Owners of runabouts, bowriders or trailer cabin boats wanting to step up used to be able to move to a small launch. There was a variety on offer: some were small flybridge models, while others were more sporty, giving rise to the term "sports launches".
The latter soon gained ascendancy, with names like Vindex and Genesis (and more latterly Rayglass) gracing what appeared from the outside to be "blown-up" trailer boats.
New Zealand was not alone in this trend; something similar was happening in Europe and the United States, too. However, in recent years, the sports launches or sports cruisers in those areas have undergone another transformation.
It began in Europe - especially around the wealthy waters of the Mediterranean - and is now taking hold along the coasts and around the large lakes across the Atlantic.
In the US, at least, these vessels are now being described as "super sportsboats" and the main difference between them and their predecessors is that, while they are generally around 10m or a little larger and live in marinas, rather than on trailers, they are unashamedly day boats.
Where the traditional sports launches often boasted two or even three cabins, these modern versions have little or no accommodations.
They are, instead, designed for hosting a day out - rather than overnight or for a weekend - and offer more style and a greater cruising range than their smaller, trailer-bound counterparts.
In Europe and the US, this trend has been driven by the realisation that the boats they were building (cabins and all) were not being used the way the builders had thought they would be.
While the designers and builders were making cabins ever more luxurious and adding en suites, hanging lockers and elaborate chests of drawers, their customers were actually returning to the marina each evening - and bemoaning the lack of useable space on board during the day.
The initial result of this epiphany was that those forward-sleeping cabins were converted into comfortable dining areas, convertible sofas were replaced with built-in banquettes and heads and galleys were made a bit bigger.
However, the downside of all of this was that these re-jigged models were pretty damned expensive, especially as they were now only being used for day-tripping.
One of the US's leading powerboat manufacturers, Chaparral Boats, has now taken all this on board and set about creating a vessel more in tune with the needs and pockets of its likely owners.
The result is the Chaparral 327 SSX, and it is perhaps best described as a sports bow rider on steroids.
Measuring 9.91m LOA and with a beam of 3.05m, it boasts an offshore-capable 22-degree deadrise at the transom.
Powered with a pair of 380hp Mercruiser MAG MPI engines, running through Bravo III-X stern legs, it cruises happily at around 35 knots and has a top speed of over 55 knots.
There are actually nine engine options for the 327 SSX, ranging from twin 300hp 5.7-litre engines to twin 430hp 8.2-litre engines and a choice of MerCruiser or Volvo Penta models.
With its focus on fun in the sun, the Chaparral 327 SSX is packed full of outdoor recreation areas, yet still manages to incorporate a "downstairs" area, complete with a proper head - and even a sort of cabin.
Chaparral has left the bow and stern areas at the low level one would expect, while raising the middle section, with the driver's and main passenger seats, windscreen and bimini top.
This not only gives the skipper great all-round visibility, it also creates space below for what the company calls its mid cabin.
This faux timber-lined interior lies beneath the helm console, port console and the walkway from the cockpit to the bow and, although that makes it sound a little cave-like, it's actually surprisingly roomy.
There is 1.68m of headroom at the bottom of the companionway and in front of the door to the heads, with 1.16m under the walkway from the helm seats to the forward cockpit.
While this does require occupants to duck under the lower walkway to get from one side to the other, there is an impressive 1.82m of headroom on either side.
This highly innovative below-decks area contains a half hanging locker, a wet head, an entertainment console and comfortable lounge seating, which converts easily into a double berth.
Up for'ard, there is no shortage of places to sit or stretch out comfortably, and there are lots of those little touches - arm bolsters, drink holders and the like - that the Americans seem to do so well. There is also no shortage of padded backrests and, under the seats, a plethora of handy lockers and bilge-draining ice bins.
Further aft, it is more of the same, only more so.
There is an aft-facing seat that electrically flattens into a sun pad, another lounger along the port side, a handy table over on starboard and a deep stowage compartment which boasts plenty of room for wakeboards, skis and inflatable water toys.
Chaparral has also cleverly included many options as standard. Therefore, the hardtop, the automatic engine room fire-extinguishing system, the powered stern seating system, the powered engine hatch and the kevlar in the hull are all part of the standard package.
However, that doesn't mean an enthusiastic owner can't customise their boat; they definitely can. Among the choices offered are a 3kW generator and air-conditioning system, or a wet bar and refrigerator, instead of the standard seat.
Whether one chooses the standard boat or one of the upgraded models, there is no doubt that the Chaparral 327 SSX is something of a game-changer.
This innovative creation offers a real stepping-stone from trailer powerboat to small launch and does so at a level that will surprise many.
With a base price of around $290,000, increasing to around $320,000, depending on engine choice and options, the Chaparral 327 SSX will clearly require a second look from those trying to decide between a large trailer boat and a small launch.
Chaparral 327 SSX
LOA: 9.91m
Beam: 3.05m
Draft: .98m (legs down)
Displacement: 4445kg
Deadrise at transom: 22 degrees
Construction: GRP, kevlar, foam-filled composite
Engines: Twin 380hp Mercruiser MAG MPI
Maximum speed: 51.1 knots
Cruising speed: 34.8 knots
Fuel capacity: 568 litres
Water capacity: 95 litres
Price: From about $290,000
Want to know more?
Check out the comprehensive boat review on the Chaparral 327 SSX in the January/February issue of Pacific Powerboat magazine.
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