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New Guy considering an older Checkmate...

Thanks ROb...

Rob B said:
Welcome to the forum!!! :thumb:
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Glad to be here, had a couple calls on my Nacra Catamaran for sale on Craigslist. Also just added I would be interested in trading for a running Checkmate project boat up/down. Crossing fingers ya never know right!! LOL There are a couple nice looking boats around here for sale on Craigslist within say two or three hours drive that look promising. Peace

Pete
 
PetefromTn said:
Glad to be here, had a couple calls on my Nacra Catamaran for sale on Craigslist. Also just added I would be interested in trading for a running Checkmate project boat up/down. Crossing fingers ya never know right!! LOL There are a couple nice looking boats around here for sale on Craigslist within say two or three hours drive that look promising. Peace

Pete
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Pete I work in Knoxville but live in Charleston so If you need help looking let me know.:thumb: Here's one your backyard!! http://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa/3944333351.html
 
Holy Schnikes!!

Rob B said:
Pete I work in Knoxville but live in Charleston so If you need help looking let me know.:thumb: Here's one your backyard!! http://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa/3944333351.html
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Man that thing is kinda homely but it is probably exactly what I am looking for. I am gonna ride over there right now and have a looksee. Cannot buy it unless my Cat sells but ya never know right. Wonder if it runs? Thanks man. peace

Pete
 
Well....

PetefromTn said:
Man that thing is kinda homely but it is probably exactly what I am looking for. I am gonna ride over there right now and have a looksee. Cannot buy it unless my Cat sells but ya never know right. Wonder if it runs? Thanks man. peace

Pete
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My family and I just cruised down there to look at that boat. It is pretty rough. Looks like it has been sitting there for awhile without a cover on it. There is also lots of ants in and on the boat. Such a shame they let it sit there neglected like that. It also was sitting behind a fence so I could not actually get in the boat and see how the floors feel. With it being outside open like that I am sure it is not too good. I seriously doubt they will get $1900.00 for it like that. The motor does not look like it has run for awhile. Still I may call them and see if I can get over there and get inside it. If the floors are solid and the transom is solid I may make a VERY lowball offer for it. The good news is we were able to see a checkmate boat in person the same kind we are interested in. It is a sleek looking boat in person, I am sure it could be cleaned up but it would take a helluva lot of work. I dunno I will still have to wait until I sell this Cat and then look more seriously. Of course if I found the RIGHT boat I would take money out of the bank for it LOL I am sure. My wife was like...WELL, I like the lines on it, it sure looks like it was once a real sweet boat. I agree... Peace

Pete
 
welcome to our sickness. there are plenty of boats out there from planters to creampuffs. good luck on your search and if you start a project and can get rob's help you have it made. he is one of the best on here when it comes restoration.
 
ZT 218

I agree. Best be careful. Myself, I'd keep looking around. Once you get into hull problems (water intrusion) coupled with engines that haven't been run equates into a money pit.
Best to find Mates that the owner can take you out for a test drive. Then you will know that the boat floats and runs. You can do better. Just keep looking. Something within your means and ability will come around.
Just takes time.

Matt.
 
Oh really...

nathan said:
welcome to our sickness. there are plenty of boats out there from planters to creampuffs. good luck on your search and if you start a project and can get rob's help you have it made. he is one of the best on here when it comes restoration.
Click to expand...

Like I said I am hoping to not have to do a complete restoration but ripping out the upholstery and sanding refinishing the boat I can do as well as some mild fiberglass/ epoxy work. Looking thru some of the restoration builds here now and there are quite a few serious projects going on. Ripping the floor out seems like a BEOTCH but doable. I have used the west system epoxy several times. The last time I used it to seal the coolant troughs in my Cincinatti Arrow 500 VMC I just retrofitted. They had tons of pinhole rust holes in them and leaked. I wound up gutting them, tig welding the worst offenders, sanding and grinding the piss out of the insides of the troughs and sealing the entire insides with the west system epoxy followed by spraying it with some immersion proof epoxy based industrial paint. So far they are leak free and they are all nice and white and clean inside LOL.... Peace

Pete
 
ZT 218

I agree. Best be careful. Myself, I'd keep looking around. Once you get into hull problems (water intrusion) coupled with engines that haven't been run equates into a money pit.
Best to find Mates that the owner can take you out for a test drive. Then you will know that the boat floats and runs. You can do better. Just keep looking. Something within your means and ability will come around.
Just takes time. You will spend more for something that doesn't run or float, and dig a hole for yourself looking at a project that will cost more than you would want.

Just my opinion.

Matt.
 
:welcome: Good luck on your search. If you find something you want to buy post some pics and we will give you the low down on what it's worth.
 
Willdo....

Jetmate said:
:welcome: Good luck on your search. If you find something you want to buy post some pics and we will give you the low down on what it's worth.
Click to expand...


