Convincor or Aggressor
 

I am looking for a new boat and these two options are available relatively close to me, the Aggressor is about 3 hrs away, the Convincor about 15 minutes. I know this is kind of an apples to oranges comparison, but I am curious on everyones thoughts.

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/30570

http://albany.craigslist.org/boa/4617212094.html

Based on what I know right now, the Checkmate is in quite a bit better condition. I am concerned about the power package in the Sunsation as well as space. I will have my wife and two children with me most of the time and I'd like to be able to bring another couple with us occasionally. I know that would be tight in either, but I'm not sure you can even get 6 in the Aggressor. I know the Sunsation is a custom boat the the fit finish will be better, but the Checkmate appears to have been maintained much bettter.

What are your thoughts on these based on your knowledge of the boats in general and what you can pickup from the listings.

Thanks,

Craig

Given those two choices and your (passenger) requirements, Checkmate hands down. It looks REALLY clean.

The Sunny is basically a 24 x 7 boat so not a lot of room. The Checkmate will have the infamous Checkmate hop at cruising speed with the standard tabs. K-planes or similar tabs go a long way to correcting the hop.

I have owned both boats. I would go for the Checkmate. It will be quite a bit bigger. Sunsation is a 7 foot beam.

I would say the fit and finsih on those two particular boats is pretty close.

For what its worth that Sunsation was for sale in Michigan a couple years ago. I recognize the picture on the St. Clair river from the previous owners ad.

Cruising speed?? What's that??

:coolcowboy:

You never really know until you look at both if you're serious about both. Three hours away is absolutely nothing. I've wasted three hours on my boat fishing dropped bolts from the bilge. Looking back, you could easily justify the time spent. The Convincor looks really clean though. But man, those graphics would grind on me. But that's a personal preference.

............. After reading what I originally posted, I realized it really offered nothing useful. Therefore I have deleted it.

I love reading boat for sale ads and guys don't even know that its HULL not HAUL. WTF! Not to mention its CORSA silent choice and it has a LOWRANCE depth finder!

course silent choice thru haul exhaust, dual ram trim tabs with LED indicators, lawrence thru haul depth finder,

From what I understand, the owner of that Sunsation bought it from someone in PA a year ago from a person who got it from MI. Definitely not a history that makes me want the boat, especially if it is the one that you are thinking of.

Thanks for all of the posts.

Checkmate..... And that's from a 24x7 fanboy/converted prior Checkmate owner.

A friend of a friend owned that boat (if it is the one I think it is.) At that time it had a wet transom. Was having issues keeping the trim tabs on the boat. I think they were bennet tabs and weren't thru bolted, just screwed into the wet transom.... I would definitely have a survey done.

I agree 100% with the survey, I'm not disagreeing with low_psi, and I don't know the history of the boat posted, but I know a dealer in Harrison TWP, MI has a 2000 Aggressor listed with Bennett Tabs and is advertised with a new transom replacement having just been done. Gel/graphics look very similar, they may be twin sisters. Fraternal twins, though, as the windscreens are different colors.

I think I have heard enough to not pursue the Sunsation, plus I have some additional pictures that show that it really hasn't been taken care of that well. I think I'm going to take a closer look at the convincor. What are the opinions on Checkmates build quality? Anything in particular to look at? Also, I'll get a survey regardless of which direction I end up going.

Thanks

Then that might be the boat (at the dealer) that I was thinking of. The boat was kept out that way. Seeing as that boat has a new transom, I'd say its a safe bet that was the boat that the "fried of a friend" owned. Is that boat listed online?

Checkmates's mold work is second to none. The entire hull and topdeck are fully end grain balsa cored. Floors and stringers would be a concern...(like in any other boat). The Checkmate is a solid riding boat and the Convincor hull design has proven itself through the years and even raced successfully. The other area of concern for the Checkmate would be wiring behind the dash. Unless it's been redone or upgraded you may find a rats nest of wiring! The Convincor is a big deep boat and will keep your family feeling safe on the water...good sized cabin too!

Yeah, it's listed on a couple sites, and at Hideaway in Harrison TWP.

Checkmate for what you want to do, 24/7 is a small cockpit . I never have more than 4 people on mine. 24/7's are very fun to drive but not good for entertaining.

Based on your criteria, the Check hands down and that's from another 24 7 guy. Another post hit it on the head. The gel and glass work on a Check is as good as any in the industry. Don't buy anything without a thorough sea trial. Good luck

Damn that C/M is clean!

Look at that back seat and the bilge!

The graphics arent great, but thats was what it was back in '96...

Having a nice deep cockpit definitely has a safer feeling like Jupiter said, and the cabin isnt bad for this size of boat.

Don't forget about the 28 sabers, twin or single there are a few out there.
other wise the check

If going with the checkmate look for a 283 with a single engine. Better ride and more cockpit space. I know of a few that can be bought in the 20-25k range with good power (blue motors or better) near us. I was on a nice one last week. I had a 253 and it was a great boat but did have "the hop" at slow speeds if you didn't know how to adjust the trim for it. It was and is a very solid boat, glass and mold work is way better than my hustler and among the best I have seen. There wasn't 1 ripple or wave in the side of that boat and it was solid. Same goes for my 16' which I still have.

Interesting. A friend has a 253 and has never touched the tabs. They're all the way up all the time. If it starts to porpoise you just trim the drive down a bit. I've ran the boat to 82mph and it's the easiest boat I have ever driven.

Yeah, that is not the one. So it the one the OP posted very well could be the boat I thought it was... I can't tell in the listing if the one the OP posted had a purple aluminum swim platform. The ine I am thinking if had the purple platform.

Exactly, you don't need to adjust the tabs just run the trim all the way down and bump it up for hhalf a second if you are running slow (in the 30s). If you are running faster than that its a non issue. A 502 mag would be the smallest engine I would look at in that boat as well.

I leave my port tab halfway down and starboard all the way up. Necessary to counteract prop torque. I am running a 30 pitch bravo prop. Other than this I typically don't use my tabs much.

I have been running this boat for about a year now and have never had a problem with "porpoise". Not saying it isn't there just that i haven't encountered it.