Worst "High Performance" Boats Ever Built?
04-14-2012, 09:37 PM
#21
Registered
This could very well be the winner.
1988 Peterborough Indy 220 I bought new. 460 King Cobra package
I owned it 2 seasons. Total running time of 119 hrs from new.
It blew 13 drives. I think it spent more time at OMC than with me.
The seat bases pulled out of the floor 3 times and the seat swivel brackets broke 5 or 6 times each.
Cabin doors and frame flew out of the boat and sank in Lake Ontario. Oh ya, and so did the engine hatch.
Cockpit floor lifted from the stringers.
Dash flexed up and down so bad it cracked the windshield on the passengers side.
Swim platform flew off on the highway one day.
Steering rack broke free from the dash.
Radio caught fire. Actual flames came out of the tape slot.
Every screwed part of the boat came lose, repeatedly.
I think I replaced every screw in the boat with the next size up and then epoxy, toothpicks and the next size up.
I traded it for my 1990 Power Play and the dealer called me a week later to ask about the repair to the port stringer. I said no repairs that I knew of. He then told me the motor mount ripped out of the stringer with a 18" long piece of stringer still bolted to it.
Great looking boat but it literally fell apart as it went.
And just for ****sandgiggles, I was turning left one day with it behind the truck on my way back from one of its multiple warranty visits when one of the trailer axles sheered off sending a wheel, tire, brake drum and axle chunk careening into the door of a parked cop car.
1988 Peterborough Indy 220 I bought new. 460 King Cobra package
I owned it 2 seasons. Total running time of 119 hrs from new.
It blew 13 drives. I think it spent more time at OMC than with me.
The seat bases pulled out of the floor 3 times and the seat swivel brackets broke 5 or 6 times each.
Cabin doors and frame flew out of the boat and sank in Lake Ontario. Oh ya, and so did the engine hatch.
Cockpit floor lifted from the stringers.
Dash flexed up and down so bad it cracked the windshield on the passengers side.
Swim platform flew off on the highway one day.
Steering rack broke free from the dash.
Radio caught fire. Actual flames came out of the tape slot.
Every screwed part of the boat came lose, repeatedly.
I think I replaced every screw in the boat with the next size up and then epoxy, toothpicks and the next size up.
I traded it for my 1990 Power Play and the dealer called me a week later to ask about the repair to the port stringer. I said no repairs that I knew of. He then told me the motor mount ripped out of the stringer with a 18" long piece of stringer still bolted to it.
Great looking boat but it literally fell apart as it went.
And just for ****sandgiggles, I was turning left one day with it behind the truck on my way back from one of its multiple warranty visits when one of the trailer axles sheered off sending a wheel, tire, brake drum and axle chunk careening into the door of a parked cop car.
Total bummer for you though.
Uncle Dave
04-14-2012, 10:16 PM
#22
Registered
04-14-2012, 10:50 PM
#23
Registered
iTrader: (1)
Wow, it was years and years ago, maybe 1985-86? Was in the Grand Haven, Michigan area and I went for a ride in a Checkmate (I think that is what it was) with a big block Chevy. He had bought the boat and they installed his engine. Maybe $15K more than a "standard" performance engine. At 45-50 boat seemed stable and nice. Felt solid. Over 55 everything became hinkey! It had more flex then a 14 year old Russian Olympic gymnist, and it never came out of it. Owner said his first one was even worse and so they built the second. He was giviing the second back and they were giving him a new model/style. Don't know what happened after that. It was a beautiful boat on the trailer and at dock, but on the water at speed it was like driving a Corvair with bald tires on ice in gale force winds! If you have ever driven a car with out of balance tires that needed aligned, then you know what it felt like!
04-15-2012, 07:30 AM
#25
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We’ve had some endless (and entertaining) debates here about the “best high performance boats ever built.” But today I got to thinking (after seeing something come in on trade) what kind of debate I could stir up about the worst “high performance” boats ever built.
Notice that I put “high performance” in quotes. I did that for a reason. Sure, we could talk about Aronow cats, 24CS Fountains and 18’ Skaters, but they were at least well built by respectable high performance builders. They just didn’t work for crap. What I’m talking about is boats that were marketed as “high performance,” but weren’t built for the task.
So, who wants to start the debate. I’m going to hold off on my personal favorite for just a bit because I really don’t think anybody can beat it.
Notice that I put “high performance” in quotes. I did that for a reason. Sure, we could talk about Aronow cats, 24CS Fountains and 18’ Skaters, but they were at least well built by respectable high performance builders. They just didn’t work for crap. What I’m talking about is boats that were marketed as “high performance,” but weren’t built for the task.
So, who wants to start the debate. I’m going to hold off on my personal favorite for just a bit because I really don’t think anybody can beat it.
Last edited by scarab63; 04-16-2012 at 08:51 PM.
04-15-2012, 08:29 AM
#28
Registered
Ding, ding, ding. Can't see this one being topped.
I owned it 2 seasons. Total running time of 119 hrs from new.
It blew 13 drives. I think it spent more time at OMC than with me.
The seat bases pulled out of the floor 3 times and the seat swivel brackets broke 5 or 6 times each.
Cabin doors and frame flew out of the boat and sank in Lake Ontario. Oh ya, and so did the engine hatch.
Cockpit floor lifted from the stringers.
Dash flexed up and down so bad it cracked the windshield on the passengers side.
