Sad news for Checkmate Powerboats
11-03-2019, 08:26 AM
#12
11-03-2019, 08:26 AM
#13
Registered
This is definitely a sad situation. I bought my first brand new boat in 1995 and went to the Checkmate factory to pick it up. I still like the old school look and have been looking for a Checkmate project for outboard conversion. Indy is 100% correct when he says that people would rather stick their faces in front of a screen as opposed to experience the real world. Ask the motorcycle dealers, golf pro shops and almost everyone else that's involved in any sport. The youth of today would rather play it on a video game or watch it on a screen. Sad.
I hope someone picks up the Checkmate ball and runs with it but I am realistic. I know there is a huge gap between a cool boat and being profitable.
11-03-2019, 08:51 AM
#14
Registered
Bought a leftover 2000 Checkmate 259 new in 2002. My first boat purchased. Owned it for seven years, great boat! Sad to see the doors close, they made a rock solid product.
11-03-2019, 09:32 AM
#15
Registered
iTrader: (1)
Lead,Follow , or get out of the way. Sad but true.
The market is Center Consoles in the sport boat market , problem is most of the current offshore hulls are to narrow for a CC for today’s market.
Not o mention they are Light years behind the big time CC builders that are leading the market .
The market is Center Consoles in the sport boat market , problem is most of the current offshore hulls are to narrow for a CC for today’s market.
Not o mention they are Light years behind the big time CC builders that are leading the market .
11-03-2019, 11:56 AM
#17
Banned
iTrader: (9)
Inland America not so much either. Pontoon and wake boats by far are on fire with sales.. Wake boats are on fire inland just killing it.. And do I mean on fire. Malibu sells more boats than all combine boats with mercruiser engines in them for the past 5 years - year vs year sales..
Think about that - one wake boat manu selling more than anything all combine Mercruiser installed in what 200 different brand of boats.. That is a hard pill to swallow for the I/O production sides of the coin.
To add wake boats are so strong that 2 wake boat companies OWN THE ENGINE companies not the other way are around. That's saying a lot
Last edited by BUP; 11-03-2019 at 12:02 PM.
11-03-2019, 01:29 PM
#18
Registered
Up and down east coastal on fire with sales and most 3 to 5 outboards installed. West coastal not at all the situation for CC boat sales
Inland America not so much either. Pontoon and wake boats by far are on fire with sales.. Wake boats are on fire inland just killing it.. And do I mean on fire. Malibu sells more boats than all combine boats with mercruiser engines in them for the past 5 years - year vs year sales..
Think about that - one wake boat manu selling more than anything all combine Mercruiser installed in what 200 different brand of boats.. That is a hard pill to swallow for the I/O production sides of the coin.
To add wake boats are so strong that 2 wake boat companies OWN THE ENGINE companies not the other way are around. That's saying a lot
Inland America not so much either. Pontoon and wake boats by far are on fire with sales.. Wake boats are on fire inland just killing it.. And do I mean on fire. Malibu sells more boats than all combine boats with mercruiser engines in them for the past 5 years - year vs year sales..
Think about that - one wake boat manu selling more than anything all combine Mercruiser installed in what 200 different brand of boats.. That is a hard pill to swallow for the I/O production sides of the coin.
To add wake boats are so strong that 2 wake boat companies OWN THE ENGINE companies not the other way are around. That's saying a lot
I had quite a few $100k Wakeboat demo's that I got to use , they are great for partying on and riding behind obviously but I would still rather drive my 18 year old Baja anyday.
I dont get it , Wakeboats are a complete bore to drive. And considering most people who buy them are beginner Wakesurfers/Wakeboarders at best, why would a Guy spend that kind of money on a Boat that rides ****ty in any sort of chop and tops out at 42 MPH. I guess just to "look cool".
11-03-2019, 03:19 PM
#19
Registered
I thought Hustler bought them a couple of years ago?
11-03-2019, 03:19 PM
#20
Registered
I struggled w/that when I sold Malibu’s back in the early/mid 90’s.
