Updated pics Thurs, Jan. 26 -Checkmate factory pics of my boat under construction

[DaNinja]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Wow! that thing looks great!!

300- I hear ya!

Just one 300hp?
Kidding...I'm loving this thread.
The boat looks great!

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Not being negative at all but I wonder if the level of interaction is at least in part the fact there simply aren't many buying a new boat right now?

This is fair curiosity, but this is Checkmate's way of doing business. They are busier than they have been in years. They've been an open shop as a tradition, and I believe the guys behind the marketing are the family sons who now work for the new owner, Doug Smith, who brought Baja to the forefront when he previously owned them. People pick up their boats at the shop, visit to see the construction process and customize the build along the way.

When I realized that build pics were like boat porn to real boaters, I had to post the pics. I love surfing the builds/restos myself.

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Just one 300hp?

I know, right? I don't think I could insure her if she had even one more horsepower.

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Man, Looks great - I bet you can't wait to get her home. What name is going on it?

LK

We kicked around the idea of "Knauti Knights" (Checkmate logo is knight head from chess set).... but, might be too corny by the time I finally decide.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

totally off the flippin hook killer!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Not being negative at all but I wonder if the level of interaction is at least in part the fact there simply aren't many buying a new boat right now?

Actually there are and have been quite a few builders that do all this and more. It all depends on which one you go with.

I guess you could consider them "boutique" builders. (That's what they call it for guitar amps at least)

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Last piece: Custom fitting the high-speed bimini... which was done as overkill with the same material used to make high-performance convertible car tops. Wife wanted the bimini.

 

[BlkY2k]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Very nice Phil, congrats on the new rig.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Last piece: Custom fitting the high-speed bimini... which was done as overkill with the same material used to make high-performance convertible car tops. Wife wanted the bimini.

Most biminis are recommended for use only below 35mph. I guess yours may not get much use if it has the same rating.

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Oh, now what makes you think I will go over 35?!

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Nice boat and nice motor! How fast do you think she will be?

 

[veritas honus]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

She's come a long way in a short time... Very, very nice, Phil.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Congrats Phil, that is a beautiful boat and should fly across the water I'm not sure I would be able to put a beautiful boat like that in the water after taking delivery from the factory. It would probably end up in a plexi glass case inside the living room

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Nice boat and nice motor! How fast do you think she will be?

With Optmax 300XS: Closed bow version ran 74+ on radar and GPS. The open bow version runs about 2-3 MPH slower.

Cruising speed is 55 MPH.

Thanks all for the nice comments. She is completely done, and I thought it was fun to post pics here of the build from scratch to the very last piece (the bimini). I feel very lucky to be able to afford this boat and add things that I always wanted. Always ran older boats and, by doing things myself (in every facet of life around the home/garage) or just taking care of things for a long, long time, the payoff is that my wife and I decided to reward ourselves with something like this.

Heck, I might post pics of the boat shrink wrapped for shipping.

Checkmate: Behind the scenes, aside from this thread, there is a tremendous am't of interaction between Checkmate, the dealer and the buyer. It's like having a custom car built from scratch. This is a company that pulled a five year old discontinued mold from storage for some guy that wanted an older model built today... and then he customized every inch of it and added their newest graphic's package to an older style hull. Just a bit different than most experiences you'll find anywhere.

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Here's a pic of a boat Checkmate recently built, but it was done from a discontinued mold they haven't used in years, but the buyer wanted the older style (smaller bow seating, no walk-through windshied, full console). Of course, he customized it along the way and got pics daily of the build and visited the shop:

This thing looks incredible:

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Top looks great!

Can't believe I'm jonesin for you to ride in your boat if that makes any sense I don't know, but I'm getting antsy.

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Yeah, I can't imagine the feeling!

 

[DBreskin]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Phil, be sure to let us locals know when and where you plan to take her for the maiden voyage. I'll try to come along to take pictures from the water (although probably from the back since I won't be able to keep up.)

 

[Philster]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY 2/09/12. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY 2/09/12. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Absolutely and thanks! I'd say the C&D launching out of Delaware City - Date/Time to be determined. Anywhere along the C&D as I plan to barrel down that in short order after launching.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Re: NEW PICS THURSDAY, 1/12/2012. Checkmate factory pics of my boat under constructi

Absolutely and thanks! I'd say the C&D launching out of Delaware City - Date/Time to be determined. Anywhere along the C&D as I plan to barrel down that in short order after launching.

When I launch down that way it's usually from Salem Creek, across the Delaware. Great FREE ramp.