THE REAL NEW NON CHECKMATE

[Blue Mist '97]

My new to me boat is:

2001 Hallett 270S closed deck. She carries a 502 MPI with a Bravo 1 drive. I found her at Lake Havasu, AZ.

Readers Digest version is went out to LH, AZ last Saturday and met with the owners. Boat was there and it is a cream puff. Prior to that, I requested a compression/leakdown test. Several of the cylinders were leaking out the intake and exhaust. Owner agreed to have the top end done. Motor came out great and the sea trial was outstanding.

I bought the boat over margaritas at the Javelina Cantina. Boat is now at an upholstery shop there waiting to have to deck opened up and convert it to a MCOB. Having a few other things done while it's out there. Hope to pick it up in late March and bring it home.

Met Budman while I was there and he graciously took some photos of the boat on the water. I will add his photobucket link. Thanks Budman and good to finally meet you.


http://s447.photobucket.com/user/185EZ/library/270%20Hallet

 

[Blue Mist '97]

Few more. This one of the cleanest used boats I have ever found. Owner was very detail oriented.

 

[corey331]

Very nice boat man!!! Congrats!!!

 

[mragu]

Blue Mist, Very nice looking boat. Who is handling the making of a MCOB? That is an interesting concept since I need a MCOB and the hulls that I like are not made in a mid cabin. What is a rough estimate of the cost for this procedure? Thanks, Mike

 

[Budman]

Dang it! Missed that ever elusive beer again.

 

[Blue Mist '97]

Blue Mist, Very nice looking boat. Who is handling the making of a MCOB? That is an interesting concept since I need a MCOB and the hulls that I like are not made in a mid cabin. What is a rough estimate of the cost for this procedure? Thanks, Mike

Speaking of the concept. If I had known about it, I could have had my Checkmate converted and saved a boat load of money. Unfortunately, I found out about conversions after I sold the Check.

ARKO Upholstery in Lake Havasu is doing the conversion. It just so happens that the owner, Bill Sturgis, worked at Hallett for 30 years and did all their interiors and conversions. He left California and moved to LH where he now has his own shop and is affiliated with Conquest Boats there. He works on any boat. While I was there, a guy showed up with a 35 or so DCB and he is going to re do all the interior. This man does first class work.

I am told, most boats are closed decks when they come out of the mold (maybe that's only out west, so please correct me if I am wrong). They cut them and make the seating for the open bow. They can do walk thru open bows also. West coast boats sell walk thru and MCOB's about 10 to 1 over CD boats out there and they are worth more bucks when you sell.

Cost probably differs with different boats, but a good number would be in the neighborhood of $4500-$5000 for a boat the size of mine (27). That is complete. I am getting a cockpit cover and a bow cover made, having the fabric cabin couches recovered in vinyl and a couple of other things done that will cost extra.

It's going to take several weeks to get it done, as he is now in the busy time of the year out there. I will post up before and after pics when it's done.

 

[Blue Mist '97]

Dang it! Missed that ever elusive beer again.

Yes you did, but I will be back in a month, so you still may have a shot at it.

 

[Problem Child]

Beautiful boat. Enjoy it !!

 

[mragu]

Blue, I can't thank you enough for the information you provided for me. I have been looking for a 24 or 25 fast bowrider. I have come up empty the in my quest. The only one s I find are closed decks with I/OS. I want an ob. Now I just need to find a 24 closed deck hi performance and have it made into a bowrider. Then close upnthentransom and put an ob on it. Thanks again and best of luck with the hallet

 

[keith4216]

Blue, I can't thank you enough for the information you provided for me. I have been looking for a 24 or 25 fast bowrider. I have come up empty the in my quest. The only one s I find are closed decks with I/OS. I want an ob. Now I just need to find a 24 closed deck hi performance and have it made into a bowrider. Then close upnthentransom and put an ob on it. Thanks again and best of luck with the hallet

kinda sounds like a 2400 brx.

Congrats Blue Mist.

 

[corey331]

Blue, I can't thank you enough for the information you provided for me. I have been looking for a 24 or 25 fast bowrider. I have come up empty the in my quest. The only one s I find are closed decks with I/OS. I want an ob. Now I just need to find a 24 closed deck hi performance and have it made into a bowrider. Then close upnthentransom and put an ob on it. Thanks again and best of luck with the hallet

For the money you want to spend on a conversion, you should look at kct11's 2400. Mid-cabin with a 300xs hanging off the back!!!

