The New 26' twin O/B Checkmate

[Capt.Insane-o]

That is some heavy oil.

[Instigator]

Doh!

That is some heavy oil.

[Capt.Insane-o]

The outside of that boat yells old slab sided Baja, especially with the stripes.

[XstreamVking]

The steps are hideous....Whoever did that should be fired. Boat does look like the old checkmate and baja design. Nothing wrong with that, still one of the best looks out there.

[CUDA]

So just the 26ft boat is $100,000.00, Bruce Nescher (Sleekcraft Boats) was right, No money in small boats.

I forgot the story but didn't someone who worked for Checkmate break off and start Bahia boats?

I had a 24 Checkmate over 20 years ago, I was not impressed with its rough water ride, bigger is better offshore.

[moatorbotin]

I like the looks of it, but can't get over the price of it.

Also agree it kinda "feels like" hey we pretty much just built an old baja and slapped a bracket on it and called it new.

[Instigator]

Maybe but, makes it one of THE only closed bow cuddies w/access to the bow for anchoring etc.When the door slides closed the steps are in the center.
Has been done numorous times.


Baja began business making storage containers for Checkmate.
They then bought their old molds and started building boats.

If you look at the first Baja’s built, they were identical to 5 yr old Checkmates.
Both built in the same tiny Ohio town.

Doug Smith owned Baja and drive them in the dirt owing Merc a bazzilion dollars and basically gave the company to them against the debt he owed.

He then bought Checkmate.
And then drove them in the dirt.

Now owned by the boys in Fla.

The steps are hideous....Whoever did that should be fired. Boat does look like the old checkmate and baja design. Nothing wrong with that, still one of the best looks out there.

[mjw930]

Actually Checkmate is owned by Hustler out of NY and I believe all of the molds and the actual new boat production is no longer in Bucyrus. All that's left there is the upholstery shop, rigging and repair. I drove by there last summer and it was a ghost town.

[Instigator]

They are in the building in back and building boats.
I was just there.

Actually Checkmate is owned by Hustler out of NY and I believe all of the molds and the actual new boat production is no longer in Bucyrus. All that's left there is the upholstery shop, rigging and repair. I drove by there last summer and it was a ghost town.

[mjw930]

They are in the building in back and building boats.
I was just there.

Cool, good to see it. It was a ghost town in 2017 when we were there.

I trace my roots to that part of the country. My dad and Bill were friends back in the 50's before Checkmate was created. He told me stories about some of the first prototype's Bill built when he was starting his fledgling company. Too bad my dad isn't around any more, I miss those stories.

[JBS]

I wonder how many Checkmates they are selling?
Back in the day,Checkmate was a well respected and quality boat. Most of the owners I know,moved on to other type boats. I had a 23 outboard and really enjoyed it.

[HydroSkreamin]

I had Dean and crew do my interior, fill all the holes and regel my outer transom, and repair the cracks in the dash and paint it back in 2017. It came out awesome, I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out.

They also made the custom cockpit cover, with the faux windshield I asked for.

They consolidated into the back third of the original building and are busy.

[baja200merk]

That is some heavy oil.

Still the lightest 300s available and the only ones with a decent Gearcase or wingplate option.

[Greg G]

At $140,000 I will ........... take a used Sutphen Run Runner with a single hanging off the back and $110,000 in my bank account.

[Instigator]

When I was restoring my second Sonic, in Fla, outside, w/o shelter......., my wife go sick of my whining twice in that two yr stretch and took me to the Miami show to shop for new boats!
Twice.

Found A boat both times, both of them $130k+ and neither as nice a layout, for my needs, as the Sonic.

At $140,000 I will ........... take a used Sutphen Run Runner with a single hanging off the back and $110,000 in my bank account.