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Checkmate Value

D

Diplomat115

New member
I have found a checkmate Diplomat 1983, It looks to be in great condition.
from original owner,interior looks new, garage kept and covered since new.
This would be my first powerboat other than 12ft Aluminum fishing boats. any idea what is a fair offer? nada says $970? how could that be? These are only pictures i have for now.
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Assuming it's in good shape, not perfect but everything is solid, I'd think between 2,500 - 3,500. That sounds like quite a range but you didn't provide many details.

By the way, if that 115 has an integrated trim motor, that motor is one of the strongest inline 115s made. It's actually a 140 rebadged as a 115.
 
Welcome to the site. Looks like you've got a Diplomat there.:bigthumb:
What little can be seen of the gel in the pictures looks real good. Make sure you check floor, stringers and transom for structural integrity.
NADA values are absolutely meaningless on older boats.
 
NADA values are absolutely meaningless....
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That's an understatement! NADA is a joke when it comes to boats.

From what can be seen in the photos that boat looks nice, which hopefully means that it's been well cared for. Any soft spots in the deck would be bad. Check all the structure behind the rear seat for any signs of water intrusion. And you should be able to push and pull up and down on the gearcase and see absolutely zero flex in the transom. If there are issues in any of those areas then you've got a project boat on your hands. If everything checks out good and the engine is good I was thinking somewhere around 3K would be fair.

Oh, on the engine you should check compression - what you'd want to see is approximately equal numbers on all cylinders. Also drain a lube from the lower unit and make sure there's no water in it.
 
Thanks for the info and advice, The engine came with the boat new, was also told has less than 60 hours on boat, I didn't see an hour meter.I looked at boat again this weekend but didn't get a chance to dig out of garage to inspect every thing yet.I got in it and looked around, floor is solid,under back seat looked solid.I'll get better pic's soon when i pull it out. Boat has not seen water since 2005.Sorry for the small pictures, it is buried in a garage. here's a couple more pictures,
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NADA is $970 and being the generous sort of guy that I am I'll give him a cool $1000 even for it. :) That reminds me, my wife's friend's dad has a Mate in a garage at the family's restaurant, its been sitting for years and I need to get over and have a look at it.

John
 
Diplomat115, i'm not going to tell you what you've already heard but i will tell you this. if it all checks out and it seems like a fair deal and you can afford it, buy it! dude IMO you cant beat the lines of the 1980's checkmates! and the gelcoat? forget about it! nobody can touch flake like that these days. from the limited pics you've posted it appears to be a nice ride! and still color keyed! that's awesome too. i may seem over the top here but i owned a sweet ass '87 diplomat with a 4.3 i/o and i kick myself for not hanging onto it for my step son. i think i have seen the boat you are lookin at......i'll try to dig it up.....
 
atc250r said:
NADA is $970 and being the generous sort of guy that I am I'll give him a cool $1000 even for it. :) That reminds me, my wife's friend's dad has a Mate in a garage at the family's restaurant, its been sitting for years and I need to get over and have a look at it.

John
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Remember NADA is for just the boat, the motor is separate. Plus NADA for outboards is way lower than any outboards are selling for in my neck of the woods.
 
heres my take on nada,
when you buy a boat and you fill in the buying price alot lower for taxes on the paper work those are the numbers that go to nada. So we help ourselfs and hurt ourselfs by working the system. Nada is way off on boats and means nothing.
 
Tell the owner to pull it out of storage so you can get a good look at it. Take some decent pics to post up. The hours are pretty much irrelevant if it all checks out but I find 60hrs hard to believe unless the guy just sat and stared at it while he waxed his canoe
 
Looks like he spent more time waxing the canoe because that looks like all original, not seen a boat that old in that condition, I believe the hours on it, no way you could pick that boat up for no less than $3500 and good luck with even that, I would say more like 5k
 
Even at 5K I say it'd be worth it. By the time you get done buying a less than stellar one, do the floor, interior, transom, and paint you'll be in deeper than that and it still won't be original.

John
 
keith4216 said:
heres my take on nada,
when you buy a boat and you fill in the buying price alot lower for taxes on the paper work those are the numbers that go to nada. So we help ourselfs and hurt ourselfs by working the system. Nada is way off on boats and means nothing.
Click to expand...

I think NADA goes by dealer sales prices (National Auto Dealers Association,) not values reported on tax forms. That may be another reason for low prices, low amount of sales of various older boats mean there isn't much data to go on.
 
i'm excited to see the whole boat! i am pretty sure i have seen it before when searching for checkmates. i remember the pics were taken of it in a show room or big storage area. i remember thinking man that's a beautiful original mate and if i were in the market for that size it would be sweet to own! one of very few that can make brown look amazing. i have searched high and low and can't seem to locate it on the web. come on diplomat115! get some pics for us so we can all say "BUY IT" :thumb:
 
Thanks for the reply's ! I got a better idea on value now.
Long story short, someone i know passed, new owner has no interest in boats, soon as they get a chance for the 4 hour drive to the cabin,
i hope to pull out and make offer. And pic's ! the wait's killing me!
What is the jack plate purpose ?
last pic i have; Thanks,
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