averagejoe074

hey everyone...my first post!.....well the girlfriend and i have decided we would like a boat....were going to go look at a 99 baja hammer with a 454mag with fuel injection.....anyone familiar with these boats? and if so what are some things we should be looking for while were looking the boat over?...thanks in advance...

XT-Innovator

iTrader: (1)

Look for rotting wood in the cockpit interior, and motor compartment. Take a small tap hammer and tap the platforms under the batteries, stringers under the engine, and the transom. If it sounds hollow, or is soft when you push on it BEWERE. 454 Mags are pretty bullet proof, but maybe someone else can chime-in on that. Very fun boat to drive at higher speeds, but NOT real great at wakeboard speeds with the weight of a 454 in the rear. Nothing closer to a water Corvette than the Hammer!

XT

bimini run

I own a '98 hammer. I haven't noticed any wood rot in the cockpit interior or the motor compartment, however where the would did rot was where the hinges that attach to the engine hatch are. I had to send the hatch out to have that re-done, where the wood was replaced with "plastic" wood. Also, I had the 7.4 MPI until last year when at about 280 hours, it crapped out on me. We repowered with the 383 Mag Stroker and went from a top speed of about 64 to 70 +/-. Other than that, had it since new and are very happy with it (but wouldn't mind upgrading to a 30' ). It's a great bay boat, but in anything above 3' it get's a little squirrly.

Good luck! If you have any questions, just send me a PM.

blownhammer2000

iTrader: (1)

the hammers are awesome boats, had mine for 6 yrs until beginning of this year and had no major issues with it, +1 on checking for any rot, better to be sure than dealing with it afterwords, the power and weight of the hammer for a 21' boat is excellent, handles very well and is a great lake or bay boat, if your looking at one with the 454 mag thats fairly rare to find as most came with the 7.4 mpi so that boat should def run 70+


p.s. welcome to OSO!

averagejoe074

hey everyone...thanks for the advice...leaving to go check the boat out in about a hour....keeping my fingers crossed....boat has about 300 hours on it and there asking 15000.00... does everyone think thats a fair price? thanks again....

blownhammer2000

iTrader: (1)

15k is not bad especially with the 454 mag, i would expect it in good condition to very good condition with all systems working properly and a good solid trailer under it, i'm sure there's room to negotiate

eddie

iTrader: (7)

I've got a buddy that has one he is thinking about selling. 454 Mag (carb) it's a 1997 197 hours on the boat. Motor has zero hours. He's got another boat and never uses this one, matching trailer and he wants $15k. Sounds like he might be a little high?

blownhammer2000

iTrader: (1)

i thought they would go for more as well, mine was a 2000 in very good condition w 287 hrs fully optioned w eagle trailer and let it go for 14,500, started high and had no interest until i priced it around 16-17k, then the 10-12k offers came rollin in, it was in the middle of winter so you may get more