HPManiac,

If I’m spending your money, from what I’m seeing, I’d go with the Checkmate.

Thanks. Brad.

And between the 272 baja and the 251 checkmate what will have a better ride on a 2ft chop day on the puget sound in washington state?

HPManiac,

The Baja is longer and heavier.

Thanks. Brad.

Brad thanks for the help, i live in washington and the puget sound can be some pretty big water. will the checkmate be fine for this? how will it ride and handle compared to my mirage 217? i'm a green horn but learn fast,
I have driven some fast boats but have never owned one but i am a 35 year experience auto master tech and have built a BUNCH of big blocks. the 598 in the checkmate is a bowtie block with a good rotating assembley dart pro 1 heads with a 600 lift hydro roller and shaft rockers, single plane and 1050 dom carb. has cmi headers that he said were almost 10 grand, i guess the complete teague drive was 18 0r 20k and it only has 12 hrs on that. for 30k this checkmate looks like a hell of a deal. The baja is just as nice and has a very nice 525 chev but just has the stock bravo so i would have to install a xr unit. Is that a bolt on? i have a feeling the checkmate will be a higher maintaince boat than the baja just because the engine is much hotter built. The checkmate is propped to rev at 5800 to 6k where the baja is a 5200rpm torque monster build.

The bottom picture says it all, I can tell by engine picture of the Baja that
it has the useless, slow acting boat leveler tabs, can’t be sure if it has external steering, I’m not seeing a cable…..the checkmate is set up right, those appear to be 380 k planes, those alone will make all the difference in the rough,
I’ve been in a couple of Teague platinum drives, they had the sh!tty XR upper
gears, so in a matter of time, the’ll need replacing anyway.
Buy the Checkmate
and this is coming from someone who had 4 Baja’s

Oh, the 272 is a 25’ boat the extra 2’ is the molded swim platform

HPManiac,

To be honest, I’m kinda intimidated by the prospect of going across Erie to PiB in our 280. I’m a flat water boater. My opinion on that is not that valuable. I was only commenting on what I thought were tangible factors related to your question. My guess is the Baja will handle the rough better than the Checkmate, just be virtue of mass and size, but neither are going to do all that well, IMO.

Thanks. Brad.

I’ve owned 3 Baja’s and currently still have one. Used to have a 25 Outlaw. My brother in law use to own a Checkmate, think 27 ft. Both brands are great for the money. I’m a Baja guy, but can easily switch to a Checkmate. I don’t think you could go wrong with either boat, although I think the Checkmate probably has a little better engine set up. The heavier boat will of course ride a little better. Not sure if the Checkmate has a step, that may help. I’ve never seen a Baja with steps. Also, what are the engine hours for each. By the way, I’m from Atlantic City, and had both boats out in the ocean. They both ran good. Good luck

platinum teague drive
has the upper and lower from teague

The baja has hydrolic external steering. The checkmate has 10 hrs on engine and drive, the baja has 20 hrs. I also want to just go out and cruise around at times like I can in my mirage so between the 2 I don't know which is better for that. The checkmate 598 is a much more expensive engine than the 525 in the baja. The checkmate has more cam and 1050 Dom carb.

I found a 2005 nordic rage 25ft with a 496 ho for a good price with 270 hrs. Never seen this boat before, are they a good machine? has hydraulic steering.