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Best open bow for speed
Looking to transition from our 25 outlaw to a 27' open bow. What's out there that will run mid 60s? Is 272 Islander with a 502MAG a good option?
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Why not have the 25 outlaw converted to an open bow? It would be similar to a Nordic Rage. We did that to our current boat and have no regrets! |
Great opening post. Kinda like " Best Mini Van for getting super models into the sack " :party-smiley-004: Darr never sleeps.
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Originally Posted by FlyenBrian
(Post 4668243)
Great opening post. Kinda like " Best Mini Van for getting super models into the sack " :party-smiley-004: Darr never sleeps.
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Originally Posted by Matthew Scogin
(Post 4668242)
Why not have the 25 outlaw converted to an open bow? It would be similar to a Nordic Rage. We did that to our current boat and have no regrets! |
I believe that Hallets are a higher performing open bow. I love 272 Islander (although I think Hallets are nicer) and did 63gps with a GMZZ502 engine horses since upped a 100 horses but haven’t had the chance to try it yet, but honestly, anything over 60 in an open bow gets hairy unless you have EVERYTHING stowed away. |
Look for West Coast style boats. 28 Nordic, Eliminator, etc. Might even be a few 288 Sunsations with mid cabins/open bow.
A 272 Islander will run low 60's with a 502mag. |
Found what looks like a very good buy on Riverdavesplace forum. A 1999 Advantage 27 Victory Open Bow, 107 hours on the boat, with a brand new 620 hp $20k motor from Boostpower in California. Boostpower is THE boat engine builder in California, maybe United States? The owner got a new boat from Advantage and the boat is there on consignment since a couple of months. Was $55k asking and since November $45k. Bet the owner is motivated. The 27 Victory was Hot Boat Magazine boat of the year in the 90's when it came out. It certainly does very well in 2'-3' chop, but its a high performance lake boat and not an offshore boat. Speed around 75-80 mph WOT.
https://www.advantageboats.com/inven...ctory-bowrider Ad an H + ttps://www.facebook.com/advantageboats/videos/697809123919036/ https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...610bf8a722.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...463013946b.jpg |
Unless you are stuck on I/O's, buy a center console. You won't regret it. :party-smiley-004:
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Everything I've read, Sunsation 28 MCOB gets a very good rap. . |
Look at Warlock open bows too.
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Checkmate Mid Cabin 27
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Htm open bows are pretty sweet |
Originally Posted by FlyenBrian
(Post 4668243)
Great opening post. Kinda like " Best Mini Van for getting super models into the sack " :party-smiley-004: Darr never sleeps.
Didn't get the Darr vibe..........screen name not goofy enough and the question wasn't specific enough (to show JD's vast knowledge, remember he loves to answer his own question after a few posts). |
Howard 25 or 28.
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Donzi made a few ZXO's with the open bow, not sure if they made any with single I/O's or all twin small blocks, but twin 350's in a 28zxo will run 65-70.
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Originally Posted by MullenTJ86
(Post 4668347)
Donzi made a few ZXO's with the open bow, not sure if they made any with single I/O's or all twin small blocks, but twin 350's in a 28zxo will run 65-70.
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With 4 kids you really cant go wrong with the Sunsation 288 MCOB I ran an 03 model with 496 Mag for 3 years before moving on to a 32' closed bow now that my kids are grown. My 288 WOT was 63mph I think the 496 HO's are 67-68 mph if I remember correctly, great family boat we had up to seven people on ours several times. Plus it still gives you the sport boat look and with the 496 aside from basic maintenance you just turn the key and go no worries with custom motors. I will say Advantage does make a nice boat a friend of mine ran a 28 Advantage MCOB they build a solid boat.
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Some great boat options mentioned. Laveycraft is up there too IMO.
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https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7b0a19baf.jpeg Convertible! That Advantage might keep up with one of these, but not many open bow boats will. |
I think the OP is going to find that an Baja Islander rides like a piano compared with a Baja Outlaw.
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Originally Posted by Too Stroked
(Post 4668402)
I think the OP is going to find that an Baja Islander rides like a piano compared with a Baja Outlaw.
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Originally Posted by Too Stroked
(Post 4668402)
I think the OP is going to find that an Baja Islander rides like a piano compared with a Baja Outlaw.
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If you want an all around boat for 8+ people, water activities, or just speeding around at 80+ with a light load or 70 loaded, the Checkmate 2400BRX with a 400 is a great option.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...32ef3fafda.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...777682d7ac.jpg |
All gel cote and no chopper gun lay up. You can get them in outboards or I/Os. 24 ft to 29 ft, but with that said Lavey Craft does not count the swim platform in the length of their boats. An example the 29 Nuera is 30.6 ft in length and so on with all the other models in their line up. They can make however - cabin boat - mid cabin boat - full open bow boat.
