SnailblazerSS

iTrader: (1)

Im looking into picking up a new (to me) boat in the near future and I am having a hard time deciding between two boats right now. Locally there is for sale the following 2 boats:

2001 Baja Outlaw 29'
-(2) 454s one with 126 hours and one with 205 hours

2007 Baja Outlaw 26'
-single 502 with 96hrs

Both boats can be had for the same price right now, and I cant get myself to pull the trigger on either one. All things equal between the boats, except engines, year and hours.

I absolutely want the larger boat, but am perfectly fine with a single engine. Having a hard time convincing myself on twice the maintenance and an increase in fuel consumption is worth two motors to get the extra 3'

stickman811

If Both can be had for the same price, Go for the Twins and the Larger Boat..just make sure you have them surveyed. There aren't many cases where Twin vs. Single where the Twin is the same price. It may have issues..or the owner didn't take care of the outside of the Boat..a real headache to replace seats/gel coat/hardware...but even worse if one of the motors is tore up. IMHO. You apparently have your heart set on a Baja Outlaw. I learned very quickly to have patience. I found everything I wanted/needed for my first boat..just couldn't find one in Red/White so I purchased the one that's Green and white and in a week, everything will be finished and I'll have EXACTLY what I wanted to start with. Ins5ead of planning to spend your entire Budget, maybe shop just a little Lower and save some $ for the Inevitable Repairs/Changes you're bound to encounter or desire?

sleev-les

Went through the same thing when I was looking. Decided on a 25', but already have an itch to go bigger. My future will be a ~35'. I also wanted a Baja at first, but after being on this site and actually looking around and reading up on a lot of threads, learned about all differences in makes, quality, etc... You may end up wanting something completely different. Like stickman said, be patient, look everything over and get a survey.

LaughingCat

Go for 29' with twins. There are few items that will happen knocking both engines out. You can limp back on one. Those 4 additional feet make a big difference in most seas you experience.

Indy

You have to be honest with the amount of money you're willing to budget for boating and that'll help steer you. Without question the bigger boat is what most would go with and from my perspective I'll never go back to another single after owning twins.

However they are more expensive to maintain unless you're mechanically inclined and do the work yourself, even so you'll be spending more of your time wrenching, winterizing, maintaining if you're doing it yourself not to mention the added gas, props, drives and on and on. Boats break, that's their job and they do it well, you'll definitely be investing more time and money with twins.

Twin O/B Sonic

Most people that have a 24' - 26' w/a single are soon shopping for a 28' - 32' w/twins but you never hear of the opposite.
Pretty interesting comparison too. 6 yrs older to get more boat and twins. Yeah doing double the maintenance sucks but if they are solid now it's not bad.
I wish someone had taken me aside (not that I's have listened) and educated me on "PREVENTIVE" maintenance. I repowered w/two new in the box motors and then assumed because they were both under warranty that I could beat the bajesus out of them w/o taking care of them. They both lasted one yr out of warranty and then I started fixing/replacing everything and it got very expensive.
Establish that motors/drives are solid now and then start a religious preventive maintenance schedule. Faster/harder you run it the closer together those sessions will be.
At that level it's not much work and is way cheaper than corrective maintenance. Once you do it a few times it gets way easier/faster too. You'll be able to pull a drive, check for leaks and grease u-joints in 15 mins per.

Good luck and have fun!

JRider

iTrader: (1)

If you plan on overnighting, running out on the big lake, have the money (to maintain and fuel) and have a truck that can tow it...twins are the way to go. my $.02

Twin O/B Sonic

If you're going to run Lake Michigan you'll be way happier w/the extra size and weight. Will be many times that you'd stay at dock in the smaller boat but could get away w/it in the bigger one.
Trust me on that one as I have a 24' .

Great 1st thread by the way.

drivrswntd

Very Very True. I'm on the bay in RI and have had my Outlaw 24 one season and i'm starting to look now for a 28-29 with twins. The extra 5' makes all the difference if it starts getting choppy and the extra room is well worth it. If you can do your own maint and dont mind getting dirty go for the twins, as your just paying for double the parts and not double the labor.

sleev-les

Hence my post as proof OP. I have fun on the 25', but am wanting bigger already