Help Please!

[carberry]

Is a Chaparral 270 2005 Signature model good for the ocean? I've heard horror stories that the hull is too low and other complaints that might influence my purchase. I'd appreciate it if someone could please give me some insight as to how such a boat would handle?

 

[powerskipper]

the lack of replies may mean that those on line at mo do not have any info that can help. wait till tomorrow .....when the ....day shift ..so to speak comes on line.

 

[Riggy]

[ QUOTE ]
Is a Chaparral 270 2005 Signature model good for the ocean? I've heard horror stories that the hull is too low and other complaints that might influence my purchase. I'd appreciate it if someone could please give me some insight as to how such a boat would handle?

[/ QUOTE ]

I have extolled the virtues of Chaparral boats before on this forum...myself having a 260 Signature 2001.....I can't pit them against other boats of it's size and class...only say how good I/we have have found our Chaparral. Cracking boat, good sea-keeping qualities and wil mix it in the rough stuff with any other boat of it's class and has all the features of similar Sealine, Regal etc.
Also, Chaparral have won about 20 design and efficiency awards in 20 odd years for their boats.

 

[Solitaire]

What do you mean by the "Ocean"? It's an American boat, mass produced. Ok in certain sea states but I'd not want to be out in anything more than F5 for anylength of time. I have a friend who has a Mariah 28 ft or so. The gelcoat on his is flacking off all the way around the water line - bad manfactuer! I had a Bayliner 2655 some years ago. The galley shook apart while going round Gilker Point in the Solent. The whole boat was held together with thin bolts and wing nuts. the lay up was also very thin.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against American built boats per se, but they are built to a price. At the better end you'd be better off looking at Searay or Montery for starters.

 

[garymo]

I bought a Signature 290 with twin yanmar diesels 240hp (2004) last April. Have put 50 hours on it so far down in the solent. I am new to boating but my friend (with a lot of experience) who has come out many times with me told me how well it handled.

Have been out in a 4/5 and seemed to cope well. (although I have nothing to compare to) I think there is another member on this forum who has a 270 and hopefully he will pick up this post and give you a bit more advice.

 

[Riggy]

Quote from Solitaire [What do you mean by the "Ocean"? It's an American boat, mass produced.]
How many GRP sports cruisers/boats do you know of that are hand-built???????????

 

[Riggy]

And another thing!!!.....................Monterey boats are mass-produced in FLORIDA!!!!!!
And did you think for one minute that 'Binliners' and Fletchers weren't built to a price? (yes I know I'm due some crap for this last statement, as many people have enjoyed and owned both, successfully....I just had to have a rebuttal to someone (Solitaire) with little or no experience of owning/using an American boat!!)

 

[Solitaire]

Excuse me my friend - I drive boats for a living and in fact do deliveries for the Monterey importer in the UK. Last year I spent over a 1000 hours on the water, either instructing, doing deliverys or driving charter ribs and in a more official capacity in Portsmouth Harbour. I've done instructing on just about every small sports boat there is - from Karnic, to Bayliner, from Searay to Regal. I've helmed Sealines and Fairlines, Huntons and Sunseekers. And I'm waiting on confirmation of a delivery from Nice to Denia on a Princess 65.

I brought a 30 ft rib from Bristol to Poole in March in winds of F6 and over and I bet I'll go out in weather that would make you puke!

Of course boats are produced on a production line, and in that sense they are mass produced, it's just that the volume varies and as American boats are produced in the 000's they are more mass produced than most. And yes, I know where Monterey's are produced and I consider them to very fine boats. In fact Monetery is still a family run business. As I said I have nothing against American boats per se - just some are better than others. Just like some ribs are better than others. Some motor cruisers are better than others etc etc etc.

It really pisses me off when someone who knows nothing about me makes statements such as yours! I have had 4 boats of my own. The first was a Fletcher and then had two Bayliners ( I think these are American boats!!) and I now have a Fairline Sprint - which was re-engined to diesel in 2003, and in its first year after conversion from petrol did 250 hours.

How do I know? I think I've answered that. You just keep playing in your Chaparral and come back when you've grown up a bit.

 

[ChrisP]

Now Now Solitaire, don't rise to the bait and lower yourself to the level of the unfortunate braindead who has not the intelegence to check your record here. He would have discovered you knowledge and experience posted on this site over the past years would have more than qualified the value of your view and opinions. Unfortunately your honesty in your profile admits that you belong to that class and gender that imediately removes you from any group of intelegent beings that could possible have any relevent input to matters marine. My personal experience shows that some of the most capable skippers and navigators do infact belong to your gender and are far easier to work with than some of the self important knowall prigs that hale from your opposites.

Take the longterm view, treat your critisisms as the soaring seagull rides the wind, and c**p on their bald heads when the chance arises (and be sure it will).

