Buy a used Baja 25. They are everywhere. I like the Checkmate better, but I think the Baja will be better come resale time.

I have a checkmate a its assume. Handles the rough and loves the flat water. Runs very fast. The cabin is very large for a true 25 ft boat. At the time when the boat was new they did not include the swim platform in the overall length. This may start something but I have only lost one time against a Baja. I say buy a checkmate trim it up and let it fly.

Yesrej,
Heres some pics of my Cigarette. I believe the last year they made them was '87 and good luck finding one of those. However these boats were built like tanks so any year is a good. Mine is an '85 with 350's and TRS drives, the boat handles rough water like nothing else in it's class. It feels like a bigger boat. It takes some power to get these boats moving fast and mine is no super speed demon but the ride in the rough is what I love most. Theres been one in CT for sale for a while with 400 hp small blocks and bravo drives, I don't know if it's still around but do a search on boattraderonline.com and you'll find some.

I think the checkmate convincor is a lot more boat now that they make it in the wider beam model.

I've seen a couple checkmates run triple digits. Never saw that out of a Baja. The checkmate is a very fast hull and handles big power well.

I say Baja.... loved mine..

Here`s mine. It`s a 2000 with an HP 500.

I say find a Cig and be done with it. Keep it for as long as you want and sell it for what you payed for it (or more) instead of buying one of these newer boats and letting them depreciate to the point that there not worth all that much.

I think both are great but the Baja does ride better in the rough. My buddy has a zt280 and the 25 outlaw runs better in rougher water. Plus the Baja has more free board which is always nice. Drive both of them and take one home good luck!!

P.S. be careful,,, Baja had problems with gel coat and blistering from 97 - 2000...