Enchanter vs Sportfire handling - 1st checkmate

[pb26518]

Hello everyone, I am considering purchasing my first checkmate soon- totally new to the brand and somewhat new to performance outboards (other than a 10hp merc on our crabbing boat, always dealt with I/O)
I am trying to decide between two different boats for sale that check all my boxes- an ‘83 Enchanter (20ft, 1275lbs) with a 200 merc, and a ‘87 Sportfire 17ft 850 lbs also with 200 merc. The enchanter was totally restored (stringers, transom replaced, new interior, new gel coat, etc.) and engine is a 2000 with new powerhead last year. The Sportfire has had some work done (paint job sterio etc) and has a ‘94 outboard used in freshwater. Granted the enchanter is a good bit more expensive.
What is your all’s opinion of how these boats will handle in about 2-3ft chop? I will be running mostly in the rivers around the Chesapeake bay. My thought is between these two boats the 20ft enchanter should handle better being it’s longer and heavier, or at I splitting hairs at this point? In reading the forums it sounds like the Starflite would be a perfect match, being that it’s light, 21ft, and has a Vee hull...unfortunately none for sale around me Also reading up on the Pulsare (I believe has a Vee hull?) but seem to be a little out of my price range. Any advice greatly appreciated!
Pat

 

[PA-Checkmate]

Enchanter, sounds like much better condition. I never boated in the bay, even with the Enchanter may be too short for a enjoyable outing. The old saying " you get what you pay for"

 

[jumbofordman]

I have a Predictor 17', Eluder 18' and Enchanter 20', have taken them all out in the Pamlico Sound here in eastern NC. The Enchanter handles the sound the best, but you still have to slow down, particularly on a busy afternoon when the chop is coming from all directions. You don't have to slow down nearly as much as the Predictor, but all 3 do better on the river as opposed to the sound. The Eluder is closer to the Enchanter overall I think due to it's extra width compared to the Predictor.



Incidentally, with the same engine and jackplate; the Enchanter runs the fastest in spite of weighing more. The Predictor went about 58, the Eluder 60 and the Enchanter about 63. All with a 90's 175 Mercury Outboard.

 

[pb26518]

Interesting you mention the Enchanter runs the fastest out of the 3...maybe faster hull design? Do all have a pad? The guy with the 17ft Sportfire told me he ran 71, guy with the Enchanter said about 60 with the 200, but it sounds like maybe could go a little above that. Willing to sacrifice a few mph for ride comfort though.

 

[jumbofordman]

Interesting you mention the Enchanter runs the fastest out of the 3...maybe faster hull design? Do all have a pad? The guy with the 17ft Sportfire told me he ran 71, guy with the Enchanter said about 60 with the 200, but it sounds like maybe could go a little above that. Willing to sacrifice a few mph for ride comfort though.

All three have pads. Note my comparison was with the exact same motor, same prop. Possible either of your quoted speeds was not GPS? The Enchanter should go more than 60 with a 200 (well, perhaps not without a jackplate unless they spent some time experimenting with different heights.)

 

[pb26518]

It does have a jack plate...maybe I’ll have to do some experimenting. Has a 4 blade 26p prop. He mentioned the max he’d run it at was 5400rpm for fear of burning up...again not super familiar with OB but that does seem pretty high.

 

[jumbofordman]

It does have a jack plate...maybe I’ll have to do some experimenting. Has a 4 blade 26p prop. He mentioned the max he’d run it at was 5400rpm for fear of burning up...again not super familiar with OB but that does seem pretty high.

I kinda have a mystery prop on my outboard (3 blade). The only identifying mark on it is the number 25 dremeled on the side, other than that no numbers or letters at all, and I bought it used from eBay. But on all three boats it both runs the fastest and performs the best in gripping the water (less blowouts, better turns, better holeshot) than any other prop I've tried. A 26 pitch 4 blade prop might be lugging the engine a bit and 4 blade props can cost a couple MPH.

 

[merc245]

Ever hear of fourfoot-itis, you’ll be setting yourself up for a case if you go with the sportfire. Nice little lake boats, when they were matched up with a Merc 135 V6 it made a potent little outfit. They sold a ton of those packages. I owned a 89 sportfire with a rebuilt 150 inline, round eared s.s. prop seen 54/55 mph. I ran on bigger water of the Detroit River and north end of Erie, with traffic or wind it was a crawl more less. Let’s just say my dates weren’t happy when it took 30 minutes to go 10 miles to the party bay!
If you go with the sportfire people will want to grab the top of the windshield to hold on, don’t let them as it could separate the frame from the glass. And when I made speed runs I had to literally move to the center of the boat and kneel between the seats to keep it on its pad.
Next was a starflite at 21ft with a v bottom (vs a pad) but it ran so much better that I ran it for 21 seasons on the same water vs 4 season with the 16’.5” sportfire. Good Luck in your choices!
p.s. been down on Chesapeake Bay 3 times running across the big portions are about the same water up here on Erie (most times)

 

[pb26518]

Thank you all for the info- I decided to go with the Enchanter! Going to pick it up next month. Very excited!