HPManiac,

I personally don't like the way they look, but I hear good things about the brand. If you like the lines of the boat, my opinion on the matter doesn't matter. I have very fond memories of a 75/76 Nordic daycruiser, but that was a very different boat that was built from scratch, empty hull up. Find out if it's a MCOB, and decide if that's something you want. The external steering would suggest aftermarket power (?)

Thanks. Brad.

He just said hydro steering. The nordic looks like a very well built boat and i like the 496 ho. he said with the labbed prop at sea level it does 75 on the gps speedometer in the boat.
So i have found 3 very nice boats in my price range and in the distance i want to travel.
2005 nordic 270 hrs perfect shape
1998 baja 272 in show condition 600hp 525 new engine.
1992 checkmate 251 with 85k in reciepts from 2018 with the 598 big block 10 hrs teague drive k3800 trim hydro over cable steering.
I want something i can cruise at 50-60 in easy that rides good in 2ft chop but can go 70 -75 when i want single engine under 27ft.

I just talked to Jason kunkel performance, sent him pics of the checkmate and he said BUY IT!! I guess these guys know more about the 251 convincer than about anyone out there.

HPManiac,

Not a 25, but....


Thanks. Brad.

Haha i saw that a few days ago, THAT GUY CAN DRIVE

HPManiac,

The crazy thing is, by his reaction, old man Kunkle was disappointed with 116.

Thanks. Brad.

I feel better about the checkmate now after talking to Jason Kunkle. he looked at the pics and said that boat is a bad boy. all he said was make sure no floor rot, should be zero flex. if it passes that its a bargain for the money that was spent on the 251. he said they love rough water and hate glass water.

Is there a site where i can compare hull specs? I want to see the difference between the baja 272 and the 1992 checkmate 251 for deadrise and free board.

Today is the day, heading to look at the checkmate convincer and if I don't feel good about that boat I'm going to get the baja 272. Honestly I feel the checkmate might be to much boat, and it's 32 years old. The baja is mint and I talked to the engine builder at lake city marine in Idaho so I know everything about engine. He said only thing he'd do to the 272 is put a heavy duty aluminum drive coupler in it, currently it has the hd murcury unit. He said the baja runs right at 73 gps at 1500ft elevation. On the checkmate the boat will go low to mid 90's pinned. He found dyno sheet for checkmate. 825 hp 6009 720 torque 4800! My gut says the checkmate will break crap, even with the teague drive

I decided to get the baja, wow what a nice machine!
everything works, engine runs perfect boat works good.
Full tank of gas, all gear ice chest 2 people w anchors, didn't know it has one in front storage. Right at 70 mph on the gps speedo and my phone. It has a 28 pitch 4 blade bravo one and it's only spinning that at 4800. Engine needs to be around 5400. So it should go faster yet, I'm not a prop expert.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7fcbdc8ec9.jpg
Boat is extremely clean, engine compartment is show quality. Engine and drive have 10 hrs when i got it. I put 7 hrs on it today. 525 ci 9.8 comp, merlin heads comp hydro roller on the mild side. Engine has a bunch of torque or it would not be spinning the 28 pitch to 4800.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...9e518978ab.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...20468cd54b.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e5a9efef14.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...03abd89d89.jpg