broken checkmate
 

in 1996 i bought a brand new 21 ft outboard checkmate it lasted 6 months till the transom broke! just about threw me out of the boat!!! they fixed it at the factory in Ohio. when i got it back i went out for my first ride since they repaired it and it happened again !! almost thrown out bruised or broke a few ribs (didn't go to doctor) when nearly thrown out!! just wanted to get the word out so this does not happen to others! not a well made boat and they obviously did a cosmetic repair. glad my wife and kids were at home.don't buy checkmate !!! My opinion!!

Re: broken checkmate
 

wow, never heard anything like that before......

thanks for the heads up, did you buy brand new in 1996?

Re: broken checkmate
 

BRAND NEW from local dealer !!! in 1996

Re: broken checkmate
 

Wow!! what motor were you runnin? I have never heard anything like that!! I can understand your feelings about checkmate based on your experience here, but I dont think that it honestly speaks for their boat quality. dont get me wrong, from the sounds of it you had a terrible problem, did it ever get resolved properly? howd you get rid of the boat? got any photos anymore?

Re: broken checkmate
 

i don't think i would use the words don't buy a checkmate. sorry about the problems you had and thank goodness you didn't get hurt any worst. a friend of mine had a 33' with twin 540's which delamiated on the side and sank. checkmate build him a new boat no charge. i have a 28' with a 500hp and i run it pretty hard at times it holds up very well. i'm not saying checkmate is the best boat by no means but you get a lot of boat for the money. a lot of friends of mine have them and love em.

Re: broken checkmate
 

mine delaminated on the transom and they said they fixed it and i trusted they did but they did not !!!!!! thats not a company that I would feel good about recomending!! they sent me back a boat with a bad transom that could have really hurt me and my family!! I was running a stock 225 merc outboard that i bought from the local dealer as a package deal brand new ! I will say again DONT BUY A CHECKMATE ! that motor was almost hanging off the boat by the cables. I always thought checkmate was a good boat when i was young seen them all the time on long island thats why i bought it . NEVER BUY ONE!!!! they did not stand behind a new boat!

Re: broken checkmate
 

Nobody is perfect. I am sure that there is someone out there for every manufacturer that has had a bad experience. I have owned several of Checkmates and ran them on Ohio River and Lake Erie and never had a problem with the hull. I don't think any water is rougher than Erie. I have seen nothing but top quality from Checkmate. I would not own anything but a Checkmate in a V bottom.

Re: broken checkmate
 

I'm running a 26" ZT260 with 1300HP at well over 100mph. I've never heard anyone have such problems with a checkmate. I'd buy a checkmate over almost all of the other so called performance hulls out there. Sorry to here you had trouble. You’re in the minority for sure.

Re: broken checkmate
 

I had a 96 convincer 26' with twin 200 mercs I never broke the boat but I heard every one they built between 94 and 98 broke

Re: broken checkmate
 

Hull Failures Exist With Almost Every Boat Manufacturer. Some Of These Failures Are Caused By Owner Ignorance, Some By Extreme Circumstances, And Some By Poor Quality Building. Checkmate Has Been Building Boats For 40 Years By The Sames Owners. Their Commitment To Quality And Their Customer Service Is Top Shelf. Your Hull Failure Puts You In A Very Small Minority Of Checkmate Owners. I'm Sorry To Hear About Your Personal Experience But In Defense Of Checkmate There Are Many, Many, Satisfied And Loyal Customers That Are Fanatics About Their Checkmates. They Deliver A Good Product That Performs Well. There Are Also Numerous Old Checkmates That Are Still On The Water Today Which Only Confirms Their Quality Build And Longevity.

Re: broken checkmate
 

i heard a rumor that that boat hit a stump or something!!

Re: broken checkmate
 

maybe just a rumor though, im not saying that it happened!!!

Re: broken checkmate
 

Wow...

Stop the presses!

Checkmate's transoms ALWAYS crack and EVERY boat has an engineering flaw.

That's unbelievable!

I'd say the real truth is that a few of you just have an axe to grind.

Re: broken checkmate
 

no stump was ever hit !! no axe to grind its long been over now just some facts for people that dont want to end up with a possible piece of sh*t like I did !

