OK, so why use someones elses pictures?? WTF, you worked in boating you knows not to do that. SO HAVE YOU BUILT ONE BOAT YET???? For a group of guys who claim to invent step hulls and worked at Fountain and Baja (40yrs exp) you seem like a bunch of amateur's. You actions are more like a 13yr playing on his school lab top. I have started three business's in my life and never gone about it in such a jack ass method as you guys. You going to do something do it, then let people judge, don't run you mouth WITH NOTHING TO SHOW.

I'm out of this post, if you guys are real you have much to learn about BUSINESS, if not I feel sorry for the sucker who gives you a deposit. I told you in my other post OSO can smell BS a long way off and you guys :ban:

I spoke yesterday with a friend in the marine industry (no one that is on this forum) that knows Chris Grueber and he had very good things to say about him. He also told me that Pete's father knows what he is doing with stepped hull boats.

This is a NEW start up company and even though they have a top deck mold for the 399 Skater the hull will be totally new. Maybe a bad idea to post the old Skater picture but I really see no harm. When you are starting from scratch it is tough. I think they have made it pretty clear what their new hull will be.

If I am understanding correctly these will be built in the Checkmate Factory starting out which I think is a great idea.

When I went out on my own in 1993 and started my business I made several mistakes and learned a lot of things the hard way. It is really tough starting from scratch but these guys know how to design and build boats, they will be in a factory that houses 100+ years of boat building experience and they seem to have the desire to make it happen. My hat is off to them because I had a strong economy back in 1993 and these guys are breaking into the market in the worst performance boating economy I have experienced.

How about we all stop and take a deep breath, and look at this as how can we help these guys succeed. When I started every kind word and suggestion was appreciated. We are the future owners of their product and it seems like we would rather find fault instead of offer helpful advice.

Who knows they could be the next Skater one day and here we are watching it from the ground floor. They sure have an uphill climb ahead and at the prices quoted there cannot be much profit but you have to start somewhere and get the product on the water, in the poker runs and race course and let it prove itself one way or the other.

I really hope I am not speaking out of turn here and if you PM me Chris I will be happy to tell you who I spoke with. He is not someone that ever comes on OSO but started building boats himself 30 years ago and you have talked with him about this project.

I admire you guys for following your dream, I respect anyone that is willing to accept the hard work head on to start up a business and I wish you guys the best of luck and hope you get to enjoy the fruits of you labor in the years to come.

Good luck in Miami also.

Doc
Mark Terry

P.S.

What excites me also is how Bucyrus is coming back to life in the marine industry.

Checkmate
Sacentti Marine
Evolution
XT Innovations
Kustom Kolors
Lakeway Boat Repair

One stop shopping in the performance boat world!

Thanks Doc,
I could not have said it better myself. So it looks like we will be using XT innovation for our interior and we will probably be receiving some form of help from Checkmate.

Evolution Performance Boats

Doc,

Maybe its time for you to talk to the bank about buying the old Baja factory and get all these companys under one roof. Its almost unbelievable to walk in that place today and see how much room is there!

That's great to hear about XT!

Greg,

I think all of you guys have a good thing going up there and a bright future ahead. I know nothing about building boats. That and the fact that I strongly believe the person signing the note at the bank needs to fully know and understand the business plus be hands on leaves me out. Number #1 reason is Bucyrus is a nice place to visit but I don't want to live up there in that COLD & SNOW! It's bad enough down here!

You may want to talk with the mayor of Sandusky. He would be your man.

Doc

Do you have a date set for the first tangible boat?

I didn't follow all the "Fraction" drama but I understand pessimism by some in this current market.

Good luck with the new project.

As I told Chris, I can also help with contacting many of the vendors that we used at Baja Marine. Here is a little "work in progress" we have going at Checkmate now. It is a interior for a one time staggered engine Pantera.

I would Like to thank everyone for there support so far on this forum. While working at Baja in bucyrus, i made many friends and contacts and they have been some of the best support over the past few years that i have found anywhere. Our crew was such a close group of employee's with tons of pride in there work. Dock thanks for the wonderful comments earlier, and if you are at Miami or in NC anytime soon give us a ring we would love to sit and chat with you.

Thanks Again all,
Chris

Do you have one complete boat done to be viewed at Miami. Or is everything still on the drawing board.