Found a Checkmate in a barn

[FCnLa]

'87 Checkmate,16'-17', rated for a 140, bow rider, crap interior, 115 towering inferno hanging on the back, very low time, a little TLC and it will look killer!:D

Is it worth it? Figure $1000 and it will be ready to go........Starcraft just is not my style. :o

How much is it worth?

Don't worry, I have a 2.6L XP Rude that could go on the back.:eek:

[Instigator]

Depending on condition of motor, cosmetics etc.
Probably bring $3500. - $4K up here in excellent shape.
I'll go $500.:eek:

[86check17]

I own a 1986 17ft diplomat, open bow, average condition, 135 merc on the back. No major work was needed, just clean up. I paid $3800 last year.

[FCnLa]

Any idea what they called it? Could not find any names on it, accept the "Checkmate" on the stearing wheel. Is it a Diplomat too?

It is covered in dust. Gel is in good enough condition to buff out no problemo. Interior is the worst part. Some of the seat covers are shot.

I was thinking in the $500 range. :cool:

Thanks guys!!!:)

[TRIADTRUE]

:cool: I just sold my 83 Checkmate Sportsfire Closedbow,titled as
17' ,but my tape measured 15'4'' ,good int/ext. except back seatcovers need some TLC.Allguages worked ,rigged for OMC.Keeping 96 3.0 venom.Sold to friend with trlr,hotfoot,man.jackplate $800.oo



sea ya,

TRIADTRUE:cool:

This was not a "look what I found in your ass" joke.... :D

Checkmate in the Barn.....;) :rolleyes: my first thoughts were ouch, then what were you looking for anyway....:D :D

[FCnLa]

I might have been looking for "Fluffy" (my sheep),......but actually I was in the loft with Peggy Sue rolliing in the hay!:D

[Talon2.5]

aha i wondered where peggy sue was all day!!!

sounds like ya found something there! hows the floor?

500 would be a good start on a new boat ;)

[FCnLa]

Floor is solid, transom is too. No gouges or messed up rub rail. Other hardware is good exept for the grap rails are a little tweeked. Can straighten. Steering is locked up tighter than a well digger's ###. Not going to use single cable with V6 anyway.

Largest expense is going to be the interior. A LOT of pieces. Most of the wood is rotting, but have enough to make patterns.

It might be worth more than $500. Especially it it didn't have that black thang on the back!!!:eek:

[FCnLa]

It has a pad, although it is narrow. How will it handle with 200+ horse power on the back?

[84exciter]

try a 28 chopper.handle like a SR-71(bat outta hell,thirty miles to turn around)lol. it will chine walk so get it up on the pad.you'll need a jack,prop with a lot of rake,and keep the steering tight.
HAVE FUN&BE CAREFUL



p.s. 16'=predictor
16'=enticer
17'=sportfire
17'=diplomat

[Jimbo_152]

Bought an 87 17ft w/ 94 merc 115 for 1500.00 Int was shot but did myself (except for the buckets) for around 500. Stock everything but motor was good.gel coat is shot........everything worked. Good luck

[ShipBear]

I'm with Barney on this one..
WHAT were you doing in that barn ?? Sounds kinky to me..!!

Later Larry :rolleyes:

[mr fun]

we had a copy from Hurst of a 15 or 16 checkmate w/short shaft 150 inline 6 and it handled like it wanted to go out of control w/o, we drag raced it and from idle to about 3/4 wide open it was a bullet but trying to squeeze the last bit out it would start wierd gyrations from side to side and get worse with each swing, a HANDFUL. friekin dangerious! that is to much motor for the design, you said it early in your posts, good "looking" boat. if you want to flip it over and "blueprint" the bottom i'm sure some bad behavior could be tamed. there was a guy on the old site called "OLD BAJA" and i'm pretty sure this another nock off of that hull, look at the pictures if you can find that feature and you can see what that may take. i have a 19 action (hydrostream copy) that would handle that motor, actually needs that much power, w/totally gone through trailer i would probably take 2000. for. solid garage kept rig, my 2 liter just makes it mosey, that thing would make it scream, interior good and alot safer at high end. 904 249 5139 if interested. fun out.:cool:

[ShipBear]

If I remember right, "OLD BAJA" added a Pad to his hull..

I have the Info saved someplace..
I think he also said his was a heavy hull..
I had one years ago, beautiful hull..had a 125 Merc on it, With a top end Prop..It ran good till it got way up on it's Vee..
Then I couldn't hold it.. But I loved that boat..

Later Larry..:D

[FCnLa]

Thanks for the info!

It does have a pad, but it is narrow. I might widen it......? I already have a jackplate with 6" of set back...will this be enough? The boat is pretty much mine.....no one knows where it is and negotiations continue.

