Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 vs Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 or the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005?

For trailering, the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 445 lbs for the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005. 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 and Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 or the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005?

The Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 has the bigger tank at 53 gallons, versus 49 gallons on the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 and Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 and the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 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 224 Sunesta WT 2013 vs Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005

Chaparral

Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013

2013

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Chaparral

Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 vs Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 vs Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 320 hp for the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 and 320 hp for the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 carries 53 gallons versus 49 gallons in the Chaparral 224 Sunesta 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 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeChaparral

Model224 Sunesta WT

Model236 Sunesta Deckboat

Model Year2013

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 5 in. (1.65 m) With Arch Tower: 9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m) With Arch Tower Folded: 8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 4 in. (1.63 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.9

Bridge clearance - Meters1.63

Bridge clearance - Inches114

Bridge clearance - Inches64

Deadrise18°

Deadrise16℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] inches2

Draft [drive up] inches17

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

Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inches35

Draft [max] - Inches34

Weight - Detail4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg)

Weight - Detail4,450 lbs. (2,019 kg)

Weight - kg1814.37

Weight - kg2018.48

Weight - lbs.4

Weight - lbs.445

Length - Feet22.33

Length - Feetnot available

Length [over all with swim platform]22 ft. 4 in. (6.81 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. 3.5 in. (7.4 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail49 gal. (185 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail53 gal. (201 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters185.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters200.63

Fuel tank capacity - Gal49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal53

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max320 hp (239 kW)

Engine max320 hp (239 kw)

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standard220 hp

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)

Water capacity14 gal. (53 l)

Maximum people12 / 1,750 lbs

Maximum people14

Headnot available

HeadEnclosed with Porta-Pottie

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail14 gal. (53 l) - Optional

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters53

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal14

Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 vs Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 or the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005?

For trailering, the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 445 lbs for the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 and Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 or the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005?

The Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 has the bigger tank at 53 gallons, versus 49 gallons on the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 and Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Chaparral 224 Sunesta WT 2013 and the Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 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 224 Sunesta WT 2013 full specs ← Chaparral 236 Sunesta Deckboat 2005 full specs