New owner of 1979 Checkmate 16ft with 90hp Evinrude excited for tips and advice

[KnightMoves]

I just got my hands on a 1979 Checkmate 16ft boat that has a 90hp Evinrude 2-stroke engine, and I couldn't be more thrilled to dive into boating with it! The boat looks to be in decent condition, but I'm all ears for any tips or advice from folks who have expereince with these types of boats or similar setups

 

[H20 Guy]

Hey, sweet find there! Have you checked if the engine's been recently serviced, like spark plugs and fuel system? and also what kind of boating are you planning to do with it

 

[Astra Man]

I had a similar vintage 2-stroke, and keeping the carb clean was key, old fuel gums up fast and also swapping to synthetic oil helped with smoother running and less smoke.

 

[Ch3ckmateSkipp3r]

Nice find, that is a solid classic. Make sure to use fresh, ethanol-free fuel with stabilizer, check the carburetors and spark plugs, and keep an eye on the water pump impeller to avoid overheating. Don't forget to change the lower unit oil regularly. How's the engine running so far? Any issues with starting or power?

 

[JalapenoFire]

Congrats on the find!

Carb and plug is the essential like the rest here metnioend, so I'll skip that. The thing I'll mention are the floor and transom. My neighbor used to tell me that these were notorious for rot if they weren't stored properly. Tap around with the handle of a screwdriver and listen to the noise. If you hear dull thuds, it could be rot.

 

[MateOnDeck]

I completely agree, it's super important to check the floor and transom for any signs of rot, especially on older boats. That tap test can reveal a lot about the condition