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The New ZT275???

I don't really know about the mold but I'm not too fond of the higher profile wind screen. Though somewhat im-practical I like the older style wind screens better.
 
That windshield is waaaay too high....makes it look wierd....not sporty at all......cruiser-ish really. But hey, any way you look at it, it's still a Baja!
 
Why go after Baja molds!!!!!:confused:

Checkmate is going for a market of WANNBEE'S!!!!
Wanabee what I dont know
Why fool with success!!!!??????:shakehead:

I am new to this checkmate thing, but even as a newbee I understand what the classic guys are all about. Checkmate should also. I believe they have a right to build what they want but they do not have to do under the checkmate name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Donzi would never do it and least I dont think so!!

By the way I wiped out two baja's this weekend!! These dudes turn there faces when you blow by them but if I was Ba--- Jaaaaa I would turn my head also!!!:shakehead:
 
Man, I'm not a fan of it at all.

I'm with Check This, its not what I'd like to see with Checkmate written on the side of it.

I'd love to get a newer checkmate, but the company is really turning me off lately...:pissed: its got me thinking about some other brands for when I get another boat... I love my Superboat- a 30ft one would be cool, I saw a nice Allison couple of weeks ago, and those 21ft Liberators are really nice...:sssh:
 
i like the look of the boat, it certainly has a tall windshield, which i don't like, but i can also see the market this boat would cater too, and they will like the tall windshield.

as for the baja/checkmate thing, it sure has stirred up a lot of emotion on here, but right or wrong, the powers that be are trying to make the company survive a very tough economic climate, and if this is the way they can do it, then so be it. change isn't always bad. reggie's bankrupt, checkmate isn't, that should be telling you something. i'd rather see checkmate build a few baja molds and survive, then not and go bankrupt, leaving a legacy dead in the water.
 
It's Ok, but nott overly exciting like many of the true Checkmates IMO.. I wish that C'mate would have continued to use thier own designed hulls, or if they insisted on using a Baja mold make many mods to it so that it had enough hull features to be unique & stand apart much more from what baja had built.. Again, Just MHO.. :) Jamie / Lakeside
 
Chris E said:
i like the look of the boat, it certainly has a tall windshield, which i don't like, but i can also see the market this boat would cater too, and they will like the tall windshield.

as for the baja/checkmate thing, it sure has stirred up a lot of emotion on here, but right or wrong, the powers that be are trying to make the company survive a very tough economic climate, and if this is the way they can do it, then so be it. change isn't always bad. reggie's bankrupt, checkmate isn't, that should be telling you something. i'd rather see checkmate build a few baja molds and survive, then not and go bankrupt, leaving a legacy dead in the water.
Click to expand...

But then again the Baja molds did not keep baja from going under for the 2nd time and now working on the 3rd. And after the purchase of Baja by Reggie the molds did not keep him above water either. Maybe its because the market is flooded with them from heavy advertisement and mass production. I think we both no why Checkmate has not filled so theirs no need to go their.
 
Wow, as much of a die-hard C'Mate guy i am unfortionalty i have to say i don't like that boat very much, it's just a Baja "Islander" isn't it? I mean yeah i can see where there is a market for it, i do see alot of Islanders around the lake, but that is just not a Checkmate. I hope they never do away with the real ZT line of boats, man they are good lookin boats, just this past weekend i looked at a brand new ZT240 on my lake, red deck with black red and white ZT graphics, what a beautifull boat, my tung is still hangin out. I can live with the ZT244 Beckmate, it's ok, but this new ZT275 is to far out there for a Checkmate IMHO.
 
I wonder if any of the big-wigs at checkmate are picking up on the overwhelming feeling of disappointment with the direction they're going in. I wonder if they ever catch wind of threads like this one. :confused:
 
Alright......Here is my whole .02 on this situation with Doug and his R & D (or lack there of). It is a long rant and by no means am I a PR or marketing grad....but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.......

If I were the president of a boat company that had a loyal following and had an unmistakable identity, this is what I would do:

-first of all, this forum. Use it to my advantage. Cmate is good enough to link it to their company site, but why not use this great resource. This is a great spot to throw around ideas to numerous faithful customers. I would be on this thing regularly putting out feelers for input on new models, design changes, and flaws/things that could be improved on to enhance the user friendliness/versatility of the model. Simply put, is the jury on here doesn't care for something, neither will a potential buyer. I don't care if you own a new or used boat, Checkmate should monitor what people think. Even if somebody always buys used boats, it is still another checkmate on the water that is putting the name out there.

-I would spend more on advertising. Yes Checkmate has been in Powerboat Mag quite a bit this year, but sending a base model to be tested along with top of the line offerings from other companies, you get overwhelmed by the bling/performance of other brands. The budget 2100 Pulsare build and feature in the Mag was great. People are really wanting bang for their buck or they have a lot of buck and want something top of the line. Throwing yourself in between the two extremes is just asking to be lost in the shuffle. Show that you can compete with the big guns but also show that an average Joe can with a budget can get a great performing and looking craft. Just take a look at all of the changes boats have made in the past 10 years. The interiors are becoming more luxurious, automotive-like, stepped hulls are blowing conventional or pad v-hulls away, and if someone is going to drop $80K and waaay waaaay more on a new boat, they want it to be unique and exactly what they want. Send out some top of the line blinged out hot rods to be shown and tested letting people know that you are a serious contender still and do more builds on a budget that still kick a little tail. With Checkmates handbuilt to order, this is where C-mate could excell.

-Go to more shows/poker runs to get the name out. If you build a good product like C-mate does, it will sell itself, but people have to see to believe.

-OK.....I understand the huge investment required to create a new model. Mold trading/selling/revamping has been going on in the industry for a looong time. BUT, this does not mean that you can take someone's failed/tossed model, lay it up with no changes, and slap a new name on it. Baja has had many ups and downs in their history of cookie cutter boats along with quality issues. The whole industry is flushing down the toilet fast but don't make knee-jerk descisions to try and stay alive. For the money, a Baja is a decent boat....alright performance, catchy graphics, but most of all, it is a cheap way to get the image of youth and power that most powerboaters want. When you add a new model to a line-up, you usually want to have something new and exciting, not a copy of a mediocre boat that has been produced for 10 years. You can't move forward by painting old technology and innovations with fancy graphics and call it "NEW." The industry will pass you by. If you are going to use an old mold, at least make some noticable changes to it to uphold the image your brand already has, don't try and tap into an over exploited one.

Once again, this is what I would do if I ran a boat company. I am finishing college right now to enter into this industry as an engineer (and mabe someday have my own company) so I keep a close eye on it. This is my passion and these are my opinions. This stuff is not rocket science but mostly just good common and business sense.
 
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