Ice is OUT!!!

[JW]

After getting about 2" of warm rain yesterday, my lake is completely clear! That's unheard of for Michigan in January!
Do I get the boat out today and run it???? A guy at work wants to ski in January, this could be it!

[Chris]

I'd take the punt out for a spin!

It can be easily rewinterized. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[175checkmate]

Get the boat out, pictures of a guy on a ski (not snow) in MI would be priceless.

[petersfield]

I did it once in end of november in a Dry suit and for fun we put on a santa suit as well! but in january? just watch out there are no broken pieces of Ice floating anywhere!

[illMATTic]

take it out. it should be sunny for a couple days i think.

[JW]

My hose was clear, so I got the fully charged battery out and installed it, then fired it up on the hose! Smoked the neighbors out for about 10 minutes. Pulled the trailer down off the ramps, checked the oil, checked for life jackets, checked the drain plug, she's ready to rock!

Sunny and 36 tomorrow, we're going boating! A guy at work has been bragging about going skiing in January, so I'm calling his bluff!

[Mark]

GIDDY UP!

[Boston Predictor]

I wish mine was ready. it was almost 60 today!! This is going to be a early season I hope. last season I didnt get the boat wet until the beginning of July! http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif

[175checkmate]

Thats going to be very cool. Dam cold water. LOL

[JW]

Today is the day! 36 and sunny, with little wind from the south east. Gonna have the wife back me into the water at the landing (dock is out) and make a few laps. IF my co-worker can back up what he's been braggin about, then a few more laps pulling a skier!

[Chris]

Get some pics man!

Ya gotta! http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[persuader22]

let me know where it is maybe ill bring mine out there. i live 20 minutes northeast of grand rapids.

[JW]

I'm about 10 minutes south of Kalamazoo, just a few miles straight east of US131.

[JW]

OK, I've broken my previous 'first boat ride of the year' by 2 months exactly! 35 and sunny is OK as long as the ski mask doesn't blow off. Had the wife back me in, I made a few runs around the lake, then back onto the trailer. Water temp gauge showed 175 degrees until I got on plane, then it dropped to about 120. It never runs that cold in the summer!!


http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6939/jan1506boatride0058wu.jpg


I got it warmed up to full temp before I went on plane, then I made two full passes around the lake at medium speeds before I opened it up. Ran good after I finally got the fogging oil blown off the spark plugs!

[JW]

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1066/jan1506boatride0016wc.jpg

[Bruce]

Hi JW, Ya Baby !!!!, must of been a Cool one, but a ride just the same. I just came back from the Toronto Boat Show, same old, same old. I was looking for a wakeboard rack to put on the ski pylon, came up empty. Looks like I'll order the Fluid Concept Pitchfork one from the Internet.

Lake Ontario looked pretty calm as well this morning at the Toronto water front, mind you, I didn't see anyone out there for a test ride though.

Take Care

Bruce

[175checkmate]

That is just to cold, er I mean cool. Way to go.

[Chris]

Awesome! http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Hopefully that'll be our lake in a few months if this weather keeps up. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[illMATTic]

the saginaw river was full of fishermen this weekend. they must love the sport. you cant eat the fish.

ill bet you were crouched down behind the windshield.

[JW]

Yeah, that tall windshield kept it nice. I kept popping up to check the water pisser, and boy that air was cold!

[Mark]

Maybe it's just me, but I can't see the waterskier behind the boat. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Chris]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mark:
Maybe it's just me, but I can't see the waterskier behind the boat. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Oh he fell. JW just didn't have the required spotter, so he kept driving. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[JW]

Couldn't get a spotter volunteer on short notice, so I just went for a ride alone. Not really sure I wanted the responsibility of a skier in this weather!

[wickedrister]

I bet you didn't have to contend with any boat traffic http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif

[JW]

Nope, just some newly formed ice down by my house in the calm spot. I was safe in the windy section, where ice couldn't form or lay in hiding for my hull! I've only seen one boat, early this a.m. with three duck hunters in a camo flat bottom.

[wickedrister]

I had the pleasure of running at about 50 in the dead of winter. Tears flowing, can't catch your breath, the wind seems to find every little opening to get in. Every one needs to try it once. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Boston Predictor]

JW, That's not the pulsare is it?

[Chris]

Nah...

