Thanks all....little concerned about the porpoising and side to side lean I here they get. I really was looking at 28' boats like saber or pantera and came across a 253 convincer and its mint...priced little high but condition is well above average boat

There are a lot of them out there. All winter to shop. Maybe consider a bad or no engine boat. Then do your own. Nothing worse than paying 10k more for a brand new engine that lasts a week and a half...

Good boats for sure, porpoising goes away by just speeding up. They dont like to cruise under 45, then they do it. Run it upper 40's and faster and its fine.

Im talking MPH not RPM's.

They feel larger than 25' in the cockpit and even the cabin, IMO.

A set of 280 or similar style tabs will allow you to easily compensate for those quirks with the hull design. Great boats.

I wouldn't want to be in a 28' checkmate in true 4's

Mine has twin blower motors so heavier than most - but yes I have stuffed the bow before.

Certainly not a "want" situation but like any 28' boat you have to pick your days.

OP mentioned the porpoise and chine walk - both are very common with the checkmate hulls. Like mentioned more speed will help the porpoise and personally I drag my starboard tab to cure the chine walk which you will only experience when trimmed out for max speed.

I have a 97 253 convincor with a mild 502 and tabs. They really do feel quite a bit bigger. Mine is a notched transom with a pad. Nice build quality, good running boat but they do porpoise at lower speeds.

I was really impressed with the size of the cabin and the cockpit on the 253 checkmate....the cockpit is actually bigger than the 28 saber I'm looking at and the cabin was close to same size....little less head room but darn close. Two different hull designs though....saber is definitely built for rough water like a pantera. Decisions decisions....both are procharged and run pretty good...I believe checkmate has about 5-8 mph over saber and would way out run saber in flat water...in big water the saber will hold its own.

flat water and big water require 2 completely different boats.

What would ride better in average water 1-2 chop....a 27 fountain or the 253 checkmate. I know the 253 is physically bigger because the fountain beak and platform....just curious on ride between to they are priced in same area I'm looking just hate small cabin on 27....the 29 fountain is out price range