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2000-06 290 Amberjack
- Thread starter kevin27
- Start date
owned new since 2003 - 290 AJ. 5.0 Merc Bravo IIIs. Have just over 200 hours on it in 3 seasons of use. Great boat. Fish, Cruise, overnights all good. Usually limit overnights to 3 or 4 max. Just not large enough to bring enought stuff for more than 4 nights. I should say that it's just my wife, me and a 3 year old son. More than that would get crowded. If we had two kids we'd likely move up to 36/38 footer but for next few years plenty of room for the 3 of us.
Boat cruise 24/26 knots at 3600 RPM max around 38 WOT. Burns around 23 Gallons/hr according to smartcraft gauges at cruise. By the way love the smartcart gauges. If you do any engine work or winterize this boat couldn't be any easier with outdrives you can get down in the engine bay and get to most anything with ease. Knock wood we have had great luck with the boat no issues at all. Oh yeah we did have a small leak through port running light that Surfside fixed the first week. All good since.
Enjoy the boat. Need info on anything specific just ask.
Boat cruise 24/26 knots at 3600 RPM max around 38 WOT. Burns around 23 Gallons/hr according to smartcraft gauges at cruise. By the way love the smartcart gauges. If you do any engine work or winterize this boat couldn't be any easier with outdrives you can get down in the engine bay and get to most anything with ease. Knock wood we have had great luck with the boat no issues at all. Oh yeah we did have a small leak through port running light that Surfside fixed the first week. All good since.
Enjoy the boat. Need info on anything specific just ask.
I also had a 2003, same setup as above........... great boat.....put 100 hours on it before I moved up in 2004. Very big boat for a 29 footer, quality and performance was outstanding. The only reason why I moved up was that my family of 5 could not comfortable sleep in the boat.
Walter
Walter
Kevin
I have a 2000 AJ that I purchased new in the winter of 2001. 7.4L B3. Best options Bay Strainers on water pickups, full fresh water cooling kits, moved 2 of 3 batteries to fix starboard list, Auto trim tabs. Full camper back.
Boat cruises at 28 knots 3100 RPM. Burns under 28 gal per hour. Top speed 42K
Spend numerous 2 and 3 day trips with 3 kids or longer hauls with just the wife. Boat overnights well and is a good fast cruising boat. It has all the basic amenities, a generator is the only missing option.
Dislikes
Boat is a very solid bay boat but ocean and large open water cruising require good driving technique or this baby will pound, HARD.
The bed at the head is too short and forces big people like me to sleep on a strange angle.
Other than that I think it's a great cruising machine. For a couple who like to cruise this is a great boat.
good luck
/harris
I have a 2000 AJ that I purchased new in the winter of 2001. 7.4L B3. Best options Bay Strainers on water pickups, full fresh water cooling kits, moved 2 of 3 batteries to fix starboard list, Auto trim tabs. Full camper back.
Boat cruises at 28 knots 3100 RPM. Burns under 28 gal per hour. Top speed 42K
Spend numerous 2 and 3 day trips with 3 kids or longer hauls with just the wife. Boat overnights well and is a good fast cruising boat. It has all the basic amenities, a generator is the only missing option.
Dislikes
Boat is a very solid bay boat but ocean and large open water cruising require good driving technique or this baby will pound, HARD.
The bed at the head is too short and forces big people like me to sleep on a strange angle.
Other than that I think it's a great cruising machine. For a couple who like to cruise this is a great boat.
good luck
/harris
I ran a 290 Amberjack from Grand Haven Michigan to New Buffalo Michigan last October in 4-6 footers, the boat can pound hard if not driven correctly. It did handle the water nicely. The boat I ran had the twin 5.7s in it and it moved out pretty well, the only thing I didnt like about the boat was the tiny so called mid cabin. Who or what are you supposed to put there besides maybe some fishing equipment?
I purchased a 2001 three years ago and just love it!
It has the 350 MAG FWC V-drive inboards with a 5KW gen set.
As Walter stated, it is a large boat for its size and I appreciate the large fuel tanks and beam.
It is an excellent combination of express cruiser cabin with a fishable cockpit.
May be small for a family but a great size for two. We have cruised up to 8 nights on two occasions without any problems.
The inboards provide great manuverability, crusie at 24 knots and burn about 24 gallons per hour.
Recommend that you check the bedding, as on all boats, around the spot light, winch buttons, etc. Just don't rely on a thin rubber gasket for complete water intrusion protection.
It has the 350 MAG FWC V-drive inboards with a 5KW gen set.
As Walter stated, it is a large boat for its size and I appreciate the large fuel tanks and beam.
It is an excellent combination of express cruiser cabin with a fishable cockpit.
May be small for a family but a great size for two. We have cruised up to 8 nights on two occasions without any problems.
The inboards provide great manuverability, crusie at 24 knots and burn about 24 gallons per hour.
Recommend that you check the bedding, as on all boats, around the spot light, winch buttons, etc. Just don't rely on a thin rubber gasket for complete water intrusion protection.
Thanks for the info. I have been looking for a good used Amberjack. The big plus that draws me in is the 230 gal fuel tank. The boat should have good range. Also I did not know they came with 7.4l engines. What I am really interseted in is fuel burn per hour with 5.7l B3 o/d. Thanks for the replys.