the sport 280
 

I'm interested in knowing more about the Baja Sport 280 .When was the hull first introduced and was it used for other models ?
Is the hull for the 280 sport still in production ?
Baja has put out a lot of boat models over the years , I know how this boat differs from say a 275 or small outlaw but how do they compare to the 302 , 29 outlaw or 30 outlaw for that matter ?
How many sport 280s were made and for how long ?
What are the differences between the 1988 280 force and the sport and how about the ES ?
How many force/sport or ES's are still around ?
Who's got one and who wants one ?
Lets see your Baja Sport 280 here..
Winter blows...

Well I think that the sport came out in 88. The force was before that. Same hull different top deck. Then name change to the 300 after 90. As for the rest XT would have to answer.

I have one.

Yes winter blows
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/...airriver09.jpg

..http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...psb36cc402.jpg

There us a great thread in the baja forum that compares several models including the sport 280.

Bought a Sport 280 brand new back in '89 We kept it up at the lake we now live at for 12 yrs. Was a great boat, big cabin for a 28 footer. Ran well for twin 330's. 71 on the VDO. (before gps) 25 Mirage @ 4600 rpm when light. It would porpoise in flat water unless the K-Planes were lowered to level with the hull bottom. Logged 1000 hrs on it before selling in 2002. We had owned several other bats during the years we owned the 280. It worked so well for up here at the lake that we just could not part with it.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...jaSport280.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...Pinto_0019.jpg

the next boat I buy will be a 280/300, currently have the 250. they are spacious boats and pack allot of bang for the buck which is why I like them. as mentioned they came out in 88 and changed to the 300 in 90 or so. there are allot of them out there but not nearly as many as the newer model bajas

A friend of mine has a 300 ES, it is a totally different boat than the 280. Interior, dash, cabin, fairing. All totally different. All I can see that they actually share is the overall total length.

When the 280 became the 300, the 300 became the 320, and to make it more intresting all the names changed in 1989, 1990, and 1991.

Well that makes some sense to me now.

The cabin on the 300 looked like the inside of a whales mouth

And then they made the 1990, 265 DVX....... (265 force hull IIRC?) Why they thought a 20 degree deadrise with a "sort of" delta pad would be fast with a single BBC, is beyond me.........

Nice boat! Is this the one I saw for sale on craigslist all summer?

yes it probably was OMG just sat here and wrote a reply and it didn't post ...so her I go again .
It was on CL for a while but I took it off because I go a lot of BS form there. I still would like to sell it .I'm trying to put all my ducks in a row and prepare for retirement .
The Sport 280 is a nice big water performance boat .I had another one a while back ,sold it to a friend to buy the center console model but found it wasn't right for us so I sold it and got this one .My family and I enjoy the boating and performance boat life style . We enjoy heading to the river , cove or beach to meet up with friends . But as I said want to take a break and get things in order .I don't doubt that someday I will be boat shopping but for now want to take some time off from boats .
I have made some improvements to this one by upgrading the dash ,and wheel also adding some electronics and stereo to name a few .
The Baja Sport 280 is a classic big water performance boat .It has nice styling good handling and speed .It is a big boat and is roomy and comfortable .
We really like this boat and will be sad to see it go.
Any one who has one I'm certain likes what they got , I do...

I agree, I always liked the 280's for some reason. I had looked at your CL ad many many times. And you answered my next question which was why you were selling.

The cabin and cockpit space is why I purchased my 280. I have three kids and three step kids and no other boat close to this size range (except my 30 center console) could even come close to comfortably holding my clan!

The Baja Sport 280 is a lot of boat and is well suited for big water and is roomy enough for passengers to sit comfortably .
You can cruise all day at 50 mph and it will get close to 70 at WOT. With the 145 gallon fuel tank you have the range to get to places not so close to home .
If anyone is looking for a performance boat of this size , the Sport 280 is worth taking a look at .
The Sport 280 has been out of production for some time but has a look all its own and will turn heads where ever you go .

