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In need of some advice!!

C

corncrackerjimmy

New member
Hello. Im looking at purchasing a 1991 ambasador. Im not sure if it is a 20ft or 21ft. The dealership says it is a 21ft but i can only find 20fters on the web. The boat has the 5.7 liter engine in it. I was wondering if this would be a good performance boat and what kind speeds i could expect out of it. I test drove the boat and it kinda seemed like a tank getting out of the hole. I didnt top out the boat but at about 40 mph the speed wasnt climbing to fast. It has a 21 pitch stainless prop on it. Would the high five be a better one?? Im not sure if this is just the nature of the boat or not, its the first checkmate ive driven. Ive always heard checkmate was a perfomance type boat. Also does anyone know of some good performance mods the that engine. Thanks for your help.
 
That's the open bow version of a Senator right? I know a senator with the 350 mag is good for around 63 mph with a good 3 blade SS prop.
 
:welcome: I wouldn't recommend modding the engine, with everything you add you take a away a little reliability. Marine engines are hard enough to keep working as-is. But the right prop should give you everything you need :surf:.
 
there are a few things that can be done to get a little more speed without sacraficing reliability

better exaust and thru-hull's
better intake and a marine 650 double pumper holley
better props mirage is one of the better props you will find for this boat

take the boat to a public scale and weigh it befor you buy
could have water under the floor in the foam

if that hull drives like the starlet (same hull 18 feet) it takes lots of positive trim to go fast
kinda heavy for a mate

if you wake board you'll like the wakes are kinda big for water ski's though

welcome to the board

daren
 
Thanks everyonr for the great advice. Turns out I bought the boat. Tommoro will be my first time taking the boat out on the water (other than the test drive).
 
JW said:
That's the open bow version of a Senator right? I know a senator with the 350 mag is good for around 63 mph with a good 3 blade SS prop.
Click to expand...

the senator i had was running with a stock 350 and 19" threeblade mirage prop max 57 on gps
 
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