Chaparral 26 Surf (2021-)

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Specifications

Length Overall	26' 5" 8.05 m (w/swim platform)
Beam	8' 6" 2.59 m
Dry Weight	5,100 lbs. 2,313 kg (w/engines)
Draft Up	30" 76 cm
Deadrise/Transom	22°
Bridge Clearance	8' 7" 2.62 m (w/arch tower)
Fuel Capacity	65 gallons 246 L
Water Capacity	10 gallons 38 L

Captain's Report Learn More
Watch Our Video

Mission Statement

The Chaparral 26 Surf is designed to combine the comfort and amenities of a high-end bowrider with a forward-facing sterndrive, ballast system and wake-shaping equipment to create a wake surfing boat that will appeal to families. Unlike most inboard-powered boats, the trim-ability of the stern drive makes the boat easier to drive for a boater used to that type of propulsion system.

Major Features

New Infinity Power Step
Kevlar Reinforced hull
Dual screen Beveled glass dash; Medallion Viper II Touchscreen display & Simrad display
Malibu surf gates.

Features Inspection

Surfing. The 26 Surf comes standard with a 1,080-lb. (489.88 kg) FatSac soft ballast bag and Malibu Surf Gates, which Chaparral licenses from Malibu. The Surf Gates are large tabs that are mounted on both sides of the stern to shape and control the wake of the boat. The tower also comes with optional Swivel board racks on each side. With the surf packages, the 26 Surf comes with a single Simrad display and a Medallion Viper II display.

This boat comes standard with an electrically-folding EFX Arch tower that gives you a tow point 7 ft. (2.13 m) off the deck. JL audio speakers are optional.

Even with the EFX tower in the down position, there is still a clear line of sight right through it.

With the Medallion display, we get all gauge functionality as well as complete surf wake control.

The Helm

The helm comes standard with dual beveled screen glass dash with a single 7” (17.8 cm) Simrad Multi-function display and a single 7” (17.8 cm) Medallion Viper display to control the Ballast tanks, speed, Malibu surf gates, and even the audio. It's all sheltered under a soft-touch upholstered panel. It also has a custom leather-wrapped power-assisted tilting steering wheel and stainless LED electronic push-button accessory switches on top of mirrored panels.

Because this is the surf package, the 26 Surf comes with a single Simrad 7" (17.8 cm) and single Medallion 7" (17.8 cm) display instead of dual Simrads as in other models.

Mirrored panels house all the navigational switches that light up when activated.

There is a cubby for a cellphone with connectivity for charging underneath and a cup holder in front of the digital throttle and shift on the driver's side.

The helm and observer seat can swivel to face aft, so when anchored or just drifting the driver and passenger can join their company seating in the back.

To port, there are two grab handles (one to the side and one in front), a stainless-steel cup holder and USB connectivity switches, plus a conveniently located glovebox on top of the head door. The driver's and companion's seats are Ultra Comfort style buckets with controls for the swivel and slide in the forward part of the armrest.

On the observer side, there is a standard courtesy light and another JL audio speaker.

Just ahead of the observer seat, there is a conveniently located glovebox right on top of the head door.

The Bow

Moving forward, walking through the 21” ( 53.34 cm) walkway to the bow, there is an air dam that shows a storage compartment under the helm console when it's fully open. The bow seating is in a V-shaped configuration we usually see on wake boats. The port and starboard lounges have flip armrests with storage underneath and fully forward is a built-in cooler under a non-skid hatch.

There is an optional bow seating table to further enhance the entertainment capabilities.

In the front, there is a nonskid hatch that opens up to reveal a built-in cooler.

The bulwarks surrounding the seat are 20” (50.8 cm) high with the optional JL audio speakers pointing inward with stainless-steel cup holders on either side. There are also long grab rails on both sides, and in the center, there is a filler that turns the entire bow into a sun pad.

There are two pop up 6” (15.2 cm) cleats and a reversible bow nav light all surrounding the anchor locker that also houses a four-step reboarding ladder.

The Cockpit

The cockpit of the 26 Surf comes standard with an articulating aft lounge seat that simply pulls down to create an aft-facing lounge on the transom. The aforementioned FatSac is in the ski locker and even with the ballast bag filled, there is still an accessible drawer to store the cockpit table. Optional SeaDek foam mat is available. There is additional storage under the port and starboard cockpit seats.

Under the starboard side cockpit seat, there is a removable 25-quart (23.65 L) cooler.

There is also a removable dinette table in the cockpit.

Portside seating adds additional storage and notice there is an inflator for water toys.

The head has 46” (116.8 cm) of overhead clearance with 29” (73.7 cm) of sitting headroom. Right above is a stainless-steel sink with a pull-out sprayer and a porthole. There is an option for a VacuFlush toilet.

An upscale touch in the head was the wood trim all around and the mirror on the bulkhead.

The stern has an aft-facing seat that is 58” (147.3 cm) across. Pulling back the rail to the articulating seat, it extends and converts to an aft-facing chaise lounge. To each side of the stern, there are two 6” (15.2 cm) cleats, and on the port side are a stereo remote and transom trim switch. There is a 46”-wide (116.8 cm) swim platform that has two 6” (15.2 cm) pop-up cleats. It includes Chaparral's Innovation award-winning Infinity Power Step that can act as a seat or provide easier access to the water when deployed.

The walkway up to the swim platform is up two 8” (20.3 cm) steps and is 17” (43.2 cm) wide with an access panel to electrical connection and battery switches.

The engine hatch lifts on two gas support struts. We noticed all the checkpoints and service points are located forward for easy maintenance.

The aft-facing seat easily converts to a chaise lounge.

This is Chaparral's new innovation award-winning Infinity Power Step that comes standard in all 2021 models of the 26 Surf.

With the Infinity Power Step in the down position, it can make for an aft-facing seat or just easier staging and reboarding. This is a nice feature that we love to see come standard.

Observations

Overall, the 26 Surf is a good boat for you intermediate level surfers. With its Malibu Surf Gates, Medallion control display, and FatSac ballast system, it will surely meet the needs of the common wakeboarder. The Malibu Surf Gate package allows for switching sides on the fly and there’s little lean from the gate being deployed. Plus, there is the welcomed new addition to the boat, the Infinity Power Step. The 26 Surf is a great bowrider with the added capability of being a surf boat.

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Chaparral 26 Surf (2021-)

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