It appears to be heavy too. I cannot believe it has so many interior pieces.

Oh and ShipBear........you just don't know Peggy Sue!!!!!;)

Barnyard sounds turn her on!!! :eek: :D ;)

[Instigator]

Checkmates are heavy, but bullet proof boats!
That boat will run with the pad the way that it is.
I ran a '69 16' closed bow with a round keel and 140 flow.
It ran out of wheel at 60 but was one of the most fun to drive boats I ever owned!!
Since the interior's already shot any how, take that crap out of the bow and throw it in the dumpster where it belongs!
Make a cover for the bow and buld you a sleeper!
If you run a V-6 OMC, 6" set back is probably good.
You will have to be able to drive a "pad" bottom up top to get it there, but with proper rigging and wheels, I'd guess 80 with every thing right.
Back to the weight issue. Mine did'nt have the weight of the interior in the bow,but it felt like you could blow it over at 60 if you tried. It was a hoot!
Gary

[ShipBear]

Hey check this out.... It might help..

http://www.screamandfly.com/screamandfly/old_baja.htm

Old Baja (http://www.screamandfly.com/screamandfly/old_baja.htm)

Later Larry :D

[mr fun]

you can secure the talents of the feller in the "BIBED OVERALLS"!:p fun out.

[FCnLa]

Thanks ShipBear. I remember that article. I will have to go back and check it out.

How close are the Checkmate and the Baja's?

[Instigator]

The very first Baja's were actually built from outdated molds leased from Checkmate.
Never really thought the quality was the same though.
Rumors of chopper guns at Baja.
Been through the Cmate factory, and I can tell you their aint none there!
The factories are about 5 mins away from each other though.

[FCnLa]

did ya?

[FCnLa]

Inside

[FCnLa]

Towering Inferno

[86check17]

Looks exactly like my boat (1986 diplomat)!! Enjoy

[Talon2.5]

my god how long has that been sitting? 85 or so?

looks like it will clean up though!!!

[WharfRat]

holy sheep s***, iffin' you can pick that up for a grand or less thats a steal:eek:

[Scott]

Thats a great resto project. In better shape than my Baja was when I picked it up.
I do see some Baja lines, Im bettin' Instigators correct on the Check=Baja molds.

[FCnLa]

Got it for a steal!

Yep, looks like a Baja...Hand rails look just like Old Baja's....Exept mine are bent!:p

Going to try to get it going with the tower of power! :eek: Just to see what it will do. ;)

Then I'll have to put the 235 on it.......

oops, I mean the 150 XP!:eek:

[ShipBear]

Hey Man that looks like a Party ready to happen..!!!

I bet Peggy Sue was PO'ed after she found out y'all were in the barn to look at a boat..!! hee hee

Later Larry :D

[mr fun]

looks good, is that a hole in the deck on starbord bow area? yep now all you need are some bikinis to sit in all the places to sit.:D fun out.

[Doubledog]

Great lookin even with the dust on it. Proud for you and can't wait to see more of it.

[Scott]

What ya gonna' do wit the 115?

[Charlie M]

I'm a new member here, joined after being picked on for my 200GT I have for sale. Anyways I have a 1980 16' Checkmate I sold last year and I am reselling for the guy. I sold it with a 150 Yamaha and he did not like the excessive power, and repowered with a (present power) 1991 125 Force (I know ouch). I have had a 200 cross-charged OMC on the boat, it ran in the 70's but was a handful. I would only run this with a V-6 in my opinion but some people would not like the squirlyness. If by chance anyone is interested I can sell the boat with an alternative power I have a good selection of motors. Charlie

[FCnLa]

I know it will be squirley, but it ought to come out of hole like a scalded ape and pull up a barefooter from a deep water start.

I think it will buff out. Working 7-14's now, so I don't have time to mess with it.

Oh, and that hole, I figured it would be easier to replace it than to pull all those stickers and goo off!;)

Me thinks it will be easier to pick up bikinis with this one compared to the boat on my avitar! Room for 5 + myself!

Thanks!:)

[DiecastiC]

if anyone has old baja's article on how he put a pad on his boat please post it, i want to get an idea of how to put a pad on my diplomat

[175checkmate]

Does it have a tri hull. The top half looks the same as mine.

[DiecastiC]

fcnla... thats definetely a diplomat... looks just like mine did before i crashed it... if i were u i'd keep it, but if u don't have the room its definetely worth more than a $1000, even without the motor, especially in that condition, mine was a mess when i got it, i finally got it too look hot, about 5 weeks before i crashed it--- but i had a 150 on the back-- with a 115 it should be a lot more stable... and like instigator said... its bullet proof... trust me i know--- damn... if it were only a little closer i'd pay $1000 without the motor.... no questions asked