 

[claupie]

Congrats !!

 

[mragu]

For the money you want to spend on a conversion, you should look at kct11's 2400. Mid-cabin with a 300xs hanging off the back!!!

Looking for a walk through bow. His boat is very nice. Would buy a 24BRX but the ones that I have seen for sale used seem pricey and too flashy for me.

 

[Blue Mist '97]

Looking for a walk through bow. His boat is very nice. Would buy a 24BRX but the ones that I have seen for sale used seem pricey and too flashy for me.

I like walk thru's. The biggest complaint that I heard on them was that there wasn't much room for storage. May not be true in all boats. Also, not really any place to get out of the sun for a little bit. If you have young kids or grandkids, it's nice to have a cabin for some shade.

By the way, are you looking for a bowrider with OB, I/O or either?

 

[Old Navy]

I can't wait to see how your new boat comes out. The MCOB boats are awesome.

 

[mragu]

I like walk thru's. The biggest complaint that I heard on them was that there wasn't much room for storage. May not be true in all boats. Also, not really any place to get out of the sun for a little bit. If you have young kids or grandkids, it's nice to have a cabin for some shade.

By the way, are you looking for a bowrider with OB, I/O or either?

Ahhh, I dont care about storage, and if the young kids and grandparents dont wont to get sun burn, they can stay home or put on sunblock Its looking more and more like I am going to end up getting an I/O although my preference is an outboard as I have a 300X. On the smaller mid cabins, like the BRX, I can see myself smashing my head going through the cabin, with yours the cabin is most likely bigger so that may not be a problem. I have been looking "West Coast" as around my part of the country, all I see that would work for me is a 26' Formula Bowrider or a 28 Donzi but the Donzi is out because I will not have twins I/O's. Your new boat is beautiful by the way. Cant wait to see pics of the redo.

 

[Blue Mist '97]

Ahhh, I dont care about storage, and if the young kids and grandparents dont wont to get sun burn, they can stay home or put on sunblock Its looking more and more like I am going to end up getting an I/O although my preference is an outboard as I have a 300X. On the smaller mid cabins, like the BRX, I can see myself smashing my head going through the cabin, with yours the cabin is most likely bigger so that may not be a problem. I have been looking "West Coast" as around my part of the country, all I see that would work for me is a 26' Formula Bowrider or a 28 Donzi but the Donzi is out because I will not have twins I/O's. Your new boat is beautiful by the way. Cant wait to see pics of the redo.

Well, that's the exact reason I started looking at west coast boats. I couldn't find anything that really peaked my interest. If you can be patient, there will be a couple of boats come up that will fit your needs.

I saw a thread recently that had a 240 Hallett walk thru and it was an OB (looked like a 300 on it). I was shocked as I had never seen one before, but it was really nice.

If you find anything that you like, let me know and I can probably get a guy to go by and put an eyeball on it for you, especially at Havasu. Pm me the info with your criteria and I will keep an eye out.

Thanks, I can hardly wait either. Talked to ARKO yesterday and Bill told me that he was going to start cutting the deck out this week. Scares the heck out of me, but he has done so many over the years that it's just another day at the office for him and his guys.

Here's a nice 25 walk thru for you.

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/40129

 

[Blue Mist '97]

BOAT IS FINALLY FINISHED AND AT HOME IN TEXAS

ARKO called and said that my boat would be ready on the 21st, so I drove out to Lake Havasu last Monday/Tuesday, picked up my purple sled on Thursday (actually completed on Wednesday) and drove her back to Texas. Got back home Friday night. Damn long drive for an old geezer!! Had a trailer tire separate on the trip (about 200 miles from home), but it didn't blow. Lucky... Will put spare on while waiting for new tires to come in.

Will post up some better pics once she is completely cleaned and presentable. She is pretty dirty from the drive. Conversion, cockpit and bow covers, cabin steps and couches came out great. Cleaned and conditioned all the interior today. Surprised how dirty the new vinyl was. Exterior and trailer tomorrow. She will get a good buff and wax in the next few weeks.

Only took one pic of the conversion while I was out there and the light was bad inside, so below is a little teaser. Couple of the covers also.

More to follow tomorrow.

 

[JW]

Looks great!

 

[undecided]

Nice Looking Boat....Congratulations!!