• Welcome to the Checkmate Community Forums forums.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and access to our other FREE features.
    By joining our free community you will be able to:

    » Interact with over 10,000 Checkmate Fanatics from around the world!
    » Post topics and messages
    » Post and view photos
    » Communicate privately with other members
    » Access our extensive gallery of old Checkmate brochures located in our Media Gallery
    » Browse the various pictures in our Checkmate photo gallery

    Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support by clicking here or by using the"contact us" link at the bottom of the page.

Are Checkmate Exciters slooooow??? Jallen!

Vandalizer

Well-known member
Alright- I'm looking at three different boats, one is a Check, and the other two are Hydrostreams. I'm using your Exciter for a baseline jallen, so please let me know what you think.

Checkmate Exciter, 235 hi-po 'rude.

Hydrostream Viking, Merc 150 XR2 w/ hyd jp, minimal setback.

Hydrostream Viking, Merc 175.

The Vector with the XR2 and jp allegedly has seen 80 on the speedo with one person in the boat. On the other hand, jallen's Exciter with a XR2 is right around 60. I know the vector is 1' smaller, but it may be heavier than it should be due to some soaked foam. jallens exciter is probably lighter than it originally was from the factory after his recent resto.

So the question is, is there something about the Exciter hull that's slowing it down??? I like the look of the Exciter better than the Viking, but if I can be faster and more efficient by going with the Vector instead, that's what I'll do.

Help! :confused:
 
Last edited:
Hydrostreams are faster but are not known for standing the test of time. There are a lot of threads on Screamandfly about hydrostreams needing to be re-cored before they are considered to be safe. Checkmates are not as fast but have not been known to have this problem.
If you do buy by a HS make sure you have it professionally looked over before you take it flying.
Jallen's Mate is a very nice boat
The Vector's are known for having bad porpossing issues
The V-king is a great hull
 
What will a professional be looking for to see if the core needs to be redone? And how can they tell without ripping into it?
 
So I just talked to the guy selling the Stream who claims to be a boat mechanic, and he tries to explain to me how it's typical for outboards to run at 5000 rpm for 50 mph, 7000 rpm for 70 mph, and so on. I didn't bother to go in to that.

Here's what's interesting. He said he's replaced the stator and trigger- fine, sounds great. That's when he told me that he was pushing the XR2 to 7000 rpm cruising at 70 with its 28p prop. Feel free to check this yourself, but a 28p@7000 would put you somewhere around 85mph after slip. So is the stator screwed up, or possibly the wrong part was used and the setting on the tach should have been changed? Weird.

Also, he doesn't even know if it's a Vector or a Viking. Anyone know how to tell the difference other than a length measurement?
 
The Hydrostream would be my choice if speed were my primary concern. 83predictor has a good point. There's a many a storing about delamination of older 'streams. Very dangerous situation and definately something to consider.

Now, I never ran a XR2 on mine. I had a stock 2 liter 150. The XR2 is closer to 185 h.p. so I would think an exciter would run closer to 65 mph with one properly setup. I now run a stock 2.4 200 knocking on the 70 mph door. I have a stock gear case however the original owner had welded a nose cone on. There is no low water pickup on it, though. In other words it's probably slowing me down if anything. I have another stock lower w/o a cone, but have yet to try it. Either way, I don't expect much more than 70 mph with a stock 200. The Exciter your looking at with the 235 "hi-po" I would guess is a 75 mph+ boat. Sounds interesting.
 
I thought the XR2 only referenced the LU and it was a regular 2.0L 150 powerhead??

How does your Exciter feel at 65?

Any way to detect delamination other than the coin knocking trick?
 
The Hydrostream will be a lot lighter plus it has a pad to run on..
The Checkmate is a V hull and heaver... But if you get in rough water at anytime the Check will be OK can't say the same for the Hydrostream..

I have owned several Hydrostreams over the years when it was just me in the boat and some honey it was fine.. Now that I have all of these girls and the wife with me the Check is a lot safer in any water..

Just my 2ct
 
It was rated at 150 h.p for the purpose of making it B.A.S.S. legal. It was actually closer to 185 h.p.

Sometimes I'll run at w.o.t. with no hands on the wheel. Other times I can't even get there w/o aborting to run. When I did the resto, I built a dual battery trays. One port, one starboard. I moved the battery from the starboard side to the port side and have never added a second battery becuase I have no sound system. I figured the battery on the port side would help balance myself on the starboard side when running solo. It's alot harder to stretch it out with just myself. You have to really work the wheel to get through it...and don't get behind. With a passeneger, it's very easy to tame the chining.

Without being able to visibly inspect every inch of it from the inside with the interior stripped and employ a moisture meter, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable buying one with the expectation of running 80+ in one.
 
Yes my plate either says 185 or 175. and you are right on the money with the chine, mine acts the same way but easy to control!:bigthumb:
 
1.
Sometimes I'll run at w.o.t. with no hands on the wheel.

2.
Without being able to visibly inspect every inch of it from the inside with the interior stripped and employ a moisture meter, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable buying one with the expectation of running 80+ in one.

1. Man, that makes me nervous!
2. I don't really want to go much over 70. (at least not yet anyway!)
 
Back
Top