Like I said I still need to sell my Nacra. Or possibly find someone willing to trade my nacra for a suitable Checkmate project boat. Been reading thru the resto threads on these boats and it sounds like most of the 80's and earlier models will probably need new floors/transoms etc. Trying to decide if I want to get into that but honestly I have done lots of work like this before and it is not as bad as it seems sometimes. Seems like that Starflite is a sweet boat and many have redone their wood in them with lots of pics and ideas to follow. Maybe I should find one of those and be able to follow along redoing it. I know many remove the whole cap but just read a thread where someone cut out the top of the cap in front of the motor and was able to get to all that he needed to without major tear down. Not sure what I want to get into. I just know I want to get one of these sweet boats to play with. Peace


Pete
 
HMmmmm..

keith4216 said:
Whats your budget? That will help us find you something.
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Not entirely sure just yet. A lot will depend on what I get for my Nacra. However the word "CHEAP" comes to mind LOL... I fully expect to have to buy a project here and honestly my kids are anxious to BUILD something as a family. I want this boat to be a fun project for us as well as something we can enjoy for a long time once it is complete. Honestly that boat we looked at today looks pretty bad but after reading thru some of the builds here I am wondering if I should not just make a lowball offer on it. I am doing a custom cabinet job here right now and once it is completed I should be able to put a couple thousand into a decent boat. Might take a month tho. It is a nice Kitchen I am building with inset doors and drawer fronts. From what I have seen of these older Checkmates on searchtempest that should buy me something worth having. Just trying to decide if I want to spend a little less on the boat and get a complete rebuild to do the way I want or try to spend some more and get something that is usable but may need some mild work.

We are planning to move back to Florida at some point and it got me thinking, If I get an outboard boat I can run it in salt water without having to redo the cooling system right? Lots of choices here and I am so new to this. I am not new to boats tho. Always had them and grew up on them. Spent four years in the US Coast Guard too. Two on the USCGC Steadfast and two flying the C-130 aircraft around as a navigator. I am pretty used to boats. Just never bought one that will be this fast nor done any serious rebuilding on one. Seems like if the hull is intact you can rebuild the stringers and transom as many here have done it and have a boat that will last for years without too much trouble. Lots of sanding and grinding/cutting tho but I am pretty well used to that. I did rebuild my old Kawasaki 650SX standup jetski and painted it years ago. Pretty easy to do really but this will be MUCH more work from most accounts. What do you guys think? peace

Pete
 
PetefromTn said:
Not entirely sure just yet. A lot will depend on what I get for my Nacra. However the word "CHEAP" comes to mind LOL... I fully expect to have to buy a project here and honestly my kids are anxious to BUILD something as a family. I want this boat to be a fun project for us as well as something we can enjoy for a long time once it is complete. Honestly that boat we looked at today looks pretty bad but after reading thru some of the builds here I am wondering if I should not just make a lowball offer on it. I am doing a custom cabinet job here right now and once it is completed I should be able to put a couple thousand into a decent boat. Might take a month tho. It is a nice Kitchen I am building with inset doors and drawer fronts. From what I have seen of these older Checkmates on searchtempest that should buy me something worth having. Just trying to decide if I want to spend a little less on the boat and get a complete rebuild to do the way I want or try to spend some more and get something that is usable but may need some mild work.

We are planning to move back to Florida at some point and it got me thinking, If I get an outboard boat I can run it in salt water without having to redo the cooling system right? Lots of choices here and I am so new to this. I am not new to boats tho. Always had them and grew up on them. Spent four years in the US Coast Guard too. Two on the USCGC Steadfast and two flying the C-130 aircraft around as a navigator. I am pretty used to boats. Just never bought one that will be this fast nor done any serious rebuilding on one. Seems like if the hull is intact you can rebuild the stringers and transom as many here have done it and have a boat that will last for years without too much trouble. Lots of sanding and grinding/cutting tho but I am pretty well used to that. I did rebuild my old Kawasaki 650SX standup jetski and painted it years ago. Pretty easy to do really but this will be MUCH more work from most accounts. What do you guys think? peace

Pete
Click to expand...

First off "Thanks" for your military service!!!:thumb:Most mates this old will need a floor, stringers and transom replacement. That's not a hard project just very time consuming and nasty!! The hardest part will be the demo, the fun part is glassing all the pieces back in. Most of us do some modifications by making it stronger than the factory. Good luck with your search.
 
thanks Rob..

Yeah honestly when we looked at that boat it did not seem nearly as long and sleek looking as the starliner looked in the pictures online. That also did not seem like a 21 foot boat. Not that it was not a nice looking boat but it was pretty beat up. Don't really mind doing some decent work on our boat or even pulling the floors out like that but just really looking for something more like that starliner or starflight or similar. Love the way those boats look. Thanks so much for all your help and suggestions. I also see you are in NC how far from Knoxville are you? I know you said you work there. Peace

Pete
 
If you're strictly open bow then Starliner or Entertainer is the way to go. If you can live with a closed bow add Starflite and Enchanter to your list.
 
PetefromTn said:
Yeah honestly when we looked at that boat it did not seem nearly as long and sleek looking as the starliner looked in the pictures online. That also did not seem like a 21 foot boat. Not that it was not a nice looking boat but it was pretty beat up. Don't really mind doing some decent work on our boat or even pulling the floors out like that but just really looking for something more like that starliner or starflight or similar. Love the way those boats look. Thanks so much for all your help and suggestions. I also see you are in NC how far from Knoxville are you? I know you said you work there. Peace

Pete
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I live in Charleston SC not NC. Anyway I work in the Knoxville area so it's about 5-6 hour drive.
 
Thanks guys....

Honesty I am probably looking at more of a project boat then a beauty like that already finished. I'd love one tho and that looks like a good price. Never heard of an entertainer gonna have to check that one out. Liking the starliner and starflight so far best. Peace

Pete
 
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