Checkmate quality and advise
 

Came across a 1997 Checkmate 253 Convincor and have no clue on there quality or any inherent issues. Its has good power 700+hp 510, ZX drive and was rigged by some Checkmate shop in Ohio that is known for fast Checkmate's. I boat on Lake Saint Clair in Michigan which gets nasty 2ft short chop on busy weekends. Sold a 37' Sundancer to downsize to a 27 or so boat to use on Saint Clair and trailer to Lake Michigan on occasion. I known Checkmates are no Apache, Fountain or Pantera would like to here opinions on Checkmates and the 253. I searched little on here and see they are 24* hull, true v with no pad and weight roughly 4000lbs. I've looked a 27 fountain, 28 Saber then came across this 253 and is near perfect top to bottom.

I had a 251 and loved it.
I sold it and bought the 34 SCARAB because we wanted more cabin luxury and space, That and better rough water handling.
I had 630 HP in mine and it did mid 80's
I didn't have any problems with the boat.

I also had a 251 convincor classic it had an HP500, ran great, good quality hand layed up boat. Many of my friends had them too. Ran good in the rough. I owned this 6 boats ago, but still loved it. The 251 I believe has a narrower beam which made it a little better in the rough. Good luck. Fyi a checkmate forum is around with useful info. I used to post quite a bit 12 years ago.

you won't be disappointed!

I read in the Checkmate forum about porpoising issues....some had problem some didn't both on the 253.....what's the porpoising problem? Seems some fixed it with props that cause less bow lift others put big tabs on...This 253 has a 30 bravo 1 prop.....haven't sea trailed yet...wanted research before I made offer

We had 2000 259 Convincor w/ 454MAG (Crockett 100HP upgrade). Boat was rock solid in LOTO slop for it's size. It did have a mid speed porpoise issue that was solved by performance tabs. Boat was well built. With hydraulic steering, performance tabs and enough HP it will run with anything out there it's size in the rough.

I have had both the 251 and 253, both great boats, some of the best performing hulls out there, would not hesitate to buy another

Found some old pictures of our Checkmate, loved that boat!

side note...checkmates are built with less hook in the bottom, they run faster than most with same power, but can porpose at times, with a little seat time you can learn trim settings to keep it away..

I've owned my Checkmate for 3 years now and love it - Had no problem running Lake Erie in 2-4s and just finished running in the Lake Cumberland poker run this previous weekend. The shop that did the rigging is most likely Kunkles Marine, they are very reputable and do great work!

they are a halfway point between the pantera's 6.5 beam and the 8.5 beam of just about everything else. more room and less touchy than the 24-7. more of a driver's boat than the big assed hulls. well built.

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

Great friend of mine bought this boat from you and loves it. Gets a ton of use and is still spotless.

I had a 97 253 convincor that I built a ~700 HP 548 cubes motor for. Was a rock solid boat with excellent build quality for the price. It is a go-fast hull so it doesn't like going slow, which is where the porpoise happens. I usually cruised 40+ mph anyways so I didn't have an issue with it. A Hydromotive QIV prop did drastically reduce the speed range that boat would porpoise however. It is a pad bottom notch transom hull, it is meant to be driven! And a driver's boat it is.

the 27 Fountain is a good riding boat for its size but overall the 253 Check will feel bigger and have much more room in the cockpit while handling anything the Fountain would.

I would go with the checkmate on the size alone...also think the 253 would have a edge in the rough