Looking to buy a Chaparral 204 SSi

[badrano]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the site and I am in the market to upgrade.

I found a listing for a 2007 Chaparral, but I'm wondering if it is really a 2004 based on the layout of the cockpit.

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Looking at other 2007 Chaparral's, all the switches are located off to the right on a panel sort of next to the gauges, where this one has the switches below the gauges and seems to be consistent with a 2004 Chaparral.

The engine has 600 hrs on it. Any thoughts on this? The one pic of the engine compartment shows a really clean compartment and a very nicely kept engine...almost looks new. I'm waiting for additional pics from the seller and I will ask about the boat year, but I wanted to get some 3rd party input to make sure I wasn't missing something.


Thanks,
Omar

 

[badrano]

I'm having issues attaching the pic and/or the URL for the listing. Bare with me.

 

[southkogs]

Photo tutorial HERE. You need to have three posts before you can put pictures up.

Welcome aboard.

 

[badrano]

Thanks for the info. Here is my third post

 

[badrano]

Here is the link to the listing.

 

[jbcurt00]

The HIN will confirm the year. Ask for it. It should be on the title and registration as well the top right exterior of the transom.

 

[tpenfield]

The last 2 digits of the HIN will be the year. Pictures usually look better than real-life, so make sure you go see the boat.

600 hours shows good usage. . . still plenty of life left in it.

 

[Fun Times]

Just so you're aware plus know that this info shouldn't depreciate the overall value all that much for this boat model as it's a really good performing engine, the engine in the photo is a 5.0L carbureted Mercruiser engine which puts out a nice running 220-HP.....Had the engine been a 5.0-MPI, then it would have the 260-HP that is mentioned in the add....

Hard to tell for sure in the photo but the stern drive looks to be and normally would be an Alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive.

Engines
Total Power: 260 HP.

 

[badrano]

Thanks for all the feed back. I'll have to take another stab at the NADA guides for a 2004 w/5.0L 220hp. I'm working to line up an appt to see the boat this weekend. If it looks as good as the pics, then I'll probably jump to the next step and take out on the water and take it to my mechanic.

I totally agree that pictures will make things look better than in real life. Comparing pics of the engine bay to some of the other boats I've looked at, this boat is clean. In general, based on the pics at least, for this price range this is the best looking Chaparral 20ft in the PA/NJ area.

 

[jkust]

Chap makes an unusually well produced boat with attention to details that others ignore. (the jury is still out on their newest entry level line being their H20 line as I've never seen so many issues as with the H20's). I've owned two SSi's and not because I'm brand loyal, they just made a better mousetrap from 2001 to 2008 when they produced that hull with the same design until the next gen came out where lake boats are concerned. That particular Helm design came out in 2001 (possibly they had it in one particular 2000 model if i recall) in what back then they called their 183ss which became a 190SSi (their second from the bottom boat) in 2004 through 2008 but yes the helm design did indeed change which was one of the only substantive changes they made prior to the next gen boats so something seems amiss or is just a throwback. I am not as familiar with the 204 details. My issue is that the engine is a carbed engine and it is currently 2018. No MPI in particular in a chap that tended to be ordered with MPI that far along since MPI became available is a deal killer. MPI is so massively superior to carbs in almost every way, I can't get onboard with owing one no matter the price. People point to the ability so self service carbs and the inexpensive cost of parts versus MPI as one of the benefits of using1800's technology.

 

[badrano]

As the hunt goes on, I've found another 204 SSi that I'm getting really fond of. It's been a freshwater boat. The broker has been really good at answering my questions and I'm starting to get the warm and fuzzy feeling to make the 4hr trip to take a closer look. Based on what I find, I may make a conditional offer pending an assessment from a mechanic or surveyor.

I'm still waiting on info related to maintenance records. The boat is a 2005 with a 2009 engine. The original engine went under at around 100 hrs due to lack of winterization. Based on the hour meter the 2009 engine has over 200 hrs.

To play a little devil's advocate, what if I can't get my hands on the maintenance records and all I have to go by is the assessment from a mechanic or a surveyor? Any advice?

 

[jkust]

As the hunt goes on, I've found another 204 SSi that I'm getting really fond of. It's been a freshwater boat. The broker has been really good at answering my questions and I'm starting to get the warm and fuzzy feeling to make the 4hr trip to take a closer look. Based on what I find, I may make a conditional offer pending an assessment from a mechanic or surveyor.

I'm still waiting on info related to maintenance records. The boat is a 2005 with a 2009 engine. The original engine went under at around 100 hrs due to lack of winterization. Based on the hour meter the 2009 engine has over 200 hrs.

To play a little devil's advocate, what if I can't get my hands on the maintenance records and all I have to go by is the assessment from a mechanic or a surveyor? Any advice?

If the engine is a 2009, I am hoping it is an MPI engine so if it is an MPI engine and not a carbed engine, then the hours can be read off of the engine itself by the dealer, who I assume is broking the boat, with a detailed report that tells you how many hours it has been run at each rpm range. No maintenance records, the mechanic will provide the next best thing. A survey, my general understanding with having only one performed in the past, is going to focus on the boat not the engine. The 204 is a smallish boat, is there reason you aren't looking at something a couple feet longer?

