93 baja 290 motoryacht

[bubba68]

hello I am new here i just purchased a big project (or maybe a headache well see) it was a bank repo and it sat for 2yrs at the location in the pics. There are no out drives on it from what i have reseached it should have alpha1 gen2 on her. which brings me to my first question i have never had a twin engine before and was wondering if the props spin in the same direction or oppisite?
The galley has a lot of mold on head linner and someone has already pulled the carpet. I plan on doing a complete restoration on her and upgrading alot of stuff to more current features. So here are some pics to get all of you started. Anyone that has any info on this model or has one that i can exchange pics, ideas, or info please let me know thanks because there is really nothing out there on the web other than 2 or 3 for sale.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/27905012@N06/sets/72157621839945269/detail/

sorry i could not get the pics to display they are to large.

 

[oops!]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

hi bubba....welcome to i boats

depending on how much money you paid.....you may have scored big.

the motors and the props are counter rotating.

i would start by starting up the motors and see if they run or if the blocks and manifolds are cracked due to im proper winterization.......(i think they are toast thats why the drives are gone...they owners took what they could)

if the motors are good. youve scored huge....id buy two alpha ones from i boats....they are just around a grand brand new.

other than that.....start cleaning and polishing

looks like a nice boat

cheers
oops

 

[bubba68]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

yeah i only gave 2500$ for her i think it was a good price to start.

ok so the props spin oppisite which one turns what direction i am going to try to turn them over by hand b/c the starbrd engine the starter just clicks and the key for the port side engine is m.i.a

oh by the way i have been a atomotive mechenic for 15yrs so i can handle that aspect of it.

 

[bubba68]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

ok i got both motors to turn over and fire tonight but the is a knocking on the starbrd engine while it is turning over. I am not sure if this is something to do with the out drive being off or what, but the ports side does not make this noise.

Where would be a good place for me to get carb rebiuld kit for these old mercs?


I got some 3m restoration rubbing compond/wax and went to town on the port side. man what a diffrence the gell coat is shining agian.I'll post pics tomorrow.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Man that looks like a great boat. I hope the knocking is not bad. Good luck man and keep us posted with pictures.

 

[KD Fisherman]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

That is a really good looking boat....looks like it should be a fun project. Keep us updated on the progress. I know I am learning a ton by reading the threads on this site. Everyone here seems to be most helpful and full of good advice.

Cheers,
Kyle

 

[78ImperialT]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

KD you got that right...i love this post!

bubba...Saweet! and ChaChing! you did good man. i hope to see it polished up soon. that is one nice boat!

 

[Schmoe]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Some things I've noticed:
1. Looks like from the captains chair, this thing was equipped with Bravo drives, they are more expensive. With those engines being twin 350's, I'd stick with Bravo drives. The Alpha could handle the HP's, but it's at the very end of their HP rating.
2. For some reason, maybe camera angle, the engine on the port side looks newer. But whatever it is, just scoring two working 350's is worth WAYYYYY more than what you paid.
3. Go ahead and do the stringer/transom rot check. Looks like there has been a lot of water damage already and hope for the best.
4. Seats look like they can be saved. Scrub them down and hit them with 303 protectant. DON'T USE ARMOURALL.
5. You know a trailer for that beast ain't going to be cheap, you'll need a thriple axle on that one.
6. The mold/mildew inside the cuddy area would have me concerned. That may be a telltale sign of some serious water leaks. Open her up and take advantage of the Georgia heat and dry it out as much as you can and then hit it with a water hose on top to see if you got some leaks.
7. Get a cover on it ASAP. We all know what UV does to the gel coat and only god knows the last time it got some love. But from what I can see, it looks salvagable, just going to take some serious elbow grease.
8. Also looks like the former owners didn't mess up any electrical or mechanical systems. If it's still intact, I would dare to bet that all systems would work and function normally.
9. All the guages and instrument panel look good and intact. A great sign.
10. Check the bilge and clean out all the gunk first before you start cleaning upstairs. Your going to have water draining down there as you clean it up and you want to be able to pump that stuff out.
11. Hopefully the set it right on the "tires" and didn't crack the gel coat at the pressure points.
But all and all, you SCORED BIG TIME. I would have jumped on that offer in a heart beat. Get that thing cleaned up and you'll be King of the Lake.

 

[oops!]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

ok i got both motors to turn over and fire tonight but the is a knocking on the starbrd engine while it is turning over. I am not sure if this is something to do with the out drive being off or what, but the ports side does not make this noise.

Where would be a good place for me to get carb rebiuld kit for these old mercs?


I got some 3m restoration rubbing compond/wax and went to town on the port side. man what a diffrence the gell coat is shining agian.I'll post pics tomorrow.

you scored....congrats.....

but make no mistake....you are going to have to spend more money to get her ship shape

the engine should not knock at all

the carb is just a carb.....any rebuild kit will do....and that 350 is just a chevy 350....very little difference......basically....any thing that causes a spark or flame is changed. as well as the way the engine cools and exhausts......other than that....the cam is a little higher duration and longer lift....thats it.

this forum is for the hull/boat kinda stuff.......our engine forum can help you with all diagnostics and even part numbers....

one thing....those are 350 mags.....they rate hp at around 320.....the alpha drives are good to 300 hp......so with the alpha drives.....you are in the upper limits of the drive but that is no biggie.

i suggest to do a compression check on all 16 holes. also check for milky oil.
the other major thing is a cracked exhaust manifold....in my opinion....they are one of the worst parts of marine.....if there is a small interior crack....you will have ongoing problems and you will never really know where it is coming from........
so personally......i would pressure test the manifolds to see if there is a crack or leak....

another thing marine that is different than automotive is the bell/gimball system......there is just a few parts in there that have to be checked...

other than that...if you can track down the knock....and purchase new drives. your in business....

keep us posted bud

cheers
oops

 

[oops!]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

lol....schmoe and i were typing at the same time

 

[Schmoe]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Great minds think alike!!!

