Looking to buy my first Baja! Help please..
 

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum as a member but I've been reading information posted here for quite some time. Awesome forum and helpful people! I'm getting read to pull the trigger on my first Baja *excited*. Now the question is which to get. I started looking at Boss 232's and seemed to keep ending up at a 24 Outlaw (25 Outlaw might be out of my budget). The other option is a 272.

Any suggestions on which to favor over the others? Main requirements are:

1) Nice hefty motor of course. 5.0L won't cut it. Singe engine 454 or 502 is my wish.
2) Some cuddy cabin space (possibly with room for a porta potty under the hull seat for my daughter)
3) Big enough to handle the lake when it gets choppy (Lake Lanier in Atlanta is known for is busy chop) so 24+ is what I'm looking at
4) Budget - 25k max.

Thanks for all the input in advance!

Bayliner

25k will get you a pretty nice 24 outlaw or an older 25. You should look at Checkmates and Formulas in that price range too,

24OL
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o55589-en.html

272
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o50182-en.html

Checkmate 283
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o54862-en.html

Formula 272
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o55397-en.html

Formula 292
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o55967-en.html

272 are great starter boats with the right graphics. I can put u in a 90mph one for 27k

We had a Baja 272 with 454 carb. Great boat and did a lot with it, built the engine and did all kinds of hull/interior bolt-ons. 62 MPH. It would have been cheaper to have bought one with the right engine to begin with, lesson learned but the education was priceless! Look for one with a 502 mag, you may be able to find one with 496 H.O. but they will be newer and might not fit your budget. Low to mid 50mph with 454 carb, 60 MPH with 502 mag. Good Luck! [ATTACH=CONFIG]519786[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519787[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519788[/ATTACH]

Well let's dig a little deeper here.

What kind of boating do you want to do? While the 24ol may fit into your price, and you may be able to get one with an upgraded power package in your price range, it does not have the room that a 25ol or 272 has. If you are looking for more comfort with cabin area to over night in and cockpit space for several people the 272 would be a better fit. You also may look for the 260 it had a ton of room for it's size. The only thing is it was a 21 degree deadrise where the 272/25ol and 24ol had a 24 degree. So the 260 is not as soft a ride, but for your lake I am sure it would still be good. Good thing is the 260 is a bit faster than the others with the same power. Plus you can get 260's well within your budget and put some big power in it if you wanted.

The 25ol while it has plenty of room in the cockpit for 4 people (where the 272 and 260 can handle 6 adults better) does not have the windsheild. That can make a big difference to the wife and kidos.

So comfort and space 272 and the 260
Looks and performance 25ol
Looks and more performace in your price range 24ol

This is good advice. Sleeping on a 24 with any more than 2 people would be too crowded, even if some of those were mini people.

Thanks guys for the info. I've narrowed it down to a 250L or a 272. I decided to bump the budget to 30k just to give me some more flexibility on finding a 25OL. Seems like they are starting at 26k or so right now with average entry being closer to 28-30k.

I like the look of the 272 a lot. In fact that was my choice over an OL in the beginning. The only reason I was choosing the 25OL over the 272 was the reviews I've been following. It seems the 25OL will handle the wake better over a 272. Both a 272 and a 25OL are within a 30k budget it seems based on market hunting. I think I've looked at every 25OL and 272 on the Internet for the last 2 weeks...

Regarding Nighlife's comments: I doubt we would be doing any overnights on the lake but certainly a perk if its doable. However, the lack of windshield is obviously a concern now that it's been brought up. Is the small wind deflector on a 25OL pretty useless? Do passengers in the rear seat take a lot more wind than a 272? I wouldn't mind the wind or the better ride in wake but if the OL is a wind machine to all passengers in the front and rear seats that is certainly something I should take into account on choosing one of these two.

Help greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

You should be able to find a 25ol sub 30k. Sold my 99' 25 last spring for 23500 b/c I found my 33ol. Trav dumped his too, actually think he took my buyer, lol. Both low hour bbc mags mpis!

Good luck, you'll love the 25!! Great boat, easy to handle.

I love Baja's! Enjoy your search!

The 25ol and 272 are going to ride basically the same. The wind will be much more a factor in the 25ol.

Rigging clumsy fingers and cell phonesoffshorexcursion;4085237]I lin the clouds in to who with that associteiiniive Baja's! Enjoy your search![/QUOTE]

Every boat is a great boat but the first is always special
One thing I can tell you is Baja owners are tight. We might have not dropped the most coin but it's a tight group of boating enthusiasts
You can't go wrong with any of your choices and you will be welcome to raft up and tie off.
Some Mfg's owners have their heads in the clouds as to who they hang out with as if it's a status symbol

Welcome aboard!!!!

