Top Speed ZT280

[andrews928]

Anyone with real numbers or a good guess for top speed on a 2001 ZT280 with the 496Mag HO. Dealer says 70 plus on GPS???

Thanks

[andrews928]

For anyone curious about this I received an e-mail back from Checkmate is less than 24hrs. Top speed is approx. 70mph

[Chris]

Andrew, Mike from Checkmate can usually give you just about any performance info you need. You just have to give him a call. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

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[andrews928]

Thanks Chris, I found it pretty amazing now days to get a response from any company in less than 24 hrs. After getting an answer from Checkmate in such a short period of time and considering how helpfull Checkmate has been to other owners on this message board I will be closing my deal on the ZT280 by Friday.

[175checkmate]

Another new checkmate to drool over. NICE

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1975 Checkmate Tri-mate 2, 2.4 200+ / Sky jacker 6" plate / 25p Laser 2 prop

[Chris]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by andrews928:
Thanks Chris, I found it pretty amazing now days to get a response from any company in less than 24 hrs. After getting an answer from Checkmate in such a short period of time and considering how helpfull Checkmate has been to other owners on this message board I will be closing my deal on the ZT280 by Friday.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That's awesome Andrew! Congratulations! If you want to take some pics, we'd love to see your new toy! It sounds like a beauty. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/thumb.gif

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[Dave T]

Andrew928,
Congrats on the new boat.Did you get the one from Saratoga?
Dave

[andrews928]

Dave,

I finally closed the deal a few days ago. It took a little longer than I expected because I also was checking out a Fountain Fever 27 and the Baja Outlaw 25. The ZT280 offered me everything I wanted in a boat plus I like the history of Checkmate and this board appears more civilized than the Baja board. Their boats are OK but those guys on the Baja board think they have the greated boats that mankind ever made. The only negative thing is Saratoga is storing the boat, (I live in CT) and I will have to wait until April to bring the boat to Lake Champlain (summer place) By the way Saratoga Boats was a good place to deal with, low pressure and a lot of patience with me.

[Dave's ZT260]

I have a Zt260 and I have been out in a Zt280 with 496HO. Top gps speed was about 65 in good conditions. If you run the numbers on the power to weight ratio you will see why 70MPH is not very a good estimate.

[andrews928]

I'm not sure if the power to weight ratio's tell the entire story. Take a look at the Fountain Fever 27. From their web site the 27 weighs over 5,100 lbs and with the 496MagHO will do 70 mph. The ZT 280 weighs 4,900lbs. The other thing I just read was that commercial/recreational GPS's are not that accurate for speed measurements. Bottom line there is just no accurate data for top speed on most boats. At least with cars you have several mags that have actual data but even that varies all over the place. I guess if its not fast enough it will be ProCharger time.

[Chris]

Andrews,

GPS's are pretty accurate. At one time the U.S. military used intentional error to make GPS systems purposely inaccurate. They did so to prevent them from being used for missle guidence etc.

Back a few years ago they eliminated the mandatory error percentage and they are therefore much more accurate.

At least if I understand things correctly. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

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[Dave's ZT260]

First everyone needs to stop believing posted speeds at boat builders websites. It is all BS and just sells boats.

The weight of 4900ibs is for a small block with no fuel or people. The real number is at least 5500ibs. My ZT260 which is rated to be 4200ibs by checkmate is really 4800ibs.(I put it on a scale)

By the way GPS is accurate to within 1/10 of a mph. I have tested this personally by timing a measured distance.

[CHECKMATE ZT 280]

My 2004 ZT 280 Runs about 70 mph with one person and about 50 gallons of fuel.First time out last summer had all i could do to get 64 mph out of it.I called mike at checkmate to see if the prop was the right one for this boat since rpm was on the low side 4,600.mike said the rpm and top speed would increase as the motor and drive broke in. Last time out 72 mph at 4,900 rpm with 25 hours on it.

[andrews928]

Not to drag out the GPS issue but there are several articles concerning GPS speed accuracy on the water. An article from boatus.com noted GPS can only detirmine speed relative to the earths surface, usually indicated as SOG (speed over ground) Depending on the flow of the current the speed of the boat relative to the water may be quite different.

