Looking to get a 280ES with Bravos and 454, 330's - Advice, thoughts
 

Okay

We are looking to possibly move on a deal here
My friend has been asking me for my boat for quite a while, I love it however NEED camper canvas and will not pop for it.

I found a 1990 280ES that has 349 hours on it and looks the part, complete and very very mint

What should I look for from this boat?
I know there were some stringer issues in the boats of that era
Also, what kind of speed / prop set up should I expect?

My 1st Sport boat was a 220 force about 10 years ago, I guess I could go back to Baja L>

Let me know what you guys are doing with your boat, speed, Gauge/Dash chages! etc

For performance comparisons start with this from a previous post - 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.

And here is a good read on performance of the 280 - http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/b...ort-280-a.html

The 280 can have the typical rot issues of any older boat. Thats going to depend on how well it was maintained and taken care of.

Speed from the 330's should be in the low 60's should probably have 23p from the factory.

I have added a pretty decent stereo, changed all the gauges, new throttles and shiffters, redone the back seat, and painted the boat. Other than that she sits pretty stock with 454 mags and bravo 1's.

What pitch are you running night life and what speeds are you seeing. Mine is out of the water now for a rebuild on one side and upper end refresh on the other. I was getting some porpoising and couldn't for the life of me get my now up - if I trimmed just a little the props started to slip on me.

Running Bronson Hill 23p labs most of the time. Getting about 4900 - 5000 rpm out of them and high 60's close to 70 in the right water. With these props I can not pull the bow up much either. I can get it up enough to free up some, but go to much and the porpoising will happen and props slip.

I have a set of 4 blad labs that are supposed to be 25p. The boat rides much better and holds the nose. Problem is I can only spin them about 4400 RPM and get 65 tops out of them. I need more ponies for them.

So maybe I should be looking for a nice pair of 4 blades around a 22 or 21 pitch.

I bought a 280 Sport new back in '89, had twin 330's/Bravo's. Came from the dealer with 25 Mirage, when new would pull them to 4600-4800, VDO speedo would read 71mph (before GPS) It would rocket out of the hole with the Mirage props, Did not perform as well with Mirage Plus props... If the water was flat, it ran best with the tabs level with the bottom or it would porpoise rather badly. I installed 280 K-Planes shortly after we bought it, boat liked tab input and the stock Boat Leveler tabs were not up to the task.

Was a great boat for us and stood the test of time, we kept it up here at the lake for 12 seasons. During that time, we bought several other offshore boats but liked that 280 so much that we just could not part with it. Over time, we logged about 1000 hrs on it. Good luck, Kurt

I know of a set of 22 Bravo 1s for sale: PM if interested in them

That would be too small or me. It looks like everyone is running a 23p or bigger in three blades. I am just thinking that going to 4 blade would require me to drop a pitch or two.