Then it dawned on me.
Skiers, like fisherman, are not boaters.
When they finish skiing/fishing they load the boat and go home.
Their boat is merely a tool to them
I was an avid slalom skier in that same era.
Normally 3 trips per wk.
I was a boater that skied though.
We’d ski till tired, take a break, then spend the rest of the day on the water.
When at the factory they always told me times were good but when watching their staff.., I questioned it.
On the CC’s, they built a nice 25’ that they took to the Miami show but still had it 6 months later.
They also tooled and built their twin O/B 25’ and don’t think they sold it.
Was nicely done but looked like a quickly done deck mold for an old Baja hull design.
Appeared to me as a distant, rudderless plant being funded by Hustler w/little direction or future plans in place.
If I was 35 again, I’d go to the bank.
Should have 15 yrs ago when one of the owners sons called me about it then.
I still think a we’ll designed cuddy would sell.
IMO, never been done right. Ever.
Ive owned more than anyone I know, and w/the new O/Bs available, me being an O/B guy, the new mini vans can tow them......, if I built them, they would come.
A 25’ w/a single 250 would run 60’s, Store 2 bikes, weekend supplies etc, and make mamma happy.
A 450 would run 80,
Twin 350’s 90+.
A 30’ would do the same w/way more space.
A name/legend reborn.
Just sayin....
Then it dawned on me.
Skiers, like fisherman, are not boaters.
When they finish skiing/fishing they load the boat and go home.
Their boat is merely a tool to them
I was an avid slalom skier in that same era.
Normally 3 trips per wk.
I was a boater that skied though.
We’d ski till tired, take a break, then spend the rest of the day on the water.
When at the factory they always told me times were good but when watching their staff.., I questioned it.
On the CC’s, they built a nice 25’ that they took to the Miami show but still had it 6 months later.
They also tooled and built their twin O/B 25’ and don’t think they sold it.
Was nicely done but looked like a quickly done deck mold for an old Baja hull design.
Appeared to me as a distant, rudderless plant being funded by Hustler w/little direction or future plans in place.
If I was 35 again, I’d go to the bank.
Should have 15 yrs ago when one of the owners sons called me about it then.
I still think a we’ll designed cuddy would sell.
IMO, never been done right. Ever.
Ive owned more than anyone I know, and w/the new O/Bs available, me being an O/B guy, the new mini vans can tow them......, if I built them, they would come.
A 25’ w/a single 250 would run 60’s, Store 2 bikes, weekend supplies etc, and make mamma happy.
A 450 would run 80,
Twin 350’s 90+.
A 30’ would do the same w/way more space.
A name/legend reborn.
Just sayin....
Yup I saw it first hand at our dealership back in 2005. We couldn't give away the 4 or 5 2004 Baja leftovers we had left but our brand new Malibu's , Moomba's and Supra's we couldn't even keep in stock. Just selling themselves basically. Flashforward to 2019 and the Wake boat sales has slowed down for us but the bottom line is they still sell.
I had quite a few $100k Wakeboat demo's that I got to use , they are great for partying on and riding behind obviously but I would still rather drive my 18 year old Baja anyday.
I dont get it , Wakeboats are a complete bore to drive. And considering most people who buy them are beginner Wakesurfers/Wakeboarders at best, why would a Guy spend that kind of money on a Boat that rides ****ty in any sort of chop and tops out at 42 MPH. I guess just to "look cool".
I had quite a few $100k Wakeboat demo's that I got to use , they are great for partying on and riding behind obviously but I would still rather drive my 18 year old Baja anyday.
I dont get it , Wakeboats are a complete bore to drive. And considering most people who buy them are beginner Wakesurfers/Wakeboarders at best, why would a Guy spend that kind of money on a Boat that rides ****ty in any sort of chop and tops out at 42 MPH. I guess just to "look cool".
Last edited by Twin O/B Sonic; 11-03-2019 at 03:21 PM.
