?? 212 not in lineup this year?

[Sinski]

No 212 this year?

Dropping the 232 Islander sucked. Dropping the 212 REALLY sucks.

The 202 is just not near high enough HP or nice enough to be a serious qualifier, and the 242 is just too big a step for the first big block entry (no way it will fit in a reasonable sized boathouse.)

Am I alone in thinking that the small end is somewhat lacking for the serious high horsepower enthusiast?

Sin

[DCH1]

Nope. You're right. They are leaving gaps in their lineup. Perhaps they think guys smitten with the "HP" bug will spring for bigger boats. I'm not so sure that is a good strategy.

Normal progression is between 13% and 22% in length on the next boat purchase. I have been told repeatedly that to move, say, from 19.5 to 21.5 is too small an increment, and you'll wish you had gone larger! This applies to guys with 23's and 25's also.

Not everyone is typical, but it often looks something like this:

First Boat: . . 17.3 Feet . . Kid boater or new boater
Step-Up: . . . 19.5 Feet . . New working guy, maybe new boater.
Step up: . . . 23.0 Feet . . Established job, wants better ride & perf.
Step up: . . . 27.0 Feet . . Ocean runabout or
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . looking for more stable speed
Step Up: . . . 33.0 Feet . . Looking for high ocean speed
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . & comfort
Step up: . . . 38.0 Feet . . Serious HP guy, more budget.

Some folks skip some steps. These folks may have just started with more boat, or grew up with dad's smaller boat and want something larger when buying their first boat. And some folks decide to go for comfort rather than performance and don't go for 33 and 38 foot boats. It IS hard to water ski behind a 38! But you get the point. A lineup - any lineup - aimed at a target audience (stable HP in Baja's case) needs a certain variety.

Possibly Sea-Ray/Baja are pushing intermediate level boaters to choose either a Sea Ray (comfort & family - which could grab some customers) or a LARGER Baja (more performance oriented). The strategy MIGHT be intended to allow greater production runs of fewer models. That is a GM strategy, and it doesn't work long term as the drive for cost savings causes loss of brand identity. Or they COULD be looking to peg the right step-up increments for HP boaters . . . We can only hope.

Thanks for listening to my 2 cents!

DCH

[Sinski]

I love when they want me to brand switch to "fill my needs".
My chances of buying a Sea ray/Bayliner are about Zero. For my 15 miles of lakes that I ride on, a 23 foot boat is considered very large. I really like the Baja lineup and if I ever move to the coast, would like to move to a bigger model. That being said, I live here NOW. I like to own a high horsepower offering, and not some dilluted down 202/20 Outlaw "price special" type boat (no offence guys).

You are correct. Most people start with a small boat, then move up. MOST manufacturers realise this, and to "lock you in" to their product, have products that allow people to grow withing the lineup. Moving from a 202 to a 242 is simply too big a step.

I'd LOVE to see something of about a 22 foot bowrider intruduced with bolsters and a high HP option. Sign me up for the first one :smokin

[DCH1]

Sinski:

I know about smaller lakes . . .

Expecting you to move from a 20 to a 24 is essentially asking you to step up as though you were used to running a 30 foot boat and looking for your next step up. It is about a 21% step, versus about 17% or 18% which is more typical at your size boat.

I know you won't like this, but have you got a dealer who will let you test drive a 24? It MIGHT prove to be a good - if a bit larger - step than you originally planned. Test-drives are fun and an easy way to find out. I moved in one BIG step and have had no regrets (problems docking at places I used to go, yes).

Then again, there is boattraderonline and used or leftover Bajas! I did it that way and got a new/leftover!

Let us know how you resolve the problem!

DCH

[Sinski]

Two weeks ago I took delivery of a 2003 212 With a 496 Mag H.O. I should be ok for a couple of years, but I usually like to trade my stuff on new equipment sooner rather than later. A 24 footer is too large for my boathouse (25.5 feet interior size) without having a lot of hassle. Was really hoping there would be another option in the next couple of years for me to move into. The 24 footer I hear is not that fast and I really like the 70 MPH thing :|

Out of curiousity, anyone know what teh interior length of a boathouse needs to be to comfortably fit a 232?

Sin

[BDannecker]

I would probably build it 38' so you can get your new 36 Outlaw in there in 3 years...:rollin

[DCH1]

Sinski:

I'm not a builder. Perhaps someone on the forum is, and a topic asking about boathouse sizes might be cool! Assuming that you don't have legal and permitting restrictions, I'd think you'd want to build one that had some working space on the inside and landward. So let's say you have a 4 foot walkway down each side, a good hoist, and 10 feet at the back. Then you want at least a foot of freespace front and sides, possibly 4 feet in the rear (raise the drives). This allows placement of bumpers, etc.


Boat . . . Left . . . . Right . . Left . . Right . . . Inside
Width . . Walkway . Walkway.Space .Space . . Width
8.5 . . . .*4 . . . . .* 4 . . . . . 1 . . . . 1 . . . . .* 18.5

Boat . . . Rear . . . . . . . . . Front . . Rear . . .Inside
Length . .Platform . . . . . .* Space . . Space** Depth
24 . . . . *10 . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . 4 . . . . . 39


I get inside dimensions of 18.5 feet times 39 feet to house a 24 foot boat, with the back 6 feet (out of 10) as landward free space. Outside walls are about 6 inces thick, but you've got to allow space for foundation and footings - perhaps 1.5 feet.

Does that guess help?

DCH

[MissBehave1]

Hey Sin....
I too am shocked to see Baja drop the 212 AND the 232 leaving only the 202 and the 242 for choices.... (oh, you can't forget the 292 Islander either) :eek
Very large jump in price and yes many have said the 242 isn't the quickest/fastest rig out on the water..... NOT a good move in my eyes...... we boat on smaller inland lakes (sometimes head down the river to the ocean but not too much) and want some spped as well and your not going to get it in a 242 Islander.... it IS a darn nice boat but it's a bit too heavy and the power isn't there.... (so the mags say)
I WILL test one out some day for myself to be the final judge but until then I have to go with what I read.....
The 202 is just TOO small of a boat..... the should make/revamp the 232 and put some power and thought into it...... I feel that would be the choice of many......

just my .02 cents though....