1979 Checkmate Predictor Project

[Check_Jo3]

Not pretty but I don't have a welder to make a metal plate with a tube. Shout out to tnelson for this setup. I was able to crank the back up off the trailer without much effort. I have a come along for the front with a sling. Should be able to flip it over soon. The pad went back to relatively straight where the roller was pressing up on it. Hopefully, that means everything is soft enough to rip out easily. Just have to get it in the garage now.

Also gives an idea of how far back the jack plate could be!

[rock]

Nice project. Keep it going. Checkmates are fun boats and a Trimate 3 is what got into this godawful hobby.

Rock

[Check_Jo3]

Got the hull off the trailer and flipped over with surprisingly minimal cussing and frustration. Now it's time to build the cradle. The hull has little support as the 1 center stringer is all mush and falling out. the floor is mostly fallen out in the rear. A ski pole mount was bolted through the floor and held in with drywall anchors that someone put in. The hull is rough. There are stress cracks galore and some seriously sketchy-looking repairs on the back of the pad. Looks like a hole was torn practically clean thru the bottom... yikes. But this hull was cheap.. hopefully, I won't regret that. In the grand scheme of things, this is probably less than 1% of the overall project but this felt like a big win today flipping this solo. Got the pipe in the back in a great spot and the hull almost flipped itself over with minimal pulling. Had to use the come-along, a hoist, the pipe stand, and a floor jack but I got it down on some tires basically drama free. My rigging strap was definitely overkill and barely fit thru the bow eye. Might get a smaller one for next time.

[Instigator]

Nicely done!

Especially by yourself!

[Check_Jo3]

Started measuring a few things to get the cradle going and the pad goes out about 32" before it starts to become a vee. Should the flat area be longer?

[JV1]

Very cool, you’re giving me some ideas, thanks!!

[tnelsmn]

Looks like a great project! a 32" pad sounds about right.

[Check_Jo3]

Got going on the cradle. My wife and I just had our 2nd child last week so that will slow things down a bit.. but I am on paternity leave so maybe not? I squeeze out to the garage when its naptime and try and make any progress I can . Picked up (6) pieces of 3/4" ply wood some 2x6 and 2x4 for support. (~$330). Again, thanks to tnelson for the inspiration on this cradle technique. I've got plenty of measuring to do.. 80-couple measurements (every 1/2") from the center of the pad out to the side. I'll mirror that over and then repeat for each of the bulk heads. Originally thought to space them 16" but am thinking about spreading them a bit farther out to get more support. Any progress is good progress right now!

[Check_Jo3]

Bit of a setback today. After a bunch of time measuring the first bulkhead of the cradle did not turn out with the accuracy that I expected. 100% on me as this method has proven to be successful with others before. I mirrored one side onto the other which made things worse but there are just too many gaps. May have to scrap this one and try again. Starting to think that for me a better idea may have been to make a 'tub' of sorts an then use structural foam to make a cradle as it rising would conform to the bottom. One cool thing that turned up is that this hull has a different deadrise between the strakes.

[Instigator]

On your jig, or cradle, build it straight, level, square and true.
Bolt it to the floor of your shop/garage then strap your hull to it.

Keep in mind, your hull probably won’t like it.
Rotted stringers and setting on an out of align trailer for the last 20 yrs??

I did a Hydrostream yrs ago that one side of the hull hoverd 2” above on starboard side even though port side sat flat on the jig.

I through some pixie dust over my shoulder and strapped it down!

Turned out to be an amazing boat when done!

Sorry for lack of follow up/support on your project but you have stumbled on what was once the premier hot rod OB website of the world but has desolved into a cesspool of political crap, same as many other gear head websites.

[Check_Jo3]

Thanks for thr reply! Yea tonight was one of those "better just walk away for the day and try again with a new plan tomorrow". Got one of those contour tools coming that should help with more accurate profiling of the strakes and what not.
I can't speak to how the site used to be.. I've always been kinda tire kicker on here just reading away for years and years. But hopefully we can put some of that other stuff aside and just focus on going fast!

[Instigator]

Don’t reinvent the mouse trap.

Again, to go fast, make it straight and square.
The strakes, edges, angles etc, May no match.

Move on.

Make it strong, safe and bolt on a motor!

[Check_Jo3]

Slow and steady progress. My mess up (I was able to salvage most of the wood for different pieces thankfully) has made me have to rethink how to go about this. What I came up with is to break down the bottom into smaller, more manageable sections. The sections will overlap on the strakes. Then the sections will go together. This has also really given me more of an understanding of what is going on with the running surface. Flat pad.. 20 deg hull section.. then the first stake actually is not flat (I was surprised) its more like 2 degrees.. second hull section is 17 deg.. etc. pretty cool to figure out. Maybe it'll help me design my own boat one day . I'll keep plugging along here in between naps from not sleeping at night with the new baby lol.. Also still waiting on my aluminum plate for the pad support.. 10-15 day lead time.. ugh

[skialot2]

Life getting in the way of the fiberglass portion of this project. I've got the rest of the stuff stripped off the hull. I have a way to lift it so its ready to flip and get a cradle built. I am tinkering with the engine to light a fire under me. Took the oil injection off. and plugged the unneeded ports. Got the lower back on, and have it rigged up to fire on the stand. I did find this vacuum line that comes off the starboard side of the carb and it seems to come off of somewhere but cannot seem to find where it goes maybe someone can help? Also, how difficult is it to repair one of these cowlings? Tthe p/o cracked off the lip at the rear the holds the water seal on. I have been looking around to find another in decent shape that won't break the bank.
Attachment 518936

Hi that vacuum line is a vent line that is supposed to connect to the vent switch just below the spark plug on the starboard head. It connects to 1 port. The other port stays open.

[Check_Jo3]

Some cradle progress. Hull is not mirrored quite right from the factory one side strake is wider than the other side. I think I will be able to correct it some later on. I try to do a little whenever I get a chance. I have to finish up the pieces for the bottom up towards the bow, then the pieces that will keep the sides from flaring out when the top comes off.