Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 has the edge at 44 lbs dry weight versus 44 lbs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 has a documented max rating of 500 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 measures 102" wide, compared to 1" for the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 8 gallons and 9 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 are built by Baja Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004

2004

View full specs →

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 tops out at 500 hp. Engine specs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 8 gal and 9 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBaja Marine

Model242 Islander

Model275 Performance

Model Year2004

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam8 ft. 4 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches1

Deadrise24℃

Weight - Detail4,400 lbs

Weight - Detail4,400 lbs. (1,995.8 kg)

Weight - kg1995.8

Weight - lbs.44

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 2 in

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 2 in. (8.28 m)

Length overall - Meters7.37

Length overall - Meters8.28

Length overall - Inches29

Length overall - Inches326

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (96.52 cm)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches38

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters8.28

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet27

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches2

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail90 gal. (340.7 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Liters340.69

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Fuel tank capacity - Gal9

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardMerCruiser MX 6.2L/Bravo I/SS Prop (320 hp)

Fuel systemnot available

Fuel systemFuel Cell (HDPE) with Electric Gauge

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Engine maxnot available

Engine max500 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people8 Passenger

Maximum people6

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 has the edge at 44 lbs dry weight versus 44 lbs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 has a documented max rating of 500 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 measures 102" wide, compared to 1" for the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 8 gallons and 9 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 are built by Baja Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 full specs ← Baja Marine 275 Performance 2005 full specs