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The following review was written by John Page Williams, Editor-at-large, Chesapeake Bay Magazine. John, senior naturalist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, has been a regular contributor to Chesapeake Bay Magazine for 30 years, specializing in environmental issues, nature, wildlife, fishing and boats. He has been testing new and used boats for the magazine's Time-Tested and New Boat News departments since 1998.
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| APRIL 2011 |
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| Length overall 31' |
| Beam 10' |
Draft 3' 3" (drives down)
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Deadrise 19 degrees
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Weight 10,600 lb
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Fuel 125 gals
Water 40 gal
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Max. power 540 hp
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| Base Price $228,836 |
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Chaparral's 310 Signature Cruiser makes a good package for families or couples who want to cruise waters like the Chesapeake and its rivers. The extended V-plane hull pops onto plane easily with twin 270-hp small-block V-8s driving dual-propeller outdrives. Its moderate-V hull and wide reversed chines provide an easy, dry ride for passengers in the large, comfortable cockpit.
The transom offers a storage trunk, with an optional electrically operated rear bench that converts to a sunpad, with a wide swim platform just aft. With the cabin companionway on the port side, there's room for a two-person companion seat beside the helm chair. In front of the companion seat is a molded set of steps for easy access through the split windshield to the foredeck.
The cabin provides a roomy, comfortable island queen berth with privacy curtain, a dinette aft to port, opposite a galley and full head with shower. The dinette converts to a double bunk. Beneath the helm deck is an aft cabin with lounge that converts to a double berth with privacy curtain. The most ingenious feature here is the foot of the forward island berth, which retracts electrically to provide extra seating for the dinette.The $228,836 price tag includes twin 270-hp Volvo GXi 5.0 EVC (catalyst) DP inboard/outboard drives, a 5-kilowatt Onan gas generator, air conditioner, Garmin GPS/sounder with 12-inch display and linked DSC VHF radio. Chaparral Boats, Nashville, Ga., 229-686-7481; www.chaparralboats.com.
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