-
Welcome to the Checkmate Community Forums forums.
» Interact with over 10,000 Checkmate Fanatics from around the world!
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:
» 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.
STAT'S OF BAJA AND CHECKMATE
- Thread starter Big Red
- Start date
remlinger
Active member
Interesting, heres the question... are the numbers so far spread because Baja out produced Checkmate or because Checkmate owners are more statisfied.
I do know that when a checkmate goes on the market it doesn't stay there for a long period of time, so that could play a part in it as well.
I do know that when a checkmate goes on the market it doesn't stay there for a long period of time, so that could play a part in it as well.
illMATTic
Well-known member
i am pretty sure there were many more Baja's turned out. Every jackass new to boating buys one since there are soo many to choose from. Then, when they see that there are 20 of the same graphic combo they want to sell it.
Mates are more of a build to order boat. The market isnt flooded with them for this reason: What else would you buy?
Mates are more of a build to order boat. The market isnt flooded with them for this reason: What else would you buy?
Big Red
Well-known member
The reason swings in a lot of direction's. When the performance boat crave took off Baja started mass producing what a lot of people call the cigarette style boat and had great outcome. They provided the look and style that the every day joe could afford. I feel during this mass production craze that the quality became less important and the monthly net profit became important. Which this is good and bad its bad if you are in it for the long haul but good if you know when to jump ship before it sinks.
And yes Baja did produce a lot more boats.
And yes Baja did produce a lot more boats.
81 enchanter
Active member
i always wanted a checkmate ever since i saw a sweet black one on higgins lake when i was 12. but don't have a clue what model it was
winter
Active member
I like this summary the best. Oddly enough, i just spoke with an old friend that i haven't seen in a decade and we touched base on all our fuel eating toys. I told him i'm back into speedbaots and told him i just bought a checkmate. His response was, 'why not baja?' At that point, his education began.
Reggie Fountain just bought Baja from Brunswick and i have a feeling the quality will improve, and the price will go up.
Big Red
Well-known member
Thats my thoughts on Baja we all know it, like it or not Fountain's have good resale value.
All the boat companies now are a high risk of closing due to the economy.
Big Red
Well-known member
I don't know the whole story but I heard Doug was some kind of salesman when baja was born. I don't know if he was a baja boat salesman or sold TP for the restroom for baja. But I do know he was at the start of Baja right at the beginning or shortly after. There are many more rumors on how this all came about. I have yet to hear a story that somebody would bet their life on that its the truth
Neil Baker Was president of the Baja Corp when I worked there in 1975. Charlie Couter owned part, Fred Miller owned a small part and a lawyer named John Sears was a silent partner also.
On Checkmate Marine's new website, Doug Smith claims we was the founder of Baja. You wouldn't think that something like that is a matter of opinion. I don't understand that kind crap.
I agree, if they become a commonplace generic sport boat that you see everywhere, I won’t be interested. It sure seamed like they built quite a few last year. I’m thinking they won’t build very many this year though. Noone's gonna be selling a whole lot of boats for awhile. I’d like to get rid of my 08’ 230 to recover from some financial losses this past year….but I’m truly convinced that I’d have a hard time giving it away at this point.
-Craig
-Craig
I saw these Baja #s on OSO (thanks TB).
(All of these fall between 1996-2008)
- Of those years, 1998 shows the most boats being built that year at a total of 1,970 boats.
- The model with the highest production # in a year goes to the 1997 HAMMER with 266 of them being built that year! (The 25 Outlaw comes in around 6th place at exactly 200 being built in 2001)
- The highest total for any model listed is the 25 Outlaw (1998-2006) with 1,366 being built.
- 442 (1999-2003) shows only 37 were built.
- 33 Outlaw shows a total of 395 boats built between 98-06.
- 36 Outlaw shows a total of 221 boats built between 97-06.
- The grand total of boats built from 1996-2007 (08 was not included) is 15,966 boats!
(All of these fall between 1996-2008)
- Of those years, 1998 shows the most boats being built that year at a total of 1,970 boats.
- The model with the highest production # in a year goes to the 1997 HAMMER with 266 of them being built that year! (The 25 Outlaw comes in around 6th place at exactly 200 being built in 2001)
- The highest total for any model listed is the 25 Outlaw (1998-2006) with 1,366 being built.
- 442 (1999-2003) shows only 37 were built.
- 33 Outlaw shows a total of 395 boats built between 98-06.
- 36 Outlaw shows a total of 221 boats built between 97-06.
- The grand total of boats built from 1996-2007 (08 was not included) is 15,966 boats!
Big Red
Well-known member
Which Baja did he find
lets just hope checkmate doesnt become a mass produced , 10 in every cove ,crap quality boat. i've only owned 1 ,so far, workin on gettin a new one !
I dont think that will happen, well around here anyway. I am lucky to see 2 Checkmates around here on the whole lake all summer.
Just curious... what is the point of this thread? I own my second 'mate, so obviously I like them ( I bought a second) and yes they hold a special place in my heart too. but why the constant BS about baja on this site? I visit the baja website also and think it is an awesome site. lots of info about boats, lakes, people and everything we here all love. I never see anyone over there wasting time crying about checkmates (or any other brand of boat). they are all just BSing about everything boating related. lets be honest, C'mate does not build the absolute best boat in the USA. there are some awesome boat builders here. If you want a custom boat look at Cigarette, outerlimits or some others, they do some amazing stuff for customers. and as far as similarity among boats goes, C'mate is not the king of unique. Has anyone ever taken a drive around the industrial areas of Havasu or even been to the west coast to see the custom things being done there on a daily basis? when they were still using metal flake here, out west seven colors of gelcoat was standard. I love my checkmate as much as anyone else, because of its looks performance and quality, I am proud to own it, its a great boat but I honetly dont care how many bajas I see out on a Saturday. I am sure the guy who owns it loves it and thats fine. we all buy what we can afford and appeals to our own taste. Harley davidsons are very popular too... does that make them bad? I have been to Bucyrus a few times and think it seems to be a nice town, I feel bad for all the people who fed their familys by building bajas and have lost their job. maybe this has something to do with all the crap on this site about baja. I would just love for someone to help me understand why, now that I own a checkmate, it is necessary for me to hate all bajas. by the way, I am not defending baja, it is the principal I do not understand. I would pose the same question if people here focused on ragging about sea rays, starcrafts, stingrays or sutphens. it just seems silly to me. and honestly sometimes keeps me from visiting this site. sorry
Big Red
Well-known member
Just curious... what is the point of this thread? why the constant BS about baja on this site? I visit the baja website also and think it is an awesome site. I honetly dont care how many bajas I see out on a Saturday. , I am not defending baja,
Its the nature of the beast and if you do not like what we post don't read this thread. If you want to know full details dig all the Baja threads up. And why don't you be honest with everybody and tell them you own a Baja and thats why your panties are in a wad.
Below is a pic of your boat
Attachments
cooperider
Well-known member
Around here the Checkmate VS Baja thing has been around since the begining, so its nothing new to me. Nowadays it just carries over to the web.
Its like the Ford vs Chevy vs Chrysler thing. For me it was Pontiac vs Chevy. Something like, you have a Camaro, but I have a Firebird.
Its like the Ford vs Chevy vs Chrysler thing. For me it was Pontiac vs Chevy. Something like, you have a Camaro, but I have a Firebird.