One of my lake house neighbors is considering buying a pre-owned (04) Chaperral 28 foot bowrider. He asked me my opinion on the boat. I really don't know. Is Chaperral a decent boat and would you reccomend it? And what other boat is comparable? Thanks!!!

He needs to look at a Bryant. www.bryantboats.com

From what I have heard, they are supposed to be right up there in quality and comparative to Cobalts.

They are a nice boat, but I'd put them in the above average catagory, not in the Cobalt catagory.

Chapparral makes very good boats, Bryant isn't as well known but also built well.

I would consider them average quality. But very nice looking. My wife wants one as our "bay boat". Definately not a cobalt.

My folks have a 236 SS on the St Lawrence, it is built very well, handles the St. Lawrernce slop with ease, and is loaded with lots of extras. My neighbour has a 240 Searay Sundeck, and while the Chapparal isn't quite Cobalt level, it is definetly as good or better than the Searay.

I have owned 4:

1989 Villain IV - Not one single problem

1996 2335 Sport - Not one single problem

2002 230 SSI - Not one single problem

2003 243 Sunesta - Not one single problem

I now have an 05 Sea Ray 240 deck and wish I had my 03 Sunesta back. Much better performer. The Sea Ray has tabs and needs them. The Chap's did not have tabs and did not need them. Better boat IMHO.

I had a 1997 2130 sport w/454 before I got my Scarab. Wasn't a burner but it could get on plane easily with 10 people and had plenty of room. It was comfortable on boat wakes but not a "rough water" boat. Overall I was very happy with the boat never had a single quality issue.

A friend of mine is on his second 28' Chaparral bowrider, and probably his 4th Chaparral boat.

He liked his last 28 so much he replaced it with pretty much the exact same boat. Nothing wrong at all with the first one, it was just getting up there in hours - he uses his boats a lot.

They are definitely above average boats, and the 28 handles the bay slop here pretty well.