Does anyone happen to have a set of dash panels for one of these boats???

you could probably find one , ask portmonster or adrenilinjunky , they are two guys who have 280 parts .When we up graded the dash with new gauges , we got a piece of shiny black plexi glass , cut it to match the old panels (guage and switch)...came out nice .if you get an old one it may be cracked here and there and certainly faded a bit .If you want to see my dash send pm with cell or email ill send you picture..

I sold mine already. I think he just wants them for templates so small cracks are no bug deal.

That is correct!!! I want to make a new set and wrap them in 3m carbon fiber. I asked adrenalinejunkey and he has them. But he wants $350 for them :eekdrop: and I can't pay that kind of money when I am just going to make another set off of them.

Why can't you make some templates out of cardboard, and have them made that way?

The boat is shrink wrapped. I can't get to the panels in it. They are actually in perfect condition, I just wanted to make up a new dash through the winter.

So is there anyone can get to the dash and switch panels to make templates for this member and sport 280 owner so he may upgrade his dash while its still covered ?

I can get to my panels but o cannot think how to make templates without pulling every switch and guage.

I have my originals. But they had two different dash setups on the 280. What one do you have? My gauge panel is slightly curved. Some of them had a panel that was flat.

Here is my original panle

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/.../DashSmall.jpg

That looks like it to me, how many of the panels do you still have?

I have the original gauge panel and the indicator panel. I must have sold the switch panel, but I do have a template that I made of that when I was switching to the carling switches. Here is a picture of the switch panel, it just does not have the switches in it.

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/...ps325d47a0.jpg

Any chance you want to sell that stuff? Or maybe let me borrow/rent it to make some new panels?

Make me an offer.

I don't know.... $50? I have no idea what to offer. Pm me with what you think.

Anyone ever wrap one of these? I have 2 teal stripes I do not want. I was thinking of buying a roll of 3m 1080 white and just doing the sides.

I watched some YouTube videos and it looks doable but I am wondering what you use at. The edges to be sure it does not peel.

then what do you do with giant teal stripe on bow ? And what color is your cockpit ? how long have you had your boat ? You don't like teal any more ?

The owner before me had the sides and the stripe on my 280 painted before I got the boat. I love the paint on the sides; no chalking or need to wax them twice a year. I wish the rest of the boat, including the cockpit, was painted too!!!! I agree with you that the old Baja colors and patterns are out of date and changing them would make your boat look more modern!

I can cover the center stripe as well, I was just more concerned with putting vinyl on the sides and what happens if it is in contact with the water while getting under way or slowing down. I know it is out of the water while at running speed but what happens otherwise?

I do not like the teal, I never ever liked the teal. I just bought a like new, always garaged, almost no hour boat with engine upgrades for short money from a guy who needed to sell. I have not had it long at all.

The painted sides on your boat are indeed very nice. It looks alot newer! So does the updated dash and interior, Overall a very nice boat that's why I wanted to buy it years ago!!

the wrap has a special seam sealer that is applied over the edges that can come in contact with the waters surface........... It too heat shrinks down into place....... My 226 had the stripes painted in imron.......... My boy has had the boat for 10 yrs and I had it for five before him........ the imron is now nicer to this day than the orig gel coat!........ You know My boat is a full wrap...... but if I had those stripes to cover ....... no doubt in my mind Id do it again in Imron.....[IMG]http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps20c59fe6.jpg[/IMG]

I had a local shop print and install a 1/2 wrap on my 265. It is holding just fine. Cost was about $1,500-1,600 for everything. I would highly recommend having the pros install the wrap. I'm quite handy and thrifty but installing a 28 foot long sticker with out any wrinkles or bubbles is where i draw the line and have to brake down and pay the pros that do it every day.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa239eac1.jpg

Mid process/ first layer
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...X/IMAG0995.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...X/IMAG1002.jpg