See ya
Kelly

Friggin cell phones suck bigtime

The 24 OL is a great hull, biggest downfall is the entrance to the cuddy. I have a 24 OL, and it is seriously impressive in rough stuff. My cousin has a 272 and it just doesn't ride quite as well (it is negligible though). A buddy of mine sold his 260 the season before last, its just not going to ride as well as the the other 3 mentioned, and its just a touch longer then the 24 OL since the swim platform is included in its length. I would rather have a 25OL then a 272, but you can buy a 272 for less money. The 272 is the same hull as the 24OL just stretched 1.5-2ft (swim platform is included in length) and with a different top side. Not sure why they don't ride as good or better, but they seem to fall just a little short for some reason over the 24OL. Judging by your initial budget and some of your concerns the 272 might be the better choice for you, but if you want to go faster, ride a little better, and spend more then the 25OL. Its all about what you want out of boating. I just completely re did my 24 OL, all redone, fresh 540HP 502 MPI with lightening stainless steel header 4 inch dry tails (low to mid 70MPH), all new livorsi gauges (every gauge and sender is new and works 100% along with new depth sounder all the way back to the new transducer), custom dash incorporating 2 extra gauges and different spacing for bigger gauges and bezels, all dash panels wrapped carbon fiber, all new carpet-cuddy to cockpit, freshly painted bilge, several things powder coated, LED lighting, bolsters freshly redone, rest of interior few years old, new gimble bearing, all new bellows, add on hydraulic steering, etc..Stringers, transom, and floors all dry. Brand new Memphis Marine system with 2 6.5's, 2 6X9's, 2 8's, 2 10" subs powered with 2 memphis marine amps. If I were to put mine up for sale I would ask $23K probably. Not to sound overly confident, but my boat is what I would be looking for with your budget if I decided I wanted a really nice 24 Outlaw. And by all freshly redone, the boat is currently in the process of being put together, should be done in 2 weeks.

http://loz.craigslist.org/boa/4334465583.html little over ur budget but you never know, 102 hrs 496 HO

to my understanding the 25OL, 272, 270, 250 and I am sure a few others are nearly identical below the rub rail. as mentioned the 24s cabin door is a huge down fall for me

Cire (op), where are you located?

I've got a 91 260 with a completely stock 454/Bravo 1... It sits on an aluminum LoadRite dual axle trailer. Last years preventive maintenance included new sea pump, fuel pump, thermostat, 2 new batteries, starter, replaced the outdrive expansion bottle, plus a few other odds and ends... The boat is super mechanically reliable, no mods ever. Boat runs 55 MPH GPS. It spent most of its life in fresh water, but the last three years it has been used in Buzzards Bay, MA... The boat is trailered, flushed and washed after each use, it never overnights in the water. Low original hours.

Previous owner barrier coated the bottom.

PM me if you have any interest...

I think that depends on the year, from my understanding the 92-97 were a double wrapped hull for the 24OL and 272 which are the same rub rail down except for the 272 being about 1.5ish feet longer. After that i think they went to composite hull. I am not 100% sure on this but is what I have heard. The 25OL is a different mold I think, atleast it looks different, I am sure its a 24 degree deadrise, but appears to be different in the stern. A guy that runs around with some of my buddies has one, its a 99 (its for sale http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/24554), but I haven't been on it to really check it out.

25ol is just a 24 stretched with a notch that does nothing. 272 is a streched 24ol hull as well. I think XT posted all this someplace.

need to deside if you want a windseild or now.

I personally dont like the outlaws cause of the lack of that... had a 252 with the porto unde the v birth, loved that boat for years.

need to deside if you want a windshield or now.

I personally dont like the outlaws cause of the lack of that... had a 252 with the porto under the v birth, loved that boat for years.

There is a 96 232 on Saginaw craigslist for 9500. Looks like a great deal

Correct! A 24ol and 252 should ride about the same because the bottoms are the same. The 250/270/272/275, and 25 Outlaw are all the 24 hull that are streched 12" at the transom. Personally I think you feel like a boat that is without a windshield rides better is because you don't worry about it stattering, or a face plant into the frame. Also, don't knock the wind disadvantage of a Outlaw with a windscreen. The venturi design really works and directs the full force of the wind up just over your head while standing. If you stand and drive with your head above any windshield model you get the full force wind in your face. Of course if you sit, or slouch down to look through the windshield, that is another story.

XT