As far as manufacturers posting their top speeds, I (maybe incorrectly assume) its a specification.I would think under ideal conditions if they say 70mph it would be possible. I think there would be the same problem if the mfg. said the LOA on the boat was 28ft and it was actually 27ft. Heck someone has a law suit against some jelly company that said their product was 100% fruit, it was something less than that.

[Chris]

If you know where that article is....could you post a link, I'd like to read it.

As far as SOG isn't that what you would want to know?

I gather the other way would take into account the speed of the water or current?

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[JW]

I'm gonna jump in on this one. I work on corporate aircraft with GPS systems day in and day out. These systems cost anywhere from $5,000 to over $100,000. I've also used hand held GPS units in the car and on the water. In my vast experience, GPS speeds are not completely accurate at all times. Sometimes they will be right on, sometimes they won't. There are several reasons why GPS isn't perfect, here's one most people outside the industry won't know: Current GPS receivers (yes, even the $100,000+ systems) can be made inaccurate by some of the satellites the receiver is currently looking at. It's been proven that satellites that are low on the horizon (in relation to the GPS receivers position) can cause inaccuracies in the processors calculations. Since the GPS receiver processes all received satellites for position info, the low azimuth satellites errors 'get into' the calculation.
So what does this all mean? Well, sometimes your GPS will be accurate, and sometimes it won't.

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Checkmates owned: 1995 Pulsare 2100BR/1995 Mercury Promax 225 2.5 EFI. 1995 Persuader 183/4.3 LX V6. 1992 Pulse 171/1992 Mercury XR6 150 hp 2.5 liter.

[Chris]

Hey JW,

I know mine goes a little crazy for a few seconds every once in a while. I gather it loses contact with a satellite or two, but then it usually resets and starts working normally again.

So are you suggesting the error rates are spuratic as I have suggested, or constant?

Are there times when it could be off for .....15 minutes for example?

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[This message was edited by Chris on November 15, 2003 at 07:22 PM.]

[andrews928]

Chris, Here is the link



http://www.boatus.com/husick/bh_instrument.asp

[Chris]

Thanks Andrew.

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[JW]

Chris, I don't know for how long the GPS calculations will be 'off' for. I don't think anyone knows actually. It all depends on too many factors. GPS is still the best way to measure boat speed, but everyone should be aware that sometimes it will be spot on, and other times it can be many miles per hour off. Or Kilos, for you Canucks http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/thumb.gif

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Checkmates owned: 1995 Pulsare 2100BR/1995 Mercury Promax 225 2.5 EFI. 1995 Persuader 183/4.3 LX V6. 1992 Pulse 171/1992 Mercury XR6 150 hp 2.5 liter.

[175checkmate]

Still the most accurate huh, JW I really thought you where going to say the speedo with a water tube. Mine pegs the speedo needle at 80MPH.
Maybe I should average the 2. No huh.
Bummer. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

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1975 Checkmate Tri-mate 2, 2.4 200+ / Sky jacker 6" plate / 25p Laser 2 prop, Currently the boat is undergoing overhaul.

[F150GT]

Like any other speed calculations, take the highest one you can get and use it for bragging rights. most speeds people say they are reaching are once a year perfect conditions. OEM advertised speed's are no diffrent, Fountan may be useing speeds from there race boats, they do claim them to be production hulls, but I am sure they are striped down and set up for racing with a $5000.00 prop dialed in at "LAKE X". No consumer is going to buy that boat off the lot and get there advertised speed.
Unless you are racing side by side, it dosent really matter.
Also remember, speed costs big money, Is it really worth spending 20K to go 5 or 10 MPH faster when our wives wont let us go over 50 or 60 all summer long? I love running my boat to the extreme, but I only get to do it early or late in the season when its too cold for the family.

[Chris]

I'd like a set of those fancy shmancy smartcraft guages Merc have.

These Ones! (http://www.mercurymarine.com/sc1000_system_tachspeedometer)

The ones with the built in GPS and fuel consumption monitor etc . Of course it would also be nice to have a new Merc that would be needed to run them as well. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

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[Dave's ZT260]

I guess it just depends on your wife. She's been over 90MPH many times for pleasure and racing. As long as I don't scare her it’s A-OK! That’s why I went with a bigger boat. Last years Persuader 218 was crazy at 83MPH.

Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!! Works every time…..Ok sometimes…

Scotty, I need more power!