Swim platform flew off on the highway one day.
Steering rack broke free from the dash.
Radio caught fire. Actual flames came out of the tape slot.
Every screwed part of the boat came lose, repeatedly.
I think I replaced every screw in the boat with the next size up and then epoxy, toothpicks and the next size up.
I traded it for my 1990 Power Play and the dealer called me a week later to ask about the repair to the port stringer. I said no repairs that I knew of. He then told me the motor mount ripped out of the stringer with a 18" long piece of stringer still bolted to it.
Great looking boat but it literally fell apart as it went.
And just for ****sandgiggles, I was turning left one day with it behind the truck on my way back from one of its multiple warranty visits when one of the trailer axles sheered off sending a wheel, tire, brake drum and axle chunk careening into the door of a parked cop car.
I worked at a dealer in the late '80's and worked on a customers Stingray or him. We tried to sell him a new Checkmate but didn't have the coin. He found a '89 (I think) 22 or 23SX or similar.
Bought from a local dealer who was known for getting factory, back door boats.
They pop riveted the deck to the hull over an inch an a half off from side to side! You could stand in front of it and see it plain as day.
Customer bought boat w/understanding it had a 350 Mag in it. I got to inform him that it in fact had a standard 350/260 in it! Our shop got pulled into the pissing match that ensued even though there wasn't much to argue about.
Owner ended up accepting a $1500. ( as I recall) credit from dealer to update his boat for him
While at same dealer we had a friend of owner bring in a 22/23' Mark Twain cuddy w/loose swim platform bolts. It was mounted w/lags into transom. Problem was, they went through the 1/4" layer of glass where they're were no backing plates!
IMO, the late '80's were the worst. Begging of the era of company buy outs by investment corporations run by bean counters that knew nothing of boats.
I remember one horror story of a well know production builder (can't remember who but maybe Mark Twain) that had an issue w/the hull on a 25' cruiser. The boats owner got Boat US to help him fight the factories plans of sending a new hull to his local dealer to have them strip his defective boat and have deck and everything else installed into new hull
Was sad seeing some of those new owners taking it on the chin in the era.
I owned it 2 seasons. Total running time of 119 hrs from new.
It blew 13 drives. I think it spent more time at OMC than with me.
The seat bases pulled out of the floor 3 times and the seat swivel brackets broke 5 or 6 times each.
Cabin doors and frame flew out of the boat and sank in Lake Ontario. Oh ya, and so did the engine hatch.
Cockpit floor lifted from the stringers.
Dash flexed up and down so bad it cracked the windshield on the passengers side.
Swim platform flew off on the highway one day.
Steering rack broke free from the dash.
Radio caught fire. Actual flames came out of the tape slot.
Every screwed part of the boat came lose, repeatedly.
I think I replaced every screw in the boat with the next size up and then epoxy, toothpicks and the next size up.
I traded it for my 1990 Power Play and the dealer called me a week later to ask about the repair to the port stringer. I said no repairs that I knew of. He then told me the motor mount ripped out of the stringer with a 18" long piece of stringer still bolted to it.
Great looking boat but it literally fell apart as it went.
And just for ****sandgiggles, I was turning left one day with it behind the truck on my way back from one of its multiple warranty visits when one of the trailer axles sheered off sending a wheel, tire, brake drum and axle chunk careening into the door of a parked cop car.
I worked at a dealer in the late '80's and worked on a customers Stingray or him. We tried to sell him a new Checkmate but didn't have the coin. He found a '89 (I think) 22 or 23SX or similar.
Bought from a local dealer who was known for getting factory, back door boats.
They pop riveted the deck to the hull over an inch an a half off from side to side! You could stand in front of it and see it plain as day.
Customer bought boat w/understanding it had a 350 Mag in it. I got to inform him that it in fact had a standard 350/260 in it! Our shop got pulled into the pissing match that ensued even though there wasn't much to argue about.
Owner ended up accepting a $1500. ( as I recall) credit from dealer to update his boat for him
While at same dealer we had a friend of owner bring in a 22/23' Mark Twain cuddy w/loose swim platform bolts. It was mounted w/lags into transom. Problem was, they went through the 1/4" layer of glass where they're were no backing plates!
IMO, the late '80's were the worst. Begging of the era of company buy outs by investment corporations run by bean counters that knew nothing of boats.
I remember one horror story of a well know production builder (can't remember who but maybe Mark Twain) that had an issue w/the hull on a 25' cruiser. The boats owner got Boat US to help him fight the factories plans of sending a new hull to his local dealer to have them strip his defective boat and have deck and everything else installed into new hull
Was sad seeing some of those new owners taking it on the chin in the era.
Last edited by Twin O/B Sonic; 04-15-2012 at 08:32 AM.
04-15-2012, 12:22 PM
#30
VIP Member
+1 of the Profile as well. Holy cow those are poorly built.
__________________
Throttles- Cleveland Construction 377 Talon
08 OPA Class 1 National Champion
08 Class 1 Geico Triple Crown Champion
08 OPA High Points Champion
10 OPA Class 1 National Champion ( happy now Ed! )
Throttles- Cleveland Construction 377 Talon
08 OPA Class 1 National Champion
08 Class 1 Geico Triple Crown Champion
08 OPA High Points Champion
10 OPA Class 1 National Champion ( happy now Ed! )