That's his 4 Winns. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[jgreen]

Up here in Minnesota the "water" is at least 2' thick now, no hope of boating for at least 3-4 months.
Great snowmobile conditions though. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif

[JW]

The Four Winns might maybe possibly? be sold next weekend. If so, then a 2000 (ish) Pulsare with a 225-250 will be searched out and found to replace it http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif

Be nice to find one with a low-hour Optimax or HPDI motor.

[Boston Predictor]

Jupiter's black Pulsare would be a great one http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
So is the red/yellow one on boat trader http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
I'm hoping that Next year I'll have a starflite, and in a few more years a Pulsare! http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/sssh.gif
This is becomming more than an obsession to me

[JW]

Pulsare for me HAS to be a bow rider. Nothing like having 4 good looking women in bikinis riding up front while I'm pulling a tube across the waves.......................

[bdusted440]

This is the earlyist for me dec28 remember JWwinter ride (http://checkmate-boats.com/groupee_common/platform_images/blank.)

[bdusted440]

hey chris can you fix the link for me please

[cooperider]

If I had a motor, I'd be out playing on the boat right now. http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/surf.gif

[Chris]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by bdusted440:
hey chris can you fix the link for me please </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I'm not too sure what you're trying to link to.

[JW]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by bdusted440:
This is the earlyist for me dec28 remember JWwinter ride (http://checkmate-boats.com/groupee_common/platform_images/blank.) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

December doesn't count for early boat ride, that would fall under late boat ride of the year!!

[bdusted440]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by JW:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by bdusted440:
This is the earlyist for me dec28 remember JWwinter ride (http://checkmate-boats.com/groupee_common/platform_images/blank.) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

December doesn't count for early boat ride, that would fall under late boat ride of the year!! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I guess buy a couple of days.Chris the shot of me out on the water in december

[persuader22]

MAN.... I CANT WAIT FOR SPRING TIME. LOOKS LIKE FUN TO ME. YOU MUST BE ABOUT 2HRS FROM ME IM GUESSING, IF YOU ARE 1OMIN SOUTH OF KALAMAZOO.
WHAT LAKE ARE YOU AT IN THE PICS?

[Adam L.]

What I want to know is who voted that you sould keep the boat winterized?

[Boston Predictor]

This is probably the baddest looking checkmate bowrider I've seen so far.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/checkmate414/78680014_1.jpg

[JW]

Yellow/white/black is my second close favorite color after white/red/black....................... http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif

[jgreen]

The yellow with black flames looks great in person also, the only thing about it is that when its on the water the black flames make it look shorter, it kind of makes a couple feet of the bow disappear.

[JW]

That's why I wont have an all black boat like my Pulse 171 again. It looked GREAT up close, all black with the red and white stripes. At a distance, the boat disappears in the tree line. Can't see it.

[claupie]

has anayone seen a dark color (black.blue or red ) w/yellow flames ??? would yellow look more natural for flames ???

[Drex]

Somewhere on here there is a pic of a black 2400 with yellow/red flames.

[jrumon]

JW... we must think a like!!! I saw the clear lake and was very temped to try out my new 225HO motor on the 26 cat deck boat. But being NEW out of the crate, I figure I better wait until I can break it in properly and spend some hours on the water.

I did however get out my RC boat for some hot laps around my pond in the back yard!
(so much for Hockey practice for the kids)... http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/brickwall.gif

On the bright side, maybe we'll have an early spring for all us northern boat nuts!!!

P.S. I like that Fourwinns... what model & motor is yours? My next door neighbor has a 1995 Freedom 170 with a 1995 Evinrude 130 V4... great boat!

[Mich Pulse]

I put my fishing boat in a couple of weeks ago and have been catching walleyes in the North Channel. I can't believe how many boats are on the water, I bet 30 the one day. The boat is still in my fathers canal, mine is frozen. I can honestly say this is the first year I've gone ice fishing in Dec. and boating in JANUARY!!!

[JW]

It is a new (July '05 leftover) 2003 Freedom 180 with the 2.6 carb Johnson 150 XL. This boat out-accelerates a buddies SeaDoo XP!! I am amazed at the 0-30 acceleration.

My insurance man is coming over this weekend to look at it, as he needs an 18' ski boat to pull skis/tubes, and I need a 21' Pulsare bow rider with a 225 EFI or Opti instead............ http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif