Baja hulls: which models share them?
 

I'm curious which models share the same hull (the 292 Islander particularly). I've heard the 26OL and 277 Islander are the same as well as the 20 Outlaw and the 202 Islander. Can we make a list? Might help with prop selection...

Plow,

Your samples are correct, but the 292 Islander was a hull design that was never shared, or modified for another Baja model. The 292 Isl. was a clean sheet of paper design mainly because of the wider beam. Some models share the same exact bottom designs and some are so close they fit the same trailer but have small design differences like the 25ol/272, or the 29ol/302 hulls. How far do we go back? 1980's

XT

Thanks XT. That's exactly what I was wondering :drink: I had a chance to compare my 292 to a 29OL side by side and noticed it looked a bit wider/taller than the OL.

im pretty sure my sport 250 and a 25 outlaw share the same geometry, side by side in the water below they look nearly identical. i could be wrong

24 and 25 outlaws are supposed to have the same hull if I recall correctly.

OK, here we go...the 240 Sport was streched 1 foot and the sides were lowered and a molded swim was added to create the 250 Sport later called the 270 in 1991. The original 240 Sport tooling was dusted-off in 92' to create the 24 Outlaw with a alum. windscreen and other changes. In 93' we took a 270 and changed the hull sides and swim platform areas to create the 272 hull. Later that hull was shortened to create the 252 hull. The 25 Outlaw was another 24ol hull that was streched a foot and the hull sides changed again but with a flat transom and a small notched bottom.

All these models and Islander versions owe their start to the first 240 Sport hull and all of them performed very well.

XT

so would it be safe to say that when comparing performance upgrades between the mentioned boats you can expect similar results? i had posted a thread while back about the difference between the older boats and new boats, i was quickly shot down saying newer boats had better technology. for example my sport 250 and a 25 outlaw share allot of the same geometry with the exception of the sides and swim paltforms which do not effect performance then there would be a arguement to be made that the same performnce mods between those 2 boats would result in nearly the same top speed and handeling? and also say that newer boats are not always going to be faster, i believe the 25 outlaw was made up until at least 2000 or so. or am i just getting my hopes up here? lol

by the way great info, thanks!

They made the 25 outlaw from around 98-05 or so

Yep, put your 250 Sport on a 25ol trailer and even the bow eye will be in the same place. The 25ol may have a little wider chines, the small notched transom and the strakes run forward more, but both will fit the trailer like a glove.

The first two years of the Bravo drive had a blunt nosecone including 1989, and the early Mirage prop will not compete with a Mirage Plus on a Baja. Weights on late 80's early 90's Baja models was also better than much of the competition, but "x" dimensions were low.

Thanks for the history XT
I have a 89 23'5 Force. I think its the same as a Sport hull? Any history on these?

No Sport history.

The first 220 Force was streched to 25' for the 250 Force, then we did a real ugly tall deck on that same hull called the 250 AFT. Only built about 6 of them! The 235 Force was another stretched 220 hull and so was the 265 Force models with or without the fiberglass platforms. They were all based on the original 220 Force.

I also think B.A.H.A. copied one of these for the Mach but they will never admit that. I can just imagine it was!

XT

I had heard once that the 33OL and the 342 were the same bottom, any truth to that?

Was about to ask, what OL is the same a the 342?

Yep, The old 320 Force hull was actually used to make the 33 Outlaw hull plug, but we added a rounded delta keel, reversed the chines a couple degrees, added a foot to the nose for looks, and then made the hull sides smooth (convex, not concave). The 342 is a 33ol hull with the molded swim added. We also made the 340 Sportfish by shortening the running surface of the 33ol hull about a foot then adding about two feet of the molded OB tub area.

XT

does a 322 share the same hull as a 320 force?

Wait! I need to correct myself here. The 226 SPORT was also a version of the same 220 Force hull but we added a foot to the nose, made the hull sides smooth, and added the molded swim platform. In 1990 it was called a 226 ES and after that it was a Baja 240. I can't believe I forgot this model because I have owned a 89' 226 Sport, and a 92' Baja 240 myself.

