First Boat

[WDavis]

I bought my first boat this year, which is a '80 CheckMate Diplomat 17'. I've been lurking and reading the forums here for a while and have only seen 1 other person post about a diplomat. Are they good boats? Did many a family tear them up, or are they just not chosen for restoring?

Anyway couple of quick questions, I just fixed my 'do not touch the rotor' lesson this past weekend, yes I know just in time to park it.

Is it better to repaint or to attempt a polishing? Opionions highly welcomed.

It is a 17' open bow with a 76 Merc 115, what kind of speed can I get out of it and how far off is a water speedo? Just got the pickup today and wanting to try it out tomorrow, work and wife willing.

I will get some pics up as soon as I can. Paid $1600 for it and it ran til I got my hands on it. Long story, ask if you like but consider yourself warned.

All for now, I'll ask more as I have them. I'd tell you guys that you had a really nice forum here, but I bet you already know that.

 

[Boston Predictor]

okay welcome

the more the merrier

it's hard to give advice on restoration at this point because we need to see some pics to determine whether the finish is restorable. Most of the time with older boats,the hull just needs a good buffing.
Is the hull just faded or is the paint peeling?
With a 115 you should reach about 45 or a bit more i would guess...but anyways what did you do to it?
goodluck

 

[Diplomat82]

Welcome WDavis,
I have an 82 Diplomat with a 170hp Mercruiser. I've owned the boat since '92 and it is starting to show its age. Even though, I think the quality of the Checkmate is awesome. My checkmate has lasted thru my irresponsible bachelor days, and is now subjected to the wear and tear of family life. I can only imagine how another manufacturer's boat would hold up.

My opinion on the hull is to take the time and try to polish it yourself, if you do not have any peeling. There has been many members that have suggested various products and I think I would try one of those.

As for speed...I'm achieving right around 50 mph....not bad for a 23 year old boat. (By the way that's with like -zero- gas in the tank, no one else on board and a lake surface that was like glass)

Good luck and let's see some pics when you have time.

 

[WDavis]

I haven't found that the paint is peeling anywhere, I always had cars for a hobbie so I hope some of the terms I know mean the same.

The paint appears to be really oxidized and in some parts you can see where someone tried to wax and or buff and the circles of wax are still there.

As for what I did; *deep breath*

The engine started hard and idled really rough when I bought it. Figured I would give everything a once over. Pulled the carbs for a good cleaning and new gaskets. Replaced the plugs with a new set and completely rewired the engine. Old merc's seem to be prone to have bad wiring. After this I took it to the lake for the keyswitch to break. No boat time for me this round.

The next weekend rolls around and I replace the keyswitch and proceed with my tuneup. I inspected the cap and rotor. The cap was a total loss, the rotor looked pretty wore to me so I grabbed it to pull it off like any other rotor I have ever seen.

I feel I should interject here with the obligitory 'don't try this at home' statement.

The rotor is molded on to the distributor shaft and I had just broke the thing off in my hand. I thought gas prices were bad, geez this piece of plastic attached to a metal pole was $300. Almost a 1/4 of what I paid for the boat. Anyway I digress, I managed to find one on ebay for $40 attached to a bad dist.

I used it and rebuilt mine. Went to fire it up and lo and behold the dist. wasn't the only bad item. It had just chewed that rotor up all by itself. Wife is now getting irritated at this planter that is sitting in our back yard. Couple of weeks later about to shell out the money I find another one on ebay. Trying my luck I buy it too.

I get it here and rebuild the distributor again, why can't people sell complete working items already? Ah well, get it all together and the thing sounds awesome running off the garden hose and mits. Trailer it to the lake and back it in. Jump in to start it up........ battery is dead.

Another week passes and I buy a new battery, wires, and terminals. Thing fires right up on the third crank. yes it is still a little rough to start. Take it to the lake for the 3rd time 3 months after buying it, with my wife no less. Lo and behold it fires up and we have a good run for about 30 minutes, came home picked up the kids and went again for another 30-40 minutes.

Needless to say now she wants the planter painted and cleaned for next spring. Amazing what a short ride in a cool toy can do for someone's opinion.

I warned you it was long winded.

I'll get some pics together tomorrow when I put on the foils and speedo pickup.

