I'm looking at boats... new to boating really. owned a sea ray years ago and a couple jet skis here and there but I want something larger, sportier, faster.

my budget is 10k and i found a 93 baja caliber with a 7.4l merc in very nice condition sitting on a 99' trailer.

I want speed and reliablity.. I guess resale value is up to how well I maintain it.

questions: power: what is the HP? how fast will it go on a calm lake?

reliability: how are the 7.4l mercs?

what else should I look for when purchasing?

Is it even a good vessel? should i be looking at something else if my budget is 10k+/-

thanks guys! can't wait to get boating.

Good, boat and price range you shouls be good. However consider the 20 Outlaw and 21 Hammer also, they are all very similar and great boats.

Hammer
http://richmond.craigslist.org/boa/1599104202.html

Bandit, A little more but hey offer 10K your in the ball park
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/1603871118.html

Older 20 OL
http://roanoke.craigslist.org/boa/1600736178.html

Best of luck

Is it a 22 Caliber or a 22 Caliber Twilight Cruiser? 2 completely different boats. I have owned a 22 Cal TC since 03, had a stock 5/7 in it and would run high 50's. Pulled that and dropped in a 385 stroker a couple years back, now we can hit upper 60's low 70's depending on water.
I would guess a 7.4 would run in the low 60's.
You are never going to win any races in that boat, so get that out of your head.
The 7.4 is actually a 454 Big Block Chevy, about as dependable engine as has even been made.

Interesting thing about the 22 Cal TC's...on every one I know of the hatch jams up when opening, so you have to open it 6" or so, go back, yank up on starboard side of hatch, and continue raising. The ram is on the port side. I tried ll sorts of different gas struts on the starboard side and no help at all.

I know it's been a year since this post just ran across it. Did you buy the boat? Sounds like my old boat that I sold in 2008, If so I pretty much reimaged the whole boat, Graphics, Windscreen, Guages, Stereo etc. Red & Purple stripes with checkerboard flags on the back. That's a really quick boat out of the whole on a good day, half tank, two people it would pop right at 70 on the GPS. Great small lake boat, I just bought a bigger boat.