Re: broken checkmate
 

point taken! its always good to hear the rights,wrongs, goods and bads!!
it is unfortunate though, that it happened that way!!
i have to say, ive had a couple checkmates now with great results, hopefully im able to keep saying that!!

Re: broken checkmate
 

sorry to hear about your problems,but why did you wait so long to tell us your story????? : :rolleyes:

Re: broken checkmate
 

Hmmm....

Same trash talking here about an engine builder. Lots of bashing and little if no facts.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...263#post971263

Re: broken checkmate
 

these are both real experiences!! no Bs sounds like you have a grimes motor in a checkmate ! just posting so others that care can not have this happen to them ! Imay be one of a few but I am one ! so this post was to inform everyone that this happened and checkmate never repaired it correctly! Chris I guess your boat is a good one but dont bash me!!!

Re: broken checkmate
 

as it has been said before, you cant please everyone....things happen to many things by many people. great boat and motor builders make mistakes. if i have ever had a problem with a builder or mfg, i wouldnt go back to them either. so, jim, you make a fair claim in my book!!
i guess i would have just stated it a little different, however, im not in your shoes.

hows the skater holding up, awesome boats!!

Re: broken checkmate
 

the skater is awsome, best boat ive ever owned! sometimes you get a bad boat I did! the problem is in the way checkmate handled it! anyway not to beat it into ground just wanted to keep people from getting in same situation!checkmate had a chance n did not make good! is that stated better?

Re: broken checkmate
 

Hi Jim,

Are you from the Atlanta area? Was your 21' Checkmate Pulsare a red boat? If so there is 2 sides to this story.

Any ifo?

X-driver

Re: broken checkmate
 

There are two sides to every story.

I'd like to hear all the facts of either side.

All I read, was a recommendation not to buy from Checkmate based on a few allegations. If you really want to help people out, tell us the entire story and let us judge whether we should avoid buying from Checkmate ourselves.

Checkmate has been in business for over 40 years, and they haven't survived that long by building flawed boats and screwing people.

Re: broken checkmate
 

Sorry to here about your misfortune, boat accidents are very scary.

But, anyone on this board who has a decent grasp or knowledge of boat building, will tell you that Checkmate has one of the best built transoms out there. All you have to do is lift the motor hatch on one and look at how they’re braced. They are built very well. I’ve seen them drilled through (for thru-exhaust and swim platform attachment), and the lamination is high quality. I’ve owned several Checkmates from 1986 models thru the present. No problems, ever. Always been known for having high quality, and beefy transoms.

Last year I had a 2000 model 21’ Checkmate outboard model, with a 300 Merc Promax hanging off the back, set back 8”. While trailering, a car hit my boat/trailer at 45mph+ coming around a corner. The trailer was knocked out from under it, and the boat flew about 50 feet in the air, landed on the asphalt and skidded down the road another 125 feet. It flew thru the air sideways and landed hard, tipping back and forth after it made contact with the road and started sliding. It slid on one side (sideways), and then teetered over to the other side and slid on that side till it came to a rest. I fully expected the motor to be ripped from the transom, and surely delamination to the hull. There wasn’t even a stress crack at the transom. The hull was pretty messed up, but consisted of basically gel coat damage where contact with the road was made. No holes, No delamination, No structural damage, and No damage to the transom.

I had an 87’ 21 feet Checkmate out board model. I hit a stump so hard with the lower unit one time in that boat, that I almost came to a stop. I had that motor set back 8” as well. Not a crack in the transom.

I have a buddy who had a 90’ 17’ Checkmate outboard model that took his lower unit completey off on a large log. He had his motor setback 10” and it had a hopped up 200 Johnson. The transom was only rated at 150hp, he was running almost 250hp. Not a crack in the transom.

I had an 86’ 17’ Checkmate I/O. After I sold it to my cousin in, he ripped the skeg off on a wing damn (large boulders found on Mississippi River channel sides) Hit very hard, running around 35-40 mph. No damage to the transom.

I knew a guy who had an old 81’ 16’-18’ Checkmate out board model, sitting in his junkyard. Out in the rain for years, was going to be a fixer up project. He had a 24” mount bracked on it for an outboard. No motor. The floor was rotten and it was in bad shape. But, you could stand on the set-back bracket and jump up and down on it. Solid!

