2020 Chaparral 297 SSX Boat in Gilford, NH 03249 US
Built in 2020
297 SSX
1 Engine (MercCruiser)
29 feet
Gas
Fiberglass/Reinforced
This one owner Chaparral has been used here on Lake Winnipesaukee. It has been well maintained, and it shows. Powered up well with its MercCruiser 8.2 (430 HP), and with low hours (226 Hours). The 297 SSx came well equipped with many features that would be considered options on other boats. This is a perfect boat for the lake, with no compromises.
The 297 SSX is an open and large cockpit boat. modern and stylish in design, performance, and function. The helm features an all new glass dash with dual touch screen displays. The cockpit is open, spacious and features a multi-position sun lounger aft. The open concept design carries forward into the bow area which features hinged storage beneath luxuriously appointed upholstery. Chaparral went to great lengths to create a powerful and agile craft that glides through the water with minimal noise.
- Loom Wrapped Wiring
- Power Assisted Steering with Tilt Wheel
- Rack & Pinion Steering
- Stainless Steel Panels with Illuminated Switches and Water Resistant DC Breakers
- Twin Simrad NSS7 EVO3 Chartplotter/Multifunction Display Includes: 7
- Windshield Wiper - Starboard
- Enclosed Fiberglass Head Compartment
- LED Lighting
- Lighting - 12 Volt
- Molded Fiberglass Head Door
- Opening Portlight with Screen
- Porta-Pottie
- Upper Storage Cabinet
- Vanity Cabinet - Lower
- Vanity Solid Surface Countertop with Stainless Steel Sink, Faucet/Pull-Out Shower Wand
- Wood Flooring
- Aft Bench Seating with
- Bow Cushions - Hinged with Storage Compartment Underneath
- Bow Ice Chest (Insulated)
- Bow Walk-Thru Door
- Carry On Cooler with Dedicated Storage - 36 Quart
- Cockpit Drainage System (CDS) with Self Bailing Fiberglass Liner
- Cockpit LED Lighting
- Cockpit Table with Dedicated Storage and Side Mount Bases in Cockpit and Bow
- Custom Molded Interior - Vinyl Wrapped Fibergalss Side Panels
- DC Power Plug - 12volt
- Diamond Pattern Non-Skid - Exclusive
- Drawer and Large Storage in Dash Walkway
- Dual USB Charging Ports
- Electrically Actuated Engine Room Hatch
- Fiberglass Molded Bowrider Area
- Hand-Stitched Interior Upholstery
- Interior Color Packages: Dune, Slate, Black or Blue
- Lockable Glove Box Door
- Molded-In Footrest
- Premium Expanded Cockpit Vinyl with Stain Resistant Topcoat
- Premium Stereo System: AM/FM Bluetooth, 4 Channel Amp, Aux Port, and Controller
- Recessed Transom Door
- Sirius Satellite Tuner And Antenna
- Stainless Steel Bow Rails
- Stainless Steel Cockpit Grab Handles
- Stainless Steel Drink Holders
- Starboard Premium Helm Seat - Slides and Rotates with Exclusive Seat Levers
- StarLite Seat Bases with Flow Foam
- Storage in Floor with Large Hinged Fiberglass Hatch and Rubber Mat
- Storage Under Starboard Helm with Protective Mat
- U-Shaped Aft Seating with Hinged Cushions
- Ultra Comfort Helm Seats - Port and Starboard
- Water Resistant Speakers with Stainless Steel Covers (6)
- Wrap Around Stainless Steel Walk-Through Windshield with Custom Supports
- 100% Perma Panel Marine Coring
- Aluminum Fuel Tank - 100 Gallons
- Anchor Hull Guard
- Anchor Locker with Molded Lid
- Battery Trays
- Bilge Pump - Automatic
- Brass Threaded Garboard Drain Plug
- Custom Molded Bilge Intake Vents
- Dual Battery Setup with Crossover Switch
- Electric Horn
- Extended Fiberglass Swim Platform
- Extended V-Plane Hull
- Heavy Duty Bilge Blower
- Jump Start System
- Kevlar Re-Inforced Hull Laminate
- Large Stainless Steel Transom Grabrail with Integral Ski Tow
- Lifetime Limited Hull Warranty
- Navigational Lights - LED
- NMMA Certified
- Premium Hydropel Resin
- Pressurized Fresh Water System (Head)
- PVC Rubrail with Stainless Steel Insert
- Stainless Steel Hardware, Including Electro Polished Thru-Hull Fittings, Large Bow and Stern Eyes, and Flush Pull Latches
- Stainless Steel Pull Up Cleats (6) and (2) Fixed Cleats
- Stainless Steel, Four-Step, Hideaway Swim Platform Ladder
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
Price History
| Date | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8/18/26 | Initial price | $129,000 |
Chaparral 297 SSX: BoatTEST Review
Overview
The Chaparral 297 SSX is a newly designed open-concept day cruiser tailored for social boating with friends and family. This model features a modern layout and updated design elements that distinguish it within the Chaparral lineup, emphasizing both comfort and functionality for day cruising.
