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33ft Checkmate

I'm guessing there isn't a trailer and I'm not sure if that is important to you or not but from my perspective of one who needs a trailer, that puts the boat in the $50k range. I think that having 454's and no trailer that the boat is priced on the high side and would need to be perfect in nearly every aspect to bring that kind of cash.
 
$44,000 for a ZT330

What is the price? I saw $44,000 and no trailer? If so, that seems very high to me for a 2000 even with only 250hours. More so, at this time of year.

I would want to know how much it sat in the water? rack storage? I don't like it sitting on only four stands like it is in the pictures, allot of stress in those four locations.

I do like the colors and it does look like it's in good condition, but SCT is right they should have better pictures when trying to sell a boat worth that much money to them.

The name Ice Breaker is funny(made me smile anyway) if you live in the North.
 
Kurt, you like projects.....here is a BIG CM project for you!

I saw that 30ftr on your craigs list thread ----- very very interesting and looks like a great project starting point.

Unfortunately my job maybe relocating me to NC next spring so I probably shouldn't start another project of that magnitude right now.
 
What is the price? I saw $44,000 and no trailer? If so, that seems very high to me for a 2000 even with only 250hours. More so, at this time of year.

I would want to know how much it sat in the water? rack storage? I don't like it sitting on only four stands like it is in the pictures, allot of stress in those four locations.

I do like the colors and it does look like it's in good condition, but SCT is right they should have better pictures when trying to sell a boat worth that much money to them.

The name Ice Breaker is funny(made me smile anyway) if you live in the North.

The sale does not include a trailer {that's a problem}.
I'm also concerned of what kind of water she was used in --- I'm from this area and considering where the selling marina is ---- it looks like it's been being used in salt water.

The price seems high unless it's in incredibly perfect condition.

The name IceBreaker is kinda funny ---- but maybe a clue to how it was used :shakehead:
 
I looked a little closer, I see blocks under the hull, supporting it as well so that's a little better.

I think it depends what you want to do, but it's under powered in my opinion and I don't I see any external hydraulic steering either. It would be easy enough to just buy the boat and leave it alone and drive it.

But it would also be very tempting and easy to spend $15-25,000 or more for a trailer, hydraulic steering and more power. I bet you upgrade the stereo, gauges and a few other things too.
 
I think it depends what you want to do, but it's under powered in my opinion and I don't I see any external hydraulic steering either..

You are absolutly right it seems underpowered......

My friend Sammie also pointed that out to me in a previous conversation.

A couple of "performance" 454's should be rated a tad over 700hp.

I'll still take a look at it Staurday, but if those 454's are 2 bolt mains then I'll definately be going home empty handed.
 
I agree Ez, but it seems like the boats on boattrader are always marked way up. Going into the winter season, offer the guy 35K and go from there....

I've heard of 330 hp and 365 hp 454 Mercruisers but never 335 hp Mercruisers. Or do they mean they are 670 horses aside?
 
Or do they mean they are 670 horses aside?

I would guess no to that. However with such an expertly written ad it's hard to say for sure.
I'm sure Kurt will fill us in on the details good or bad after this weekend.
 
I almost went & looked at this boat but I bought one I looked at first, I was not wid about the yellow I got the purple one I love it real nice riding boat I got the 2000 zt330 with the 454 mags, little more hp goes good low 70s, nice boat good luck,
 
I would guess no to that. However with such an expertly written ad it's hard to say for sure.
I'm sure Kurt will fill us in on the details good or bad after this weekend.

I had to reschedule a showing on this boat as last weekend I was busy with pulling my Vision home for the season -- and the weather was so nice I just had to spend the day cruisin for the last time of the year.
So, I'm going this coming Saturday to look at this 33ftr.

I just got off the phone with the broker and I found out a couple of interesting things that are quite concerning but I'll reserve judgement until I see this thing in person.

First disturbing thing is the boat has been in shrink wrap for the past 5 years......the broker said the owner is a small buisness owner and just has not had the time to use it {sounds fishy to me}

I asked him to find out if those 454's were 4 bolt main performace motas or not --- he called back and said the owner told him yes they are the original engines Checkmate installed {we'll see if I catch him in a lie or not}

He said the drives were removed 5 years ago and have been in storage.

