Just Finished My Checkmate Mx-15 (pics)

[supergenius74]

Ok I started this post because someone suggested I do it to try and find other MX owners and hopefully swap info about this boat. Ok a little info, Alot of the boat has been gone over and fixed/replaced and that includes the whole transom. I re-built the powerhead and gave it some new pistons, the engine is a '75 johnson 135 and the boat is a '73 checkmate mx-15. She is a wild ride and is plenty fast for me. The bow bounces around alot at higher speeds 40+ and my prop is a michigan wheel 13" x 19p and i crank about 4500 rpm so far. Well enough about the boat here are some pics, by the way I really like purple. Any comments or suggestion are appreciated.

[supergenius74]

Here is another pic.

[supergenius74]

and another picture, sorry guys, I'm just really proud of all my work and want to show it off a litte.

[delawarerick]

Really looks good. Does that have a pad? And whats up with the engine that should run in the low 60s at least. Rick

[175checkmate]

Great looking mate. Now all you need is a water pressure gage and a jack plate to get the motor up higher on the transom.

[10.5' Tunnel]

Great looking boat:cool: I gotta ask you, where did you find that checkmate decal along the side? They sure do like to bounce a lot as soon as you go over that 40 mph mark. If you don't have a foot pedal i would recommend one strongly, it helps tame these beasts;) I was just wondering, have you done any modification to the top side at the back? On mine it isn't rounded over like that. Ill have pics of mine this coming wknd, what kinda speeds are you getting?

[at100plus]

Say goodbye to your savings account, you're about to make friends that will cost you some money!

There are boats on here that will probably blow your mind. If you think 40 mph can get wild, say hello to guys who wanna go faster at 120+

Your boat probably can run close to 60 is my guess.

Give us you max rpm and gear ratio and we can calculate what your top speed should be.

In order to do those speeds, you should have:

1 Dual cable steering or hydrualic
2 Safety lanyard kill switch
3 life jacket
4 foot throttle (recommended)

in addition

a transom jack as mentioned above will get that gearcase out of the water some. With that you need a water psi guage to monitor water intake. Then you can get that gearcase out of the water increasing both speed and handling. A nosecone and low water pickups would help that too.

Solid motor mounts will help handling more, and once you get that gearcase higher you'll probably want to try a chopper or other surface propeller.

After these simple and yes, expensive changes, you will think 60 is boring.

Looks great so far,

[175checkmate]

You hit the nail on the head. Friends on this board. Yep. Spend lots of money, yep. Tackle projects that you would not normaly do. Yep. Still getting it back together, Oh Yea.

[supergenius74]

wow I already got some good responses, this is going to be an on going project I can see that , no problem I have a 3-1/2 car garage and no kids yet. The checkmate sticker was done by a guy who hand traced the original that was on it before I re-painted it. He may be able to make more not sure I can ask. He did the checkmate and the checkered design on the deck and the boat numbers and checkmate logos on the back of the boat for 100 bucks. I plan on a jack plate and foot throttle, I've been reading alot on this site and learning more and more every day. im happy with speeds in the 40's for now. I'm taking it out early this saturday morning in hopes of finding some calm water to see what she can do. There is a large 1/4" thick aluminum plate on the back that I custom made to add strength to the transom. I haven't got her up to full speed yet, lake was too rough last weekend, tons of people since its one of the first nice weekends we've had up north here. Buddy of mine was with me with his GPS and clocked me at 42 but like I said that was in scary conditions. Once I get some solid numbers I will post them for you guys.

[Baja18]

Looks good, you did a great job on that resto. I like the checkered flag decals on top of the bow :cool:

[Scott]

Love the purple and the checkerd flag pattern! Great lookin' Checkmate!:cool: :D

[heath brinkley]

keep in mind supergenius74 has a ford logo by his name...60 may be faster than he's ever been (even in a car):D :D :D

JUST KIDDING!!!!:D :D

seriously, nice job on the boat. good motor too, best non v-6 you can buy, has alot of room for horsepower potential when (and if)you get bored with it. Looks like from the picture, you could stand to raise the motor even before you put low water pickups on it. You could also shave the heads for some (almost free and really easy) horsepower.Just keep your pressure reasonable for pump gas. I like 135 just in case you get some bad **** at the pump, some guys go higher. Good luck, have fun, and be safe.

[heath brinkley]

As far as raising your motor goes. You can get a new manual jackplate for 150-250. keep your eyes open on this site though, I've seen them sell for $50 and less. One was givin away free a couple months ago. I had a hydraulic plate on my first boat and realized once you have the motor where you want it, you never move it. All I buy now are manual plates. Cheaper, lighter, and no electrical or motor problems to worry about.

[supergenius74]

It's alright heath, I catch alot of flack from my friends, I just love their trucks. On a side note I have gone rather fast before, I use to own 2000 ZX9R (ninja) that was rejetted with a muzzy pipe and it would top out at 180 mph! and yes I did that a couple times. I have also rode in tunnel hulls over 80 mph before and it scared the poop out of me. Seems like moving over water feels so much faster, 45 feels like 90 and so on. I do plan on getting a jackplate but not till this winter (winter project) and as for engine mods im gonna hold off and let this one break in for a while. I think I will get a water pressure guage, seems like a good way to protect your motor. This is my first boat and its what I have always wanted, I like boats that look good and are easy to work on and put in and out of the water (I don't have a lake house).
Thanks so much on the compliments guys, I know alot of you have bigger faster and much more expensive boats than I do and it means alot to hear you compliment me and my little mate. :-)

[GRH]

I owned a '73 MX15.... I hate to say it but in 1975... I ran a Merc 155XS on a home made jack plate(they didn't have hydrolic back then) I took all the seats out ... made it a center steer.... ran a 14x26 2 blade stainless prop..... hot foot & homemade trim bottons the floor.... boat ran an honest 70mph! Man what a ride! I loved that boat.... broke a lot of jet boaters hearts with that little rocket.... believe it or not.... it was metalic purple! Thanks for your post.... it brought back great memories....

[Shaneskater24]

Originally posted by GRH
I owned a '73 MX15.... I hate to say it but in 1975... I ran a Merc 155XS on a home made jack plate(they didn't have hydrolic back then) I took all the seats out ... made it a center steer.... ran a 14x26 2 blade stainless prop..... hot foot & homemade trim bottons the floor.... boat ran an honest 70mph! Man what a ride! I loved that boat.... broke a lot of jet boaters hearts with that little rocket.... believe it or not.... it was metalic purple! Thanks for your post.... it brought back great memories....

memories are all you've got GRH!:p :o ;)

[GRH]

Originally posted by Shaneskater24
memories are all you've got GRH!:p :o ;)

Winning Memories:D And you?

[Shaneskater24]

Originally posted by GRH
Winning Memories:D And you?

Winning what? Road rage incidents? ;) :p

[heath brinkley]

cool

I had a friend with a ZX7, jetted,muzzy pipe, went down a tooth on the front sprocket, and added a air shifter. with the suspension strapped down went a best of 10.80. I loved those ZX's.

[GRH]

Originally posted by Shaneskater24
Winning what? Road rage incidents? ;) :p

:( You got me there..... fart once & they call you stinky the rest of your life!