Great discussion guys!

Too Old: I agree, it shouldn't matter as long as you know what it is that your buying...If you're okay with it, great.

But Saber 28 makes some interesting points as well. It's often difficult to compare boats and their speeds when not comparing apples to apples when the labeled lengths and the true lengths are misleading.


Additionally...Though it may only be a sticker on the side, or a way to market something based on length...wouldn't it be nice if the costs didn't reflect the label...

I would be inclined to believe that a 32' boat A and 29' Boat B, which when sitting side-by-side measure in with the same hull length, there would be a signifficant price difference.


Fever Mike: I'm curious. You mentioned a couple particular boats earlier with labeling and measured lengths not being the same, what does the APBA consider as the official length?

Thanks! :cool:

My baja is 28 feet on the money, with the integrated swim platform it is 30 feet on the money
1990 Baja 280 ES

Paid for 28 feet, got 30
Im not complaining, the baja line until 91 never counted swim platforms in any of their equasions, they were just there
Jason

"Paid for 28 feet, got 30." Did you get motors?:D :D

Couldn't resist, sorry. Don't worry I'm dealing with motor issues now also.:) Good luck

Sorry Mike. I must have remembered wrong and it was someone else that mentioned the lengths earlier...

In any event, you hit it right! That's the answer I was look for.
Thanks Mike. :cool:

My curiosity's satisfied. Apples to Apples! ;)

panther
 

Panther'

the early 89s were 12meters no swim platform somewere in the late 89 season the went with the new style with molded swim platform and called it a 40 then in 91 with measuring change
it was called a 42. i believe that the mold swim platform came about the time of a big fire at fountain and losing some molds are something like that.
Later
Dave

Hey Jay,
You bring up a good point, but first, I have to razz ya....

You actually paid for 28' and still paying for 30:) But then again, we ALL are continually paying for length. (well, that sure has a double meaning LOL!)

But this could be a whole new discussion......if you factor in money, well, hell, a Cig owner pays $300k for a 38' boat, so in Baja dollars, he paid for what, a 442? So technically, a Cig owner paid for a 44'er got a 38'er:D:D And a 38 Fountain owner paid for a 42' boat and got a 35' boat. :D:D:D A 42 OL owner paid for damn near a 55' yacht. LOL!

My initial thought was that instead of paying for 38 and getting 35, someone bought a 280ES and paid for a 28'er and got a hell of a big 28'er. It's really not an argument, just a thought process that takes into account peoples ego.

Now, what I'm looking for is to pay for a new 28' boat and get a new 42' boat. Not even Fountain can do that!!!!

Mark

Well, when you figure that one out, let me know! :D

Well Ba ha Ba Ha Ba Ha to you too Pachanga :mad:
Damn everyone on my crap list now !!!
:D :D
What am I public enemy #1 or something LOL

Anyway Yes 32 Fev has brought a whole new perspective to the table now as well
From manufacturer to manufacturer you dont get the same bang for the buck !!! I agree there.

and yes we all want a sort of enlargement ray in our tool box to make things bigger by aming and pointing, turn my 280 baja into a 480 baja by the pull of a trigger would be great.
But then comes the obvious of quality.
You dont see baja custom airbrushing the boat from front to back inside and out, underneath and matching the trailer to it and all the power goodies like Outerlimits does.
Not the same boat, cause if it was, Outerlimits would be Outerbusiness!

Cig, same thing although cig has a part of the market that no one else does, and their boats have a rep and are really just built well. My baja is built well but it is what folks call "cookie cutter"
which is fine for some of us that cant afford the higher end stuff.
But for the size -- back in late 80's early 90's Baja would make BIG boats for the length.
Hell I have 2 feet of freeboard just sitting at the dock
damn fountains look like they are sinking at the dock
But then again if you buy a baja, your not buying it to break any world speed records either.
I just want to go out and have some fun and make some noise and once in a while piss a few people off at Dave and Busters cause my Shiz Nizzle is really LOUD!
Jason

That’s why women have such bad depth perception, because all their lives they’ve been told that’s ten inchs. :D :D :D

You mean

8==========================================> ~~


Sorry could not resist

Jason

I think Baja Daze is doing a very good job with the illustrasions he's using. I think that pretty much sums it up when it come to true running length. To me built-in swim platforms and extended bow pulpets or beeks or whatever you want to call them is a way of artificially lengthening a boat. I have added extension boxes to my boat and in some ways that is a way of artificially lengthening a boat too. However, I don't tell people my boat is a foot longer than what it really is. I will admit that even though my A/T is actually only 31'8", I usually refer it to a 32 footer. Interesting topic.

Or "Innylimits" Ba dump ping. :D

You're right Jason, it's all about being out there and having fun. WhileI thikn of upgrading to a bigger, faster boat myself, I can't help but think back.

When we got rid of the 27 Baja, we were heart broken. A couple years later, we got our 32 Fountain. We love it, too, but I think "are we really having that much more fun with this one over the other?" Not really. The only difference is we venture farther and out it worse weather (not sure if that's smart or not), but we can make it to and from in 5'ers now, where before we did not even venture out. I can't help but wonder if a larger boat will be better or not. Or, jsut make us that much dumber to go out in bigger water:D 6'ers plus, we should just stay home. And, nobody else wants to venture out, either. No group runs then.

But in calm water, I'd rather have my old 250ES payment than my current one. Same amount of fun in that regard. in fact, the 250ES launched easier, too! :D:D:D It was more fun in 2'-3'ers if you wanted it to be.

