Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 boat specs
Chaparral
Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007
2007
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VS
Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 boat specs
Chaparral
Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007
2007
View full specs →

Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 vs Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 vs Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 at 27,0 ft versus Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 at 26,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 tips the scales at 485 lbs — 429 lbs less than the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 at 56 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 — 375 hp for the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 and 375 hp for the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007. 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 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 carries 55 gallons versus 8 gallons in the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007. 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 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeChaparral
MakeChaparral
Model250 Signature Cruiser
Model254 Sunesta Deckboat
Model Year2007
Model Year2007
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 - DetailWith Arch: 9 ft. 1 in. (2.77 m) Without Arch: 6 ft. 7 in. (2.01 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 9 in. (1.75 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.77
Bridge clearance - Meters1.75
Bridge clearance - Inches109
Bridge clearance - Inches69
Deadrise20℃
Deadrise18℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detail18 in. (46 cm)
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [drive up] inches18
Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (84 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (89 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.84
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Inches33
Draft [max] - Inches35
Weight - Detail5,600 lbs. (2,540 kg)
Weight - Detail4,850 lbs. (2.200 kg)
Weight - kg2540.12
Weight - kg2199.92
Weight - lbs.56
Weight - lbs.485
Length - Meters8.23
Length - Meters7.95
Length - Feet27
Length - Feet26
Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 0 in. (8.23 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]26 ft. 1 in. (7.95 m)
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches1
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardVolvo 5.0L 270 hp DP
Engine/s standardMerc 5.0L 260 hp B3
Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal. (303 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal. (208 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83
Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2
Fuel tank capacity - Gal8
Fuel tank capacity - Gal55
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max375 hp (280 kW)
Engine max375 hp (280 kW)
Operational Info
Head1
Head1
Headroom6 ft. 2 in. (1.88 m)
Headroomnot available
Sleeping capacity4
Sleeping capacitynot available
Water capacity13.5 gal. (51 l)
Water capacity13.5 gal. (51 l)
Maximum capacity1,874 lbs
Maximum capacity2,035 lbs
Maximum people1
Maximum people15
Holding tank capacity - DetailWith Standard Porta-Pottie: 3.8 gal. (14 l) With Optional VacuFlush: 10 gal. (38 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail3.8 gal. (14 l) With Optional VacuFlush: 6.5 gal. (25 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters37.85
Holding tank capacity - Liters26.5
Holding tank capacity - Gal1
Holding tank capacity - Gal6.5

Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 vs Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 or the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007?
The Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 is the longer of the two at 27,0 feet overall. The Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 1,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 or the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007?
For trailering, the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 has the edge at 56 lbs dry weight versus 485 lbs for the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007. 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 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 is certified for 15. 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 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 and Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 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 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 or the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007?
The Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 has the bigger tank at 55 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007. That 47-gallon difference translates to roughly 141–235 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 and Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Chaparral 250 Signature Cruiser 2007 and the Chaparral 254 Sunesta Deckboat 2007 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.