I just got this boat in september. We got to use it for 7 days and then put it up for the winter. The boat was repossessed and was abused slightly. I have posted already about a few different thing and am thankful for the responces. A list of things the boat needs;
1.rear seat bottoms re upolstered.
2.rear seat supports/sub boxes built.
3.corrosion on tabs and lower drive.
4.good pollish and wax job.
5.stereo/speakers/amp install.
6.bimini top.
I will try to knock off an item or two through the winter and a couple more in the spring when I can pull it out of storage. Ill post up some pics as I go. First is to get it named and numbered for the doc stuff. Just had BBlades take care the prop issues.
heres a few pics.

Yea, another 290 on the board. Its been lonely on here since I got mine last year!

Looking good for starters

That's a nice looking 290. You may have already attended to this but I'd suggest going through all the engine/drive maintenance (including drive and exhaust manifold pressure testing) before the cosmetics stuff. Generally if the boat wasn't maintained well neither was the drive train and that can get expensive depending what you find. Best of luck.

nice looking boat !

I had a total maint. inspection and all standard seasonal up keep performed at time of purchase as part of the deal. Boat reads 119 hrs and the ecm read 106 hrs. The repo guys/thiefs did most of the cosmetic damages. Previous owner also owned a velocity 410 open bow wich is still there for sale. Other than failing to do the anti corrosion maint, he seemed to have two nice velocitys. Both show the same stuff on the tabs and drives.

I went to look at the boat for pics today and take some measurments and this is just one example of repiars it needs..... The actuator that lifts the hatch was not lifting the hatch with out manual help, I thought I needed a new actator so I called atoloc to ask about it and was told that a mistake was made in the calculations and what not by the installer(velocity). It is 10" 250 pound liner actuator. Basicaly lifting to close to the hinge and bad leverage. The hatch hinges are being torn out of the hatch and boat hull. It will shake all over by hand while up and the hinges will not tighten up. striped or wallerd out. Anyhow now to figure out how to fix the hinges and either move the mounting point or add an actuator.

I'd suggest calling Velocity and see what set up works the best for a 290 and how to deal with the hinge mounting issue. The longer travel actuators do a better job as they utilize more leverage as you point out. That's probably the best way to go. That said, you can definitely help out any actuator by installing a power relay in the engine compartment so there's much less of a voltage drop to the lift motor. I used a Summit Racing VIA-803237 with excellent results - it lifted about twice as fast.

Found some great stuff to use if it needs a good buffing. Meguires makes a product called Diamond Cut 2.0 #85. With a decent buffing wheel and a wool pad it produces amazing results with a single application.

Just did my Allison and half way thru the Velocity. Doesn't even need a polish, just a good wax to protect. Easy stuff to use with great results. Fairly inexpensive too.

Good luck with the new ride!

@revelocity..can't belive I didn't think of that. Guess I assumed it would have been factory wired that way. I'll look to get that done and figure out the hinges. Seems my actuator is behind the exhaust manifold like just in front of the transom and most pics on here show further forward.
@ziemer will try that also. Gotta get one summer out of boat before it gets paint or a wrap.

Awesome looking boat........I also got my Velocity in Sept. and got it out half dozen times. It's gonna be a long winter !...... What did bblades do for you ?

Velocity's look nice with the wrap wind shields!