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The New Twin O/B 26' Checkmate
dropped off my sun lounge cushion at the Checkmate factory for them to repair where the hood scoop was, on my Convincor project and did some snooping while I was there.
They had this new model at the Miami show. I quizzed the boys at the factory about the reported 85 mph top speed. They laughed and said when they get time to finish dialing it, they expect to see 90. Has Merc 300 V-8's on it and were the first Ive seen in person. They are GINORMUS! I bet they're 7' tall. Anyhow, thought some of you might enjoy seeing this new beauty being built 45 mins from my house. Ahttps://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...76c919ba14.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...68bdc10f4c.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f4c66aa3ee.jpg 300 V-8s. Theyre huge! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...219148effb.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...9c02cd085a.jpg Looks like the deck is designed for options maybe including rear seat delete which would yield a huge deck. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...618fadb43f.jpg Interesting idea for steps, integrated into the sliding cabin door. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2663a84203.jpg Opposing settees. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...0520e28382.jpg Center section opens independent of base. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...43ec38f54d.jpg Very nice cabin for a 26' boat, lso had a 24' Open bow w/a 400r Verado that was gorgeous! |
that thing is cool. i really dig the larger OB offshore boats.
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Nice looking boat, except for the junk trim tabs they put on it.
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When is it going to Kellys?
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Interesting they chose that mold for the project. Isn't that the mold they acquired from Baja several years back?
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Nice looking boat, I didn't know checkmates where still being made. Hard to keep up with some of the changes.
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Nice boat! Glad to see closed bow go fast boats are still a thing... Gotta have a place to shag the gf! On their website they have this boat with an I/O Merc racing 565 as an option also!!
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Sweet....thanks for sharing.
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Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix
(Post 4675650)
Nice looking boat, I didn't know checkmates where still being made. Hard to keep up with some of the changes.
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Originally Posted by Dean Ferry
(Post 4675681)
Hustler bought Checkmate a couple of years ago.....
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Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix
(Post 4675682)
But made in ohio again?????
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Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix
(Post 4675682)
But made in ohio again?????
Edit: I guess Dean and I were posting at the same time..... |
Yes. Open at same location but barn in back, and still building boats. I was just there. looks like currently, fast open bows are core business. They have a 24’ open bow (was in Miami) w/a 400r Verado O/B at the factory that is stunning. Runs mid 80’s I think. Randy Corson in Daytona, is a dealer and has had their 22/24’s running near a 100 for yrs! |
I would add: It looks like the aft deck is finished to be buyer spec’d lay out. Second set of bolsters, all open, etc. |
I grew up in Northern Indiana and Checkmates were all over the place on the local river. Always fast OB and jets mainly.
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My parents had a cruiser on Erie when I was kid and we passed the factory every Friday in way up and Sunday on way home. Back in the day they always had one or two transporters packed w/boats parked in front. Just saw a video from the ‘80’s of them racing offshore. In the ‘70’s they owned every OPC marathon record there was. Harold Kunkel of Kunkels Marine did all their testing. He had a 25’ Convincor running low 120’s 20 yrs ago. At one time he had a 27’ Fountain they took in on trade and parked beside a 270 Convincor so you could stand in the cockpit, look over both front decks comparing quality. The Checkmate was light yrs beyond the Fountain. IMO, one of the most under appreciated boats there is. My ‘86 25’ Convincor is 100% balsa core, has zero rot, and still has crisp/straight mold lines. |
Originally Posted by NWfreerider
(Post 4675184)
Nice looking boat, except for the junk trim tabs they put on it.
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My first year in racing I raced my 25 Convincer. A-22 Soup to Nuts.
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Originally Posted by Twin O/B Sonic
(Post 4675170)
I quizzed the boys at the factory about the reported 85 mph top speed.
They laughed and said when they get time to finish dialing it, they expect to see 90. Has Merc 300 V-8's on it and were the first Ive seen in person. They are GINORMUS! I bet they're 7' tall. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...76c919ba14.jpg 300 V-8s. Theyre huge! For what is worth, LaveyCraft built a new 2750 with twin 300xs, which is a bigger and heavier boat, and it is currently running right at 91. Will be interesting to see more of these small-midsize twins being built. So much potential with the new outboards! |
They’re the V-8’s.
Originally Posted by motuman
(Post 4675852)
I bet thats a fun ride! Did you notice if they were 300r's or the new 300 Pro XS? Heard great things about both.
For what is worth, LaveyCraft built a new 2750 with twin 300xs, which is a bigger and heavier boat, and it is currently running right at 91. Will be interesting to see more of these small-midsize twins being built. So much potential with the new outboards! |
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