 

[badrano]

Unfortunately the engine is 5.0L TKS. I'll make a bet that the owner or the insurance company paid the lowest $$ to replace the original engine. I've seen mixed info on whether or not a 2005 204SSi came with a 5.0 MPI or was even an option above the carb'd 5.0.

I've talked with a surveyor and outside of making sure the engine runs smoothly, the most he'll check as far as the engine is achieving max RPM's at WOT. He also mentioned that he uses one of those laser temp guns to check the temps of the manifolds and risers to identify any cooling issues. Basically a high level check.

I'm looking at 20-21 ft due to trailerable weight and overall cost. I live in south jersey and I would like to be able to travel to different bodies of water within a handlful of drive hrs from home like the Chesapeak, Delaware shore, etc. My vehicle is rated for 6200 and with the 204 and trailer, I believe I'm easily at 4500.

 

[SkiGuy1980]

The 204 is a nice sized boat for lake running. And... the SSI is a sweet hull in the Chap line. Best of luck, Dave

 

[jkust]

Unfortunately the engine is 5.0L TKS. I'll make a bet that the owner or the insurance company paid the lowest $$ to replace the original engine. I've seen mixed info on whether or not a 2005 204SSi came with a 5.0 MPI or was even an option above the carb'd 5.0.

I've talked with a surveyor and outside of making sure the engine runs smoothly, the most he'll check as far as the engine is achieving max RPM's at WOT. He also mentioned that he uses one of those laser temp guns to check the temps of the manifolds and risers to identify any cooling issues. Basically a high level check.

I'm looking at 20-21 ft due to trailerable weight and overall cost. I live in south jersey and I would like to be able to travel to different bodies of water within a handlful of drive hrs from home like the Chesapeak, Delaware shore, etc. My vehicle is rated for 6200 and with the 204 and trailer, I believe I'm easily at 4500.

I'm sure it was a TKS that was replaced, they will replace whatever was there assuming it was an insurance claim (which I don't think of as replacing frozen blocks in general truthfully as freeze damage is an insurance exclusion).

There was sort of a demarcation line of the engine compared to the cost of the boat where as in smaller boats 2002 and later when the 'modern' smart craft capable mpi small blocks v8's and v6's came out, many opted for the cheaper carbed engine given the MPI upgrade was a lot of money compared to the overall cost. In other words, smaller hence less expensive boats got ordered with carb for a few years until more and more opted for the MPI. The larger models went directly to MPI and nobody bought the carbs any more as a broad generalization. I believe it was 2004 when the 190ssi which was a tad smaller than the 204 started offering a 5.0 MPI engine when the prior two years the 4.3 MPI was the largest offered. I've seen lots of small 2002 boats with MPI however.
Things start to get sketchy when you go even up to 22 feet trying to fit in many garages and a 7 foot garage door can be a challenge as well. My boat is 24 feet and I had to have my trailer tongue cut and a swing tongue welded on to shut the garage door.

 

[badrano]

I'm sure it was a TKS that was replaced, they will replace whatever was there assuming it was an insurance claim (which I don't think of as replacing frozen blocks in general truthfully as freeze damage is an insurance exclusion).

I just quoted the boat with Geico and they do have "ice & freeze" coverage. If the block cracked due to ice, they basically consider it a partial loss. I'll have to ask for the fine print on this coverage...probably some kind of exclusion like a freeze would only be covered if the boat was winterized by a certified mechanic.

 

[SkiGuy1980]

badrano.... yes, check the fine print. Both policies I had would cover if winterized by certified mechanic. The low down on that is the insurance company would have someone to go after to recoup their loss in event of a claim.

 

[badrano]

I just read through the current policy I have on my 15hp Johnson. No coverage in the event my boat becomes radioactive :lol:
Man, they think of everything!

 

[SkiGuy1980]

I just read through the current policy I have on my 15hp Johnson. No coverage in the event my boat becomes radioactive :lol:
Man, they think of everything!

Ya just neva-no what kinda sludge is in the lakes now days! lol

 

[jkust]

I just quoted the boat with Geico and they do have "ice & freeze" coverage. If the block cracked due to ice, they basically consider it a partial loss. I'll have to ask for the fine print on this coverage...probably some kind of exclusion like a freeze would only be covered if the boat was winterized by a certified mechanic.

I'm not surprised as my progressive policy will cover mechanical failures that would have previously been excluded. The letter they sent me last year basically said that they deny so many claims due to that reason, and it is sowing angry policy holders, they started offering the cover. I don't recall if it was a rider or what. I'm in MN and it's already been low 30's the first week of august meaning it gets cold here starting early fall (given August which is a warm month is already in the 30's) and cracked blocks due to late or forgetful winterization are not uncommon. Geico must take a bath if they offer freeze coverage here on I/O's if their coverage is liberally worded.