rookie007

unlike me my cousin is baja fan and he is just about to get a 1997 baja 38 special with 502 mags can anybody help how fast is that boat how are the engines run (400 hours) is this a good deal or the boat is simply history we need help guys since we are both rookies thanks

kr1276

I had a 38 Special for 8 years. Purchased with 502's and switched them out for 496 HO's with about 400 hours. I loved the boat. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Boat ran low 60's with 502's and mid 60's with 496's on four blades.

cbeastwood

Probably one of the best big boats Baja ever made. The 502s are bulletproof but need work at 400 hours most likely. Everyone I know with a .38 Special raves about them - great mix between performance and roominess for the family or big fat guys like me.

Boat in stock form runs around 64 but it's a wave crusher. Lot of boat for the buck.

rookie007

hi dear kr i am glad to meet you i have several question s to you if not to bother much when you have changed the engines did you need to change anything along with it and how much the 496 hos cost you that time and also can i make something more to 502 s to make this boat faster
thnaks a lot

rookie007

kr please respond i really wonder what should we do
thanks

cuda

I know a guy that had 600+ hours on 502's in a 38 Fountain, and didn't blow them up.............and it wasn't from a lack of effort.

SinkorSwim

64mph.... 4 blade 22's

Back4More

400hours is no problem if they were maintained well....do a compression test first (135-150psi), then buy.
Good Luck

Specialized

I have a 38 special with the 502s and love it. It runs in the low to mid 60s, but when everyone else is headed back in we are still out crushing the waves. Like Craig said earlier the 38 is a great comprimise boat with seating for 8 if you have the U shaped rear bench and also it is a great boat for overnighting as ours has the genset with A/C. We are actually going to do an island hopping trip this summer in the keys right after doing a fun run with the FMO. I could not be happier with the flexibility. I would definately look at refreshing around 400 hrs as that was when we lost our starboard motor. I looked at changing to the 496 HO when we were doing the work but as I understand it the 502 is a far more bulletproof motor so I just rebuilt the 502s. When your friend does go to refresh have him PM me. I can go over all the other items we did while we had the engines out. Good luck with everything

John

kr1276

The only thing we had to change was the tailpipes. The risers are closer together so we had custom tailpipes made for a few hundred dollars and that was it. I purchased complete power plants with gimbals and drives. It will cost you roughly $20,000 per package. I did it this way and then sold the engines gimbals and drives. I put 250 hours on the 496's and only had to replace a shift cable. I currently have triple 496's in my 442 and I have roughly 275 on these. They have also been extremely reliable.