Early 90’s Baja build quality?

[Marios Metalworks]

Does anybody have any experience with the build quality and rigging for early 90’s Bajas?

I have an opportunity to scratch a few itches for now while I chase down a Hallett 270.

Thanks!

 

[shunter2005]

They are known to have stringer and transom issues. If you look at one, be sure to check for soft floors and transom moisture.

 

[farmo83]

A boat that old is more how it was cared for after the factory. A family friend had an islander that he put an old gale banks setup in. Ran great for many years.

 

[evantwheeler]

Does anybody have any experience with the build quality and rigging for early 90’s Bajas?

I have an opportunity to scratch a few itches for now while I chase down a Hallett 270.

Thanks!

I had a 93 Baja Islander for 3 years, put about 60 hours on it. Same exact hull as pictured above, but with much gayer and less classy gel design. I loved that boat because I got into it for a song, the interior was all white vinyl in great shape and I did some tasteful upgrades that made it mine. I hated the pink and teal gel stripes. I also hated how much of a dog it was and the fact that it didn’t have through transom exhaust because 50% of the fun of boating are the sounds. It had a rebuilt 454 that ran fine mechanically and a bravo 1, but I think the drive was too low on it or it was just too heavy of a boat for the power cause it took way too long to plane for my liking, and it was just too slow at a 50mph boat. I played with props but nothing made a noticeable difference on time to plane, so i just chose the cheaper quicksilver 4 blade in a 19p I believe.

To be honest, not really sure what is meant by rigging quality. If you’re asking if it was held together with drywall screws, no it wasn’t. Was the wiring and fit/finish the quality of my new to me early 2000’s Ultra? No. And it’s not on par with any of the west coast custom builders. But I was into the boat for under 10k, and if I hadn’t have wanted to buy a house, I would still own it. I did replace all the stainless screws that secured the open bow fiberglass to the the floor with through bolts because the screw would back out on a rough trip across Havasu in a bumpy day.

I would buy one again if the price was right and it was in good condition. Downside is no one will thing you’re cool for owning a Baja. I say that in jest, but they aren’t status symbols, they’re a fun recreational /semi speed boat that was production built to a price point.

 

[farmo83]

I had a 93 Baja Islander for 3 years, put about 60 hours on it. Same exact hull as pictured above, but with much gayer and less classy gel design. I loved that boat because I got into it for a song, the interior was all white vinyl in great shape and I did some tasteful upgrades that made it mine. I hated the pink and teal gel stripes. I also hated how much of a dog it was and the fact that it didn’t have through transom exhaust because 50% of the fun of boating are the sounds. It had a rebuilt 454 that ran fine mechanically and a bravo 1, but I think the drive was too low on it or it was just too heavy of a boat for the power cause it took way too long to plane for my liking, and it was just too slow at a 50mph boat. I played with props but nothing made a noticeable difference on time to plane, so i just chose the cheaper quicksilver 4 blade in a 19p I believe.

To be honest, not really sure what is meant by rigging quality. If you’re asking if it was held together with drywall screws, no it wasn’t. Was the wiring and fit/finish the quality of my new to me early 2000’s Ultra? No. And it’s not on par with any of the west coast custom builders. But I was into the boat for under 10k, and if I hadn’t have wanted to buy a house, I would still own it. I did replace all the stainless screws that secured the open bow fiberglass to the the floor with through bolts because the screw would back out on a rough trip across Havasu in a bumpy day.

I would buy one again if the price was right and it was in good condition. Downside is no one will thing you’re cool for owning a Baja. I say that in jest, but they aren’t status symbols, they’re a fun recreational /semi speed boat that was production built to a price point.

So the boat above had a 468 with a gale banks and the owner claimed would run in the low 80s. He bought a radar gun one summer (pre GPS and all) and that boat clocked in at a solid 63 mph. Over the winter that boat went bye bye and the owner rolled in with a 26 foot daytona with a procharged 540 the following year

 

[evantwheeler]

So the boat above had a 468 with a gale banks and the owner claimed would run in the low 80s. He bought a radar gun one summer (pre GPS and all) and that boat clocked in at a solid 63 mph. Over the winter that boat went bye bye and the owner rolled in with a 26 foot daytona with a procharged 540 the following year

Those islanders are great family boats, but they weren’t designed to be fast. Better than a Bayliner, but nothing like an Eliminator Eagle. They do great at what they were designed to do.

 

[evantwheeler]

Re sale is kind of difficult in the Southwest. At least it was for me. Lots of lookers because it was so clean and tastefully upgraded, but everyone passed because of the name and spent more on West Coast name brand boats. I ended up selling to a young kid that was upgrading from a ski boat. I bet he is loving it.
May be different experience now with the covid boat situation.

 

[OkHallett270]

I have a cousin that had a ‘92 outlaw it was a 25 or 27 footer, whatever the outlaw was. It had a blown 502 with a chiller on it and it would run an honest 89mph. It was a fairly solid boat with some decent hardware that someone took the time to install correctly.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

@OkHallett270 could you share a pic? I believe this is an Outlaw as well, looks to be 25'

 

[OkHallett270]

If I have a pic it’s buried deep in my laptop somewhere. I know somewhere on there I have an old iPhone video of it running on the hose at my old shop. We had to change the flywheel ring gear one morning and we were running it after we put everything back together. I will look on my computer this evening to see what I can find.

 

[OkHallett270]

@OkHallett270 could you share a pic? I believe this is an Outlaw as well, looks to be 25'

So I looked all over my computer and the only media I have with that boat are these two video clips. This was circa 2013