I've got a 208 Islander repowered with a built up 502. This summer I trailered the boat 2000 miles and the bunks wore some of the hook out of the bottom. I used to run this boat in the high 70's with no handling problems to speak of. Now it porposes like hell and won't take hardly any trim at all over 60 mph. Spoke to Baja about some specs to where exactly and how much hook was in the hull but they said they didn't have that info anymore.We added some and made it worse, took some out and it's no better. Can anyone HELP PLEASE. If I can't get it right I guess it's tabs. Some good advise (at least from my experience ) LEAVE THE HOOK ALONE. I can't believe how much difference just a bit more or a bit less makes. Any info sure would be appreciated

Removed the hook from my 260. It gets a tad loose near 80. I have tabs but run them flat or a tad up at WOT in smooth or semi smooth water. My 4 blade Hydromotive is much more stable than a 3 blade, less chine walk. I don't know that the 208 was designed for speeds of 70. Last idea strap in tight to your bolster, hang on, and let it float alittle. You will get use to it, OR NOT!

Troubled,

What were your results from removing the hook? Before and after speeds, handling etc.? Is the 260 hull similar to the Force, and how much hook did yu have to start with? I am considering removing some hook on a Force 235 or adding a pad.

Tim T.

I HAD A BAJA 190 SPORT A FEW YEARS AGO. IT HAD A 4.3 L, IT RAN 57MPH. IT WAS VERY STABLE AND I WAS LOOKING A FEW MORE MILES AND TOOK OUT THE HOOK. IT MADE THE BOAT VERY UNSTABLE AND PORPOSED ALOT. SO I PUT ON TRIM TABS AND IT CORRECTED IT A BIT BUT IT WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. SO I ENDED UP SELLING IT.


COLLIN

Had a 280 Baja. I did not have a hook. What it had is illustrated below. This is part of the design on this hull. Someone suggested removing it. I did not. This angle was just on the last 6" of the running surface. If you trimmed too much it would porpoise like mad. Had to get good on the K-planes to get her loose enough to fly.

Sorry for the crappy image. I didn't want to spend the time.

my 260 had exactly what Jim's 280 had, tapering out 6" forward as drawn in his reply, and from the strake outward toward the side about 10-12 inches. removed it all against Baja advice gained 2-3 mph no porpose at all still planes without tabs down and will stay down going slow enough to pull a wake board. (what a roller) It is a lot of work for 2 mph. and as I said when its light @80 you don't kick back with a beer (XXXXX that) a soda. I do not regret doing it, would I go through ALL the trouble to do it again? NO!!!
When you get into it, you will get into this kind of hard foam and hollows under the glass, that you must dig out marine tex back, remat the whole surface finish it, match both sides exactly, spray the gel coat, sand it , buff it. you get the idea. My suggestion in your case, "you got a lota speed left to gain engine and exhaust wise.
When you max out there if your looking for an extra 2 try it, or find a friend to buy it and step up in boats.

P.S. the 260 also has a pad about 10" wide at the transom

Hey Troubled 26 and all Thks for the replys. There's nothing I would like more than getting into a looonger boat but this one has to do for a while. Damn it's just that i know there's alot left in her but it just gets a bit to hairy for me towards the top. There's plenty of power so i'm thinking tabs might steady it enough and yet not loose to much because of drag. I pinned the needle to 80 a couple of times but i would like to stay on top of the water not in it. lol

Jim your drawing looks just like the bottom of my Liberator. GEO was going to help me remove it, but the more I think about it the less anxious I am to do it. I think that my Hydromotive Q4 helped quite a bit, but when I get over to Entiat I'll try it again with the smaller Q4 I just picked up. My hull really loosened up (in a good way) while using that prop. It just really felt like I was dragging ass, with some big time bow lift.

Les

BAJA originally designed a hook in the bottom of their boats and also in thier strakes to allow the ease of planing their boat. The problem is the design was for low horse power application and low speed. With high horsepower application the boat wants to run faster so the bowl starts to lift. The hook on the other hand lowers the bowl causing the porpois effect. To eliminate the problem the bottom should be straight and also the strakes. The trailing edge of gthe boat should be a sharp edge for maximun performance