We’ll be providing some BIG pictures on this post of the Sunesta 284, so make sure you click the thumbnail images so you can see the full size images. These fantastic pictures of the Chaparral Sunesta, so it’s worth the click(s). I’ll go in detail on why my brother-in-law is looking so closely at this particular boat (god knows there are MANY boats to choose from on the market)

Chaparral Sunesta 284 – The Family Compromise

I actually went to a boat show with my nephew-in-law and my brother-in-law, and it’s the first boat show I’ve ever been too. I’ve never been around boats very much because my parents were hiking and and canoe people. I don’t think it’s even possible to be introduced to these beautiful boats and not be in awe. I was shocked to see these amazing pleasure boats. Every single boat at this small boat show was fantastic in it’s own right. The challenge that all families will have when choosing a pleasure craft is satisfying all family members.

Let’s face it. The children in the family want a boat that is great for pulling and playing. The kids like wake boarding, water skiing, tubing, wake surfing, and speed. On the obvious other hand, the adults (and older kids) want all of the above, but they also want a comfortable cruising boat for night cruises, day cruises, swimming, eating, and hanging out in general. So you see the challenge in finding the perfect compromise. If you have a serious bundle of money that you can afford to spend on your boating fun, you could buy two boats – one for water boarding, tubing, and water skiing, and one for cruising.

The Sunesta 284 from Chaparral is a perfect compromise boat in that the kids can get a good wake for pull fun, and the big kids can chill. You can handle 15 people on the Sunesta 284 without any real cramping of your style. Of course the price tag is “up there”, but what decent boat is cheap?

Pictures of the Chaparral Sunesta 284

Below are some good picture of the Sunesta 284. Be sure to click for the full size images. These are very large images when you view them – sorry about the blurry thumbnails.

The Bow

The Kitchen

The Stern

More Interior

What I can’t tell you is how the Sunesta 284 performs in both applications I’ve described above.  Since I’ve never stepped foot on this particular Chaparral pleasure craft, I can’t even tell you whether or not the seats are comfortable! I can however give you a specifications list to help you learn some more about the Sunesta 284.

Key Features of the Sunesta 284

Aft platform lounge with optional power slide aft seat
Bow slide seat converts to dinette
CDS (Cockpit Drainage System), SBS (Self Bailing System)
Cockpit wet bar with sink, solid surface, trash receptacle and 12V outlet and optional gas grill
Color coordinated interior color packages
Digital instrumentation with exclusive square design
Dual fuel fills
Enclosed fiberglass head with porta-pottie and port light
Extended V-plane hull
Integrated extended swim platform with boarding ladder
Kevlar reinforced hull
Wide-Tech design for maximum available space

Specific Features of the Sunesta 284

Manufacturer     –       Chaparral
Model Year    –      2008
Model    –      Sunesta 284 Wide-Tech
MSRP    –      $80,364.00*
Length (feet)   -       28
Length (inches)    –      4
Length (meters)    –      8.64
Length (LOA w/ swim platform)     –     28 ft. 4 in. (8.64 m)
Beam     –     9 ft. 0 in. (2.74 m)
Bridge Clearance    –      With Arch: 98 in. (2.49 m)
Without Arch: 67 in. (1.7 m)
Draft (max)    –      39 in. (99 cm)
Draft (drive up)     –     25 in. (64 cm)
Deadrise     –     22°
Weight (dry)    –      6,400 lbs. (2,903 kg)
Maximum People   -       Yacht certified
Hull Type    –      Modified Vee
Hull Material    –      Fiberglass
Drive Type    –      I/O
Engine(s) (std)     –     Volvo 5.7 Gi MPi DP drive 300 hp
Engine (Max)    –      425 hp (317 kW)
Fuel Type    –      Gas
Fuel Capacity     –     105 gal. (397 l)
Water Capacity    –      20 gal. (76 l)
Holding Tank Capacity    –      3.8 gal. (14 l)
With Optional VacuFlush: 6.5 gal. (24.6 l)
Head     –     1
Colors     –     White premium gelcoat, Black, Blue, Copper, Yellow, Red graphic