Sad News for Checkmate boats

**delawarerick** · 11-04-2019, 08:07 AM

I had a 16ft bowrider with an inline 6 ran the dog poo out of it even went under and through a wave in Boca inlet and it still kept going. Sold the boat and about ever year or year and a half it comes up for sale on craigslist.

**JasonRS** · 11-04-2019, 08:45 AM

Man that is sad news, we have 5 in our family. I have a Champion and a Checkmate, both outta business now, damn

**largecar91** · 11-04-2019, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Greg G

I'd chop my toe off before I owned a Toon. The landlord at Checkmate must have been a real gem to put a legend out of business for a rent roll increase.

. Never say never. I always said I would have to be dead before I bought a Toon. This year(after health issues) I sold my new Talon 22 and bought a Playcraft 2600 xtreme. I absolutely love it. Rated for 15 people. I use it all the time. I have always had fast boats and raced boats for years so this is quite the change. I will put another lake rocket together in the next year or two to satisfy the itch. It is sad about Checkmate. I have had several over the years. I bought my 1st Checkmate race boat in 1974(a MX-14 with a 140 inline shortshaft). I have a soft spot in my heart for Checkmate. They will always be an iconic brand.

**allstock** · 11-04-2019, 11:06 AM

Sad day, glad i already own one!

**bbezok** · 11-04-2019, 11:26 AM

Very sad day for sure, owned an Enticer back in the 80's and when I purchased my dream of a house on a lake 4 years ago, the first thing i did was search out another Checkmate because there was going to be no Toon boat at my dock unless they were visiting! Great people at Checkmate, always answered any and all questions, they will be missed for sure.

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**2.5-21** · 11-04-2019, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by 89LASER

That phone number is for Hustler Powerboats in Calverton NY on Long Island.

http://www.hustlerspeedboats.net/speedwear/index.php

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hu...!4d-72.7966145

Gotta Wonder if they might become the new owners! Cant imagine a place like here would be cost effective to build boats..... Highest property taxes in the country!

**89LASER** · 11-04-2019, 03:44 PM

I know they had bought some of the Checkmate molds, I don't know if they are moving or just not going to build them anymore. I guess there's no demand for them. Take one of the molds, redesign the deck into a center console and have one fast center console.

**bearclaw** · 11-04-2019, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by 2.5-21

Gotta Wonder if they might become the new owners! Cant imagine a place like here would be cost effective to build boats..... Highest property taxes in the country!

I actually thought they were part owners already? I remember the PR when it happened a few years ago, talking about the mutual benefit of Hustler's line being mostly 28-30 ft. and up, while Checkmate's products were all below that. Guess all that doesn't matter if the market isn't there (OR, if you don't know how to market your product to its potential audience).

I think they wanted to go a route similar to Baja/Fountain. I see Baja seems to be building boats, after an interruption that I thought would be permanent.
But the Baja's I see on their webpage are a far cry from what they used to make.

It would be nice to think that someone would buy them out intact, and figure out how to sell them.
But that's probably unlikely. It would require someone with deep pockets to spend some of their money pretty irrationally, at least at first.
Probably not gonna happen.

**derpid** · 11-04-2019, 04:42 PM

i hope that someone saves them. i mean what else is out there in a go fast BR? was less than thrilled when this news was dropped on friday.

**LakeFever** · 11-04-2019, 05:15 PM

Checkmate leaves a strong legacy as a quality boat that could really scoot. Sorry to hear

**mjw930** · 11-04-2019, 08:53 PM

Hustler (or technically their holding company, Global Marine) bought Checkmate lock stock and barrel in 2013, no partial ownership or anything like that. The number to call is their office in NY, makes sense since they own it all.

The Checkmate company everyone here loves went on life support in 2007 when the Combs family lost controlling interest and died in 2013 when Global Marine bought what was left after Doug Smith was unable to resurrect it.

**Greg G** · 11-04-2019, 08:55 PM

Sidebar from this thread but is "Hustler" even an on going firm? I have no idea and have not followed it.

**powerabout** · 11-04-2019, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by 89LASER

I know they had bought some of the Checkmate molds, I don't know if they are moving or just not going to build them anymore. I guess there's no demand for them. Take one of the molds, redesign the deck into a center console and have one fast center console.

you would think with such a good reputation they would have done that?