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1976 V-Mate I

Pop

Pop

Member
As you may remember, I sold my 1974 Checkmate MX-15 (http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14614) and ordered a 1976 V-Mate I.

My wife and I each took a week of vacation and we drove all the way from Texas to the Checkmate factory near Bucyrus, Ohio, to take delivery.


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Because my V-Mate I was not completely finished when we arrived, we were offered a tour of the factory floor.


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The hardware was soon installed and my V-Mate I was loaded on the trailer.


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Note the bottom of my V-Mate I. In 1976, Checkmate would sand the 'hook' out of the bottom and apply two (2) coats of 'SpeedCoat" paint for an extra $100. What a deal!

Again, jack plates were not a common item in 1976, so this time I ordered a 2" rise off the transom directly from the factory.


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Attach the tie-downs and we are on the road back to Texas!


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Just like my MX-15, my V-Mate I was built primarily as a 'ski' boat, so I rigged it the same way.

I mounted a 12 gallon spun-aluminum 'Moon' tank in the rear on brackets bolted to the transom. I mounted the tach in an aluminum housing on the front deck for clear visibility. I also stepped up to the new 175 HP ELPT Mercury motor and installed it with dual Ride-Guide steering.

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Check out that 'Checkmate' cap!


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With no 'hook' in the bottom and an extra 50 HP on the transom, my V-Mate I was considerably faster.


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In the three (3) years I owned my V-Mate I, I never came across a faster outboard (even the tunnel hulls). And that always begs the question, "How fast will that boat go?"

To find out, I trailered my V-Mate I to an SDBA sanctioned drag boat race on Lake Texoma. It was timed at 76 mph. Not terribly fast by today's standards, but it was a VERY fast 'ski' boat in 1976.

I was VERY pleased with my 'ski' boat.


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Then we had our first daughter in 1978, and suddenly going fast in a boat became much less important.


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I took a job promotion in 1979 and we moved from the area. I sold my V-Mate I shortly thereafter.

I have nothing but fond memories of my Checkmate V-Mate I.


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1976v-mate1 said:
How did it handle the weight of the 175? and what size motor was your hull rated for?

thanks jeff
Click to expand...

Jeff, weight (and/or balance) on my V-Mate I was never an issue.

The 1976 Checkmate V-Mate I had a dry weight of 610 (+/-) pounds and the 1976 Mercury 175 ELPT had a dry weight of 345 (+/-) pounds. I see that the current 175 HP model Mercury outboards weigh more than 400 pounds. Notice in the last photo in the post that my V-Mate I does not exhibit an unusual angle while floating dead in the water, even with 12 gallons in the tank.

Because of the construction of the transom in my V-Mate I, there were never even any stress cracks in the gel.

The 1976 V-Mate I was rated for 100 HP by Checkmate and I cannot recommend exceeding any manufacturers specs. However, I was always a safe boater and I always used a kill-switch.
 
Wow, what a great post and story, complete with pics. :bigthumb:

Really makes you understand the fun of getting a Checkmate, which I'm just starting to understand.

Don't know how I missed this until now.
 
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Pop said:
Jeff, weight (and/or balance) on my V-Mate I was never an issue.

The 1976 Checkmate V-Mate I had a dry weight of 610 (+/-) pounds and the 1976 Mercury 175 ELPT had a dry weight of 345 (+/-) pounds. I see that the current 175 HP model Mercury outboards weigh more than 400 pounds. Notice in the last photo in the post that my V-Mate I does not exhibit an unusual angle while floating dead in the water, even with 12 gallons in the tank.

Because of the construction of the transom in my V-Mate I, there were never even any stress cracks in the gel.

The 1976 V-Mate I was rated for 100 HP by Checkmate and I cannot recommend exceeding any manufacturers specs. However, I was always a safe boater and I always used a kill-switch.
Click to expand...

Awesome story !! I have heard many of the Checkmate boats have a hook in them to slow them down, it that true ?? I heard the Trimate's have a hook..? I loved the pics ty for sharing all of it.
 
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I lived in Houston Texas In 1976 thru 1979 and there was a man I knew their that all he talked about was his CHECKMATE.I went to the drag boat races with him at Liberty Texas. We had a great time and it was alot of fun.
 
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v mate 76 pics

very cool pics and story, as i was born in 76 i have aquired a 76 vmate 1 and i am in the process of restoring it. i love these old boats, by the way, mine has a windshield on it. was that an option?
 
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Rhett, my recollection is that it was standard on the V-Mate I in 1976 because I had to specify 'no windshield' when I ordered the boat so that the holes would not be drilled.

Good luck with the restoration! Do you have photos posted anywhere?
 
Another nice thread thanks for sharing :thumb: Reading this makes me want to get started on the restoration and my 1975 V-mate I ....
 
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