loo mentioned above. It’s roomy enough to get into and close the door for privacy, and there is a hull window that opens for ventilation. We probably would have opted for the vanity unit that can be ordered as another option which gives you a sink and a cupboard rather than just the storage under the window, but hey, now we’re probably getting a bit fussy.

Back on deck, the cockpit is big with wrap-around lounges and another standard table for a second dining area. There is a cooler built into the starboard side, and if that’s not enough, there is another insulated compartment under the co-pilot’s seat.

The deck is self-draining and there is a bilge pump down aft with access through an inspection hatch.

It’s interesting to note that there are eight pop-up cleats on the boat giving owners mooring options and ensuring that you’re not tripping over mooring lines when at the marina.

Another notable inclusion is that there are showers both at the bow and the stern so there’s no excuse for people traipsing sandy feet through the boat.
It all goes to show that there has been a lot of thought and experience put into this boat.

PERFORMANCE
- Smooth and quiet with good economy
The big Honda BF250 is a lovely engine. It’s a 3.6-lite V6 that runs smoothly and quietly. It’s happy chugging around all day at idle or running hard up to the maximum revs of 6100 – and we did a combination of both on our urban-cruising test.

In chugging-around mode you can go all day using around eight litres per hour but even up on the plane at a slow cruise of 12 knots at 3000rpm, you’re still only using 16.3 litres per hour.

Crank it up to 4000rpm at 24 knots and we are burning 28.4 litres per hour and 5000rpm sees 31 knots on the dial for a burn of 53 litres per hour.

Wide open throttle on the day saw us hit 36.5 knots for a burn of 89 litres per hour. However, our man from Chaparral said that they were still experimenting with props and, when the boat was fitted with the right prop, maximum speed would be just a smidge under 40 knots, or maybe even better.

ON THE WATER
- Big chunky boat but light on the helm
Yep, she’s a big boat alright and the weight could be felt as we belted around the bay. But it’s not a bad feeling, more it feels solid and the heavy construction of the hull lends the boat to a smooth ride and comfortable cruising.

The hull is buoyant and even though the big Honda 250 weighs in at a bit over 280kg, the Chaparral doesn’t sit stern down, as our shots show.

From rest, the Chaparral rises smoothly on to the plane with hardly a perception of a ‘hump’. Vision remains good throughout the transition and the windscreen doesn’t impinge on the driver’s view at all.

Although a lot of our day out on the SunCoast 250 was idling around at five or 10 knots, due to the speed restrictions in the Yarra, we did get do a bit of spirited open-water hooning and the big Chaparral rose to that occasion as well.

Disregarding the fact that the boat was not propped correctly and we got a bit of cavitation in turns, the Chaparral gripped the water well through turns and never felt like it was going to get out of shape. Ride remained comfortable and the engine performed more than adequately propelling the 1860kg (dry) boat through the small Port Phillip chop with ease.

The SunCoast is rated to 300hp but we found that the Honda BR250 was quite adequate for doing anything short of hauling two skiers. Whether we were chugging through no-wash zones or blasting across the bay, the Honda was quiet and the boat didn’t slam, making for a very comfortable and relaxing urban cruise.

VERDICT
- A civilised city conveyance
There’s no doubt that the Chaparral 250 SunCoast is not just a ‘me-too’ outboard package chucked together by Chaparral as outboard boats become more popular. It is a well thought-out boat that takes full advantage of the company’s 50 years in the industry. It’s well put together, beautifully finished and can more than hold its own in any company.

Whether it’s cruising the canals of Queensland, strutting its stuff on Sydney Harbour, slipping along the Swan or blasting across the Bay, the SunCoast 250 will do it easily… and do it in style.

LIKES
>> Fit and finish
>> Balanced and buoyant hull
>> Good freeboard
>> Ergonomics and storage

NOT SO MUCH
>> Not the cheapest boat on the market
>> No bow roller
>> Wrong prop on test boat

Specifications:
Price as tested: $152,250 (options incl: Garmin Echo Map sounder/plotter, black hull colour, Chaparral’s Deluxe package, electric toilet, graphie interior colour, pressure water system, carpet upgrade, Sea Star steering, covers and Arch Tower fitted with board racks).
Priced from: $125,000
LOA w/ Swim Platform: 7.57m (24ft 10in)
Beam: 2.59m (8ft 6in)
Bridge Clearance:  1.47m
Bridge Clearance with Arch Tower: 2.34m
Bridge Clearance with Arch Tower Folded Down: 1.85m
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Fuel Capacity: 284 litres
Water Capacity:  51 litres
Draft Down: 81cm
Draft Up: 38cm
Max HP: 300hp
Dry Weight: 1860kg
Tow weight: 2600kg (approx.)
Weight on trailer:
Passenger Capacity: 14/878 kg

Supplied by:
Chaparral Australia
Anchorage Marina
The Strand
Williamstown, Vic
www.chaparralaustralia.com.au