Russian oligarch’s boat a 2022 Melbourne Boat Show surprise

The boat? A 247 SSX bowrider from US luxury family dayboat maker Chaparral, wearing an optional Black Edition pack that includes deliberately darkened highlights such as the seat trim and tower.

But it’s the story of how it made its way to the Aussie Boat Sales stand that’s special. Before arriving here, it was destined to end up in the hands of a Russian oligarch who wanted to add it to his pool of water toys.

However, it has ended up in the hands of Aussie Boat Sales managing director, Scott O’Hare.

According to O’Hare, the Black Russian was close to being delivered to its new owner when the founder of Chaparral Boats intervened.

Chaparral is a globally focused company, exporting to 55 countries worldwide via around 160 dealers, including in Australia.

Of all its global markets, Aussie Boat Sales is the largest Chaparral dealership outside North America. It’s a status that O’Hare and his dealership have held onto for the last decade.

Nashville, Georgia-based Chaparral is still owned by the US company’s founder, William “Buck” Pegg, who turned 80 this year.

“He [Pegg] still runs the show,” O’Hare said. “He founded the business and he still goes in there every single day, the first in and the last out.”

According to O’Hare, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February this year, Pegg decided he would take a strong stand, even before the US Government took its stand and levied strict sanctions against Russian investment and exports.

“He said, ‘Sorry, we’re not sending any boats over to the Russians’,” O’Hare said. “And apparently the 247 had been purchased by an oligarch.”

It’s from this point that Aussie Boat Sales’ standing in the Chaparral family comes to the fore. Not only was the Black Russian up for grabs, but an entry-level boat, a Chaparral 23 SSi, that also was once earmarked for Russia was sitting in the factory and waiting for a new owner.

“They rang us and said, ‘Well, you’re our biggest dealer, do you want them?’” O’Hare said. “We said ‘Absolutely, we'll take them, thanks’.”

Once the issues around freight were sorted out – the global hangover from the COVID-19 pandemic is still a problem for anyone importing or exporting boats – the two formerly Russian Chaparrels arrived in Australia and into the hands of O’Hare about a month ago.

The Black Russian is a relatively new model from the luxury end of Chaparrel’s dayboat range. The “Black Edition” in its name means the Russian oligarch wanted to add visual bling, comfort and performance to the boat.

The seats, with tier black highlights, feature cool-touch Cayenne fabrics that match the black tower and lettering on the boat’s hull. Performance from the 6.2-litre Mercruiser V8 inboard engine steps up by an extra 50hp to produce 350hp. 

The Black Edition package costs around $20,000 extra, but while the boat’s new Russian owner was keen to spend money in some areas such as Chaparral’s ‘Infinity Step’ swim platform, an electric folding tower, twin Simrad multifunction touchscreens, docking lights and upgraded audio system, he made shortcuts in others.

“They do weird things, like they'll spend all that money and then they don't order the boat with a cover,” O’Hare said.

“So we had to get a cover made, and obviously, we put an Aussie-made trailer under it.”

According to O’Hare, the Black Russian is an “absolutely gorgeous” boat sitting on a 20-degree deadrise hull that makes it a saltwater-friendly platform.

The Black Russian could be yours to drink in with your eyes for just under $270,000. You'd better be quick, though, as there are a few people already eyeing it off for themselves.

Specifications
Model: Chaparral 247 SSX Black Edition
Length: 7.47m
Beam: 2.59m
Draft: 0.51m
Deadrise: 20deg
Weight: 2041kg (dry)
Engine: 350hp 6.2L Mercruiser V8
Fuel: 227L
Water: 38L
Passengers: 17