 

[bubba68]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Schmoe

1. how can you tell they should be bravo 1? is it the 4 stick throttle set up and what is up with that are two of them the choke and the center two are for forward and aft?

2. the engine hours read port 462 starbrd 497

3.i will be checking fo rott just have been overwhelmed and i am going to make myself a honey do list to keep on track.

4. i pressure washed everything now seats are not bad but i will be recovering them got 40% off marine vynle the other day and picked up 5 yds to start.

5. already found a trailer 2000$ 10,000lbs tri axle surge brakes towed nice

6.i had some heavy duty degrease/cleaner from work spayed alot of the galley down and wiped mildew right off . and i have opened her up and placed fan in her also turned on factory a/c unit but it keeps tripping i thing it just need charged.

7.already bought tarp and have it covered. got some 3m resto/ rubbing/wax and my high speed buffer about 3/4 of the way down the port side and she is shing nice

8. went to west marine and bought a 70$ dock power addapter (high price for 1.5 ft of wire and 2 conecters i should of made my own) pluged her in fliped the breaker and poof she's alive so far every thing works including all sinks and shower not too sure about the fridge in the galley i am going to replace it but can put a standard a/c 120w fridge in does the circut breaker convert it from dc to ac? also turned on the onboard 80 amp battery charger and got both batterys charged up ( how about them apples)

9. gauges all work but are hazed bad going to change them out later, had to swap out the curtesy light toggle but all others are workin fine.

10.i got the bilge working but there is a drain on the back of the transom is there supose to be a plug in it like my bass boat?

11. gell coat looks good no problemes that seriously concern me. that was one of the first things i looked at.





OOPS

the oil looks good but need changed i plan on doing compresion test aswell as pulling the carbs rebiulding them and doing a complete tune up / oil change maybe go ahead and change thermostats and water pumps hoses ect also fuel lines deff need changed.






thanks for all the advice guys i plan on spending most of the day buffing the hull tommorow an will get some up dated pics but i think she is progressing nicely for only having her for a week.


thanks agian for all the support

 

[oops!]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

well keep atter.....

im fairly certain the drives are alpha's but if you post a pic of the bell's (gimbal housing....outside the transom) we can tell for sure.......bravo's are big dollar tickets....at 5k a pop.

keep the fans on the interior and do a search here called ...."core sample"....

but see about the motors first....thats where all the money is....if they are toast....you will know whether to part it out or fix it.

cheers
oops

 

[Schmoe]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

It was the controls that made me think it was bravo drives. Bravo's have a seperate lever for forward, neutral and reverse, unlike the Alpha's, which are usually built into the throttle controller. Those engines don't have a manual choke, at least I haven't seen that since the 70's or so. From your pictures, it was difficult to tell. Also, not sure the Alpha's would have been matched up for that engine. Also, since they were removed, you got to think they were removed for a reason, or maybe stolen. Boaters know how expensive Bravo's are. I, and hopefully in your case, hope I'm wrong, but it sure "feels" like they are Bravo's.
I may have been right on the engines, that's a big difference in hours. Also, LOW hours. Get it tuned up and all and hopefully you won't have to pull them out, you'll get hundreds of more hours off those engines if properly maintained. That 350 engine has been GM's bread and butter for umpteen years.
2K for a thriple axle trailer? What are you? The luckiest man in the world or Deal King? That's SAH-WEET!!!!!!
Regardless on what all you still got to do and fix, your still going to come out of this smelling like a rose or some cash. I got a feeling once you get working on it, your going to keep it. Especially if the wife likes it, and she will. Women seem to like cuddy's and cabins better than bow riders. Especially if it has a BATHROOM!!!!!!!

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

well it says alpha one on the engine those are easy to find. Stay away from the reconditioned engines, they are junk! Head over to talk to don s and those guys in the mercruiser forum just remember to post the exact type of motor you have get the s/n and those guys will help ya
Nice find!

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

btw if your motors have been sitting for over 6 months and in your case 2 years. what I read is You need to get a drill and manually spin the oil pumps before starting.
Cheers,
Rob

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

The props spin so the water is directed into each other .

 

[bubba68]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

update

i spent about 5hrs buffing saturday on the port side and most of the radar wing the bottom of the hull is looking great but the upper not as ggo b/c the sun baked it so much.

also had a little fire in the engine room! my dad was pooring gas in the carb of the port engine and it back fired. he jumped and spilt some fuel an poof. everything is fine my dad threw a flaming cup out of the boat and my brother almost caught it with his head lol.

so the starbrd engine will be my trouble maker she's got a exhaust leak that i need to track down.

does any one have a sugestion how to clean out the two 80 gallon fuel tanks?
the gauges read empty and the sound empty when i bang on them but i want to be sure there is no bad fuel in them when i got to fill them up.

also had a buddy working on the aft cabin the worst of the mildew was in there and we found a nice ants nest clorox eats them up it looks great in there now i will have to take pics in the galley but it is coming along.

 

[bubba68]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

oh yeah now my bass boat looks like a dingy in the drive way

lol

 

[slasmith1]

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Re: 93 baja 29 motoryacht

Schmoe



6.i had some heavy duty degrease/cleaner from work spayed alot of the galley down and wiped mildew right off . and i have opened her up and placed fan in her also turned on factory a/c unit but it keeps tripping i thing it just need charged.

It should have what is called a reverse cycle a/c system it needs to be in the water or hooked up to water to work if you run it dry you will ruin the pumps.