Luis, a couple things I wanted to mention to you from a starflight owner and racer is you want to through bolt the seats I k n o w it is a little late now but if you just lag bolt those seats into the plywood floor they will rip out from the back and forth motion you may want to use two pieces of 3/4 inch plywood with the bolts coming through don't use carriage bolts and glass that into the floor, so you have the studs coming up then bolt your seats to it. Also you may want to get a stronger and longer gauge brackets for the gas tank I've had them break off from running the boat hard offshore. And the tank will shift. They are cool boats they can get light and slam the waves. Good luck with it.
If it was up to me I would restore it keep it original, I’ve heard you complain about the black seats on the talon being hot the white seats would help a lot with that
Keep it OG bro! It looks pretty sweet.😎 Just needs some TLC. Also nice work on the restoration project. I believe in you man. Thanks for all the vids too. 👍🏼🚤🏖️
I would try and polish what’s there. I really like the 80’s styling on the older bajas and checkmates. Baja made some really cool outboard stuff in 80’s as well. The sport 220 is super cool. They did a 190 that’s was nice also.
I had a super sweet 220 sport, all white with black tinted windshield and other black stuff offsetting the white Hull. It had a 30 something inch stainless marine setback bracket for the 2.5 that came on it, and we switched that motor out for a 3.4 liter cosworth 275hp outboard motor which pushed it incredibly well, and without any setup went in the mid 70mph range!! Miss that awesome boat, actually the guy that bought it from us raced it in the Northeast somewhat offshore racing division!!
In 1988 my father looked at a 220 sport and a 240 sport in millersport ohio onbuckeye lake! Ended up getting the 240. Bravo1 had just came out 502 was new as well. Still has the boat to this day. One owner in mint condition! Boat payed 22k for it. Still worth 15k
You should definitely paint it to match your dad’s boat. It would look 10 times than that old 80’s style paint scheme. It will take longer to complete the project, but your viewers will not complaining and it will look amazing!!
I'd polish the original gel. Paint isn't as durable, and rarely lasts very long. Plus, the windshield and surfacing of the deck, the interior, it's all 1980s, even a modern "wrap" or paint job will be juxtaposed against the forms, windshield, and details of the boat. Keep it 80s. The red black and white looks good. Also if your floor is rotten, and the seats are rotten, I would check the transom with some test holes. Surprised you didn't use nidacore for hte floor either, you're down in Florida and that stuff is SO CHEAP. I had to pay $250 to get $180 worth of nidacore shipped up to WI. You can lift a 4x8 honeycomb nidacore floor with a finger and thumb when it's laid up on both sides. It's insane. One other then, the original floor had a hatch/hole down into the main stringer/keel area. That hatch had slats to allow for air flow. If you don't add some vents in that area, the moisture will get trapped and just rot out the plywood again. I would cut a big hole in the floor and reuse those teak slats you stomped on in the beginning.
Black with red interior is classic and I am a sucker for it that said I think u otta give it a polish and restore the old seats.... I think I speak for every one when I say I wanna see this thing on the water already!!
Nice boat but word to the wise if your going to race it first make sure the transom and stringers are solid you should have put some thick aluminum square backing plates under the plywood floor just lag bolts ain’t going to cut it they will strip and come loose from taking the waves seat is very important it’s your safety on the water and then paint and new interior your dads colors will be awsome on your boat take the advice from an ex offshore racer good luck keep on vibeing
Hey bro! You know it will sort of "spin out of control" sooner or later anyway ha ha, so do it all the way from the get go!!! Black or charcoal grey paint and red interior will look awesome, high end and classy at the same time! I´m looking forward to this series, loving everything about it, i´m restoring and modifying a 17 foot side by side console fishing boat with a Mercury 150 hp optimax for fishing and pleasure and . . .Performance !!!
I would polish what you have, which will look great once you get rid of the oxidation. As far as the interior goes, if you can save what you have and get it redone inexpensively, then I would go that route, but if you have to buy new material, you might as well get whatever you want..
I’d polish it first and then decide what to do with the color once you see it restored. I’ve got a black motion with a red stripe like your dads donzi, it does look good.