This from an reasonably honest but devoted male chauvanist pig. (ask Pauline B)

Chrisp

 

[mercman]

Dear Sir, I look after many brands thru uk marques to American and Scandanavian. Every boat is on a production line!
After owning a mass produced boat which was the Bayliner 285 this comes out of a yard that produces around 10,000 units a year!!! You can tell its "MASS PRODUCED" by the quality of the thing. It is built with a spray gun arrangement to cut down on materials, man time, and to go off quicker so they can get the next mold done. Larson have VEC which is a fibreglass vaccuum former again to cut time and cost.
I did much homework on this as im still looking the Monterey is one of the few that is still laid up by hand like british built boats.And is not mass produced. Go around the marinas and count how many there are against all the other brands. NOT A LOT and their not for sale the ones that are there.
So my friend im with Solitaire on this unless you know your facts!!! i wouldnt entertain a posting on here!!!

 

[Solitaire]

Yes I know Chris and I normally do! But this one got to me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[DepSol]

Yes I agree with Chris.......he is a male chauvenist pig /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Dom

 

[ChrisP]

Dom

A blessing upon the birds that anoint your foredeck and the weed on your bottom.

Chris /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Riggy]

Re Solitaire. [ QUOTE ]
Yes I know Chris and I normally do! But this one got to me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I apologise unreservedly for what seemed like a personal slate on your knowlege and experience...(I HAVE read yours and many other's bio's...)wasn't intended as such....one too many sherberts last night....
My exception was taken in as much that given your experience and skills(for which I have the utmost admiration) your reply seemed like a sweeping generalisation on American boats based on what you have helmed and owned. Having not owned/helmed a Chaparral yourself, (right/ wrong?) my reply to the original thread, (even for a newbie on this forum) was proffered on first hand experience and also based the opinions of others with huge amounts of experience and with first hand experience of Chaparrals, and I quote 'Brendan_S' (are his experiences and opinions worth as little as mine?)from 'My First Boat' thread....

"The comment that US boats are built for calm lake conditions is ballderdash. Ill informed comments by ill informed people on the whole (not a comment on this thread, just the general trend), who understand nothing of boating conditions in the US, and probably perpetuated by people who have a vested interest in selling boats of other provenance
I've a US built boat which goes everywhere in all sorts of conditions. As a result of seeing how well it handles those conditions, 2 other members of the club I belong to have bought the same boat - both keen boaters, with lots of experience, one of them was a keen ribber with lifelong experience, who wants to take his new child out in safety with a smooth ride.

I've pretty much given up commenting on these type of posts, as they just bring out all the bigots, and can't be bothered to put up an arguement any more, just let them get on with it, but sometimes can't just sit back and read the crap anymore."

I have never denegrated any other makes of boat on this forum, or generaly put anybody down...just fought my own corner for the right to express my opinion and only ever proffered a possible answer to a question posed, based on my own experiences and knowlege, but mixed with a healthy learn-ed knowlege from the vastly experienced boaters, (both raggies and stinkies) with whom I plough these waters.

 

[Alistairr]

I think you should maybe clarify exactly what you mean by 'Ocean'.
I believe American Boats are ok, but take them out in the Sea, Yeah no Problem, but out in an 'Ocean'Mmm well that depends how far!!!!!

 

[ChrisP]

Sir, I resent the term "bigot"

I consider my self to be the ultimate example of level mindedness.

I hate Everybody& Everything and for good measure I consider all other living things to be inferior to myself.

With regard to USA production methods and design standards, Remember the space shuttle ? known to be the bigest collection of cheapest bids and convienent material quality interpretation.

 

[BrendanS]

Uhmm, Chris, which class and gender do you think Solitaire belongs to? and why do you think female skippers are 'self important knowall prigs'.That does indeed sound very male chauvinistic /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, and I can't see what relevevance it has on this discussion anyway.

 

[powerskipper]

I was going to ask that, david will love this.....LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ChrisP]

I fear there is some confusion in my meaning.

"Unfortunately your honesty in your profile admits that you belong to that class and gender that imediately removes you from any group of intelegent beings that could possible have any relevent input to matters marine."

This is addressed to Solitare, who is acording to my information a lady ie of female gender. The general meaning of the quote would be to imply that as Solitare is a "female" her opinion is not worth considering. In no way does it imply this is my opinion.


"My personal experience shows that some of the most capable skippers and navigators do infact belong to your gender and are far easier to work with than some of the self important knowall prigs that hale from your opposites."

I believe that this quote expresses my opinion based upon my experience and does infact state that I feel that there very competant and experienced lady ie. "female" skippers. The reference to "self important knowall prigs" is actually directed towards members of her opposite gender ie. Male.

I trust this is an adequate explanation of a comment which although written in plain english is seemingly open to erronious interpretation.

ChrisP /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[BrendanS]

I couldn't resist, and will henceforth refer to Solitaire as 'Davina'! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif