86 Baja 22 sport ... any thoughts?
 

I have a chance to pay too much for a really clean looking 86 Baja 22 Sport w/350
seller says gel coat re-done.... I know about checking stringers on the older Baja's
Gonna go see it this week ...any other thoughts? Thanks in advance. Doug

bottom is too flat. bouncy little sucker. no real value. i have an 87 down the street from me. 454-alpha. he wants 2k. nobody is buying it. decent river or back-bay boat. i wouldn't go out the inlet in it....

They are cool looking boats. I had a new Sport 220 back in '88, custom ordered it, got to pick all the colors and powered with a 454 Mag. Had fun with it on the lake but would hand your azz to you if it got rough. As above, relatively flat (21 degree) bottom.

Just found a couple pics of mine from back in the day.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...psf96f6b5d.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps6d18bab8.jpg

They are one of the best looking 22 foot boat ever built, long nose and low sides. The boats look longer than 22 ft. They make great lake or river boats, big water boats they are not. Because of their light weight they are pretty quick, up grade to a LS motor and you could run in the mid 70s. I have one with a mild 540 in it, if I did it again I would do an LS motor like a Z06. In Texas and OK. I have seen them go from $7000.00 to $15000 depending on how clean and how they are powered. Hope this helps.
good luck.
Ron

Biggus, I started working for Baja in 1984 and the graphic design on your 220 Sport was my first one that I ever did for Baja. I remember wanting to accent the cool Camaro style rear end deck design. Worked for Baja until 2008 when it closed in Ohio. By the way the deadrise is even flater than you think! 15 degrees at the transom. A 86' 220 Sport is part of my collection of old Baja's now and I use it on lakes like Norris, and Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie. Had it over to Kellys Island this year, but you really have to watch the weather. Lol

XT

Nice pics. When I bought mine, there was nothing like it up here. Bought it from Performance Marine in Oxford, MA. -Bought three new Baja's from them, 210 in '87, the 220 in '88 and a 280 a couple yrs later. Great boats that all held their value well.

I will bet the 210 rode better in rough water than the 220! The 210 was a streched 196 Sport hull design and the deadrise was close to 20 degrees on both the 196, & 210. I liked the look a the 196, but never cared for the windshield on the 210. The 220 has the best look of all of them and the 240 Sport was close but not done as nice with the side bow rails rather than the center rail, and spoiler on the rear deck. The 240 did use the same 220 windshield though.

XT

Expert Marine in Algonac has one sitting out front right now with a big Evinrude on her