Hi all,

I'm new to the forum as a member but I've been reading information posted here for quite some time. Awesome forum and helpful people! I'm getting read to pull the trigger on my first Baja *excited*. Now the question is which to get. I started looking at Boss 232's and seemed to keep ending up at a 24 Outlaw (25 Outlaw might be out of my budget). The other option is a 272.

Any suggestions on which to favor over the others? Main requirements are:

1) Nice hefty motor of course. 5.0L won't cut it. Singe engine 454 or 502 is my wish.
2) Some cuddy cabin space (possibly with room for a porta potty under the hull seat for my daughter)
3) Big enough to handle the lake when it gets choppy (Lake Lanier in Atlanta is known for is busy chop) so 24+ is what I'm looking at
4) Budget - 25k max.

Thanks for all the input in advance!

Bayliner

25k will get you a pretty nice 24 outlaw or an older 25. You should look at Checkmates and Formulas in that price range too,

24OL
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o55589-en.html

272
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o50182-en.html

Checkmate 283
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o54862-en.html

Formula 272
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o55397-en.html

Formula 292
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o55967-en.html

272 are great starter boats with the right graphics. I can put u in a 90mph one for 27k

We had a Baja 272 with 454 carb. Great boat and did a lot with it, built the engine and did all kinds of hull/interior bolt-ons. 62 MPH. It would have been cheaper to have bought one with the right engine to begin with, lesson learned but the education was priceless! Look for one with a 502 mag, you may be able to find one with 496 H.O. but they will be newer and might not fit your budget. Low to mid 50mph with 454 carb, 60 MPH with 502 mag. Good Luck! [ATTACH=CONFIG]519786[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519787[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]519788[/ATTACH]

Well let's dig a little deeper here.

What kind of boating do you want to do? While the 24ol may fit into your price, and you may be able to get one with an upgraded power package in your price range, it does not have the room that a 25ol or 272 has. If you are looking for more comfort with cabin area to over night in and cockpit space for several people the 272 would be a better fit. You also may look for the 260 it had a ton of room for it's size. The only thing is it was a 21 degree deadrise where the 272/25ol and 24ol had a 24 degree. So the 260 is not as soft a ride, but for your lake I am sure it would still be good. Good thing is the 260 is a bit faster than the others with the same power. Plus you can get 260's well within your budget and put some big power in it if you wanted.

The 25ol while it has plenty of room in the cockpit for 4 people (where the 272 and 260 can handle 6 adults better) does not have the windsheild. That can make a big difference to the wife and kidos.

So comfort and space 272 and the 260
Looks and performance 25ol
Looks and more performace in your price range 24ol

This is good advice. Sleeping on a 24 with any more than 2 people would be too crowded, even if some of those were mini people.

Thanks guys for the info. I've narrowed it down to a 250L or a 272. I decided to bump the budget to 30k just to give me some more flexibility on finding a 25OL. Seems like they are starting at 26k or so right now with average entry being closer to 28-30k.

I like the look of the 272 a lot. In fact that was my choice over an OL in the beginning. The only reason I was choosing the 25OL over the 272 was the reviews I've been following. It seems the 25OL will handle the wake better over a 272. Both a 272 and a 25OL are within a 30k budget it seems based on market hunting. I think I've looked at every 25OL and 272 on the Internet for the last 2 weeks...

Regarding Nighlife's comments: I doubt we would be doing any overnights on the lake but certainly a perk if its doable. However, the lack of windshield is obviously a concern now that it's been brought up. Is the small wind deflector on a 25OL pretty useless? Do passengers in the rear seat take a lot more wind than a 272? I wouldn't mind the wind or the better ride in wake but if the OL is a wind machine to all passengers in the front and rear seats that is certainly something I should take into account on choosing one of these two.

Help greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

You should be able to find a 25ol sub 30k. Sold my 99' 25 last spring for 23500 b/c I found my 33ol. Trav dumped his too, actually think he took my buyer, lol. Both low hour bbc mags mpis!

Good luck, you'll love the 25!! Great boat, easy to handle.

I love Baja's! Enjoy your search!