Midsize bowrider
Chaparral 246 SSi
Representative 246 SSi specs; verify exact year and engine package.
Length
24.5 ft
Fuel
70 gal / 265 L
Seats
12
Dry/curb weight
4,500 lb
Used buyer verdict
Chaparral 246 SSi is a 2006-2014 family bowrider for lake cruising and watersports, but older sterndrives carry more maintenance risk than simple outboards. The $45,500-$74,000 directional estimate should leave room for drive service, upholstery, floor/transom condition, and water-test results.
Model-level guidance. Inspect the actual listing before buying.
Beginner score
6/10
Cottage score
9/10
Fuel efficiency
4/10
Maintenance complexity
6/10
Market snapshot
Estimated range
$45,500-$74,000
Confidence
Directional
Based on
Reviewed range for this model
Range note
Based on a reviewed range for this model.
Best for
- Family lake cruising, day boating, and light watersports with seating for up to 12.
- Buyers who want mainstream runabout performance and accept higher drive-system upkeep.
- Cottage users focused on casual cruising, tubing, swimming, and easy passenger movement.
Not ideal for
- Buyers unwilling to inspect bellows, gimbal bearing, corrosion, winterization, and drive-service records.
- Buyers prioritizing rough-water ride quality, premium finish, or high-end resale strength.
- Fishing-focused buyers or people who mostly need utility over comfort.
Estimated ownership cost
$6,800-$10,800 / year
Uses the midpoint of this model's $45,500-$74,000 estimated used range. Includes insurance, storage, winterization, maintenance reserve, and fuel. Purchase price, tax, registration, inspection repairs, and trailer surprises are separate.
Estimated fuel cost
$1,800-$2,100 / season
Estimated using a representative Chaparral 246 SSi profile, a half-day family outing pattern, 22 seasonal outings, and the selected fuel price. Fuel price: $1.75 per litre. Load, speed, water conditions, towing, and engine setup can move the result.
Common buyer concerns
- Older sterndrives can add bellows, gimbal, cooling-system, corrosion, and winterization risk.
- Soft floors, wet transoms/stringers, upholstery wear, and trailer condition can change value.
- Watersports use can raise fuel and maintenance exposure.
- Check sterndrive service, manifolds/risers, upholstery seams, swim platform, hull moisture, and trailer capacity
What to inspect before buying
- Ownership, HIN, lien status, registration, trailer paperwork, keys, manuals, and included safety gear.
- Cold start, idle, shifting, charging voltage, steering, cooling flow, alarms, and water-test behaviour for the Sterndrive setup.
- Sterndrive bellows, gimbal bearing, u-joints, skeg, prop, trim rams, corrosion, manifolds/risers where applicable, and proof of drive service.
- Trailer, tires, bearings, brakes, lights, bunks, winch, coupler, and tow rating for a boat around 4,500 lb dry before fuel and gear.
- Annual service, winterization, impeller, oil, filters, battery, fuel-system, and storage records.
Quality and reputation
Good family/cottage brand with strong bowrider presence
Resale outlook
Resale is generally decent, with condition, engine package, upholstery, trailer setup, and service history doing most of the work.
Engine and layout
Best suited to Large family bowrider, cottage entertaining, watersports. Common power options include Volvo Penta or MerCruiser V8 sterndrive options. Compare drive type, horsepower, hours, and included equipment.
Specs are representative and should be checked against the exact year and trim. BoatLens ranges are planning estimates, not appraisals or quotes.
Analyze this boat before you contact the seller
Run the actual Chaparral 246 SSi listing with its year, asking price, hours, province, and intended use.