Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 boat specs
Chaparral
Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013
2013
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VS
Chaparral SSi 226 2009 boat specs
Chaparral
Chaparral SSi 226 2009
2009
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Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 vs Chaparral SSi 226 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 against a modified vee Chaparral SSi 226 2009 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 at 24,3 ft versus Chaparral SSi 226 2009 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chaparral SSi 226 2009 tips the scales at 395 lbs — 351 lbs less than the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 320 hp for the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 and 300 hp for the Chaparral SSi 226 2009. 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 244 Sunesta WT 2013 carries 63 gallons versus 55 gallons in the Chaparral SSi 226 2009. 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 244 Sunesta WT 2013 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Chaparral SSi 226 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 24,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chaparral SSi 226 2009 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
MakeChaparral
Model244 Sunesta WT
ModelSSi 226
Model Year2013
Model Year2009
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 4 in. (1.63 m) With Arch Tower: 9 ft. 10 in. (3 m) With Arch Tower Folded: 8 ft. 9 in. (2.67 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailWith Wakeboard Tower: 7 ft. 3 in. (2.21 m) Without Wakeboard Tower: 4 ft. 8 in. (1.43 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters3
Bridge clearance - Meters2.21
Bridge clearance - Inches118
Bridge clearance - Inches87
Deadrise20°
Deadrise20℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detail16 in. (41 cm)
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] meters0.41
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [drive up] inches16
Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (84 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (87 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.84
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches33
Draft [max] - Inches34
Weight - Detail4,400 lbs. (1,996 kg)
Weight - Detail3,950 lbs. (1,792 kg)
Weight - kg1995.8
Weight - kg1791.69
Weight - lbs.44
Weight - lbs.395
Length - Feet24.33
Length - Feet22
Length [over all with swim platform]24 ft. 4 in. (7.42 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]22 ft. 6 in. (6.86 m)
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters6.86
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches6
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail63 gal. (238 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal. (208 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters238.48
Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2
Fuel tank capacity - Gal63
Fuel tank capacity - Gal55
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max320 hp (239 kW)
Engine max300 hp (224 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardMercruiser 5.0L MPI Alpha 260 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)
Water capacitynot available
Maximum people14 / 2,100 lbs
Maximum people12
Holding tank capacity - Detail3.8 gal. (14 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters15.14
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal3.8
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum capacity1,650 lbs. (748.4 kg)

Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 vs Chaparral SSi 226 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 or the Chaparral SSi 226 2009?
The Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 is the longer of the two at 24,3 feet overall. The Chaparral SSi 226 2009 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 2,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 or the Chaparral SSi 226 2009?
For trailering, the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 has the edge at 44 lbs dry weight versus 395 lbs for the Chaparral SSi 226 2009. 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 244 Sunesta WT 2013 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Chaparral SSi 226 2009 tops out at 300 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 244 Sunesta WT 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Chaparral SSi 226 2009 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.
Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?
Both the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 and Chaparral SSi 226 2009 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 244 Sunesta WT 2013 or the Chaparral SSi 226 2009?
The Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 has the bigger tank at 63 gallons, versus 55 gallons on the Chaparral SSi 226 2009. That 8-gallon difference translates to roughly 24–40 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 and Chaparral SSi 226 2009 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Chaparral 244 Sunesta WT 2013 and the Chaparral SSi 226 2009 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.