Rossterman
09-07-2012, 07:23 PM
Was hearing my friend talk about how well built his chaparral boat is and so i google to see how they are made. On the chapparal boat forum someone asks just this question and here is the response. Almost made me laugh! Typical salesmans propaganda. Some of the replies are fun reading if you are bored. Here's there salesman's response:
Not a lot of wood Dave. There is plywood used in the rear cockpit storage areas covered with carpet on the port and stbd. sides; by the battery switch, etc. Plain to see, but I wish to emphasis that the plywood used is not of The Home Despots variety, but rather real Marine XL Plywood. In short, you are not going to have any issues over the lifetime of the boat where that plywood is located. The odd piece of XL plywood under the cockpit floor for weight transfer and support; again I've never seen any issues. Of great importance is the fact that no wood is used in the seat construction; wood seriously hinders long term seat viability. (a la Four Losers)
The stringers on the Sunesta WideTech's are wood encapsulated in thick fibreglass and gelcoat. Composite stringers are nice for the prevention of rot, but you pay a penalty in ride dynamics vs. wood; more hull boom and the hull passes more of the impact onto the passenger/drivers body. (read: kidneys) The transom is composite.
We have been a Chaparral dealer since 1988, and have yet to seen any rotted wooded stringers on a Chaparral. Lots of rotten stringers on older boats of other makes, but Chap doesn't seem to F around with the stringer systems.
You've asked some keen questions on the Sunesta series; shows your doing you're homework. So has Chaparral. Endgame? Show me a boat that can compete with a new Sunesta WideTech. The short answer is another Chap; i.e. an SSx in my not so humble opinion.
If you have any other questions on boats Dave, don't be afraid to lay it on us.
Chris
Not a lot of wood Dave. There is plywood used in the rear cockpit storage areas covered with carpet on the port and stbd. sides; by the battery switch, etc. Plain to see, but I wish to emphasis that the plywood used is not of The Home Despots variety, but rather real Marine XL Plywood. In short, you are not going to have any issues over the lifetime of the boat where that plywood is located. The odd piece of XL plywood under the cockpit floor for weight transfer and support; again I've never seen any issues. Of great importance is the fact that no wood is used in the seat construction; wood seriously hinders long term seat viability. (a la Four Losers)
The stringers on the Sunesta WideTech's are wood encapsulated in thick fibreglass and gelcoat. Composite stringers are nice for the prevention of rot, but you pay a penalty in ride dynamics vs. wood; more hull boom and the hull passes more of the impact onto the passenger/drivers body. (read: kidneys) The transom is composite.
We have been a Chaparral dealer since 1988, and have yet to seen any rotted wooded stringers on a Chaparral. Lots of rotten stringers on older boats of other makes, but Chap doesn't seem to F around with the stringer systems.
You've asked some keen questions on the Sunesta series; shows your doing you're homework. So has Chaparral. Endgame? Show me a boat that can compete with a new Sunesta WideTech. The short answer is another Chap; i.e. an SSx in my not so humble opinion.
If you have any other questions on boats Dave, don't be afraid to lay it on us.
Chris