Re: How fast will it go?
 

That hull will be very intersting at 78 or above......

Re: How fast will it go?
 

Tim,
Do you still have those props for sale? If so how much, what kind of condition etc..
Mats- also interested in hearing how your testing goes. I have a Powerplay 230 Conquest which is very similiar hull in which I just replaced the 330/454 with a 502/502 and looking for hints.
Thanks,
Rich

Re: How fast will it go?
 

FYI - removed the hooks from my '88 235 Force hull this past summer. Unfortunately, I didn't get to play with it very much, because most of the time I had the family (5-month-old baby) on board and had to put the tabs down and plow around like a cruiser. The few times I did get to wring it out a little bit, it didn't feel like I picked up much. I do notice a little more tendency to porpoise, especially at cruise. This is easy to correct by dropping a little more tab or trim. I really think I need to try a different prop, something that gets the bow out of the water - with more cup like a Mirage + instead of the plain ol' Mirage that's on there now. I guess I really need to get a GPS on there to know where I'm at - not even sure if it is running all that great right now. You guys that are running a lot more HP and higher speeds will probably benefit a lot more than I did.

In short, as the saying goes, your mileage may vary.

I think what I really need is more hull in the water - anyone have a nice 265 Force or DVX that they want to unload?

Re: How fast will it go?
 

Hey BadDog is your Baja still alive? No post over this period...

Re: How fast will it go?
 

Hi Baddog,

is your 235 force still alive? I have the same boat over here in Switzerland. But it's very hard to get parts here. How much do you think would it cost to install:

ZZ 502/502 (502 HP) long block
ATI Pro Chargeer SC-1 Stage 1
Stainless Marine Exhaust
Corsa quick & quiet plus
Oil cooler with thermostat
Pyrometer kit (exhaust temperature)

Would be very helpful to have a guess from your side to compare with the dealers over here.

Best regards,

Damian

Re: How fast will it go?
 

Wish I would have known you were looking, just sold my force 265. its still in the family, and he may sell it. im not sure boating is his thing yet :rolleyes:

Re: How fast will it go?
 

What year and power? And, if you don't mind me asking, what is the approximate price - just wondering what these boats are going for these days. Might be time to get some more hull in the water. Wife got her Christmas present, now it's time for mine... :D

Re: How fast will it go?
 

Damian,
You should see 80 with 635 HP. I have had this boat for 14 years with 4 power combinations. Here is what I have noticed.
Until you break 58 to 60 the hull is pretty much stuck in the water, you can really feel it free up at around 60. Once you get past 60 it does not take much more power to build speed. Once you get into the 70's the nose starts to plant and it takes all sorts of power to build speed. Prop choice is very important with this hull. You need a butt load of bow lift to make these things run right. That hull was just not meant to go that fast. You end up over trimming and then twist the wheel slightly to rock up on the pad and then trim back down a touch.

No way to estimate what your cost to install would be other than if you cut corners it will cost you more.

Second season on this power package, B&M 250 with Nickerson carb. No problems and the jetting is still spot on. I am going to drop my boost this winter as there is only a few MPH left behind with the greater boost. The hull just scoots right up to 73 then you have to work it hard to get 80. I am guessing dropping 50 HP or so will not hurt my top end much as I generally only run short burst up to WFO.

Previous replies suggested hull would be scary at 80. Stable as can be nothing strange all the way up and no evil manners if you back out quick. Great hull if you keep it below 75. I am going to have Houston Prop work my prop to see if I can get some more bow lift, bet I get my speed back with less boost.

Re: How fast will it go?
 

Bad,

thanks for your response. Sounds very interesting... ;-) Over here they would ask me over 25Ks for these combination inclusive work. What kind of prop did you run with to get these results? Do you have some pictures from your boat?

Thanks.

Damian

Re: How fast will it go?
 

27P Mirage Plus XZ drive @1.5, no pictures yet but my son just a dgital camera.

Re: How fast will it go?
 

wow, okay. so, please keep me updated. ;-)

I just got a Bravo 1 but our lakes here are not that wavy usually...

Re: How fast will it go?
 

How much difference in hull design is there between your 235 and the 24 outlaws from early 90's?? Guy in my area went through a few engines and could never get over 80mph becasue of the bottom design of the 24. I believe his last setup was a Blown 509. Once he got it to run near 80, power increases did not increase speed. I seem to remember he even had his bottom done!! He finally got fed up, sold it, and now runs a fountain............. I've heard this same issue from two other people in this area with late 80's and 90's Baja's over the last 12 years. I would imagine thier newer designs have improved...................Just one man's witness..........................

As far as "70 mph" being the safe limit - it's not only the boat, but the experience and skills of the driver. One drivers "scary" experience might be another drivers "minumum amount of exitement" !!!! So that statement made me laugh out loud...................

Re: How fast will it go?
 

i had a 89 sport 240 with 540ci/640hp. best i saw was 77 gps. with a 468ci/525hp the boat ran a solid 72 with imco shorty.

Re: How fast will it go?
 

I also believe that the hulls limit is 80 mph but I prefer the 'save' way. I got too much experience with blown (4 units in 2 seasons) 454's with their weak parts. This engines are just not built to go WFO over 1 hour. We always measured the exhaust temperature made plug reading and what ever but the blown out holes got still looking worse... :hothead:

Re: How fast will it go?
 

BRUCE what size shortie did you have and prop with the 540 thanks Art

Re: How fast will it go?
 

It was a 2" shorty. with a 23 labbed mirage. It handled great. skipped across the waves perfectly level

Re: How fast will it go?
 

Is a 23 labbed mirage not to small for about 650 hp?

Prop experiences?
 

I have a 572ci (through prop exhaust - because of restricted law...!) with a good 600hp in a Baja 235 Force (year 90) the prop is a 4-blades 26 with max. 4400RPM it run 64 mph last season. I know 4400 RPM is too low... So, I just have got a new 22 Merc Bravo1 4-blades prop. What should be the approx. result?

i have a 1988 240sport with a 540dart 622hp n/a last sumer 136drive 23mirage prop at 5600 runnig low 80mph. it runs 80 all the time ! now this year i put more power going friday to test . i no a guy that does 98mph in a 24 outlaw . . the baja force hull is not the same hull . there is one thing when going over 60 mph you shuold have the rigth steering setup and long trim tab and a safety cut off switch hook to you . and drive that boat very carefull !!! :drink::drink:

i think if you run that 22 you will do 5200rpm at low 70mph . did you dyno your motor if so what is your rpm at the most hp ?? you need to no what rpm to prop your boat at .:drink::drink: i would try a 23mirage prop not a plus

Thanks for reply. I did a full hydr setup on the steering but no trim tabs yet. I'm not quite sure but I think my gear ratio is 1.5 and not 1.36...

On dyno we had 610hp on 5100 RPM...

Now it runs 65mph with 22 bravo 1 prop... with 5100 rpm.

Thats a stout number for NA 454s at 5100rpm. You sure the dyno didnt have an overly optimistic correction factor ? My buddy had a 31 bullet with 600hp 509's, turned 26p bravo 1 props to 5400-5500

6yr old thread.

He wrote this page before this:

That would be a good comp in a way in regards to my 28' challenger. 454's on roids deal and made 480hp. Turned 25p 3 blade mirage 5,600-5,700. Bravo one 1.5's. Prop's were tuned up a little with an edge on them but ran 78 plus. Weight was undoubtedly less than 31 bullet but not lite.