Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 vs Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 or the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011?

The Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 is the longer of the two at 42,0 feet overall. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 comes in at 19,5 feet, making it roughly 22,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 has a documented max rating of 270 hp. Engine specifications for the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 is certified for 12. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 measures 160" wide, compared to 96" for the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 or the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 has the bigger tank at 32 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011. That 29-gallon difference translates to roughly 87–145 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 and Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 and the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 are built by Chaparral. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 vs Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011

Chaparral

Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012

2012

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Chaparral

Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 vs Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 vs Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 carries a rated maximum of 270 hp. Engine data for the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 carries 32 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011. 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 Boats 420 Premiere 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 42,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeChaparral

Makenot available

Model196 SSi WT

Modelnot available

Model Year2012

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. (2.44 m)

Beam13.32 ft

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters4.06

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches160

Bridge clearance - DetailWith Wakeboard Tower: 7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m) Without Wakeboard Tower: 4 ft. 7 in. (1.4 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.36

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches93

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise18°

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail13 in. (33 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.33

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches13

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail32 in. (81 cm)

Draft [max] - Detail3.74 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.81

Draft [max] - Meters1.14

Draft [max] - Inches32

Draft [max] - Inches45

Weight - Detail3,100 lbs. (1,406 kg)

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg1406.14

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.31

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet19.5

Length - Feet42

Length [over all with swim platform]19 ft. 6 in. (5.94 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail42.00 ft

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Meters12.8

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Inches504

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail32 gal. (121 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters121.13

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1135.62

Fuel tank capacity - Gal32

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeinboard

Engine max270 hp (201 kW)

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeVOLVO

Engine 2 Engine Makenot available

Engine 2 Engine MakeVOLVO

Engine 2 Drive Typenot available

Engine 2 Drive Typeinboard

Operational Info

Maximum people9 or 1,260 lbs

Maximum peoplenot available

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity77

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 vs Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 or the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011?

The Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 is the longer of the two at 42,0 feet overall. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 comes in at 19,5 feet, making it roughly 22,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 has a documented max rating of 270 hp. Engine specifications for the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 is certified for 12. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 measures 160" wide, compared to 96" for the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 or the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 has the bigger tank at 32 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011. That 29-gallon difference translates to roughly 87–145 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 and Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 and the Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 are built by Chaparral. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2012 full specs ← Chaparral Boats 420 Premiere 2011 full specs