After high school at the Norwich Free Academy, he studied naval architecture and marine engineering at Cornell University, graduating in 1905.

Chapman then settled in Manhattan and joined the New York Motor Boat Club where he later became commodore.

[1] Chapman was active in powerboating and racing and, in 1912, was brought to the attention of William Randolph Hearst who hired him to edit Motor Boating magazine which he did for 56 years.

In 1914, Chapman was among ten men who founded the United States Power Squadrons.

[1] In later years, while living in Plandome, Long Island, he was Commodore of the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club.