Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 vs Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 or the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006?

The Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 comes in at 19,5 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 or the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006?

For trailering, the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 has the edge at 31 lbs dry weight versus 52 lbs for the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 is rated to a maximum of 425 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 tops out at 270 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 is certified for 14. 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 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013. 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 2013 or the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006?

The Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 has the bigger tank at 79 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013. That 50-gallon difference translates to roughly 150–250 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 and Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 and the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 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 2013 vs Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006

Chaparral

Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013

2013

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Chaparral

Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 vs Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 against a modified vee Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 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 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 measures 25,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 5,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 at 19,5 feet (2013). At 31 lbs and 52 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 425 hp, the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 has a 155-hp advantage over the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013's 270-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 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 carries 79 gallons versus 29 gallons in the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013. 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 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 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

Model196 SSi WT

Model260 SSi Sportboat

Model Year2013

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. (2.44 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches102

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

Bridge clearance - DetailWith Radar Arch: 7 ft. 1 in. (2.16 m) Without Radar Arch: 5 ft. 8 in. (1.73 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.36

Bridge clearance - Meters2.16

Bridge clearance - Inches93

Bridge clearance - Inches85

Deadrise18°

Deadrise22℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (51 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.33

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] inches13

Draft [drive up] inches2

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

Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (89 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.81

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches32

Draft [max] - Inches35

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

Weight - Detail5,200 lbs. (2,359 kg)

Weight - kg1406.14

Weight - kg2358.68

Weight - lbs.31

Weight - lbs.52

Length - Feet19.5

Length - Feet25

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

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 9 in. (8.46 m)

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters7.77

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches6

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 6 in. (7.77 m)

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Meters7.77

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Inches306

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (110 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail79 gal. (299 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Liters299.05

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel tank capacity - Gal79

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Engine max270 hp (201 kW)

Engine max425 hp (317 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum people9 / 1,260 lbs

Maximum people14

Headnot available

HeadEnclosed fiberglass

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity15 gal. (57 l)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,815 lbs

Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 vs Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 or the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006?

The Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 comes in at 19,5 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 or the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006?

For trailering, the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 has the edge at 31 lbs dry weight versus 52 lbs for the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 is rated to a maximum of 425 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 tops out at 270 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 is certified for 14. 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 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013. 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 2013 or the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006?

The Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 has the bigger tank at 79 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013. That 50-gallon difference translates to roughly 150–250 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 and Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Chaparral 196 SSi WT 2013 and the Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 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 2013 full specs ← Chaparral 260 SSi Sportboat 2006 full specs