Boy I would just wet sand the gel coat and get that looking as good as possible, then replace the plywood in the seats and use good stainless steel staples for the vinyl upholstery.. Forget what motor came with it but I think it was a 2.5 fishing motor, and THAT is where I would concentrate on making some real, good HP! Vertex pistons from Pro Marine out of Florida as they are absolutely bulletproof and very reasonably priced! Do the 260 EFI port spec's, and upgrade the ECU if it is fuel injected (if it's not EFI I will sell you a EFI set-up for a killer price), and you'll have a VERY quick, and very fast boat with a little bit of testing!!
I would keep the original color of the boat. You said you paid $2300 for it as is. I found the exact same one with a motor except it doesn't have a lower unit for $5K. Everything is in good condition. It doesn't have anything wrong with it from what the owner says. What motor are you put on yours? I bet that you'll put alot of money into it to get it where you like. That's just me. Not sure what a lower unit goes for but good luck with your project. BTW I saw the boat on Facebook Market Place. Not sure if it's a good deal or not. Have a great day sir.
Nice shirt. 😁 Making quick work on this. I say try to polish and keep original first, if not able to bring back the color do the paint with the red seats.
I would keep it the same if it was me I wouldn't spend a whole lot of money on paint and that post three I just take the the covers off and I would put it on you plywood that's what I would do if it was me good luck with it brother have a very blessed day and be safe 🙏
Care for some advice? Hope it’s not to late. Since the floor was rotten the transom will be rotten as well. Not necessarily the entire transom but it will have rotten spots in it. As far as fiberglassing goes. Anytime you do fiberglass on wood especially when it comes to boats always seal the wood with only resin first. No fiberglass. Reason is you want to wood to be able to soak up as much resin as possible. When you do it all at once then the fiberglass will soak up a lot the resin thus preventing the wood in getting as much as possible. Also by doing the resin first it will give the fiberglass a much better adhering. Also always use unwaxed resin.
polish it , pull the rails off first. if they are pitted get em rechromed. already we see the dilemma of keeping it og or doing a retro resto. the rails, would look killer in black chrome espcially with old or new black paint. id go with more comfy seats but dont do anything your going to sit on in black , especially in florida heat , i think we learned that with the talon. looks great but fries cheeks like whut . after the polish and then picking some interior that vibes slap a 2 hundo on it , do the electronics and go from there . if you want to do more do more. but it is cool to see the old skoo coming back alive.. my bro in law had a 1976 dude 17ft 175 blackmax outboard speedboat & the paint job was unreal. i was hooked as a kid as a result on fast boats and muscle cars and lifted cj7 jeeps dragging the boats with v8s in them . what an old badass boat that the new ones just dont have the same soul./
New upholstery new seats haven't done in red alcantara just wrap the boat like your dad's donzi, but do like what Stu ( south Florida poker rub ) did and use that wakeboard floor for a lot of the flooring and parts of the bow
Love your videos bro az I love boats. I own a boat my self an loving it with my family. The perfect paint job for your boat I reckon black Hull, fore deck, bow, an transom. For your interior dude. A nice vibrant lime green includes, seats, flooring,helm,port, stabid side and maybe have like a white stripe trim on your seats . Dude I think that would be mean az.
Use a wool pad on a rotary machine and 3M Perfect It Gelcoat Heavy Cutting Compound, then go back over with a finishing polish, I used 3Ms Pefect It Machine Polish with a harbor freight black foam pad on the rotary and OMFG i never thought it would look as good as it did, if the panel is free from deep scratches or damaged it'll look damn near how it did new if not better. Theres a guy on here that shows how to effortlessly cut and buff a boat goes by " Local boydidgood "
Bro! It you want a small boat that resembles your dads I got what you need! lol 😂 I laid out my whole boat by looking at his! Throw on a Jack plate and a outboard and it’s golden bro! 😎🤙🏼
broo I have the same boat and I want to know if you could help me with the back seat because I don't know how it goes, I want to know if the front board that covers the back seat goes with screws to the seat or to the floor?
Ultimate boat family your a bad ass man Dad with a donzi and you with the Mates shittttt Just like me sweet ass boats man keep the content coming wish you was in Mi
Yeah, did you see he commented on this video? But yes, he has some pretty cool vids, ESP with the nice job with the glass work and everything he has done on his boats!
