Sad News for Checkmate boats

[Pulse186]

https://m.facebook.com/CheckmatePowerBoats/

They selling boats or hats and shirts, lol

[ZiemerSTV]

We had a Checkmate Spectre that was 17 feet long with a 200 Johnson. Good ski boat, but not much
on top end. Low to mid 60's. Fiberglass work was very nice.

[altamate]

They selling boats or hats and shirts, lol

Hmmm. I don’t FB much but have an account, so I went in to see boats and prices. I could not navigate the site to find how to spec out or buy a boat. I’d like to know what the MSRP is on a 2100BR/Merc300R and a 2400BRX/Merc450R and maybe a contact? Shouldn’t that be easy to do?

[Greg G]

Read this entire thread from the start. It sounds like the new owners may not be doing any new builds. Perhaps there are a few leftovers in dealers but you would have to look hard I suspect.

[Pulsare2400]

Hmmm. I don’t FB much but have an account, so I went in to see boats and prices. I could not navigate the site to find how to spec out or buy a boat. I’d like to know what the MSRP is on a 2100BR/Merc300R and a 2400BRX/Merc450R and maybe a contact? Shouldn’t that be easy to do?

The Caldwell Checkmate they tested in the link below was $126,600 "as tested". I have heard of other people saying the same thing that Randy did, that they have had a new Checkmate order for over a year and it was not started yet. You would think that they would expand capacity with that many orders. If you added a 450R it would be over $155,000. At that price I would own 2 boats, a 300R / Liberator from Randy as an occasional play toy, and an $80,000 Tritoon for everyday!

https://www.boatingmag.com/story/boa...lsare-2400-cd/

[altamate]

I know there are at least three new builds from the new owners, one of the newer dealers had two in stock at one point last year. I guess maybe talking to a current dealer is the way to go. But a working website would be nice.

[Pulsare2400]

I know there are at least three new builds from the new owners, one of the newer dealers had two in stock at one point last year. I guess maybe talking to a current dealer is the way to go. But a working website would be nice.

I agree that many boat / Pontoon builders let you "build" a boat on their website and at least give you the MRSP for what you built. Calling a dealer would give you a ball park figure and more importantly a better estimate of the delivery times. The guy I spoke to that waited over 1 year was an individual buying from Checkmate, I believe (but not 100% certain). Perhaps they build the dealers boats first and try to work the others into their schedule? I thought it was bad when I ordered mine early in May, and picked it up not quite completed 7 months later. The last one built after mine was ordered in June and picked up the following year in April.

[99fxst99]

A lot of people are willing to pay for a stupid pontoon or a nameplate, to each his own I guess.

Personally I think boaters who frequent websites like this have a different perspective on boat pricing and what they feel is value for the money.


edit: Want to add that I remember when boat prices were not terrible when compared to wages and the economy, but that was late 80's early 90's. While not all manufacturers have super high prices most have increased exponentially.

My first boat was 12k new out the door, it was piece of junk with a 4 banger but it wasn't a lot of coin. The Regal I bought new in 2000 was 63k for a 2660 with twins! a similar boat now is 200k. People who are new to boating don't have the jaded eye of someone who remembers when boats were affordable, lol

When I think back to my beginnings in this sport, mid 70s, a boat was a woven roving/chopper gun fiberglass hull and deck with some carpet glued in and some generic seating. Maybe a tach and speedo, possibly a volt meter. Motor was a basic carburated 2 stroke MAYBE with power trim. Single mechanical steering. Trailer was steel tubing with wheelbarrow tires. And we built up from there. Now with all the added items on boats (electronics, fancy upholstery, vacuum infusion), motors (4 stroke, injected, electronic controls, etc) and trailers ( aluminum frames, custom wheels, brakes, tandem axles) the boats have gotten more complex not to mention larger. You can't hardly find a 14-16ft runabout now. Builders build larger boats because that's where the money is.
Reggie Fountain told me once years ago, when I told him I liked the idea of the first 8.8m as a less expensive Fountain, that it cost him as much to build the 8.8m as it did the 10m except for the difference in the glass and resin. Motors, rigging, and interior cost the same, but he had to sell it cheaper because it was a smaller boat.
Entry level boats are a lost market, IMHO.

[Riverratt]

I saw on one of the Facebook checkmate sites that the new checkmate manufacturer had to put production on hold due to a law suit from the old manufacturer for some reason. At least that is what I got out of it.

[Greg G]

I saw on one of the Facebook checkmate sites that the new checkmate manufacturer had to put production on hold due to a law suit from the old manufacturer for some reason. At least that is what I got out of it.

That is interesting and could explain why they have not built any new boats in a year. Sounds like a potential mess.

[Pulsare2400]

That is interesting and could explain why they have not built any new boats in a year. Sounds like a potential mess.

It would be interesting to find out more data on that possibility. The previous owner of Checkmate was Global Marine, which sold "Checkmate" to Caldwell Marine. The original Checkmate upholstery shop also did the upholstery for Global Marine's Hustler Boats as well as the original and the Caldwell Checkmates. Since the "original Checkmate" has not existed for many years, but was owned by Global Marine since about 2013, I would think if any legal issues really existed, any possible conflict would be between Global Marine and Caldwell Checkmate.

[Riverratt]

I did a little more research today and another story is that there was a breakdown in communication between two owners that ended them up in court. Now if there are two owners involved at Caldwell then the lawsuit would be between themselves but if there is only one owner than it has to be between Caldwell and hustler or the original checkmate. Either way it is not good.

[Greg G]

I just found this ......

https://www.wavetowave.com/home/2020...ve?rq=caldwell

Of course there is no year on the article date stamp which is strange.

[282]

I was anchored this summer at a sandbar and my Boat has a big checkmate down the side....some guy walks by and said do you like chess? A lot of people don't know the brand checkmate. If i knew the title of Grandmaster was a chess stud I would have said I was one. I have owned 3 checkmates a 17 sportfire, 21 starliner and a 25 SFx. Aside from a few small things they are a great boat. They where not known as the fastest boats but I always saw them as well made. I hope they don't tank.

[Pulse186]

A lot of people don't know the brand checkmate.

I think that one guy didn't know the brand, I get people all the time at the launch ramp and in the bays walking over to see my boat. Obviously the color gets the attention but they all know Checkmate.

Maybe they sold a lot more in the midwest.