Ownership records prove ­bowriders are the most popular boat type, but performance buyers have been slow to jump aboard, clinging to the traditional closed-bow, sportboat style. Checkmate’s 2400 BRX may just change their mindset. Equipped with a 500 hp Mercury Racing outboard mounted on a Bob’s Machine Shop 10-inch hydraulic jack plate and set back 10 inches off the transom, this family-friendly speedster rocketed to near-85 mph on a windblown test day. The setup allows higher elevation of the motor, reducing drag and allowing the surface-piercing cleaver prop to be positioned at the optimal height for maximum performance. In better conditions, Checkmate claims to have seen 90-plus mph from the 2400 BRX. We believe it.

The 2400 BRX is spun off from Checkmate’s legendary Pulsare, giving performance enthusiasts the sleek go-fast they demand while also being able to share the fun with family and friends. The sizable bow features a pair of lounges that, like other bowriders, invite stretching out in the sun or pulling up to four passengers together for socializing. Move aft and the Pulsare’s familiar cockpit sets the stage. Captain and mate get comfortable bucket seats, optioned to include welcome flip-up bolsters on our test boat. Aft, a full-width bench awaits. The DEKit flooring underfoot is branded with the Checkmate logo. Spanning the consoles, a frameless smoked windscreen provides sleek protection from the wind. Plenty of underseat storage adds an ounce of practicality to the performance.

Still, given the target audience, the best seat in the house will likely always be found at the helm. Throttle and shift are classic Livorsi, as is the color-matched wheel. Controls for the massive Mercury K-Planes are within easy reach. Crank the wheel at speed and the 2400 boasts not only straight-line speed, but also confident, aggressive handling. Credit Checkmate’s optimized 22-degree deadrise hull. It features a narrow, V-shaped running pad and multiple lifting strakes that ­deliver the intended ride without ­alarming those not experienced with high-­performance hulls.

High Points

• High-performance thrills combined with loads of seating. 
• Fiberglass hull-to-deck joint.
• Standard 7-inch SmartCraft display, optional 9-inch SmartCraft or old-school analog. 
• One-piece anchor locker includes a notch for rode.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury Racing 500R
• Drive/Prop: Mercury Precision Series Outboard CNC Cleaver 14.5″ x 26″ 5-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 45 gal. Crew Weight: 435 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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It’s important that you know how we assess boats. First, the boat must be safe, as well as designed and built with industry best practices. We rely on the standards set by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) for this, as well as other published and respected sources.

Secondly, we judge boats by their category peers. There’s little value in comparing a watersports boat to a fishing boat, for example. Also note that all categories of boats are not represented. This doesn’t mean that boats in other categories not shown here were in some way inferior. It simply means that no boats that we tested from other categories stood out in those categories as much as did these category winners.

Congratulations to the following 2024 Boat of the Year category winners!

Dayboat—Large: Regal 38 Surf

This boat, powered by the new Volvo Penta Twin Forward Drives, rates as the world’s largest wakesurf boat. Beyond that accolade, Regal built in tremendous versatility, delivering a boat that can entertain, overnight and even fish, all while providing surfing thrills safely. That the boat is finished beautifully, and loaded with thoughtful details, further solidifies its stature and status.

Dayboat—Small: Monterey Elite 30

The Monterey Elite 30 is an American-made dayboat that takes on the European builders, who have arguably owned this category for a number of years, with a wider beam, more horse- power and innovations such as its ingeniously executed centerline helm with all-glass display. Featuring a straight stem, but with more flare worked into the bow than similar boats, we found the ride and handling great.

Fishing—Large: NorthCoast 415HT

In a world where center-console fishing boats have come to rule the roost, NorthCoast debuts a cabin model to give CC buyers second thoughts. It delivers all the fishability an avid angler can use, plus a luxurious interior for when the boat is used as a cruiser, or simply for fisherman who don’t mind a comfortable place to get out of the heat, the cold or the wind enroute to the grounds. Outboard-powered, and with its deep-V hull, it will run faster, smoother, quieter and less smoky than the sedan fishing boats of the past.

