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Boat buying opinions

Hey guys...Need some opinions here
Been looking for a hull for my motor and am kind of set on a checkmate.... Im currently looking at 3

97 convincor 242( the one in the thread thats been 106mph) 13k no motor/drive but has hydraulic steering

95 Convincor 253 charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/2963151723 No hyd steering but has drive and appears to have the HP gimble

90 Convincor 251 hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/boa/2961044613 40hrs on 454mag. Interior was done 2 yrs ago. And its 1hr away from where i live

Remember that even if i buy one if the 2 with motors, they will be coming out to put my 525sc in....The boat will generally be used in the Long ISland sounds and south chore bays with the occasional trip into the ocean..,,,Give me your input...Thanks alot

Quote:

Originally Posted by gofast540NY (Post 3667661)

Hey guys...Need some opinions here
Been looking for a hull for my motor and am kind of set on a checkmate.... Im currently looking at 3

97 convincor 242( the one in the thread thats been 106mph) 13k no motor/drive but has hydraulic steering

95 Convincor 253 charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/2963151723.html No hyd steering but has drive and appears to have the HP gimble

90 Convincor 251 hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/boa/2961044613.html 40hrs on 454mag. Interior was done 2 yrs ago. And its 1hr away from where i live

Remember that even if i buy one if the 2 with motors, they will be coming out to put my 525sc in....The boat will generally be used in the Long ISland sounds and south chore bays with the occasional trip into the ocean..,,,Give me your input...Thanks alot

I have owned a 242, and have many friends with 251s and 253s. The 242 is really more of a lake boat IMO, not that the 25's are wave crushers, but they do handle the rough much better than the 242.

The 242 is lighter, is a liner boat, and has great build quality. Mine with a 330hp ran with my friends 251 with a 502, its that much lighter.

Check mate states it is 9 inches shorter and 9" wider than the 251 series. I think it is about 18 inches shorter IMO.

The 251 has a narrow beam and rides better in rough conditions, however from your list, it is the oldest of the lot. The 251 will also be the fastest out of the 3 boats, but we are only talking a few ticks either way, and that can be dependent on x dimension and setup. If that first boat claimed 106 it had more then 900HP in it. The boats listed are very, very similar.

I had a 2000 251 convincor classic with a HP500. It had a shorty Sportmaster lower on it. It would run 76-77 mph on the gps, and was a driving boat. It would get loose at times. Fun to drive.

Good luck, should probably ask this question in the checkmate forum.

A friend has a 253 and it is a big boat for a 25. Takes some power to move but seems to have a good ride.

all things considered the 90 seems the best. with the 95 coming in second.