When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Checkmate ZT 244 2013 and the Checkmate ZT 350 2013 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 ZT 350 2013 measures 34,4 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 10,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Checkmate ZT 244 2013 at 24,2 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Checkmate ZT 244 2013 tips the scales at 375 lbs — 367 lbs more than the Checkmate ZT 350 2013 at 8 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Checkmate ZT 350 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Checkmate ZT 244 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Checkmate ZT 350 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Checkmate ZT 350 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 34,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Checkmate ZT 244 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.