I looked one over at a boat show. I hate to say it, but the thought that came to my mind was...chincy.

How much $$$$

I think it's a cool boat with or without walk through,, I worked on and drive a checkmate 21 closed bow with small block chevy and it was a fun boat to drive and ski with but not very confertable.. Plus it was black with with black,silver and red interior,,, on a hot sunny day it was like being on the sun,, even throwing a towel on the foward deck there was no room to relax...

We also had a late 60's Sutphen 20 footer,, small block, good ski boat,, went fast and went through engines faster,, in one summer we blew 3 differant engines,, swapped them out on our own.. we were picking up junk yard small block truck enginges and hoping for the best.. at the end of that season the boat was sent out for a top of the line big block mercruiser and brand new drive,, It was a year and a half later before we could pay it out and pick up the boat,, we also had it painted and some interior modes were needed to fit the 454 engine..

`How was the big block in the small block boat rig?

I have a buddy that has a 21' Checkmate closed bow in those colors, but it is powered by a outboard. It's a cool boat and I think this one is too. Not for me though, need more room for how I use a boat.

Interesting that they offer two styles of bow cockpit access-one the lighest for speed and then one that is more family friendly.

If you don't mind me asking, what about it to was chincy ?

JMHO, Checkmate's work is really nice and for the money you have a hard time finding another boat with that much proformance glass work is top quality - all graphics are in the gel. The seats are custom made by McCloud, all Lavorsi gauges and throttles / shifters. All rigging is clean, neat and done with proper hardware. Everything is thur bolted, stainless and All name brand hardware ie Accon, Gil, Faria, Clarion or Sony, can be rigged Merc or Evinrude - or not at all if you want to do your own.


I do own a Checkmate, and I will concede that they are not " plush " like a Cobalt / Crownline ect, but...

Not everyone's style, however this one " Blows My Hair Back "

Much of what Checkmate does is driven by light weight and strenght for Hi-Po use.

In that light, nice boat, IMO.

But I do think the windscreen is very lightweight and seemingly cheap when one grasps it, compared to a family boat.

Seabuddy,

I can see your point about the windshield supports - given my druthers, I'd be looking to beef it up a little. Given the design pen, I'd skip the glass and mold a wind fairing accross the deck.

Why would anyone order a boat like that and not get the walk through windshield?

Neat boat, thanks for the post seabuddy.
Is that a crawlspace to the bow on first model you posted?
Never seen that before.

I bet that bowrider (aka runabout) is far more structurally sound than the same boat with a split dash/windshield?
And can handle more HP/speed/chop?

Huge price variance based on the the Ponies in the back

If you have a little more coin - 28 with twins

http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1689

300HP and a Wake Tower

http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1680

Lambert Laker - crawl thru to bow rider seats.

Somewhat popular with west coast low production boat builders.