And to me, maybe I'm the odd one out here, but 60 mph in the 25 Baja sure "seemed" faster than 75 in the 32 Fountain. (at least in reasonable waters where you could run WOT)

Mark

Well my speedo is all banged up and I dont believe what it says honestly but my boat for the one run I did with the rpm's up around 4400 was cruising at 60 and man let me tell you I was scared, this is a heavy boat and when she goes up, man she GOES UP
but comes down heavy too.
Have to watch that re-entry or I swear those drives are history.
I pull back on the throttles all the way when I feel like im up there.
damn Yachts and their 20 foot wakes behind them.
60 or so it said seemed fast to me, but then again this boat is all new to me so I need more seat time.
that was only a quick blast up to that and then backed down to about 40 or so mph
One thing I can tell you about bigger boats that is much better than mid range/size is when you go to get on plane, my boat is horrible, front stands up, I mean 45* angle and takes about 10 or so seconds to come on plane, man you cant see spit , totally blind -- I wont get moving unless I know there is NO ONE around me or any of those little tart kart wave runners.
once she is up she is good, no problems.
I have fun with it which is what matters, now if the dyno shows the engines are A-OK next saturday, then im really going to be happy!
Oh yeah, maybe I should call my engine doofus and see if he can allow me to pick up my engines today or tomorrow!
Would be nice to have them for dyno day next week.
Jason

32Fever,

I have often thought of perhaps going to something larger than my 32'A/T----actually I am looking and considering something in the 38-41' range myself as I speak. BUT I keep thinking to myself that when it's rough out there I certainly don't see any of the BIGGER BAD #SSES out there either----unless someone has to get from point "A" to point "B", EVERONE generally likes it when it's calm and that's when you see everyone out on their boats-----large and small. Everyone likes the calmer waters---that's where 99% of the activity is.

I guess I'm not everyone. Big water is a blast and is why I own an offshore boat.

mr Velocity,

I have been out there in some rough stuff with my little 32'A/T...I remember last year (2001) on Laber Day weekend which is one of the last and biggest boating days of the year, on the Saturday of that weekend we were headed from the port of St.Joseph to Michigan City (35 miles one way) and it was about 75* and barely a cloud in the sky and and the waves were at about 4-6 feet and close that day. We went all the way to Michigan City without spotting ONE other offshore boat...not even the big boys were out that day that I could see anyway. We say maybe two Cruisers and two blow boats that were over 50' in length or so from what I could tell. The next day and it was another nice warm sunny day and Lake Michigan had laid right down. It was flatter than a board and everyone and their mother was out there. You and I are a rare breed, but even I generally like it when it not so ruff out there there that no one else is even out there to have a little fun with.

I have to agree with you Kaama...There's a time and place to run hard in the rough and is a blast at the right times, sometimes I want it to be good 2-3' chop, but generally, the calmer days are more enjoyable. Especially with the wife and/or guests on board.

There's just so much pounding one's body can take...

LOL! "Little 32' boat"

:cool:

If it is flat i just go from A to B.....Rough water...I'll run all day !!!
What a ball !!!! Love that "air" time !!!

If I wanted a flat water boat I sure would'nt have this big sled...

Bigger boats make a world of difference.:)

Air time is great...I love it too...But when you get the wind knocked out of you and your back is compressed beyond human limits......we've all been there.

I pray to the Rough Water Gods for BIG water everytime I plan to go out. :eek: That's why I bought a Cigarette :cool:

OK, Im brain washed...
For Sale or trade, 90+mph poor riding Fountain for a rough water 31'or 35' Cigarette donkey.

Back4More.......LOL !!!!

I'll tell you,my last boat..22 degree with rounded keel,Beat the CRAP outa me !! I even got out of boats for awhile untill i could afford something that rode smoother. This thing launches 4 ft. in the air and comes down easy....That old boat would drive my head thru my heels !!!!!!!! Can't take the abuse anymore!:D

Exactly, Kaama, I notice that too. We didn't see too many OS boats on the trip over to Chicago for the air show. Just our 32 Fountain and Steve's 32 AT from St Joe. Everyone else stayed home:) A few boats from other ports made the trek, the ones I saw were 38'ers or so.

I can tell you I like you AT owners. You are one of the few "little" boats that like to run in the big water. I ran to Chicago in 5's, from Holland in 4's and even been in 8-10's for an hour trip(that is STUPID in ANY BOAT!) Only boat I saw out as the CG. I'll run in almost anything, short of those 8-10's, that's what k-planes are for. I use 'em. I don't try to run 70, but neither does anyone else we boat with. Like Baja says, you get beat to death in a lot of boats. Maybe Cigs and Apache's make it soft and cushy, but as I've stated, I think it's a lonely life for those guys. :D

But, the run to MI City earlier this season where the Chicago/MI guys were going to meet up. Most guys from the IL side bailed early. We were at the launch ramp in the morning, went to the lake. Huh. 5'ers. Better not. Nobody wanted to run in them. Of course, it was calm on the other side of the lake:) And much calmer south of St Joe. I think Steve in his AT and I would have gone, but not with the wives. LOL! BUt, it's fun to go out and play in them for a while.

The worst thing about big water, it's destination boating only. You aren't going to stop and anchor and HAVE lunch in 5'ers. You may stop, anchor, and LOSE lunch in 5'ers. :D:D:D

The only solution is to own a go-fast flat water boat that runs like stink and a great rough water Cig or Apache. And the ability to forecast the EXACT water conditions for the entire weekend or time you will be out on the water. Along with my 42' boat for the 28' price solution....I'd have it licked!

Mark

i live for small craft warnings:D