When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011 and the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011 measures 16,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 14,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 tips the scales at 1 325 lbs — 1 240 lbs less than the Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011 at 85 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 250 hp, the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 has a 125-hp advantage over the Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011's 125-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 carries 32 gallons versus 12 gallons in the Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 5 lbs per hp for the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Checkmate Pulsare 2000 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Checkmate Pulsare 1600 BR 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.