Checkmate in Hot Boat yet?

[Craig]

ps Not sure how I feel about a 100 boats in a few months.(does bayliner/baja come to mind)

I think it's only been 100 boats since new Ownership took over...which was around Jan or Feb 2007.....so in about 1-1/2 years....correct me if I'm wrong.

-Craig

 

[PapaMaC]

As far as why we've been ignored here a bit as of late, I dunno why really. Maybe we're viewed as the old guard or something. Maybe we're the old way and the company is headed somewhere else. I guess we could speculate all day about that part and not really know.

It's odd though.


-Chris

My guess would be they leaked the hot up-and-comings to this site because it was free marketing, maybe new management thinks that this site is targeting mostly older re-sales/re-builds and majority of our thousands of visitors are more interested in pouring money in their old checks than to buy new ones. So their teasers are sent to a more realistic marketing platform.

 

[JY]

All companies need to fully appreciate the power of the internet. Very few people buy anything today without first taking a few minutes to research what other people have to say about the product on the net. That leads consumers not to the company's website, but rather to message boards like this. It is very much in Checkmate's best interests to keep this Board fully updated, in real-time, with regard to ongoing projects, including the latest pictures and specs. The buying public (not just existing members and Mate owners) come on here to look around, gain insight, and see pictures of boats that in many cases they'd have to drive 100s of miles to see in person. That's exactly what I did in when I bought my ZT230 - came on here looking for info., saw pictures of a black and yellow ZT230 and said "that's the boat I'm gettin'". Cheapest advertising that Checkmate ever got, I'm sure. A person buying a boat 2 months from now ain't gonna even know there was an article in Hotboat. They'll come on the internet and end up here through their google search.

 

[Sean Tieben]

Right on.. That was stated great.....How true it is...

 

[SCT]

"Checkmate is about the only manufacturer left that puts any craftsmanship into the dash. I have never been a fan of bolting/screwing a plastic piece of junk plate to the dash and then mounting the gauges in/on that. The guy who does the tooling for the plugs at Checkmate is by far the best in the business.".....Craig

Craig, I agree totally! Have you ever seen the dash of a Fountian? It looks like a freshman in high school made it in his 1st week of shop class.......

 

[Chris]

All companies need to fully appreciate the power of the internet. Very few people buy anything today without first taking a few minutes to research what other people have to say about the product on the net. That leads consumers not to the company's website, but rather to message boards like this. It is very much in Checkmate's best interests to keep this Board fully updated, in real-time, with regard to ongoing projects, including the latest pictures and specs. The buying public (not just existing members and Mate owners) come on here to look around, gain insight, and see pictures of boats that in many cases they'd have to drive 100s of miles to see in person. That's exactly what I did in when I bought my ZT230 - came on here looking for info., saw pictures of a black and yellow ZT230 and said "that's the boat I'm gettin'". Cheapest advertising that Checkmate ever got, I'm sure. A person buying a boat 2 months from now ain't gonna even know there was an article in Hotboat. They'll come on the internet and end up here through their google search.

I agree. Like it or not, the print media's long term viability and relevence, is really in question at this point in time. The bottom line is that the print media as an industry is shrinking and the numbers support that. That's why I find it ironic that Hot Boat, would be labeling Checkmate old school. But no biggee, that's their job and I understand that.

As far as our site goes, I've always tried my best to be co-operative with Checkmate management. During the Combs era, Kip was my day-in, day-out contact and I was always co-operative and professional with any information, sensitive or not, that Checkmate provided me, or that fell into my lap for that matter. Back at that time, Kip normally sent me news, pics, tidbits etc. and together we'd work on getting that information on to the board for y'all.

From day one, what we've tried to do, is strike a balance and attempt to protect the interests of all sides, because to me that's what ultimately has to happen for the board to be effective. Many times trying to do that is a bit like walking a tight-rope where everyone feels like you're on the other guy's side, but that can also be a sign that you've come down somewhere in the middle as no-one is totally happy.

At the end of the day, I feel, the board is most effective when all the stakeholders participate in it. And the stakeholders being, Checkmate Management, us the administrators, the dealers, and obviously the customers/members of the site. Right now for whatever reason, it seems like information isn't coming here via the direct route any longer, instead it seems to be filtering in from various third parties. I've made my concerns known about this, I've offered to work co-operatively and so far it seems like "it is, what it is".


-Chris

 

[Craig]

My opinion on boat mags: They mostly cater to the jewelry wearing boater. Besides that, the boats in them have such ugly graphics, well more gay than ugly. I can’t stand hardly any of them, even the so called top-of-the-line $250-500K custom ones...ridiculous looking. I guess the doctors and lawyers, congressmen…ceo’s buy these? Don’t know. I personally don’t know anyone who does. But, that being said, I can totally understand why Checkmate wants to get featured in them and advertize in them….only makes sense. The jewelry wearing guys have a lot of $$$$$.....and maybe they can entice one of them to go with a quality checkmate, show them they can buy a great boat and not have to look so cheesy.

I also agree with JY….what he stated there is the absolute truth. Most of the guys on this site buy/sell/restore the classic models. But, Many,Many guys sneak onto this site to check out new model info, and customer opinions….before they buy that new one!!!

-Craig

 

[Chris E]

if i was interested in buying a boat, i think i would be very comforted by the fact that so many of these boats from the 70's and 80's are still around. so yeah, i think this is a great spot for doing a little research before buying, i know that after checking out the bahahahahaha complaint board - i'd run from that product.

 

[Budman]

Checkmate has a full page advertisement with the 28 OBX in the August issue of Hot Boat.

 

[dfarina]

There was an article in the latest Boating magazine. Picked it up at the airport and was pleasantly surprised to see it. Just a short one page test but there was also an advertisement towards the back. Found it online, here's the link.http://www.boatingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1132

 

[Craig]

Well, I don't think Doug brought the "traditional approach" to high performance boating as stated in that article......that was Mr. Combs...But, I think Doug is doing a good job with the company.

-Craig

 

[PapaMaC]

I can’t stand hardly any of them, even the so called top-of-the-line $250-500K custom ones...ridiculous looking. I guess the doctors and lawyers, congressmen…ceo’s buy these? Don’t know. I personally don’t know anyone who does.

-Craig

Only person I know that actually habitually buys go-fast boats always does full custom and makes his own graphics (CAD) his current toy is an 06(?) fountain 42' and it's pretty badass (he's a consultant for CH2M Hill)