He told me that the owner said this boat is in close to perfect condition EXCEPT for the cracked windshield {wow what a crock of s#%t that sounds like}

Then he said {this is really curious} if I want to take a look inside then they'll cut an opening in the shrink wrap to gain entry.
So I then made the statement ---- gee, I guess nobody has come to look at it yet if there's no entry door in the shrink wrap --- his reply was it just went up for sale a few weeks ago so I'll be the first to show interest.

So my thought on that was ----- if the boat has been shrink wrap covered for 5 years without an entry door, what the heck kind of condition is that interior {possibly mice/ ants / hornets galore}

I just can't understand how someone could have such a nice {and very expensive} boat and be so lame about taking care of it and/or lame about how to sell it.

Seems to me if I were selling a boat for ALL THE MONEY {yes 45000 is a lot for a 2000 ZT} I would have the cover off, have the boat waxed / cleaned / detailed / etc.....

OK all that said, I am still going to look at this thing Saturday, you never know, if the owner has shown such lack of interest in this boat AND the fact that I won't be able to test drive it, then mybe he'll sell it for real cheap money.

So far I'm guessing if I like the boat and it's not too far from getting back to perfect, then I'll be offering around 25000 ---- 30000 if he wants to throw in a trailer.
That ought to give him a slap of reality.
 
the 330hp 454 were not the forged lower end engine, it would have to be a 454 mag & it would have 385 hp to have the forged lower end, sounds like the guy is feeding you a line on s#*t, or he don't know what he's talking about, good luck & be care full,
 
Well, I went and looked at this ZT33.

All I can say is WOW WHAT A FRIKIN JOKE.

Let it be know right from the "get go" that this is one of the worst showings I have ever been involved with {and I have bought and sold quite a few boats in my day}.

As previously stated in the thread, this boat has not seen the water in 5 years.
However, this boat has not been shrink wrap covered for the last 5 years ---- it looks like the shrink wrap has been severly compromised for quite some time exposing the entire cockpit to the elements {looks like for a few years}.

I'll give a quick run down of what I found....

....I have NEVER seen so much embedded mold on ALL the cockpit upolstery... it was so bad that all the stitching everywhere was rotted.

....There were more cracks in the top deck than an Asian whore house, I mean there were major cracks everywhere.

....Broken windshield and top frame piece

....The micowave and refrig in the cabin were both sooo rusted and in such poor condition that almost assurdly neither would still work {even if they did work you wouldn't want to use them}

....Cabinet hardware broken / rusted / jammed

....Gauge lenses scratched and full of moisture
The horror goes on and on with the top deck....
Lets get to the hull and other stuff....

....The transom assemblies were soooo bad it was almost amuzing, bellows dry rotted / three of four drive pistons siezed / old bird nest in right drive.

....The electrical wires for the lenco tabs were broken / frayed / and rotted

....Three of the four exhaust tips had flappers sooo corroded that even a hammer couldn't open them --- the fourth exhaust tip had no flapper.

....The ladder off the platfom was broken and left a huge crack where the mounting holes are {were}.

....The hull had large verticle cracks on both sides where the checkered grafics are {this appears to be caused by severe buckling, probably from incorrect storing on jack stands {this leaves the boat WORTHLESS}

Couldn't even get the hatch open to look at the engines, {oh but the guy said there great}.

So, this guy is so lucky I didn't bitch slap him for being such an idiot {and for trying to treat me like an idiot and wasting my time}

I made an offer to him of $2500 ------ he looked at me real funny and said, "your kidding, your only gonna offer me $2500 for a $45000 boat"
I replied NO, I'm saying you'd need to give ME $2500 to haul it away to a junk yard.

This boat is absolutly worthless, the hull is sooo severly buckled it will never be good.

failedcheckmate.jpg

failedcheckmate-1.jpg

failedcheckmate-3.jpg
 
Wow. It is amazing what some people think their junk is worth. We should be seeing this up for sale on Ebay soon then? haha. Sorry to hear about your luck there Kurt. It was for sure stored poorly on those jack stands. It probably buckled because every stringer is soggy from moisture. Especially if anything metal in the cockpit was rusted so badly.
 
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