I am 99% sure that the 1999 280 with the 502 is my old boat. Always wondered what happened to it - I bought it new in 1999 from Pier 33, and sold it when my ex was pregnant with our first young'n. I freakin' loved that boat - good luck with the purchase, however you go.

Wise words spoken here!
The Bimini with camper enclosure is about a $4000 hit if you ever needed to have one put on a 28 footer.
If your wife is requesting the shore power then the '99 is the way to go, shore power, fridge, microwave and 110 power, sink and water, throw in the bimimi and camper enclosure for good measure and your styling big time!
The 502 mpi is a really good low maintenance motor as well.

I am driving out to look at both boats tomorrow. I am leaning towards the 99 280. We will see how she looks. Thanks for everyone's input, it has been very helpful.

Verbi is right also about the 502...Easy, low maintenance and will live for 1000 hours if taken care of.

Assuming that is my old boat, I had that bimini and related canvas made - it was higher quality than the vinyl stuff PQ was using at the time. Let me know how the old girl looks, the pics make me sad I ever sold it... :(

The boat with 500EFI has been for sale for a long time, and is probably the route I would take... Shore power can be added for a lot less than the 500EFI. The camper top would be alright I guess but not my cup of tea lol

You young guys would drool over stainless steel tube headers and anodized blue engine parts.....lol.

For overall package, to use for weekending, my vote is the black 502 which looks clean.

Want a weekending boat? Buy a cruiser... Lol

With having a 2 year old I really don't need to be going in the 70s lol. I wouldn't mind it but mid 60s is good enough for me.

....says the guy with arguably one of the nicest PQ ever built. .lol