95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

[EKmate]

So time has come to start the full resto of my 95 Pulsare 2100BR. Purchased last year from original owner who stated it was never left out or rained on. Overall condition was good but floor had soft spot behind passenger seat. I got it cheap so was not a concern. Used it last summer & half way through the battery pulled out of floor. Knew it was time for a resto.
Started few weeks ago on teardown. Lots of the rot could have been prevented if Checkmate didn't cut corners on the glassing. Oh well I will make it better than new. On with the pics.


Last summer before winterizing.

Removing rear seat. Seat box is ok.

Passenger seat that started to come loose.

Carpet off floor

Center foam weighed about 40lbs

What was under foam

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

More pics

Stringers are all rotten & only partially glassed

Most of floor & stringers out

Section of transom that had exposed wood

Tank out & will clean up nice

Had chance to pull out the direct injectors in my Opti to get cleaned by Don at European Marine. Mine has close to 400 hours on it so its due. Had to replace one last year due to it sticking open.

Most of transom out

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Transom out

Pic of work area

Area of concern from a hole made by screw. Will drill small hole at end of cracks & fill with epoxy I think

Near the end of transom the hull has large voids near top. May fill before installing new transom.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Thats a great looking boat you have there! The lines of that hull make it look like its hullin butt just sitting there!

Never left out in the rain... LOL

Your clean up work looks great, good luck!

I have a boat that i am ignoring the tell tale signs on, one soft spot. If i dig i know i will find the same thing... wet foam! rotten wood!

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Just finishing up on the teardown with cleanup & ordering supplies. Using Marine ply for most, epoxy,17oz bi/ax & cabisol for bonding. May also use some of West Systems Six10 for quick bonding as no mixing needed. Hope to have it finished by end of May.

Will be updating jackplate to a hydro unit with at least 12 inches of setback. Blue carpet going in & new stereo, using Alpine.

New rocker switches

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Howdy neighbor!

I'm in the same boat dude.... Doing a small resto on an old tri-hull...

Looks like an awesome project! If ya ever need a hand let me know! That's quite a nice shop for boat restoration.... What size Opti 250?

Your doing a great job!!!!!!!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

I forgot... Welcome to Iboats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Thanks & its a 225 Opti. Wanted a 250 XS but the 225 was to good of a deal to pass up. The boat came with a 200XRi with low compression when I bought it from original owner up in Detroit Lakes, MN.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Nice restore job and a nice looking boat.

Wait until Philster sees it !!!

You know the sad part about this is that the boat, being a 1995 model is not that old (16-17 years), and it needs a full structural restore :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:. Improper glassing as you noted . . . even with care, the boat will rot.

BTW - Check the fuel tank for corrosion and pitted surfaces . . . it looks like to was exposed to moisture from the structural rot.

 

[maagee79]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Nice boat. I love those checkmates I have two myself.

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Long over due update & progress has been very slow due to all sorts of things. Anyway had chance to glue in the transom. Problem is now my threaded rod used to clamp is bonded in also. Any hints on how get them to pull out. I am afraid will crack/damage something if hit them with BFH.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Lock two nuts together and use an impact wrench to turn them out maybe ?

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

EKmate, are you a member on Checkmate-Forums.com yet? If not, you should be. Tons of resto information there for Mate lovers!

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Love the 21' Checkmates...you can bolt unlimited horsepower in a single outboard fashion! My next boat will be a Check...

The website for the Checkmate Forums is www.checkmate-boats.com not as posted above...plenty of CM specific overhaul info.

People swear that Checkmate fit and finish is excellent; however, I've see enough 1994-1998 restores (transom, stringers and some balsa cores) that kinds leads me to wonder WTF...I mean I have a 30 year old Baja that has no soft spots, no noticeable water damage, dry foam (from the areas visible)...I do have an area of ply that was poorly glassed around my front bow seat frame (non-structural) that needs replaced, but given the location, I can see why!?

Anyway, I digress, awesome job on the rebuild, look forward to following and welcome to iboats!

~Brett

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Lock two nuts together and use an impact wrench to turn them out maybe ?

Yes thats my plan tonight. Going to cut them shorter, lock two nuts & heat them up. Hopefully will turn out with my impact or big breaker bar.

As for the fit/finish of this boats structure what a joke. Core was mint but the rest was complete rubbish. Poor glass work was the demise of the wood.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

You are doing very nice work.

I have to snicker about the threaded rods........... you are not the first! Did you use poly resin or epoxy?

You have discovered that even nice pretty fast hulls are made with the cheaper materials to get the job done

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

You are doing very nice work.

I have to snicker about the threaded rods........... you are not the first! Did you use poly resin or epoxy?

You have discovered that even nice pretty fast hulls are made with the cheaper materials to get the job done

I am using epoxy. Easy to use & no smell. So wish used long bolts or should have removed the threads were it passes through transom. Oh well guess gotta learn somehow.

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Got the threaded rod out with no issues. Used some heat from Map gas torch on rods for about a minute & was able to turn/pull them free. Filled in any gaps on transom & built the knee support that bonds to underside of splash well. If all goes well should have stringers glassed in by end of weekend.

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

Knee support is in & finished up with the fillet work on the transom. Will add some fiberglass tomorrow to tie it all in. Started to fit the stringers but got really hot out & decided to call it a day. By the end of the weekend I hope to have the stringers set. Will feel great to have the transom area finished as that seemed to take forever.

Moved boat into the second shop also. Its heated, better lighting, air compressor & still plenty of space.

Transom ends are ready to get glassed in to tie it all to hull & knee support bonded in.

 

[EKmate]

Re: 95 Checkmate Pulsare 2100 Resto

More work done this early AM. Decided I didn't like the way the wood looked in the drivers side stringer under the bow floor so out it came.

Next was to make replacement piece & glass.

Finishing up transom work.

New speakers :banana:

So one question I have is instead of using my 2X8's for stringers I like the idea of bonding 2 pieces of 3/4 marine ply for them. They would be 1 1/4 thick with thickened epoxy in the middle. Seems like better idea & less weight. Thoughts?

Eric