And we're back...and here's your final data points.
Made it home tonight. The trip went well and I enjoyed my time at the factory. Dean and the gang are good peeps.
Some things that I got out of the way on the journey home:
First dings in the gel. Yep...a snap came undone and flapped against my new pristine gel. Mother-Fer. And...the center piece in the windshield slipped down and rubbed on the gel on either side of the windshield. Double Dog Farts.
I had a lot of time to think about the whole process and aside from the rigging the motor gong show and the trailer the project is a monumental success. Both of those items were coordinated by me (difficulties provided by others) not Checkmate. Which in hindsight is a mistake on my part. The ordinary joe, is screwed dealing with some of these guys. I mean, how many boat trailers is one guy going to buy...1. If I'd worked that through Checkmate I believe I would have gotten the trailer I was expecting and not the one I got as there's a lot mor incentive to keep a factory satisfied. (It was supposed to have a swing tongue, disk brakes and a spare. Instead I got standard tongue, drum brakes and no spare. I alos belive I was supposed to have the upgraded rims...not what I got. But, he's outta business so...my tough luck. I also wish I would have let Checkmate coordinate the rigging of the motor, so they could have been the buffer for the negative and unprofessional experience surrounding the motor install. Turns out the guy in question dumped all over the guys from Checkmate when they went to pick up the boat too. Real piece of work. He also trashed the boat, resulting in hours of clean up, buffing and polishing for them when they got back.
So, set those two things aside and I would do this all over again. Be advised, the route I chose is not cheap, but it's cheaper than a new Pulsare. I'm into the repower and restore for just a shade under $42K...here's the break down.
Restore at factory: $17K (includes new stereo, jackplate, etc, etc...everything on the boat except what's broke out below)
Repower, new controls, gauges: $19K
New Trailer: $2.5K
New Props: $1.5K
Cost to rig motor: $1.5K
Only Checkmate like it on the planet...Priceless. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
The last three items were scope creep. I wasn't planning on those. Checkmate had the motor rigging covered until they found they couldn't do it. I decided to go for the new props on impulse...didn't need to do it, but did it anyway. New trailer...if I'd know what I was going to wind up with, never would have done it. My goal was $35K. Missed.
I'll finish the thread up tomorrow with pics in the water. The only things on the boat that aren't new are the side rails, windshield and the fuel tank.
Lots of pics coming tomorrow...well, taken tomorrow...they hit the page when I get them uploaded.
Best Wishes on many happy days to come.
Seriously though gorgeous boat, congrats on getting her back!!
