This might be my future boat tomorrow... opinions?

ric · **Posted:** Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:51 pm

2003 Chaparral 215 ssi. Not a Four Winns I know, but it's cabin dwarfs a 205 Sundowner and I love me some cabin space. I live on a 500 acre freshwater lake in Florida, most of my boating is well.... anchor down hanging with girls. Not too concerned with only having 220hp, but all the other ones in FL have the same engine.

The boat has full camper canvas, bimini, snap in cover, nice trailer. Cosmetically it's maybe a 8/10 as it could use some vinyl work and the inside cushions recovered to a solid modern color. No sunpad for the girls, but I'll have my fiberglass man remove the top handrails and some snap in cushions made up. Plenty of room to install marine air and two 225 amp 6v batteries with a 1000w inverter for 2-6 hours of A/C or Heat when the engine is off depending on the thermostat. That is a must have and will be installed right away. It's too dam hot here.

http://www.carsforsale.com/used_cars_fo ... 7188626_39

Of course the dealership agreed and actually encouraged the a survey, which will be done before I purchase it but I plan on dropping a deposit tomorrow. Right now the price is looking like cash talks and hoping for 13k, depending on the outcome of the survey. My budget is 18k and as long as I can get it for 14k or under I will come at budget for boat/ac/stereo upgrade/cosmetics fixed.

I would like to have another four winns, but the only thing that compares available space wise is a 2003-2005 Sundowner 225 which is 2ft more LOA, and the only one within driving distance is a salty with no trailer.

JohnnyMarlin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 16, 2013 11:10 pm

Why do they make trailers that short?...What can 3' more of aluminum I beam cost?

Kvou812 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:13 am

Nice looking boat. I wouldn't be concerned about the motor being a 5.0 unless you just want to go fast. My boat is about the same size and I have a 5.0 VP....now I did switch to a 4 bladed SS prop at a lower pitch, but I have no trouble getting on plane even if I'm pulling tubes and boards fully loaded (my boat is rated for 11 people). I can still get into the 40s mph wise as well.

rpengr · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:21 pm

My Previous boat was a Chaparral (1987), and I always thought of them as a better than average builder. On a scale of 1-10, I would give Four Winns a 7 or 8, and Chaparral a 6 or 7.

ric · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:40 pm

Took it for a sea trial today for a good hour. For sitting a while it runs good. Mid 40s top speed. Cruises beautiful at 2500 rpm. Oil pressure 40 idle, 60 at cruise. for being 1 foot longer its like a yacht compared to my stingray. Its nice to lay down fore to aft not sideways and to sit without hitting my head. And I'm 6'2. Very clean engine bay. Dual batt. Fire boy system. Camper canvas and Bimini are brand new looking. 233 hours. Needs a good buff and 3 vinyl seat panels replaced. I put a deposit down and have a survey tomorrow. If all goes good mechanically its mine for 14500.

My broker is going to hook me up and "buy it" under his dealers lic and sell it to me. No sales tax! My budget is 18 so that leaves me 3500 for mods (ac, tv, speakers).

JeffLW · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 1:25 pm

Are you sure your going to be happy with this one Ric?
Don't want to hear you whining in a few months about this one like the last turd. :lol:

Winter Sux · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 5:36 pm

I'll bring the cheese! :roll:

ric · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 5:47 pm

What I hated about my stingray was the small cabin, the motor hump that took away seating, and the awful ride. Sea trial today we hit some big wake and it was comfortable. The cabin is the biggest in it's class (even bigger than a 2013 s265 four winns that yes I have personally been in). With the fold down seat down, it comfortably sits 8 including me, maybe 9 if most are girls (usually the case). Has a nice wet bar with cooler. Has like new bimini with taylormade camper canvas. If people want to lay out in the sun there's plenty of space on the bow with no modifications needed, except cushions made. Not overly thrilled about mercruiser as I'm a VP guy, but it's a really cheap setup to fix if something breaks compared to VP. With 220hp it got on plane instantly and cruised at a good rpm. Plenty of room to install marine air and two 225a 6v batteries. Plus it has cool things like a self bailing cockpit.

So am I happy? No I won't be happy until I own a 40ft Vista, but as far as cuddys go... it's overall the best layout and largest layout I've been in for something that works on 500 acre lake. There's no going up unless I move to a bigger body of water which isn't going to happen.

298VISTA2000 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 6:44 pm

ric wrote:

So am I happy? No I won't be happy until I own a 40ft Vista, but as far as cuddys go... it's overall the best layout and largest layout I've been in for something that works on 500 acre lake. There's no going up unless I move to a bigger body of water which isn't going to happen.

Ric, I haven't kept up with your threads lately so I might be over-looking something but haven't you been dating someone for a while now and do you foresee wedding bells in the near future? If so, kids are right around the corner so go ahead and purchase a cruiser now and join that nice marina/yacht club you posted about a while back. However, if you are still playing the field and banging every college chick that comes within 5 feet of you, go with the 215 SSI stabin cabin with AC.

ric · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 7:05 pm

298VISTA2000 wrote:

ric wrote:

So am I happy? No I won't be happy until I own a 40ft Vista, but as far as cuddys go... it's overall the best layout and largest layout I've been in for something that works on 500 acre lake. There's no going up unless I move to a bigger body of water which isn't going to happen.

Ric, haven't you been dating someone for a while now and... you are still playing the field and banging every college chick that comes within 5 feet of you...

Yes.

joet · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 7:20 pm

ric wrote:

I'm a huge cuddy cabin fan, but I'll be the first to say I honestly hate it and I'll explain why:

1. No window from cabin to cockpit
2. No apparent side cabin windows. Hello. It's a boat you might want to look outside.

Where's the windows?

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

+1 on joet's comment.

Look, I know you say this thing has a larger cabin than my old Sundowner, but looking at the shallow hull on that boat I dont see how you could sit up in it and be 6'2". Maybe it is just the pictures, but I would bet it does not have as deep of a hull as the Sundowner.

That being said........go for it, Ric! We will wait to see what boat number 4 in 4 years brings you.

ric · **Posted:** Sun Mar 17, 2013 8:49 pm

Lol windows I know. I already measured out a place to install some. Odd.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Maybe you can talk them down since it shows to be a 4cylinder 5.0.....how many were in it during trial? The profile looks alot like the stingray to me and that the waterpig ride came with 3 to 4 riders.

Winter Sux · **Posted:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 2:16 pm

I can hardly wait for the "Rics mods" post when he converts that 305 2 barrel to run on that ethanol swill.

www.iFourWinns.com

This might be my future boat tomorrow... opinions?

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