Performance: Checkmate Pulsare 2400 BRX

Time was when boat buyers could choose from many new performance boats. With the Pulsare 2400 BRX, Checkmate gives boaters seeking such a boat an alternative to used boats—with the versatility of a bowrider. Running on V-bottom with a pad, and with a Mercury Racing motor set back on a jackplate, this boat really goes. It can be powered as a 65-mph run- about or, with the Mercury Racing 500R, for 90-plus- mph thrills. Inside, plush upholstery, a new digital dash, and other upgrades ensure user-friendly speed and comfort.

Watersports: KYMA K7 Supercharged

V-drive inboards do a great job, so why bother with water-jet power in this specialized category? We didn’t honor Kyma for simply being different.

The 6.2L 575 Indmar jet gives this boat shallower draft, better slow speed handling than a V-drive, and its wakesurf waves rank on par with those produced by V-drive boats, thanks to the innovative use of the Seakeeper Ride stability system.

Fishing—Small: Sailfish 232 Center Console

Usually, more expensive boats get honored with Boat of the Year awards: Expensive boats generally see more money applied to them for the R and D that creates innovation. Of course, there’s plenty to be said for a boat that delivers more bang for the buck than its competitors, even at a moderate price.. The Sailfish 232 Center Console’s ride and standard equipment are equivalent to boats costing more. It is a true “great buy.” A nice detail is the front-entry head, and there are enough seats and drink holders to allow this fishboat to serve as a runabout and retain great fishability.

The post Boat of the Year Category Winners 2024 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

By adding a bow lounge to its closed-deck Pulsare 2400, Checkmate offers great performance, plus more seating, in the Pulsare 2400 BRX. 

Engine

During testing, noted throttleman and ­Checkmate general manager Billy Moore  wheeled the BRX to a 67.1 mph top speed. The BRX went zero to 30 mph in a respectable 6.3 seconds. Need more speed? Checkmate rigged a few BRXs with a Mercury Racing 500R that reportedly hit 90-plus mph.

The 22-degree deadrise hull with a narrow, V-shaped running pad and multiple lifting strakes makes driving the BRX exciting without creating that nervous ­V-­bottom feel present in many performance boats. While there are faster hulls, the BRX pulls ­water toys and gives a ­good-size group a thrill ride.

Checkmate also builds it rugged. “We’d rather sacrifice a few miles per hour in exchange for taking a pounding year after year, with no stress cracking and no warranty claims,” Moore says.

Toward that end, each BRX utilizes hand-laid cloth with composite core, stringer grid, transom and liner. Beefy 1 ½-inch-thick ­Coosa transom knees take wave pounding, with the outboard hanging on a T-H Marine jack plate a foot off the transom. The dazzling white gelcoat features swooping red and black graphic accents applied in PPG paint, wet-sanded, and overlaid with clearcoat. There are no paint lines to feel.

Interior and Accessories

The bow’s twin extra-long lounges can fit four, though it’s intended for two, stretched out and lounging. In the aft cockpit, formfitting buckets envelop the pilot and co-­pilot. A wide and deep aft bench accommodates more people. SeaDek flooring, custom-cut with red contrasting Checkmate logos in the black ­matting, makes for a clean look that’s easy on the feet.

The dash features single custom Livorsi throttle and shift sticks, along with Lenco tabs. The stereo is a six-speaker system with subwoofer and amplifier, with two control heads. Rigging under the dash, under the splashwell, and at the transom was executed with a clean, race-boat touch.

Want to enjoy speed, performance and handling with a crowd? Check out Checkmate’s Pulsare 2400 BRX.

Read Next: Checkmate Pulsare 2400 CD

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury Racing 300R
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Racing Bravo 1 FS 15.25″ x 24″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 45 gal. Crew Weight: 550 lb.

High Points

• Long, plush bow lounges with diamond-stitched upholstery in a boat with racy performance and handling. 
• Its cavernous compartments will swallow all but the largest water toys and safety gear.
• The dark, smoked windscreens are made in the Checkmate plant. They look and work great.

