ZT280 questions
 

Ive got a friend looking at buying a ZT280 and was wondering what he could expect for speed with a 502. Several people have been claiming 70-71 GPS but that seems a little high to me with 415hp. I did a search on this forum and many say low to mid 60's. Also do all these boats have a step hull or was it changed at some year? Maybe thats where the variation is in speeds.
Also and other good points or bad points in the hull design or driveabilty or anything else???

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I have a 99 with a 500 efi. The best speed I have run is 71gps, I can run 69-70gps most of the time. This is with the regular load 2 people coolers and plenty of gas. The hull rides pretty good, better than the 28 Nordic Heat that I had but nothing like the 28 Active thunder that I rode in this summer. The boat has a very small step if you can call it that and all ZT 280 have had it since they were first introducted. My boat was a handfull at WOTbefore I added steering. All in all the ZT is a great all around boat, alot of boat for the money. It is missing alot of the frills that you can get on some other comparable boats, but overall it gets the job done.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I have been looking at 29 Scarabs with stock single 502's. As I am not worried with TOP speed as much as the ride ... for those with experience with a CM.... how woudl you compare?

Re: ZT280 questions
 

You say a handful at 70 before external steering? What would it do chinewalk? I would think that size boat at 70 would feel pretty stable, my H2X used to be real stable at that speed. It seems like for the price of them its a good boat, there are many boats out there in that size range like active thunder or sunsation that are nicer or ride better but not for under 40k for a 5 year old boat.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

It had chinewalk, you could drive through it buy it was not the safest feeling. I have been shopping 28 singles for a long time and Checkmate is hard to beat for price. I have looked at Suns and ATs, and it is really hard to find on under 50K or should I say low 40's. I have had my eyes on a 28 Sun for awhile just think the used prices are a little steep.

Your Baja has a hook in the hull, in the end that will slow you down but it eliminates chine walk and purposing. As many Checkmate owners know, alot of Checks purpoise which can be corrected by trimming or tab inpuit. I call it the Checkmate hop.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I have a 288 with a procharger now that chinewalks over 78, it does not have hydraulic steering but it does have drew stabilizer bars for safety. I was thinking of doing full hydraulic over the winter to correct the chine. So you say it helped a lot on your 280?

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I am not going to get on my soap box like alot of others due, but I believe any boat with a 500 hp engine or over should have at least a add on system. That is what I have, I might convert it to full hydrualic over the winter. Yes it helped, night and day. For the handeling, safety etc, it is well worth the cash. I did steering so if I ever do any engine mods that expense will already be taken care of.

PS, tell your buddy I might sell my ZT for the right $. 99 500efi 300 hrs, shore power, transom shower, dual ram add on steering, excellent condition.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I agree with the hydro steering with big HP. I bought the boat this year the way it is and want to do full when I have the $3500. I do have the stabilizer bars now which are suppose to hold the drive if something were to break. PM me a price and ill let him know. Hes looking at 35-40k.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I love the 28 Suns have been looking at them for awhile, excellent boat. I am sure you love yours. The steering will be a great upgrade when you get the change. Not sure if I want to sell, but I like boating shopping almost as much as I like boating.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

Hi Andy how was your summer? We have seen a lot of rain and cool temps this year.You like the ride of a active thunder better then you 280? Robin

Re: ZT280 questions
 

Robin

The Check is not in the same league as the AT when it comes to rough water. I can't describe it but it is bad to the bone. My summer has been all right, I put about 30 hours on the boat. I really like it, I have had a few interested in buying it, I have been entertaining the idea of selling. I would love to upgrade to a Cig Cafe Racer. I would be happy with either boat. I would love to put a Whipple on the Check. Who knows only time will tell. How was your summer?

Andy

Re: ZT280 questions
 

Andy My summer was ok about 25 hours on the boat.June was all rain july was good and august was cool and rain not the best of summers. Like you i would like to up grade to a fountain or cigarette.I checked with a dealer about trading for a fountain but the numbers were too low .Maybe i may try to sell in the spring.If i keep the boat i will whipple or procharge.I need more speed.The 496 ho doesn't have forged pistons so i don't know how safe it would be.Talked with a checkmate dealer about the procharger he said the 3.5 kit would be ok. Robin

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I haven't heard many good things about people supercharging 496's. I don't understand why Merc went with cheap interals on these motors? Eventually, bad gas or something will cause the motor to go blow. The next upgrade for both of us is going to be a big jump. Good luck in your boat search, that is almost as fun as boating.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I don't understand either.The 496 was a poor engine choice on my part.There isn't much you can do without spending 7 to ten grand to get the power.Andy didn't you have a convincor at one time.People tell me that the convincors had a better ride in choppy conditions then the ZT's hull.The ZT's have a pad bottom that they ride on much like a velocity.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I had a 97 242 Convincor. I think my ZT rides better than the Convincor. Wild Willy has a 270 Convincor and his buddies have Z 280's and he says the ZT's ride better. A buddy of mines has .97 283 Convincor and I think it rides better than mine but he is really slow. He runs 58 with a 24 bravo 1. I take the extra speed, the improved ride is not that much better. You can only tell the difference when it really ruff

Re: ZT280 questions
 

So the convincors don't really ride much better. Well i guess i will look into getting some more hp. I really like the looks of the Zt's. Andy your in the low 70 s with your 500 efi. I think your at 470 hp. Do you know anyone that has put cmi sport tube headers on a 496 HO. They say its worth 55 hp.Thats about 4 MPH.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

Yep gained nothing on for MPH. Sounds better accelerates faster and has better mid range punch. With 470 hp the best I have seen is 71 on my gps speedo.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

Andy what boat were they installed and did they try different
props?You should have some gain even if it's only 1 to 3 MPH.
We have one more nice warm day befor it cools down.Looks like our boating season almost done around here.

Re: ZT280 questions
 

I would rather not say what type of boat the headers were installed on. I don't want to start any poop on the board. Lets just say the boat is similar size to our and I really like it. Pm me if you want to know the boat. Boating is probably done here in the midwest, just in time for the gas prices to start droping significantly. :mad: :mad: Oh well I am glad that they are going down. I guess know is the time to save some cash before I dust of the snowmobile.