Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 has the edge at 4 800 lbs dry weight versus 5 300 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 6 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 and Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 share an 8 ft. 4 in. beam - meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

The Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 has the bigger tank at 200 gallons, versus 101 gallons on the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013. That 99-gallon difference translates to roughly 297–495 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 and Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 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 26 Outlaw 2013 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013

2013

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Baja Marine

Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 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.

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 26 Outlaw 2013 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 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 26 Outlaw 2013 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

Model26 Outlaw

Model280 Sportfish

Model Year2013

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 4 in.

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Inches100

Deadrise24℃ at transom

Deadrise24℃

Draft [max] - Detail38 in.

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches38

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail4,800 lbs.

Weight - Detail5,300 lbs.

Weight - kg2177.24

Weight - kg2404.04

Weight - lbs.4800

Weight - lbs.5300

Length - Feet26

Length - Feetnot available

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 8 in.

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail26 ft.

Length overall - Detail28 ft.

Length overall - Meters7.92

Length overall - Meters8.53

Length overall - Inches312

Length overall - Inches336

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail101 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail200 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters382.33

Fuel tank capacity - Liters757.08

Fuel tank capacity - Gal101

Fuel tank capacity - Gal200

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity3

Sleeping capacitynot available

Maximum people6

Maximum people9 Passenger

Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 vs Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 has the edge at 4 800 lbs dry weight versus 5 300 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 6 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 and Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 share an 8 ft. 4 in. beam - meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 or the Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004?

The Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 has the bigger tank at 200 gallons, versus 101 gallons on the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013. That 99-gallon difference translates to roughly 297–495 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 and Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Baja Marine 26 Outlaw 2013 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 26 Outlaw 2013 full specs ← Baja Marine 280 Sportfish 2004 full specs