The 204 Xtreme is a sterndrive ski and wakeboard machine with multiple hull color choices and graphics and with what appears to be, one of the highest arches in the biz.

Xactly what you like...

The Chaparral 204 Xtreme comes nicely equipped with a long list of standards that are sure to please. Items like the wakeboard tower with twin board racks and Bimini top, stainless steel props for xtreme hole shots, 22 gallons of ballast tanks that fill and empty at the touch of a switch, an integrated swim platform with matted decking to keep your equipment and gelcoat from getting dinged if they drop. And because looks are half of what make the heads turn on the lake, Chaparral offers a wide selection of colors to complement the xtreme graphics package are just the ticket.



With a sunpad that converts to a chaise, this could very well be the most comfortable spot on the boat. No rails though, so slip into the cockpit while underway.

Xtremely functional layout...

There are no big surprises in the layout, short of the cool aft sunpad that has a back that converts to a chaise… always a nice touch. Dual Dura-Flex suspension pedestal seats have flip up bolsters, and rotate around to give a comfortable observers spot to keep an eye on the end of the towline.

L-shaped seating across the stern and the usual arrangement of bow seating all give a sportboat feel to the xperience. We love the integrated cooler in the bow as well as the removable 25 quart cooler aft. The grab rails at the bow are high enough to be comfortable while hanging on, being placed right where ones hands rest. The swim ladder is three-step, but with no grab rail to hoist yourself onboard.



And of course the Xtreme options...

We think the boat is nicely equipped, but there’s always room for improvement, and Chaparral seems to agree. What Chaparral call its “Premium” package adds docking lights, pull up cleats (8), and a bow scuff plate (add $477). The cockpit and bow table with side mount bases are great for when you are taking a well-deserved break from the action (add $341).

You’ll definitely want the premium speaker upgrade with amp and subwoofer (add $1,627) as well as the two tower speakers (add $953). We’d give serious thought to the auto fire extinguisher (add $286), and for that xtreme look at night, underwater lights are the rage these days(add $1,374). And no boat should be without dual batteries (add $276), especially if you go with the speaker upgrade that will have the tunes going long after the engine is turned off.



Note the logo matted decking on the sunpad. That’s sure to keep your equipment from getting banged up as well as keep you from slipping off into the drink un-xpectedley. The swim ladder is three step, but note that there’s no grab handle at the top to haul yourself out with. Did she even get in all the way? Her ponytail is still dry! (We bet the water was cold!)

There’s also Perfect Pass (add $1,264). This is a nifty little device that lets you dial in the speed you -- or the person on the towline -- wants and holds it there without you having to deal with micro adjustments on the throttle. It’s also driven by GPS, not a paddlewheel at the transom, so it’s much more accurate, and therefore responsive, in the turns. It’s also more reliable than a paddlewheel which is problematical at best. Our experience with Perfect Pass has shown it to be a very effective, and great workload-easing feature.

Specifications...

The Chaparral 204 Xtreme has a LOA of 20’6” (6.25 m), a beam of 8’ 4” (2.54 m), and a draft of 32” (81cm). Her dry weight is 3,550 lbs (1,610 kg), and she carries 35 gallons (132 L) of fuel. We have not done a test on this boat yet, so there are currently no test numbers. But we look forward the Chaparral asking us to test their new boat.

By all appearances, the Chaparral 204 Xtreme looks like it’s going to be an xtremely popular boat with both the serious, as well as the casual watersports crowd. New ones are hitting the dealerships soon at a base price of $48,834. With her standard features and a few choice options the boat should be xcellent, hopefully she performs as well as she looks. And that’s xactly what boating is about. Isn’t it xciting?