Chaparral 215 Ss

The hull is part of the performance design that allows the boat to get on plane quickly. Skiers will find the 215 SS a joy as the boat leaves behind little wake; however, a ski pylon is not available.

Comfort and Room

Passengers will enjoy plenty of room on board. A variety of seats options are available. The captain’s seat is adjustable for standing or sitting. A bench seat that runs the full width at the stern is optional.

A sink located behind the captain’s chair is also part of the package, as is a 25-quart cooler, which stores under the sink. A nice touch is a removable container for the water supply. You can take it out and fill it onshore.

Our test boat came with the optional snap-in carpet, but if it is something you can do without, you will be happy to know that the deck is finished with an anti-skid surface.

At the stern, just in front of the extended ski platform, is a large storage bin much like the trunk on a car. It is large enough to stow all of your skiing gear. Overall, storage is plentiful on board.

Strong Performance

The 215 SS can be equipped with a wide choice of stern drives from MerCruiser and Volvo, ranging in power from 190 to 300 hp, including Volvo’s twin-prop stern drive. Our test boat was equipped with a powerful Volvo GL 260 hp 5.7L V-8.

Low-end pull with this engine package was impressive, with the boat reaching plane in about 5.6 seconds. Chaparral has no plans to make an outboard version.

For those who like a lot of wind in their hair, we saw a top speed of nearly 50 mph at full throttle. Our boat was equipped with a 19 inch prop, which Chaparral said was just right for this boat.

Acceleration was smooth and linear. Cruising at a comfortable and quiet 3,000 rpm gave us a fairly brisk 30.4 mph over the water at a reasonable 4.3 mpg.

Access to the engine was excellent. The sturdy cover was easy to raise and lower and provided ample space to reach all sides of the engine. The battery is located in its own compartment on the starboard side at the stern while the hydraulics for the power tilt and trim were in an opposite compartment.

The 215 SS has a lot going for it. The boat is nicely styled, roomy and comfortable for up to 11 passengers. The cuddy cabin can comfortably sleep two for those overnight adventures, so it’s worth a hard look for buyers seeking a multi-purpose family boat. The quality of construction and attention to details are clearly part of the package Chaparral put together and should provide years of fun for any purchaser.

The Chaparral 215 SS has borrowed some styling cues from the plush Signature Cruisers incorporating a standard activities platform, transom trunk, walk-through entry, and scotchguarded fabrics. Grab a nap, beat the heat or store oversized items in a cuddy cabin that amazes with its roominess. Storage is available on the sidewalls and under the cushions. A hideaway porta-pottie is standard with a pump-out option available. An impressive 44 inches of sit-up cabin headroom is a plus and an optional dinette table is available. Aft, the Sunbrella canvas top stows out of the way and the rotocast seat bases have built-in storage.

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