This was mine. 1986 Baja 250 Force. Single 454, TRS drive.
I bought it in 1995, I was 24.
It really was a pretty cool boat. Two sit-down bolsters on "box" pedestals that had storage underneath. Plenty of storage in the gunwales. Under the engine hatch, there were three panels (carpeted plywood) that were about 6-8" below the bottom of the hatch above the engine, so additional storage there.
It had a small sink on the Dashboard on the port side in front of the passenger, I cut in and built a "glove box" next to the sink as a place to toss wallet, truck keys, etc. Had a porta-potty in the cabin, so it met the criteria for "second-home" for tax purposes (if I threw a microwave or grill or something on it for an audit
)
Cabin had a fridge on the port, and storage locker starboard, then facing lounges, and a good size V-berth which I spent MANY nights sleeping in - comfortably.
She was NO performer, maybe 60 mph on her best day, but with me and a "boy scout - be prepared" attitude, I hauled half a hardware store around. Screws, nuts, bolts, wire, tools... you name it.
So, with all that I was running mid to low 50's.
It was White/Red when I bought it. (I hate red).
The second season I owned her, when I put it into storage I pulled all the interior. On a snowy Saturday, I went to Sears and bought a sewing machine, then to JoAnn Fabric for a couple $100 in Marine vinyl. Set it up on the table saw in my shop, and with a smoke in my mouth and a beer close by I taught my self to sew.
Re-did the entire cockpit, and it actually came out pretty nice.
Then, next season, there was "the incident". In the middle of the night I side-swiped a huge steel unlit shipping channel buoy. Took out some fiberglass on the starboard side.
So, when having it repaired I had the whole boat repainted. This was mid 90's so "checkers" were the way to go.
The guy doing the work told me "two weeks". Well, two weeks turned into 6 weeks, and it required me going to his shop everyday when I was done working. I would bring a 12 pack, and make him stay until 9-10pm every night - me working right along side him to make it back in the water for July 4th. The 4th was a Saturday, and we literally finished the boat that morning so I could launch in the afternoon.
I had a lot of fun on this boat.
I have to admit that I beat the chit out of it too.
It never left me stranded, but sometimes limped back to the dock...
Busted stringers.
Blew the drive.
Welded the clutches in the B/W trans.
Knocked the cooling water pickup loose and would have sunk at the dock if I hadn't been sleeping on it that night.
It wasn't built to run as hard as I did.
Still had a lot of fun, PIB, Woodtick island, Cedar Point, Party in the park every weekend...
Good times.
Here's some pics.
In the last one my daughter was just 1 yr old. Love that one.