Try to polish the boat first see what it looks like, the other route is a lot of work and more money. I would polish that boat fix floor and flip it for a profit.
Not trying to be a wise ass- is the boat worth 2300 that has rotted floors and seats, maybe more? I think a lot of people selling these handyman boats think they are worth a lot more then they are worth;
It depends on the money you have I whould put the money in the engine just get the same seats you are ready got from the other boat see if you can put a wrap on it if the paint do not look good every thing cost a lot now I whould get it running and worry about the seats and paint later
Those stringers should have been replaced by the looks of them. As far as the seat go rebuild the frames & keep it matching. The exterior you should be able to save with a light amount of wet sanding & polishing. Do not paint the boat!.
I think you should paint it and do the red interior to match your dad's boat! That would look so awesome.
That would be sick as fuck
It will look goooood!!!
Luis, a couple things I wanted to mention to you from a starflight owner and racer is you want to through bolt the seats I k n o w it is a little late now but if you just lag bolt those seats into the plywood floor they will rip out from the back and forth motion you may want to use two pieces of 3/4 inch plywood with the bolts coming through don't use carriage bolts and glass that into the floor, so you have the studs coming up then bolt your seats to it. Also you may want to get a stronger and longer gauge brackets for the gas tank I've had them break off from running the boat hard offshore. And the tank will shift. They are cool boats they can get light and slam the waves. Good luck with it.
If it was up to me I would restore it keep it original, I’ve heard you complain about the black seats on the talon being hot the white seats would help a lot with that
Keep it OG bro! It looks pretty sweet.😎 Just needs some TLC. Also nice work on the restoration project. I believe in you man. Thanks for all the vids too. 👍🏼🚤🏖️
I would try and polish what’s there. I really like the 80’s styling on the older bajas and checkmates. Baja made some really cool outboard stuff in 80’s as well. The sport 220 is super cool. They did a 190 that’s was nice also.
I had a super sweet 220 sport, all white with black tinted windshield and other black stuff offsetting the white Hull. It had a 30 something inch stainless marine setback bracket for the 2.5 that came on it, and we switched that motor out for a 3.4 liter cosworth 275hp outboard motor which pushed it incredibly well, and without any setup went in the mid 70mph range!!
Miss that awesome boat, actually the guy that bought it from us raced it in the Northeast somewhat offshore racing division!!
The sport 220’s were awesome boats. Bravo1 was new 502 was new at the time. I’d love to find one and rebuild with a 400r or 450.
In 1988 my father looked at a 220 sport and a 240 sport in millersport ohio onbuckeye lake! Ended up getting the 240. Bravo1 had just came out 502 was new as well. Still has the boat to this day. One owner in mint condition! Boat payed 22k for it. Still worth 15k
Just replace the core of the seats, reuse the vinyl, light wet sand the hull, polish it, and that thing will be ready to go. Add motor and rock out.
Dam you made that look so simple and easy
Thats a MUST HAVE shirt for every project!
If your going to race and beat on that thing. In addition to checking the transom and stringers is to make sure the balsa core is good!!
You should definitely paint it to match your dad’s boat. It would look 10 times than that old 80’s style paint scheme. It will take longer to complete the project, but your viewers will not complaining and it will look amazing!!
I'd polish the original gel. Paint isn't as durable, and rarely lasts very long. Plus, the windshield and surfacing of the deck, the interior, it's all 1980s, even a modern "wrap" or paint job will be juxtaposed against the forms, windshield, and details of the boat. Keep it 80s. The red black and white looks good. Also if your floor is rotten, and the seats are rotten, I would check the transom with some test holes. Surprised you didn't use nidacore for hte floor either, you're down in Florida and that stuff is SO CHEAP. I had to pay $250 to get $180 worth of nidacore shipped up to WI. You can lift a 4x8 honeycomb nidacore floor with a finger and thumb when it's laid up on both sides. It's insane. One other then, the original floor had a hatch/hole down into the main stringer/keel area. That hatch had slats to allow for air flow. If you don't add some vents in that area, the moisture will get trapped and just rot out the plywood again. I would cut a big hole in the floor and reuse those teak slats you stomped on in the beginning.
Black with red interior is classic and I am a sucker for it that said I think u otta give it a polish and restore the old seats.... I think I speak for every one when I say I wanna see this thing on the water already!!
