Power Review: Chaparral 26 Surf

By Mathew Channer

Hybrid—The Ultimate Era of Boating?

There are lots of different ways to boat, and lots of opinions on what’s preferrable. While I’m partial to tow sports and performance, others are more interested in a full-size sun-lounger and onboard fridge. With so many different adventures to be had, hybrid style boats are becoming increasingly popular. Enter the Chaparral 26 Surf, a premium tow boat and luxury bowrider.

I’ll admit that having the best of both worlds has always sounded too good to be true. I’ve been around the industry long enough that I’m naturally sceptical of a vessel that claims mastery over two fields of boating. But I wanted to be proven wrong, and almost immediately, I was beginning to wonder if this was the day. The Chaparral Surf 26 began making its point the moment I saw it. Its stylish design stood out remarkably on the shop floor, and its long list of both surf and luxury features explained by the very enthusiastic experts at Dockside Marine, Kelowna, was enough to get me excited. I wanted to lay my old guard beliefs to rest. But first, I needed to get out on the water and see what this hybrid could do.

The deeper lines in the hull make for excellent cornering

Layout:

I was immediately struck by the spaciousness of the Chapparal Surf 26 thanks to the enormous swim platform, which made boarding from the floating dock about as easy as could be. The Surf 26 is primarily built for two things, towing and day boating, and its swim platform makes both easier and more enjoyable. It’s a great place for strapping in or chilling out, plus it features Chaparral’s Infinity Power Step, which lowers into a submerged 3-step boarding step, making stern-boarding from the beach simple for everyone in the family, including pooch! Also on the swim platform are speakers, a shower, port and starboard fuel fill points, and a walkthrough on the starboard side, where the main switchboard locker is conveniently located for easy access. The forward and aft facing stern seating easily transitions into a full-length sun lounger.

The cockpit area feels large and comfortable, with a seating design that encourages socializing. On the starboard side, a 2-seater lifts to reveal the cooler, while the longer seat to port includes a table base, with the table stored under the seat (the table can also be mounted in the bow). Under the main deck is a large compartment that holds the surf bladder, which can be used as a ski locker when the bladder is deflated, but make sure you take out your skis before filling it up to generate wake!

In front of the co-pilot seat is the door to the head, another surprisingly spacious area that includes a vanity and a porthole and is large enough for a six-foot-tall person to use comfortably. Okanagan Lake requires heads with macerators and a grey water tank, so our model came with the optional electric head package, or you could opt for the base-package manual toilet too.

Even with the aft seating fully extended, there is ample room on the swim platform.

A wide walkthrough leads to the bow, yet the cockpit remains protected with a large, windshield that can be opened and closed one-handed even at speed thanks to its innovative magnetic catch. A small compartment behind the navigation equipment holds a trash can and could also hold an optional fridge. The bow is comfortable and elegant with forward facing loungers with armrests and more under-seat storage that is ideal for lines, fenders and other equipment. At the bow’s apex the anchor and windlass come with 250-feet of chain and rope for diverse anchoring conditions. The stainless-steel anchor looks great and adds to the premium aesthetic that’s carried throughout by the stainless fixtures from bow to stern.

Extra Features:

Our Surf 26 came loaded with extra features that added to both versatility and style. I personally appreciated the Snap-in SeaDek flooring—you can take it out and clean it, and the inside of your boat, with ease. The silicon upholstery with triple-French stitching both looks great and boasts excellent durability, and the aesthetic was amplified when we turned on the stylish blue interior lighting, which even illuminates the cupholders! There are cupholders and wireless phone chargers throughout, and the Surf 26 comes standard with JL Audio head-unit, speakers and subwoofer.

The switchboard is thoughtfully located at the walkthrough, providing easy access from the saloon or stern.

