Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

[STS98]

Hi All,
My wife and I have had SeaDoo's over the last 13-14 years and decided that we wanted to get into boating now. One requirement is that we want to be able to spend the night on the water and have pretty much decided that a Cuddy would fit our needs. We want to stay under $20,000, and after looking through Boat Trader and Craig's List, I didn't relize that there were so many Boat Company?s and models offered. Needless to say as someone looking for there 1st Boat... Which one???? So... Help, Opinions please... We are seriously looking at a 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Limited Cuddy. Approx 260 hrs. 5.7L Mercruiser - Duo Prop. Boat is very clean, no mildew smell, the hull, covers and enclosure are in great shape. Not a tear in any of the upholstery and isn't weather beaten. Has always been stored in a pole barn. Shoreland'r Tandem Axle Trailer with surge brakes, virtually no rust on it. All looks great to my naked eye, but looking for any weakness from all you experienced Boaters. Priced @ $15,300. It looks like it been a fresh water boat. Any insight would surely be appreciated.

 

[commander315]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

My buddy has the same boat but a 99. They are nice little boats. 15,300 sounds a tad high for that boat.. Can we see some pics??

 

[Lrider]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Welcome

I might suggest you start with this thread, there is a lot of good information here

 

[STS98]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Here are some pictures.

 

[commander315]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Here are some pictures.

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Thanks for the pics.. and WOW...it looks in pristine condition..even for just 12 years old.. maybe the price isn't bad after all

 

[STS98]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Well we may be buying our first boat We are going on what they called the sea trial Saturday. (Which sounds weird to me, since it on a river) The survey was arraigned for Tuesday. Sounds like they go top to bottom, electronics, motor, hull and even going have both the motor oil and outdrive oil tested. Getting excited... Good chance of getting back on the water

 

[rbh]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

How many day's/night's could you foresee going out for???
Think of this boat as you would an RV, does it have all the amenities you will need and is it going to be big enough for longer durations?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Good to do the sea trial, you'll like the boat if it's really in the condition it appears to be. Chaps are always a bit more money but it's a well built boat, that's partly why it still looks so good! Good luck, price sounds right to me.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

The 2335 is a big 23'er, it's actually 23'8" long.
A 7.4 would be a better engine choice.
The Bravo 3 drive is a good thing, as long as it's not corroded. To check them properly, you would need to remove the props, but that requires some specialized, really big wrenches.
The cuddy is pretty decent sized, again due to the larger size of the boat. I spent many nights aboard my 2135, and it was only 20'6". The bed portion of the 2335's cuddy is about same size as my 2135, but the 2335 has the sink and the porta-potti at the very entrance to the berth. That is NICE, trust me. I used to have to put my potti out in the cockpit and leave the cuddy at night if I had to pee.
If it has the large sunpad(with the bench seat all the way across), check the hinges and the lifting shocks very closely. If the shocks wear out, the sunpad is VERY hard to keep open by hand, cause it is HEAVY! If the hinges start to flez or are binding up, they'll actually tear in two! Mine were $27.50 each to replace them, and that was 6 yerars ago, not sure you can still get them from Chaparral?
What exact 5.7 engine does it have? If it's the 5.7LX that is fuel injected, it'll be "fine" on power. If it's the 2bbl carb, it'll be a little "low" on power, especially if you plan to have 4-5 people on board all the time.
What canvas does it have? Chaps came with biminis and front widscreen standard then, but not the side curtains or the aft curtain. If overnighting, you'll DEFINATELY want the full enclosure.
Price is high, of course. But if the boat truly is clean and doesn't need exhaust manifolds and risers, and outdrive work, or bellows, it might be worth close to that number. Brand new 23' cuddies are about 50,000!

 

[scutly]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

well i thought about my first boat the same as you. i year later i really enjoy her, but i wish i would went 2 feet longer and gotten a "pocket cruiser" rather than a cuddy. same trailerable 8.6 beam and single I/O, but all these advantages. stand up cabin and a stand up private pump out head with shower. hot water. sink, fridge stove micro coffee pot. shore power. aft cabin and if ya find the right one maybe ac/heat and a windlass. difference between a nice tent or a camper if you relate it to camping.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

well i thought about my first boat the same as you. i year later i really enjoy her, but i wish i would went 2 feet longer and gotten a "pocket cruiser" rather than a cuddy. same trailerable 8.6 beam and single I/O, but all these advantages. stand up cabin and a stand up private pump out head with shower. hot water. sink, fridge stove micro coffee pot. shore power. aft cabin and if ya find the right one maybe ac/heat and a windlass. difference between a nice tent or a camper if you relate it to camping.

Have to agree- I went the pocket cruiser route instead of a cuddy, but just a tad shorter than I could/should have. I was moving up from a 21' walk-around cuddy and was simply a little too cautious. I have the standup room and amenities in 24', but it's all still a tad 'tight' for two. Wish I'd gone just a couple feet longer. My biggest issue is the forward v-berth. long enough for my wife, too short for me. I need to sleep in the mid-berth. It's roomy enough but not so easy to get in and out of.

Or. maybe one just never gets over 2-foot-itis

 

[Burtonair01]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Looks like a real nice clean boat, if it all checks out good I'd say buy it fast before someone else does!

 

[Burtonair01]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Have to agree- I went the pocket cruiser route instead of a cuddy, but just a tad shorter than I could/should have. I was moving up from a 21' walk-around cuddy and was simply a little too cautious. I have the standup room and amenities in 24', but it's all still a tad 'tight' for two. Wish I'd gone just a couple feet longer. My biggest issue is the forward v-berth. long enough for my wife, too short for me. I need to sleep in the mid-berth. It's roomy enough but not so easy to get in and out of.

Or. maybe one just never gets over 2-foot-itis

I think we all get 2-foot-itis I just bought my 25' pocket cruiser and it's great for just the wife and I but when we get another couple on board it gets a little cramped. I wish we would have gone a tad bigger now!

 

[scutly]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Or. maybe one just never gets over 2-foot-itis

im goin through a bad case of 6-foot-itis right now!

 

[commander315]

Re: Opinions - 1st Boat - 1998 Chaparral 2335 SS Cuddy

Well we may be buying our first boat We are going on what they called the sea trial Saturday. (Which sounds weird to me, since it on a river) The survey was arraigned for Tuesday. Sounds like they go top to bottom, electronics, motor, hull and even going have both the motor oil and outdrive oil tested. Getting excited... Good chance of getting back on the water

lol, a "Sea Trial" is a general term. and their pretty thorough. My surveyor checked everything from thru-hulls and the props to the light bulbs in my cabin lights