Projects and Projects Luis. Fun in the sun brother
Nice boat but word to the wise if your going to race it first make sure the transom and stringers are solid you should have put some thick aluminum square backing plates under the plywood floor just lag bolts ain’t going to cut it they will strip and come loose from taking the waves seat is very important it’s your safety on the water and then paint and new interior your dads colors will be awsome on your boat take the advice from an ex offshore racer good luck keep on vibeing
Hey bro! You know it will sort of "spin out of control" sooner or later anyway ha ha, so do it all the way from the get go!!! Black or charcoal grey paint and red interior will look awesome, high end and classy at the same time! I´m looking forward to this series, loving everything about it, i´m restoring and modifying a 17 foot side by side console fishing boat with a Mercury 150 hp optimax for fishing and pleasure and . . .Performance !!!
I would polish what you have, which will look great once you get rid of the oxidation. As far as the interior goes, if you can save what you have and get it redone inexpensively, then I would go that route, but if you have to buy new material, you might as well get whatever you want..
Nice man,nice.
Love the boat...
I’d polish it first and then decide what to do with the color once you see it restored. I’ve got a black motion with a red stripe like your dads donzi, it does look good.
Boy I would just wet sand the gel coat and get that looking as good as possible, then replace the plywood in the seats and use good stainless steel staples for the vinyl upholstery..
Forget what motor came with it but I think it was a 2.5 fishing motor, and THAT is where I would concentrate on making some real, good HP! Vertex pistons from Pro Marine out of Florida as they are absolutely bulletproof and very reasonably priced! Do the 260 EFI port spec's, and upgrade the ECU if it is fuel injected (if it's not EFI I will sell you a EFI set-up for a killer price), and you'll have a VERY quick, and very fast boat with a little bit of testing!!
Where is your stringer dude????
Beside the foam
Mrs Boatvibe you need drive time, when are you gonna get behind the wheel
been here since below 2k sub glad to see the channel grow ! KEEP IT UP
Any specific reason you choose the 80s Checkmate boats? Is it price, hull design, styling? All the above?
All the above but has to be 20ft or bigger, I’m not a fan of the smaller ones
I would keep the original color of the boat. You said you paid $2300 for it as is. I found the exact same one with a motor except it doesn't have a lower unit for $5K. Everything is in good condition. It doesn't have anything wrong with it from what the owner says. What motor are you put on yours? I bet that you'll put alot of money into it to get it where you like. That's just me. Not sure what a lower unit goes for but good luck with your project. BTW I saw the boat on Facebook Market Place. Not sure if it's a good deal or not. Have a great day sir.
I saw that but also after I bought this one
Nice shirt. 😁 Making quick work on this. I say try to polish and keep original first, if not able to bring back the color do the paint with the red seats.
I couldn't read the shirt, least not where I went back and looked for it anyway -- what is the shirt he's wearing!??
I would keep it the same if it was me I wouldn't spend a whole lot of money on paint and that post three I just take the the covers off and I would put it on you plywood that's what I would do if it was me good luck with it brother have a very blessed day and be safe 🙏
I think you should do what you want to as far as the hull finish and interior. After all it is your boat.
Care for some advice? Hope it’s not to late. Since the floor was rotten the transom will be rotten as well. Not necessarily the entire transom but it will have rotten spots in it. As far as fiberglassing goes. Anytime you do fiberglass on wood especially when it comes to boats always seal the wood with only resin first. No fiberglass. Reason is you want to wood to be able to soak up as much resin as possible. When you do it all at once then the fiberglass will soak up a lot the resin thus preventing the wood in getting as much as possible. Also by doing the resin first it will give the fiberglass a much better adhering. Also always use unwaxed resin.
polish it , pull the rails off first. if they are pitted get em rechromed. already we see the dilemma of keeping it og or doing a retro resto. the rails, would look killer in black chrome espcially with old or new black paint. id go with more comfy seats but dont do anything your going to sit on in black , especially in florida heat , i think we learned that with the talon. looks great but fries cheeks like whut . after the polish and then picking some interior that vibes slap a 2 hundo on it , do the electronics and go from there . if you want to do more do more. but it is cool to see the old skoo coming back alive.. my bro in law had a 1976 dude 17ft 175 blackmax outboard speedboat & the paint job was unreal. i was hooked as a kid as a result on fast boats and muscle cars and lifted cj7 jeeps dragging the boats with v8s in them . what an old badass boat that the new ones just dont have the same soul./
One thing I learned in life never let someone tell you what you cannot do, you go boat zone turn it into a 100 MPH Boat.