Look at the pics this was a 2018 -- Lavey Craft model 2750 build - scroll thru to see the pics - thats page 3 -- I posted --- one can go back to the first page and second if they like. https://www.riverdavesplace.com/foru....170952/page-3 |
he is the 2018 -- 29 Nuera build - mid cabin. 2 pages worth of pic and posts
https://www.riverdavesplace.com/foru...nu-era.182108/ |
2018 Lavey Craft 2750 NuEra Open Bow, twin Merc. 300XS.
Ditto on that BUP. Nothing like California custom at its finest. Just had to put up a few photos. This boat is tough to resist for an outboard guy like myself. +90 mph WOT, very impressive!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...cd53c5a1aa.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5ae976a9c7.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f88332cf0c.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...eda2a5ea64.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f3934830b9.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ccf53a5bb5.jpg |
Originally Posted by Baja Rooster
(Post 4668406)
According to Dave Leondhart the 272 and 25OL have the exact same bottom. The helm on the Islander is about 8” more forward though. |
Baja made a new style 277 Islander for few years, the checkmate 240 and I think Sunsation n is making a new 29 dual console that is coming along, also Monterey released a 305 that is nice.
https://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/36942 |
I have to say - when Marine MAX was the biggest dealer for Baja just before they went under 2007 or 2008 ? whenever that year was. - I know I am going to get slammed for this but for one it is very old news that all the liner made boats Bajas at that timeframe cracked badly. - Sea Ray industries owned Baja at that time. They Sea Ray industries aka Brunswick dumped / filed bankruptcy -- Baja --- so they did not have to pay any warranties for all that junk they built. During that timeframe - for that whole year up to the end, just before they went under - what a pile of crap for fit and finish and quality. I climbed into enough of them to know as many Baja owners were left stranded with no warranties.. Sorry man I would not buy a Baja during that timeframe / bankruptcy year
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OP, what’s you’re budget? If you can find an Islander that’s not beat to crap they’re about mid $20k. I think that most of the others mentioned typically start at $30k+ I bought my ‘97 272 Islander as a well cared for fresh water Lake Tahoe boat that had a cracked block (the idiot after the original owner and before me did some funky crap but nonetheless...) and most of the rigging needs to be redone. The cables were worn, the gauges are temperamental, seat hinges are wobbly, etc. I love my boat, but expect a 20 year old Baja to need a good deal of care. |
around 30K maybe up to 35K
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Originally Posted by Tcurrie
(Post 4668483)
around 30K maybe up to 35K
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Originally Posted by Too Stroked
(Post 4668402)
I think the OP is going to find that an Baja Islander rides like a piano compared with a Baja Outlaw.
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Originally Posted by TURBOED
(Post 4668520)
interesting,didn't know you can ride a piano lol
Jerry Lee Lewis did......:whistle: |
Originally Posted by larslindroth
(Post 4668259)
Found what looks like a very good buy on Riverdavesplace forum. A 1999 Advantage 27 Victory Open Bow, 107 hours on the boat, with a brand new 620 hp $20k motor from Boostpower in California. Boostpower is THE boat engine builder in California, maybe United States? The owner got a new boat from Advantage and the boat is there on consignment since a couple of months. Was $55k asking and since November $45k. Bet the owner is motivated. The 27 Victory was Hot Boat Magazine boat of the year in the 90's when it came out. It certainly does very well in 2'-3' chop, but its a high performance lake boat and not an offshore boat. Speed around 75-80 mph WOT.
https://www.advantageboats.com/inven...ctory-bowrider As said look at the west coast boats, there’s fast open bows all over out there. Advantage, Hallett, Lavey Craft, Shockwave, Eliminator are all good options. |
That lavey looks awesome! I think it needs better paint though, that scheme is way too dated.
I think the Checkmate 2400 BRX is a sweet contender also but not as much of an offshore boat. |
Are you hoping to run mid-60s mph with passengers up front?
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Originally Posted by Sydwayz
(Post 4668598)
Are you hoping to run mid-60s mph with passengers up front?
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Originally Posted by Tcurrie
(Post 4668483)
around 30K maybe up to 35K
30 Advantage https://www.boattrader.com/listing/2...andard+listing 25 Advantage. Don’t let the length fool you, it’s the size of most 27 and 28’ boats. https://www.boattrader.com/listing/2...andard+listing 28 Eliminator. https://www.boattrader.com/listing/1...andard+listing |
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