Low Points 

• While the windshields are beautiful, they do cause glare on the dash when the sun’s at the right angle. Fine-tuning might help minimize that. 
• Unfinished compartment edges found aboard hull No. 1, which Checkmate assured us have been addressed. 

Toughest Competitor

Currently, there isn’t a high-performance bowrider that competes head-to-head with the Checkmate, speed- and performance-wise. However,  Stingray’s 3,360-pound 230SX ($106,614 with a 300 hp Yamaha) comes close, clocking speeds of over 60 mph with its optional 300 hp Yamaha outboard. 

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Checkmate Pulsare 2400 BRX appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Lamenting the loss of smaller performance outboard boats? Try running Checkmate’s Pulsare 2400 CD (Closed Deck). With a Mercury Racing 300R outboard spinning a 27-inch-pitch four-blade Bravo One FS stainless-steel wheel through 1.75-to-1 gearing housed in a Sport Master gear case, we hit 73.1 mph with two people aboard and 40 gallons of fuel. Available also in a bowrider (BRX) version, the 2400 fills the bill for performance-hungry outboarders longing for speed and some amenities.

Engine

Checkmate updated the design to perform with modern power. The result is a 22-degree-deadrise hull with a narrow V-shaped pad and multiple lifting strakes. While there are faster hulls, the Checkmate does it all with aplomb. It will carry a family load, pull watersports, provide shelter, and deliver thrills. A few 2400s have been built with 400 and 450R power, providing speeds into the 80 to 90 mph range. With the 300R, we planed in 4 seconds and hit 30 mph in just over 6 seconds. That’s quick. Notably, at 50 mph, the engine sipped 12.2 gph, netting 4.1 mpg for 233 miles of range—a weekend’s worth.

The Pulsare handles precisely and quickly. Rougher waters—heavy wind chop and boat wakes—really let this boat shine. The ride was smooth and predictable.

Interior and Accessories

Built like an offshore racer, the Pulsare is hand-laid with composite core, a stringer grid, a transom and a liner. The small cabin proves plush and features a deep headliner and comfy cushions. In the cockpit, twin buckets form-fit to the captain and mate, and a wide aft bench accommodates a few more crew. SeaDek nonskid is custom-cut with Checkmate logos, and makes for a clean look and easy cleanup. The dash panel features a cluster of chrome-bezeled Livorsi electronic instruments with traditional hotrod-style analog dials. Twin Livorsi throttle and shift sticks control the big Merc. Ours featured an optional ski tow, Lenco electric trim tabs, and an Atlas hydraulic setback jack plate. Rigging under the dash, below the splashwell, and at the transom was executed with a clean, racelike touch—another of many reasons to like this boat.

How We Tested

• Engine: Single Mercury Racing 300R
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/151/4″ x 27″ Mercury Racing Bravo One FS, 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 40 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

High Points

• Drop-dead-gorgeous styling will turn heads at every ramp, gas dock and raft-up.
• Eye-catching upholstery colors and designs coupled with high-quality stitching and vinyl make Checkmate interiors exceptional in quality and appearance.
• Race-worthy rigging and setup ensure a neat-as-a-pin appearance when it’s time to show off or perform maintenance.

Low Points

• Low 70s is certainly a good turn of speed, but we’d hoped to see 80 mph.

Toughest Competitor

Velocity’s 230SC ($127,000 with a Mercury Racing 300R) is a foot shorter but a close competitor. As equipped, it weighs 2,000 pounds, has a 50-gallon fuel cell, and tops out at 81 mph.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Checkmate Powerboats – Washington, North Carolina; 252-220-5119; checkmatepowerboat.com

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For adrenaline junkies on a budget, the Checkmate Enticer was one of the most popular boats of the 1980s. While it was offered in a sterndrive, most owners got the best bang for their buck by buying a 200 hp Mercury outboard, putting it on a jack plate, slamming down the throttle and hanging on.

The post Checkmate Enticer appeared first on Boating Mag.