The Force models I mentioned were all stretched at the transom and not at the nose area like the 226. In 1990 the 235 & 265 were called a DVX for "Deep V eXpress" but the Baja dealers hated that so in 1991 they were the Baja 235 and Baja 265 but they still had the same nose as a 220 Force.

XT

Look at all the cats being let out of the bag!!! JK,

Nope. The 322 is the same model as a 1990 300 ES, then from like 91' to the mid 90's it was called the Baja 320. After that it was called the Baja 322. The 1999 version had a new deck design with a glass windshield option but was short lived.

XT

I thought the older 280 and the 300ES were the same hull?

The 280 Force, 280 Sport, 280 ES, and 280 Sportfish were all built from the same hull molds. There were a few "Baja 300's" built in 1991 that were renamed 280 ES models and the 300 ES became the Baja 320. The 91' brochure did not show that model because the new Baja 290 was suppose to replace that model. There was also a breif period around 93' we introduced the "Renegade" based on the same 280 ES with a white lowered windscreen and wild paint.

XT

so will a i wonder how much heavyer a 342 is vs a 33 out law? if same options?

As I recall, they made the pad quite a bit smaller on
the 322 also.....falling off the pad in a 320 isnt very fun.

Agree, It was only like 4' long. Too short IMO, but I never had much seat time in them.

Cool brochures. Have a hard time finding these anymore. Any more 290 stuff XT?

Like these.

Would love. 2002 ish 342 brochure even if only digital copy

Thanks Dave!

So, XT, why did you guys do a rounded keel on the 33/342 and not a true delta pad? I can sort of understand on the 342 as it is a "sport" boat but, the rounded delta on the 33 (which was more of less the one of the fastest)? Why? After you guys made Bobby/Crayola's boat with the pad and wider stakes, why didnt you keep the design for production?

You can get close +/- 250 lbs.
Mine is kind of a 342 poker run edition, I gutted it, no fridges, no genny, lightened couches, lightened cabinetry, lightened bed.

I don't want to name name's on the forum, but Baja had hired a self indorsed "hull designer" around 97' when new models like the 33ol, 29ol, and 232 hulls were designed and he liked rounded delta keels. He was also the reason many of the hulls of that time had the notch in the chines that we called "Speed Rails" that really did nothing for performance and made the lamination work harder.

I was a corporate call not to change anything on the 33 tooling and Bobby's call to push the limits on his boat.

XT

XT, Was there any hull changes to the 33OL during its production run?
Any other changes that would make some years better than others as far as performance?

Thanks!
WwW

We're his initials GW ?;)

:party-smiley-004: MAYBE...

No, just higher "x" and 4 blade props on later models.

XT

Any others floating around with requested design changes like Bobby's?

I know it's been asked and a little off topic but why was the 29 OL built with the euro rounded look while the rest of the OL's were square and why on the 29's/302's are the hull sides not straight but rather twist when you look down them?

Only because the 97' 29 Outlaw was the first one designed from a clean sheet and even though it was a big hit at Chicago's IMTEC boat show many of the Baja dealers stated they would rather have the new Outlaws look more like modern versions of the 32 and 24 Outlaw. I think there were renderings done of the 97' 36 Outlaw that looked like a larger 29! We designed more models in 97' & 98' than in any other period of Baja's history.

As far as the twist that you mention I think it is because only on the 302/29 the chine beam on them is narrower at mid boat than at the transom. Any other Baja model they run parallel until mid boat. Have you ever noticed on your 29 if you put it in a hard turn about 30-40 it feels like it flops over on its side harder than it should and if you do this at higher speeds it is possible for it to flop over then stand back level before leaning over again.

XT, What year did they go to the higher "X" & 4 blades?

WwW

I think it was around 2002 but Sea Ray has all the offical information in their files.

XT