Checkmate Pulsare 2400 with 300R performance

**TraceF3** · 05-12-2021, 07:22 AM

I recently refitted a 2007 Pulsare 24 with a Mercury 300R. It's the crawl through bow rider and I have a bow cover to stop the wind tunnel the design creates. She's barely broken in with about 8 hours. I did it by the book, <1 minute WOT before 5 hours etc.

Yesterday morning I found Lake George FL with almost no wind and a fairly calm flat surface. The prop is a ProMax 23p right out of the box.

I was able to get 72.5 mph on 3 separate attempts each time at 6400-6500 rpm but never clipped the limiter. I don't think there's much left.

I've read where the Bravo1 FS is more likely to create chine walk and I have to say there was very little with this prop and it was mostly manageable.

I am by no means an expert with this boat. I am still figuring out jack plate height and trim but I feel like I'm close to the sweet spot.

I'm curious to hear some recent performance numbers from the same hull and motor with other propellers.

Also Wildman Randy has agreed to wring it out to see if there's more sometime soon so we'll see.

**wicheckmate** · 05-12-2021, 07:30 AM

i'd check your tack because you are probably clipping it just barely... I'd bump up to a 24 promax and see what that does as it sounds like you might be a hair on the small side pitch wise

**TooStroked** · 05-12-2021, 06:12 PM

I've got to believe there's a lot more to be had. I used to run Checkmates, so I know a little bit about them. My other reference point is my 22 Progression with only a 250R on it. I'm 2 feet shorter and certainly lighter, but I'm also down 50 HP on you. But I'm turning a 30 pitch BBlades Blaster 4 blade and I'm almost on the limiter - at 88 MPH. And that's with very little playing with setup. I think Randy will find you something.

**TraceF3** · 05-12-2021, 06:30 PM

2 feet shorter, 800 pounds lighter, 7 inches narrower, 50 hp less. Apples and oranges.

But I hope you're right. The only other 2400 I see with any recent data is saying 72 mph. There's a 24 with a 400 claiming 80.

**TraceF3** · 05-12-2021, 06:31 PM

2 feet shorter, 800 pounds lighter, 7 inches narrower, 50 hp less. Apples and oranges.

But I hope you're right. The only other 2400 I see with any recent data is saying 72 mph. There's a 24 with a 400 claiming 80.

Then there is this thread:

2014 Checkmate Pulsare 2400 top speed help... (screamandfly.com)

**2.5-21** · 05-12-2021, 07:38 PM

What gear ratio is your 300? are you running a torque master or sport master?

**TraceF3** · 05-13-2021, 06:21 AM

Tm 1.75

**Greg G** · 05-13-2021, 06:25 AM

That is a "fat" case to be dragging through the water. Wildman will know for sure but you may not get much more.

**DOUBLE J** · 05-13-2021, 06:25 AM

I have a long deck Pulsare 2400 with a 300XS. The best I've run has been 78.2.

**2.5-21** · 05-13-2021, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by Greg G

That is a "fat" case to be dragging through the water. Wildman will know for sure but you may not get much more.

I set up a 350 Verado on a 23 Kryptonite with a stock 5.44 TM and it was nearly surfaced and all stock water holes were wide open and had tons of water pressure...... boat ran 88mph without blowing out. (A mercury Engineer said they never ran one above 86 without blowing out)

**mjw930** · 05-13-2021, 06:48 AM

Interesting thread. I have a Key West 210BR (pad bottom bay reef) running a 250 ProXS 4S with a 23P Bravo 1FS and it’s seen 71 @ 6200 (limiter) light and it’s a handful at that speed. I’d love to get together and swap props since my experience with the ProMax on the Talon tells me it may settle my KW down.

There’s also some speed available if you plug some of the holes on the side intakes. The original TM2 lower came with 3 holes per side, they changed that to 5 since a number of the bass boat guys were dragging the lower though weeds and clogging the low pickup and overheating the motor. I plugged the top 2 holes and run it 1” higher than I could before and that got me over the hump from 65 mph to 70. You just have to be careful, running it high for speed will starve the motor in turns real fast. I have an adjustable plate so I run it low most of the time but have a mark on the gauge for balls out

**wicheckmate** · 05-13-2021, 08:12 AM

The long deck is a decent amount lighter than the mid or BRX model.... I wonder how much set back and how high he is running.

**DOUBLE J** · 05-13-2021, 08:31 AM

Running 18" of set back currently. Was running 20" for awhile. Lower unit is about 2.5" -2 1/4 " below pad. I have run 28 Bravo 1, 27 Tempest Plus and 25 Trophy Plus.

**wicheckmate** · 05-13-2021, 09:13 AM

Have you tried going up at all?? With that much setback it seems like that could go up in height.

**DOUBLE J** · 05-13-2021, 11:37 AM

I have a hydraulic jack plate on boat. So, yes I have tried to run at higher heights.. These boats are heavy and running any higher the boat wants to squat. I wouldn't call the Checkmate 2400 a surface piercing prop type of boat. That's why you run the torque master lower unit not a sportmaster on them. I also have an Allison and the set up is totally different between the two.