Exterior Design and Cockpit
The cockpit area of the 297 SSX is designed for maximum usability and social interaction, featuring wraparound seating that nearly encircles the space. Two forward seats can swivel to face the cockpit, enhancing group engagement. A pedestal table with integrated stainless steel drink holders adds to the functionality. The stern seating is particularly versatile, converting at the touch of a button into a sun pad measuring six feet four inches by three feet eight inches, or into a chaise lounge with multiple positions, including forward-facing. Comfort is a priority, with wraparound bolsters, multi-density foam cushions, double French stitching, and stainless steel drink holders and grab handles integrated into the bulwarks. Storage is ample, including a 35-quart carry-on cooler on the starboard side and additional compartments beneath the port side seating, which also houses a water toy inflator. The seats are hinged for easy access to storage.
Interior Living Spaces and Amenities
Forward seating includes seat-and-a-half width chairs with flip-up bolsters, extra padding, diamond stitching, and custom embroidery. Controls for seat adjustments are conveniently located on the sides. The helm area features a beautifully molded door with fabric accents and a separated glove box. Inside the console is a well-appointed head compartment with an electric toilet (optional pump-out), Corian countertops, a stainless steel sink with pull-out sprayer, an opening port light for ventilation, and shelving for storage. The design incorporates storage within storage, reflecting Chaparral's attention to detail.
Bridge and Helm Features
The helm panel received a comprehensive redesign, featuring a soft-touch dash with two integrated 7-inch multifunction displays that provide gauges, moving maps, and sonar with easy switching. Chrome push-button switches are lighted when active, and the helm includes a small cubby for a cell phone, accessory port, ignition, and a digital throttle and shift control. The steering wheel is custom-wrapped with a free-floating logo that remains upright regardless of wheel position, mounted on a tilt base. Both helm and passenger seats are seat-and-a-half width with side controls for rotation and sliding. The windshield closes off the helm area, with an air dam below that allows access to a storage drawer and an opening hatch leading inside the console.
Bow Area and Deck Features
The bow offers a spacious and safe seating area with traditional bow rider lounge seats that curve downward at the bottom, enhanced by flip-up armrests on both sides. Upholstery features multiple densities of fabric and diamond stitching. Bolsters rise 20 inches above the seats, wrapping around the bow for added safety. A removable cushion leads to a step up to the foredeck, beneath which is a self-draining integrated cooler. Grab rails and storage compartments are thoughtfully placed. The side-mount pedestal table can be transferred to the bow to increase versatility. Courtesy lighting is well integrated, and the foredeck includes two 6-inch pull-up cleats, a tension-hinged hatch accessing a Lumar windlass, and an anchor roller with safety chain and cleat. The navigation light is fully retractable.
Swim Platform and Additional Features
The swim platform extends 32 inches from the transom and includes an adjustable seat plus a single seat on the port side, combining for 65 inches of seating. A grab rail with an integrated toe point is located at the back, complementing a second elevated toe point on the collapsible tower, which also supports an integrated bimini top. The starboard side hatch conceals a four-step re-boarding ladder with an integrated grab handle. Stainless steel cleats are strategically placed to minimize tripping hazards, including a pull-up cleat on deck level. The Polk Audio stereo system includes a remote with an integrated trim switch.
Power and Performance
The 297 SSX is powered by a single 380-horsepower MerCruiser 8.2 engine paired with a Bravo 3 outdrive and a 24-pitch propeller. The boat measures 29 feet in length overall, with a 9-foot beam and a 38-inch draft. Its empty weight is 6,200 pounds, with an estimated test weight of 7,405 pounds including full fuel and three people aboard. Under test conditions of 86 degrees Fahrenheit and winds between 10 to 50 miles per hour, the boat reached a top speed of 48.1 miles per hour at 4,850 RPM. Subsequent testing under lighter conditions recorded a top speed of 50 miles per hour. The most efficient cruise was at 3,000 RPM, achieving 25.5 miles per hour with a fuel burn of 12 gallons per hour, yielding a range of approximately 191 statute miles while maintaining a 10% fuel reserve. The hull design features an extended V-plane and a flat running pad, enabling a smooth ride with minimal bow rise and quick planing times: 4.1 seconds to plane, 6.9 seconds to 20 mph, and 10.1 seconds to 30 mph. Handling is responsive and stable, with smooth transitions over wakes and precise turn-in characteristics.
Engine Compartment and Maintenance Access
Access to the engine compartment is provided by an electrically actuated hatch controlled from the helm. The engine bay houses the MerCruiser 8.2 engine with ample service space on both sides. Engine start and house batteries are securely mounted and easily accessible, facilitating routine maintenance.
Conclusion
The Chaparral 297 SSX combines a thoughtfully designed open layout with versatile seating, upscale finishes, and robust performance. Its spacious cockpit and bow areas accommodate social gatherings comfortably, while the advanced helm features and efficient powertrain deliver confident handling and respectable speed. Overall, the 297 SSX is a well-rounded day cruiser that balances comfort, functionality, and performance for enjoyable outings on the water.
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 2020 Chaparral 297 SSX | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $129,000 | $128,425 | $156,144 | $94,000 | $89,815 | $170,163 |
| Location | Gilford | Meredith | Meredith | Meredith | Meredith | Meredith |
| Nominal Length | 29' | 24' | 24' | 23' | 23' | 24' |
| Draft | 3' | - | - | - | - | - |
| Engine Make | MercCruiser | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Engine Power | 430 hp | - | - | - | - | 300 hp |
| Days on Market | 12 | 288 | 288 | 103 | 287 | 91 |
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Meet the Broker
Address
Boat Location
Contact Fay's Boat Yard, Inc. about 2020 Chaparral 297 SSX
1979 Lake Shore Rd, Gilford, NH, 03249
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