I am looking for some people with Poker run experience. I have a Baja 272 with a 310 HP 454 Bravo 1. The motor has been running good ever since I did all of the needed maintenance so I don't plan on doing anything with that until I get all of the safety equipment in place. I would like to join in on some poker runs possibly later this year and continue on into next year and so on. I am curious what everyone's take is on trim tabs and hydraulic steering and which would help me out more on poker runs. I plan to eventually get both, but I am curious on which one to do first. My boat should hit just over 60 mph with around 4 people and 1/2 tank of gas once I change/lab my prop.

My optimistic goals for when the boat is done is running anywhere from 70-80 so I will want to install tabs and hydraulic steering for those goal speeds.

If anyone has recommendations on what kits to look into buying once I decide what route I want to go first please post in here also. Not sure what is the best bang for the buck.

Thanks!

It will take a fair bit of power to move the boat well into the 70's but anything can be done, you may need deep pockets.

Simple answer to your question, trim tabs first. A decent set of trim tabs can help planing, balance fore/aft, balance side/side and general riding attitude, especially in the chop. Make sure your existing steering is all in good shape, gimble bearing is tight and minimal 'play'.

At your current speed, you don't need hydraulic steering. Save your money until the boat is capable of higher speeds.

Good luck,
RR

Trim tabs would be my first choice. I think you are optimistic with your speed. Prob more like 55-57mph with a 310hp.

You will need at least 500hp to touch 70mph and probably 650-700hp to hit 80.

To get your boat where you eventually want, its going to take 40k+

What size/brand of trim tabs would y'all recommend for my size and power goals?

Can't answer that one except to suggest do some forum searches and maybe start a thread in the Baja section asking "What trim tabs are best for a 272?" Worth noting, size is not always the answer when adding trim tabs. However, I will say, the little Bennet type tabs that are about 8" long (?) are too small on my Donzi of similar size so probably something like 280 K-planes or an equivalent but I'm guessing, so wait and hear from someone with Baja 272 knowledge.

Im sure someone has messed around with tabs on a Baja.

RR

I have a nice 600 SC for sale in the swap shop. That would be an inexpensive way to get your boat into the upper 70's if not touch 80.

I saw that one in there trust me lol. It's just not in the cards right now. I'm looking to go 500+ with my next engine as long as it all works out.

Had a 272 many boats ago. Did a mild build up of the 310 carb engine. Learned a lot on that boat, first boat I pulled an engine on or removed a drive. It had Bennet tabs and they were ok but ideally I felt the boat would be proper with a set of 280 tabs. I added Drew Marine Sidewinders stabilizers/steering dampers and that really helped to firm the steering up, my speeds were just over 60 when done, so full hydraulic was not necessary. Have fun with it!

I'll give my .02 on the tabs vs steering. I think the answer is it depends on the condition of your steering. I bought my Velocity 5 years ago. It did not have steering or tabs on it. I installed both at the same time over the first winter. If I only was going to do one, I would have done the steering. My boat is a little faster than yours. Even cruising at 40-50mph, the boat would sway back and forth. It was very unsafe.

For tabs I would recommend 280's. That's what I installed and am very happy with them.

Those tab kits look really nice and for the price they aren't bad. Are the electrical senders worth the extra $500 over the mechanical ones? Any Pros and Cons to either?

Thanks for the links! This helps out a ton.