![]() Practice can make perfect, and the hullsides and mold work were very good on the 24-footer. That certainly was not the case with the 236 SSi, which came with a yellow paint job and graphics done in vinyl. Workmanship When you build as many boats as Chaparral does in a year you might expect the company to overlook a few details. Turns at cruise and full-speed were superior for the runabout breed and something we expected from the simple hull design. During our handling tests, the boat earned the highest mark in slalom turns at 20, 30 and 40 mph. The hull and engine package yielded better than 3 miles per gallon except at the top-end where fuel economy "dropped" to 2.3 mpg. A nice bonus will come at the end of the day when the boat's 54-gallon tank is still close to full. We always like to have more power but the 350 Mag MPI worked just fine. Throttle response was average for a 24-foot boat, but it was more a reflection of the mild engine choice. In a midrange acceleration test, it took the runabout 5.9 seconds to go from 20 to 40 mph. The 236 SSi reached 26 mph in five seconds and in 15 seconds was doing 48 mph. And we know the boat will see a lot of skiers and boarders behind it at the local lake. ![]() Top-end speed is low on the list for most runabout owners but acceleration is important, especially when it comes to water sports. That allowed the boat to get on plane in 4.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 51.5 mph on Florida's Sarasota Bay. Chaparral equipped it with a 300-horsepower MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI fitted with a Bravo Three drive turning a 24-inch propeller set. The bottom has been a proven winner in other models and it resulted in the same crisp handling in the 24-footer we tested. The boat was based on the company's extended V-plane hull, which was basically a semi-V with a radiused keel and four strakes. Performance New for 2005, Chaparral introduced the 236 SSi in response to consumer demand for larger bow riders. The only problem might be getting mom and dad to give up their time behind the wheel. The runabout is a good handling boat that can perform with the best in its class. Parents who own the Chaparral 236 SSi will have no fears of letting junior drive. For parents it can be a mixture of terror and excitement as their child learns to drive. (Photo by Tom Newby) Most boaters with teen-agers can remember the first time they handed over the keys to the family boat. New for 2005, Chaparral introduced the 236 SSi in response to consumer demand for larger bow riders.
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