Chekmates are known for being well built. Ask anyone in this business. You obviously had a bad experience. You seem like a smart guy, but you should try not to make generalizations. I remember your story, heard about it 5 or 6 years ago. I don’t remember all the details. Are your sure there is something you’re not telling us?.... If not, I have no reason not to believe you. Sorry you had bad luck.

-Craig

Re: broken checkmate
 

guys there is no untold story and i have nothing against checkmate other than them not fixing the boat properly ! I did have another checkmate before this one an 89 or so 19 ft with 200 on it no problems with it normal gel cracks nothing bad though! a friend has a 96 16 ft with a 170hp (150) on it and it is fine but I did have problem with my 21 sorry to say, I know there are loyal checkmate guys here I was one also until this! checkmate after about 2 years into lawsuit found someone who wanted to buy this boat I had them give the new owner full hull warranty and told new owner of problem in which he felt comfortable in buying the boat > i hope it is ok for him yes it was red boat from atlata so please tell me other side and how do you know other side.

Re: broken checkmate
 

also checkmate never denied there was a problem the main issue was in the way they fixed it .first time i got it back it broke in less than 30 minutes the transom had to be replaced said 2 local fiberglass shops and that was after 2nd time. first time i trusted checkmate to fix it and after a near serious wreck i thought i should get second and 3rd opinion. i do not know how they fixed it the last time i never saw the boat again.

Re: broken checkmate
 

Did you add your own setback and/or do any mods to your transom before the failure? Regardless, it's water under the bridge.

Just seams a little strange is all, since Checkmate is not a mass production boat. A lot of time and care goes into the building of one...

-Craig

Re: broken checkmate
 

I beat the crap out of my 25 for years never had a problem, loved the boat!

Re: broken checkmate
 

I also put my 25 Checkmate through the test and it faired pretty well. Only thing that would fall off that boat every weekend was another girls panties. :p

Re: broken checkmate
 

i had my 87 enchanter for about 6-8 years and had 15" setback on it with a 260 hangin out there!! had the usuall spider cracks in the corners but the transom was solid and held up well, however, there were aluminum "knee" bracing added too. i thought it was well built so i bought another!!
skaterjim, got any photos of the problem? would be great to see the transom after something like that. i know you probably dont want to show them after the razzing your gettin here but it may educational also!

i know all of us "checkies" get a little offended but by all means this is a forum and its all about opinions and information.......thanks for sharing!!
id still love to see some shots of that boat if you got em!!

kevin

Re: broken checkmate
 

not sure if i have pictures ill look. i had some but may be the lawyers kept or threw out its been a while

Re: broken checkmate
 

one more thing it did have a jackplate 5inch which checkmate installed at factory (i believe it was standard on all 21ft in96) but i had the local checkmate dealer install a hydrauclic 5 inch instead

Re: broken checkmate
 

i love when the panties fall off mine!!

Re: broken checkmate
 

Here is my 1989 28 footer with over 500 horsepower strapped to it with 12 inch set back and Hydraulic Jack Plates.
No glass work has had to been done on it at all to date:

Re: broken checkmate
 

I am not sure if this guy ever had any issues.... :drink:

Re: broken checkmate
 

I got to say my 1989 20'1" checkmate has had a 225 hanging off 17 inches of setback and so farthe transom and knees appear ok, this isnt just a lake boat it gets run out here on Pacific Ocean. Sorry to here about your transom I too would love to see some pictures.I cant believe that someone bought it knowing the problems you had with it.

Re: broken checkmate
 

sharkey: is the 89 yours ?
and are those johnny ruos v8's on a 30'? holy crap !!

Re: broken checkmate
 

Yes and..........Yes :eek:

Re: broken checkmate
 

very nice !!

Re: broken checkmate
 

Thanks!
It still impresses me with how old it is and she still shines on!

Re: broken checkmate
 

thayes11,
I gave you several examples of 16’ to 21’ers that held up just fine under extreme conditions. Did you read my reply? The 16'-21' models were their bread & butter back in the day, and have only gotten better every year up to the currrent. I can give you lot’s more examples if you want. You’re talking about one guy who had a problem. I’ve been running Checkmates for a lot of years and know many others who have as well. I’ve never heard the name “Crackmate”. Come on. Be real here. Everyone else is.

-Craig