Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 has the edge at 43 lbs dry weight versus 53 lbs for the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 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 250 Sportfish 2006 has a documented max rating of 400 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 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 250 Sportfish 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 is certified for 9. 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 250 Sportfish 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 1" for the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004. 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

The Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 has the bigger tank at 14 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004. That 12-gallon difference translates to roughly 36–60 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 and Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 and the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 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 250 Sportfish 2006 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006

2006

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Baja Marine

Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 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 250 Sportfish 2006 carries a rated maximum of 400 hp. Engine data for the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 carries 14 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBaja Marine

Model250 Sportfish

Model280 Sportfish

Model Year2006

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam8 ft. 4 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches1

Deadrise24℃

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (91.44 cm)

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail3,900 lbs. (1,769.0 kg) Twin: 4,300 lbs. (1,950.5 kg)

Weight - Detail5,300 lbs

Weight - kg1950.45

Weight - kg2404.04

Weight - lbs.43

Weight - lbs.53

Length - Meters7.59

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet24

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 11 in. (7.59 m)

Length overall - Detail28 ft

Length overall - Meters7.59

Length overall - Meters8.53

Length overall - Inches299

Length overall - Inches336

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardMercury 225 hp XXL Optimax Saltwater

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail140 gal. (529.9 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail200 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters529.96

Fuel tank capacity - Liters757.08

Fuel tank capacity - Gal14

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max400 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Maximum people7

Maximum people9 Passenger

Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 has the edge at 43 lbs dry weight versus 53 lbs for the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 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 250 Sportfish 2006 has a documented max rating of 400 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 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 250 Sportfish 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 is certified for 9. 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 250 Sportfish 2006 measures 102" wide, compared to 1" for the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004. 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

The Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 has the bigger tank at 14 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004. That 12-gallon difference translates to roughly 36–60 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 and Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 250 Sportfish 2006 and the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 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 250 Sportfish 2006 full specs ← Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 full specs