 

[chuckcrowe]

I own a 1983 Diplomat I/O. I've had it for about six months now and couldn't be happier.

I've had quite a few trips to the lake only to launch the boat and then winch it back on the trailer by hand, then head back home for some more repairs.

 

[chuckcrowe]

I'll try again

 

[WDavis]

Here are some pics of the boat. You'll notice the recovered seat where the last guy patched a couple of the seats.

http://photobucket.com/albums/a284/wayned/?action=view&current=boat1.jpg

 

[daren34]

i traded my 1980 diplomate for a new starlet

i think the diplomat was a better boat

i have an eluder now

the diplomat had 6 inch cmc lift johnson v-4 140
turning a 22 pitch raker at 6300 rpm

daren

 

[daren34]

sell the 115 and find a v-6 150 and a jack plate
should run in the mid to upper 60's with the right setup

the factory is the only way to go with the interior
find an xr-2 merc 150

bow riders were not as popular as a long deck
but i always take more people with me

daren

 

[chuckcrowe]

daren,
Did you have your interior replaced by the factory? I'm about order new covers from the factory and install them myself. I was wondering if anyone here had done this and how they turned out.

Also, how pleased are you with the 3.7 in your eluder?

 

[175checkmate]

WD, looks like you have a great base to start with. Here are the pictures.

"]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/wayned/boat5.jpg[/IMG][/url]

 

[Brian]

I hate to sound greetie but if you want to sell the insiginias on the sides I will buy both of them. Sorry for the off topic ?

 

[WDavis]

The insignias say Diplomat on them and they are actually one of the items I really liked about the boat.

I took it out yesterday after putting on some foils on the advice of a friend and a water based speedo pick up. Not sure what happened but it acted like the timing jumped on it. Pumping the ball didn't help nor did squirting fuel into the carbs so it's not a fuel issue.

If I'm off work tomorrow I'm going to go though the timing and throttle advance again. Could be wrong from the distributor install.

I've gotta get some time in with the 115 before I can go up to a 150, wife has to really like the boat before I can spend that much on it. Right now she hates it.


ps. thanks for the picture linking, you can really see how bad the gel is in that side view.

 

[daren34]

yes i like the eluder
great fuel economy
rides and handles real nice
top speed only 55 though
but we can ski all day on 10 gallons

daren
the boss says i can order rhe interior when we get our tax refund
i am getting it from the factory complete with wood

 

[jboyd100]

i have the same 1980 diplomat with the same color sceam lol in the same condition. i plan on repainting though and doing my own seats. mine came with a sazuki 150 1988 model i believe. it is in the shop i never tryed to start it first boat and it sat for 8 years so afraid to mess it up. the mecanic thinks I can get her up and going around 500. i paid 550 for the boat,motor, and trailor. mine also needed a new floor as well previous owner did not take care of it. anyways nice boat i read they can be very fast. good luck.

 

[jboyd100]

i was lied to me boat is an eluder side check symbols say that. also measured roughly 18'4" long so my guess is the diplomat vin was put on the boat somewere down the line do not know why. not a good deal. I started suspecting this when I thought yours seemed a little smaller well now I know why.

 

[Mark]

WD
The Diplomat is a great boat. I think t is the best 16 footer ever built. They did not build as many as they did Predictors which is it's little brother. They are the same length but the Dip is wider and deeper. They are all still around and there are several on this board. The Sportfire is the close bow version.
That hull will buff out. Do a search here on Aqua-buff. It is the best product out there. You need a rotary buffer and it must be done a certain way but you will get great results.
That old 115 should get you over 40 MPH. No way of knowing how accurate the speedo is..they all differ.
Here's mine after Aqua-buff.

 

[topgun]

very nice diplomat you have there. I just bought my first boat and it is an 86 diplomat. I love it. mine is brown and gold with a 181ci 4 banger and alpha one drive. I have had it to 43 with three adults onboard. I am hooked on boating for life..............Rich

 

[Diplomat82]

topgun..............Check out the Breezeworks site if you haven't already. Lot's of good info and tricks for making that motor very reliable.

http://www.breezeworks.net/cgi-bin/MBoard/forum/display_forum_topics.asp?ForumID=1&PagePosition=2

Pete

 

[topgun]

Thanks Pete.