New upholstery new seats haven't done in red alcantara just wrap the boat like your dad's donzi, but do like what Stu ( south Florida poker rub ) did and use that wakeboard floor for a lot of the flooring and parts of the bow
What engine are you going to run on the checkmate??
Just bought something today I’ll be showing in the next video, it’s a mercury 🤓
Painted and match the interiors like your father‘s that would be a awesome project
Love your videos bro az I love boats. I own a boat my self an loving it with my family. The perfect paint job for your boat I reckon black Hull, fore deck, bow, an transom. For your interior dude. A nice vibrant lime green includes, seats, flooring,helm,port, stabid side and maybe have like a white stripe trim on your seats . Dude I think that would be mean az.
Surely you should of pulled the old floor up and checked the stringers ? Or am i missing something.
It will polish out good 👍
black pearl + red seats 💯
Can't wait to see this completed
U need to drop more often
Use a wool pad on a rotary machine and 3M Perfect It Gelcoat Heavy Cutting Compound, then go back over with a finishing polish, I used 3Ms Pefect It Machine Polish with a harbor freight black foam pad on the rotary and OMFG i never thought it would look as good as it did, if the panel is free from deep scratches or damaged it'll look damn near how it did new if not better. Theres a guy on here that shows how to effortlessly cut and buff a boat goes by " Local boydidgood "
Thanks you for the suggestion man!
Bro! It you want a small boat that resembles your dads I got what you need! lol 😂 I laid out my whole boat by looking at his! Throw on a Jack plate and a outboard and it’s golden bro! 😎🤙🏼
Probably gonna get some hate on this but…… not a big fan of the black exterior red interior. I think I’d keep it original.
I agree, Way too much black, aside from the obvious reduculous heat absorbing!!
broo I have the same boat and I want to know if you could help me with the back seat because I don't know how it goes, I want to know if the front board that covers the back seat goes with screws to the seat or to the floor?
broooo you have to do it like the donzi, the checkmate will loooook soooo goood bro
Nice fast job
Ultimate boat family your a bad ass man
Dad with a donzi and you with the Mates shittttt
Just like me sweet ass boats man keep the content coming wish you was in Mi
Haha I love this I'm the same no gloves and no idea what I'm doing! I'm dead lol....
Check the Ohio area for 80’s checkmates. They were built in Ohio and a lot of the smaller ones are in fields and barns and have been sitting for ages.
Check out ADDvanced and some of their boats on RUclips
Yeah, did you see he commented on this video?
But yes, he has some pretty cool vids, ESP with the nice job with the glass work and everything he has done on his boats!
Try to polish the boat first see what it looks like, the other route is a lot of work and more money. I would polish that boat fix floor and flip it for a profit.
Not trying to be a wise ass- is the boat worth 2300 that has rotted floors and seats, maybe more? I think a lot of people selling these handyman boats think they are worth a lot more then they are worth;
keep it original please looks good
Glass without gloves that’s crazy
U should buy a 21 shadow or a spectre
It depends on the money you have I whould put the money in the engine just get the same seats you are ready got from the other boat see if you can put a wrap on it if the paint do not look good every thing cost a lot now I whould get it running and worry about the seats and paint later
Those stringers should have been replaced by the looks of them. As far as the seat go rebuild the frames & keep it matching. The exterior you should be able to save with a light amount of wet sanding & polishing. Do not paint the boat!.
Paint her!!
Do the opposite of your dads boat red boat with back interior with red accents and do checkmate in black like your dads says donzi
I don’t think “patina”is good on speed boats. Make it shine bro!
I say who cares if the seats don’t match the back bench.
Order new once on Amazon 270 dollars
Dade County
match the donzi
Leave it original
Polish
Those seats looks so ugly it’s not even funny replace them
What’s your email address
BoatVibesMiami@Gmail.com