official 290 Amberjack thread

My parents have a 2002 - 290 Amberjack, it is a fun boat to drive. It has Bravo III's and 5.0 - 240 hp motors.
 
If you fish your Amberjack regularly or fish on one regularly would you mind commenting on how well the bolster on the fish box has held up? I'm thinking the Sea Ray vinyl is good stuff and I'd expect it to withstand the rigors of regular fishing.

Thanks.
 
I've fished my 2007 in San diego consistently for the last 3 years...and i've always kept her on the water at the marina. i have not had any issues with the bolsters what so ever. or on any of the vinyl for that matter.
 
i would love to ask you guys from some help. i have a 2007 AJ with 2 MAG350 inboards, v-drive. I can get up on plane in about 6 seconds at WOT, but if i go below 3600 rpms, the boat comes off of plane and i have my bow pointing straight up in the air...what is your typical (3-4 passengers), 3/4 full tank crusing rpm? and what is the typically speed at that rpm? thanks!
 
That boat should not by any means fall off plane at 3600. I would check props bottom conditions first. If those are good I would check to make sure guages are working properly. If they are move to mechanical. Full tune up check drive oil and maybe even a compression test. Im gueesing at 3600 seven fully loaded you should be cruising around 25 knts. Try giving a little tab also to lower the bow. That just sounds like something is wrong to me
 
3600 rpm on my AJ - 21-22 knts. Will cruise at 3200 RPM 20 knts - At 3800 RPM 25 knts.
 
I've had mine for one season after down sizing from a diesel convertible and fished it regularly. Overall a good compromise boat. I added Taco outriggers to the arch as I plan to make a run for tuna when they are closer in during May and June. I keep it in salt water all season with a short haul mid-way to clean the bottom and replace the zincs. Something I did with all of my boats before so it's not more than I consider normal.

Rod storage is lacking so I lay them on the berth. Since we cruise as well, taking the rods on and off is a pia.
 
thanks guys for all the feedback. I pulled her out of the water, am sandblasting and repainting the bottom. props look good, proper size per manual. i've always changed the oil every season, but haven't done a tune up ever (i know, crazy but i'm learning). :/
will get full tune up and see...if she still seems sluggish, will move onto diagnostics at merc certified mech (searay dealership) and move forward from there.
as i'm new to seattle, i'm getting a heat exchanger placed under the captain seat and plan to have 2 outputs on the bottom/side of captain's chair to be able to detach and attach large hoses so that i can feed the hose to the back to be placed under the blankets to warm up my daughter and her friends (elementary school...cute as a button) if anyone is interested, once its completed i can take some pics and post. anyone else have a good method of warming up the cabin?
 
Just closed on an '08 - 290AJ w/ 5.0s and B3s. It has a Raymarine C120 display but no radar. I'm not very familiar w/ radar systems - any suggestions as to a compatible radar "brand"/model?

Thanks
 
I may be wrong but I don't think you can mix and match the radar with the display. With the GPS, you can use a garmin and an adapter plug.

Congrats on the boat. I like the 5.0 and B3 setup. Fast enough and fuel efficient.
 
The "C-Series Display Reference Manual" talks about using radar with the C120 display so I assume it can be mixed and matched. I'm thinking, however, that this series is a bit older (but hopefully adequate) and am wondering if a newer radar system would work with it.

Thanks for the congrats
 
Regarding cruise speed on plane, not that far off maybe 3400 rpm to keep in plane. Remember this is a very heavy 29 foot boat. You can add 6" to the trim tab with which might help. I may add just the drop fins to the trim tabs to help keep I'm plane at a lower speed.
 
northshore60, thanks for the reply. i just finished sanding and bottom painting. I have the correct props with no obvious deformities. next, i'll get a tune up, and then i'll let her rip and come back with some numbers.
 
Amberjack Production History

Having recently become an AJ owner I asked Searay how many they made the last three years. Response:

* 2008: 72 - 27 with V-drives.
* 2009: 20 - all with I/Os and 300hp engines.
* 2010: None - economic recession.

Kind of interesting.
 
bottom sanded and painted and got a tune up. and since she was in the shop I decided to get a compression check on my twin MAG350s which showed no problems. so, here's are my stats on a full tank, v-drives. 17 knots at 3200 rpm, but required trim tabs to keep her on plane. that sounds about right. I didn't do WOT, but i'll do that next time. would be curious what others are experiencing.
 
OK fellow 290 AJ owners, here is something for you to check on.

If you have a generator, your hot water heater is located on the stbd side with the genset in the middle. If your hot water heater is more than a few years old and you run in salt water, better check the heat exchanger for corrosion. If that develops a leak, it will pump salt water into your engine compartment and in my case right onto the generator. Which now will not start and I am waiting for the tech to come look at it.

The Attwood hot water heaters are cheap enough to replace. The generator repair is likely more than that. Ugh.
 
Splashed my AJ last weekend. 3200 RPM - Tabs -Tanks full of Petrol - 19 knts. My boat WOT is 5000 RPM 31 knts.
Hope that helps.
 
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