Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013 vs Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013 against a modified vee Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 measures 24,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 5,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013 at 18,3 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013 tips the scales at 242 lbs — 198 lbs more than the Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 at 44 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 320 hp, the Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 has a 100-hp advantage over the Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013's 220-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013 carries 25 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Chaparral Sunesta 244 Wide-Tech 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chaparral 18 Ski & Fish 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeChaparral
MakeChaparral
Model18 Ski & Fish
ModelSunesta 244 Wide-Tech
Model Year2013
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam - Meters2.29
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches9
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 6 in. (1.37 m) 7 ft. 4 in. (2.23 m) with arch tower
Bridge clearance - DetailWith Wakeboard Tower: 107 in. (2.71 m) Without Wakeboard Tower: 56 in. (1.42 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.24
Bridge clearance - Meters2.72
Bridge clearance - Inches88
Bridge clearance - Inches107
Deadrise18°
Deadrise20℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail13 in. (33 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)
Draft [drive up] meters0.33
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] inches13
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (79 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (84 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.79
Draft [max] - Meters0.84
Draft [max] - Inches31
Draft [max] - Inches33
Weight - Detail2,420 lbs. (1,098 kg)
Weight - Detail4,400 lbs. (1,996 kg)
Weight - kg1097.69
Weight - kg1995.8
Weight - lbs.242
Weight - lbs.44
Length - Feet18.33
Length - Feet24
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 4 in. (5.59 m)
Length overall - Detailnot available
Length overall - Meters5.59
Length overall - Metersnot available
Length overall - Inches22
Length overall - Inchesnot available
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters7.42
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches4
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. 4 in. (7.42 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makenot available
Engine model3.0L MPI (Catalyst) Alpha
Engine modelnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail25 gal. (95 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters94.64
Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12
Fuel tank capacity - Gal25
Fuel tank capacity - Gal6
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Horsepower135 hp
Horsepowernot available
Engine max220 hp (164 kW)
Engine max320 hp (239 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardVolvo 5.0 GXi MPi SX drive 270 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,160 lbs
Maximum capacity1,800 lbs
Maximum people8
Maximum people12
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail3.8 gal. (14 l) With Optional VacuFlush: 6.5 gal. (24.6 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters26.5
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal6.5