baja

[T Rose]

i have a 16 foot baja and im redoing every thing from new glass to power. im putting a 2.5 merc on the boat. any one got a fast baja if so how fast? i know its old school but it what i got.

[flabum1017]

228115228116 I had a 1984 16 Baja, completely restored it. Ran it around with a V-4 140 bolted to the transom, always got 55 MPH out of it. Just before I sold it, I put a 2.5 175 EFI on it.... saw 70 before I had back off on it.... got a solid 65 out of it with 4 people onboard and a full 33 gal tank of gas. The 175 was also just bolted to the transom. IMO, 65 is the limit for that boat unless you add a pad to it.

[Airboater]

which model / length

[T Rose]

yeah i have a 175 EFI also. what pitch prop were you running? im also going to run a jack plate not just bolted up and what do you mean add a pad??

[T Rose]

dont know its 16 baja with a 2.5

[Dave Strong]

Picture's?

Dave

[Stoker1]

what do you mean add a pad??

the bottom running surface is a round keel - very unstable for speeds 60+. You can add a padded running surface - flat ride pad = much more stable at higher speeds.

228136 228137

[Airboater]

dont know its 16 baja with a 2.5

should bump 80s easy

[T Rose]

really! every one is saying the boat gets out for hand in the 60ss

[T Rose]

how big does the pad need to be?

[flabum1017]

228164

Mine was a Sport160. It had a rounded V at the back,,,,,, once it was off the inner strakes, it was uncontrollable......... put a couple people in the back and it was better...........

[flabum1017]

I didn't get a whole lotta time to play with props, but it sold with a 25" 4 blade,

[JWTjr.]

I took one (a 1985 160 Sport) in trade from a board member (Ben Lerew from Pennsylvania) who ran it with a slightly modified 200 Mercury. I'm sure if he sees this he can tell you more about it, but he had no trouble whatsoever running it into the 90-mph range with no pad modifications at all. I would not have recommended that, and not recommending it now, but I can confirm that it has been done successfully with no "drama". This fellow drag raced it and lake raced it for many years set up this way.

John

[flabum1017]

I'm sure with center steer, balanced to perfection and the right driver, these boats can exceed the 65 'barrier', but set up like mine was, as an all-around boat, and with no setback, 65 - 70 is it.

[Airboater]

My 18.4 baja ran 75 with a stock 2.4 28 chopper .no pad but took some seat time to get that speed

[NosBoss]

My 18' Baja has a "V" bottom with a 200 looper mounted to the transom. It is a handfull to drive at 60mph. It has BAD chinewalk at 58 plus MPH. Balance is key with these boats. I need a passenger to get any kind of speed with stability out of it. By myself the boat just wont go fast without lots of steering input. I want to add a pad to this hull, but can't pull the trigger and do it. Its probably more of a place to do it more than anything.

[JWTjr.]

I am pretty sure Ben ran that 160 Sport with side mounted steering and two buckets up front.

Again, not saying I endorse that or that I'd do it, but it was done.

John

[TahitiDave]

T rose, what exactly do you want to do with the boat? strictly go fast, skiing/wakeboarding, all-around family boat? i've done pads on several boats with similar bottoms to yours ('72 Tahiti, '78 Glastron) and had good luck with them, but they were made just to go fast. center steering is a real advantage to center weight and balance but is not a must! if it's an all-around boat, there are some other mods that can be done to make it run better without the pad. all this costs $ to do. can you and are you willing to do it yourself? if not, it would be cheaper to just buy a different boat with a pad already on it. if you want to do it yourself, i'll send you some pics of how i did the last one. Good luck! Dave

[NosBoss]

I'm curious what else can be done to stabilize it without a pad. Balance? Jackplate? Trim tabs?

[TahitiDave]

i should have been more specific about the mods i am talking about. these all involve flipping the boat! just by extending the inner chines (closest to keel) all the way to the transom (and widening them about 1/2 ") took the glastron cvx 16 from 52mph to 56 mph on gps with a worn out x-flow 115. and the boat planed way quicker. same boat with a stock 1983 merc 150 and a pad is just about to 80 mph (79.2 gps) i won't even mention trim tabs! that's somebody elses argument! LOL! just my .o2 on things i've tried. Dave

[Riverratt]

I am pretty sure Ben ran that 160 Sport with side mounted steering and two buckets up front.

Again, not saying I endorse that or that I'd do it, but it was done.

John

You are correct. It was side steering with both buckets and no modifications at all to the hull. I will have to see if I can get Ben to reply.

[T Rose]

thanks every one for the info

[99fxst99]

T Rose, listen closely...
Dual steering adjusted properly, or GOOD hydraulic steering
Trim on wheel or "turn signal" switch
Foot Throttle
Solid engine mounts
We had a 16' Baja set up for ski racing with a 2L 175 Merc that ran mid-upper 70s with driver only, side steering, no bottom work other than blueprint the two inner sets of strakes. Also, 2 18' Bajas one with a 149ci 200hp Evinrude, the other with a 2L 175 Merc, both running mid 70s, same set up. I know, I set them all up. ;) This was late 70s and they were king of the river, except for my race layup Ventura II.:D
Get the boat together, learn how to drive it, and have fun. Its a cool ride! Post Pictures!!:thumbsup:
BTW, what year is it? I may have a brochure.

[Da Bull]

I had a 16ft Baja years ago. It had a 135 Silver Starflight Evinrude and that was a perfect combo. Great fuel economy with plenty of power for pulling skiers. It wasn`t fast (about 55) but was fun at the time.

DB

[T Rose]

yeah send some pic's if ya dont minde

[T Rose]

man the boat was shot when i got it. i got it off a friend for free. i gutted the hole thing even the balsa core is out. im in luck i have a glass guy that lives down the street. i will let ya know how it comes out. im not to shure about the year its old but it has some cool lines to it and the side of the boat is not flat like the newer years it steps up at the bottom of the wind shield

[rock]

Scott had a 160 Sport side steer full interior with a Hydro Tech Yamaha that ran well into the 80s. He made it look easy.
Rock