Both the Checkmate ZT 260 2012 and the Checkmate ZT 280 2011 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Checkmate ZT 260 2012 at 26,1 ft versus Checkmate ZT 280 2011 at 28,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Checkmate ZT 280 2011 tips the scales at 4 900 lbs - 900 lbs less than the Checkmate ZT 260 2012 at 4 000 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 425 hp for the Checkmate ZT 260 2012 and 425 hp for the Checkmate ZT 280 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 75 gal and 75 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Checkmate ZT 280 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Checkmate ZT 260 2012 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 280 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Checkmate ZT 280 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 8 passengers and at 28,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Checkmate ZT 260 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.