Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 vs Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 or the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 has the edge at 43 lbs dry weight versus 96 lbs for the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 is certified for 8. 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 measures 111" wide, compared to 102" for the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013. 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 or the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013?

The Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 has the bigger tank at 22 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013. That 14-gallon difference translates to roughly 42–70 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 and Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 and the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 vs Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013

Baja Marine

Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004

2004

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Baja Marine

Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 vs Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 vs Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 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 247 Islander 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBaja Marine

Model.38 Special Performance

Model247 Islander

Model Year2004

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 3 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.82

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches111

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise24℃

Deadrise23℃ at transom

Weight - Detail9,600 lbs

Weight - Detail4,300 lbs

Weight - kg4354.48

Weight - kg1950.45

Weight - lbs.96

Weight - lbs.43

Length overall - Detail37 ft. 7 in

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Meters11.46

Length overall - Meters7.44

Length overall - Inches451

Length overall - Inches293

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail34 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches34

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet24.42

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]26 ft. 2 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail220 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters832.79

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Gal22

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

Maximum people9 Passenger

Maximum people8

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 vs Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 or the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 has the edge at 43 lbs dry weight versus 96 lbs for the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 is certified for 8. 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 measures 111" wide, compared to 102" for the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013. 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 or the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013?

The Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 has the bigger tank at 22 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013. That 14-gallon difference translates to roughly 42–70 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 and Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine .38 Special Performance 2004 and the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 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 .38 Special Performance 2004 full specs ← Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 full specs