Towing:

We demand innovation from our towing boats these days, and the Chaparral Surf 26 rises to meet these expectations with myriad tow sports options available. The EFX surf tower comes standard (with Bimini top), and our test boat included the Black Edition HTX Hardtop Package, HTX Hardtop Sport Rack and all-new Edge Force Swivelling Board Racks, everything you could imagine needing for a big towing day with multiple riders and boards. The hardtop throws ample shade over the cockpit area and can be electrically lowered, with a nifty oscillating top, for when the vessel is trailered or if it rains when you’re on the water.

To improve the Surf’s wake capabilities, Chaparral has partnered with Malibu, and the Surf comes standard with the innovative Malibu Surf Gates, an integrated surf system designed to throw perfect wake on either side of the boat with no weight adjustment. Together with the 1080lbs ballast capability, this gives you incredible control over your wake for optimum surfing conditions. The forward-facing prop optimises acceleration for taking off with a rider and greatly reduces risk to surfers. (Vessels used for wake surfing should always have forward facing props to prevent the rider falling into the prop.)

Armrests, speakers and cupholders make the bow versatile and comfortable.

At the Helm:

That the Surf 26 lives up to its claim as a surf boat with all the comforts of a luxury day boat feels particularly true at the helm. Slipping into the captain’s seat feels like slipping into a new car. The helm is spacious and ergonomic, making driving enjoyable and relaxing, and offers almost 360-degree vision excluding the blind spots created by the surf tower. The captain’s seat is adjustable and well-positioned for comfortable throttle control and includes a flip-up bolster for when you need to drive with the bow lifted. A 9-inch Simrad MFD touchscreen provides all the options you need or want, with split-screen function for customisable navigation between charts, towing features, engine management and more. With the windbreak closed, Chaparral’s well-known cockpit drainage system keeps you and your guests dry, even in the conditions we experienced during our test.

Comfort and performance:

The Surf 26 looks and feels like both premium tow boat and luxury bowrider. But how did it drive? One of the common drawbacks of a towing-specific boat is that it’s designed to throw up a big wake, not necessarily for comfort, and so a lot of tow boats skip across the water like a rock across a pond, smacking into every bit of swell or wake. To counter this, the Chapparal 26 Surf features a 22-degree deadrise in the hull, which lets it do two things: it turns on a literal dime, and it cuts through wake instead of slamming into it. We had mixed conditions during our testing, and on the way back to harbour were caught up in a stiff 15-knot wind with nearly two feet of chop. Even punching into it at 22mph over the water, the Chapparal was a relatively smooth ride, with none of the bang-bang-bang I expected. Earlier, on the flat water, Dockside Marine GM Taylor Doll casually rolled us into the tightest figure-8 I’ve ever seen out of a 26-footer. It was so good I asked him to do it again.

With an inward facing prop, this boat isn’t designed to fire out of the hole. But an inset stern drive means the Surf 26 will still hit the plane in just a few seconds, and boy does the Mercury Digital Throttle and Shift feel buttery to the touch. It’s so sensitive that it takes some getting used to. I accidently bumped it with my elbow while driving and the Chapparal lunged forward with another 800rpm behind it. With 4 adults onboard and agitated conditions we maxed out at 42mph (bladder deflated). That’s more than enough speed for longer journeys to an afternoon anchorage or, as Kelowna boaters love to do, ripping down to Penticton for the day.

The helm offers state-of-the-art features and near-perfect visibility.

Hybrid? Sign Me Up!

After 3 hours on the water through mixed conditions, I’d seen everything I needed to know. The Chaparral Surf 26 really is the best of two worlds. Premium surf technology, luxury features and day-boating comfort, all backed up by awesome performance. This boat does it all. Is that a hybrid? Sign me up.

Specifications

LOA: 26’5” / 8.05m

Beam: 8’6” / 2.59m

Weight: 5,600lbs / 2,540.1kg

Fuel Capacity: 65L / 17.17 gal

Engine: Mercury 6.2L DTS Bravo Four 350hp

Price (as tested): $309,900 CAD (includes trailer).

Test boat provided by Dockside Marine Centre, Kelowna.