Powerboat Magazine, June 2004 - Boats Of The Year

[TeamBajaMarine]

Just got done reading this issue and to my dissapointment the 30 Outlaw was not chosen for any categories.I thought for sure it would have been with all the wind tunnel testing, design and new cuddy idea. Off to wite a letter to the editor.

[saleen367]

The cabin layout is the standard for many mfg's but new only to Baja.
The hull and deck design is essentially a 40 OL scaled down.

And my guess is the Baja did not provide a 30 to Powerboat for them to test.

They didn't last year, why would it change?:rolleyes :rolleyes :rolleyes

[TeamBajaMarine]

Jeff,
I will have to disagree on the cabin layout being standard for many mfrg's. The concept of taking the foward facing bench backs and dropping them down to form a huge bed seems original as I have not seen that anywhere else.

I thought PWERBOAT did do a test in a previous issue?

[haulinvols]

Unless I am missing an issue, I could not find a test on the 30. The only thing I found that even mentioned it was the issue with all the manufactures listed and their new products, it was the one with the 30 on the cover. The only mention of it was about two sentences long.

[saleen367]

Blake ... they never did the test. Remember the letter to the editor from someone else on here? Don't remember who at the time.

I was referring to the way the cabin is laid out with a small v-berth and large sitting area that converts to sleeping. I don't think others are using the seat backs though (just Baja). Sonic for one, has a pull out middle area that comes from under the v-berth.

[TeamBajaMarine]

Its just my opinion that the 30OL is a very unique boat and that it cannot be compared to other manufactuers, I think the designers did a great job with this boat and all that went into it, I would just have liked to see it get recognized for that. I sent a letter to the editors this morning regarding, lets see if it makes it to print.

[saleen367]

p201.ezboard.com/fteambajamarinefrm7.showMessage?topicID=1278.topic (http://p201.ezboard.com/fteambajamarinefrm7.showMessage?topicID=1278.topic)

Heres the post I was referring to. You'll have to ask Gottahaveit for the specifics of the letter.
But I do remember Powerboat Magazine saying "we can't make a manufacturer bring us a boat". Thus the 30 Outlaw was never tested.

I have to believe the same hold true this year.:rolleyes

Which reminds me, we never heard from Boattest.com again either.

[haulinvols]

We are all proud of the new 30 as well as other new boats Baja has introduced in recent years. That said, most of what Powerboat has been covering in recent months has been speed, and racing. Now both of those are a fun read, but I have noticed an increase in boats offered to them for test with crazy drivetrain packages. I have also seen an increase of the custom builders offering customers boats for test with huge cube engines and such. Now that is great for someone living in California who has acces to these companies and dealerships, but as someone in the other part of the nation, I must rely on manufactured boats. Of those for the money, Baja is one of the best. Now, I will say that Baja needs to try to jump in and grab some attention. With all the current competion, why not supply a 30 with blue motor power for the magazines to salivate over and generate some interest in what in my opinion has become a great builder of boats. We all know the boat industry is very competitive, lets compaire it to the auto buisness for a second. How well do you think Ford and GM would do if they never supplied Motor Trend with the hot new model to test.

[Rusty Jug]

Blake, I am with you on Boat of the year. >:

Come on Baja lets see a little more press time and send a boat to be tested!!!:biggrin

I am sure that Baja needs to advertise a little more to get the awards and that cost money.:biggrin

I also noticed that the test boats were customers in the magazine is that normal?

[haulinvols]

I also noticed that the test boats were customers in the magazine is that normal? For a large manufacturer such as Baja or Formula I would say not. For a West Coast custom boat builder, ask yourself one question. If I could only send one boat for Powerboat to test, and people all over the U.S. were going to get exposure to my company, do I send the regular off the shelf version of my product, or the fully loaded special order boat with the blown Sterling full race engine. Even Fountain is starting to follow this trend, the 42 footer in the May issue of Powerboat belongs to a dealer. Many of the options on the boat were not from Fountain but from the aftermarket, but you would not know that to read the article. I really think the Baja marketing gurus need to rethink their ideas if they want more recognition in the powerboating world.

[Rusty Jug]

Matt, I also noticed that the 42 Fountain belonged to the dealer and if my brain serves me right the testing was done at LOTO.:dancinbanana

My Sea Ray and Donzi buddy's do not recognize Baja as a major force in the power boat industry because you never see them in Hot Boat or Power Boat magazines. I will admit it does drive me nuts that you never see them in the cover shots.:huh

[haulinvols]

You are correct, the dealer is Fountain of North Texas. Hot Boat first tested that boat a few months ago. It is funny when guys that own other brands of boats give me grief for owning a Baja, that is until my little 20 footer with a small block is either keeping up with them or blowing their doors off. I think the view is based on the fact when you do see a Baja in a magazine, they are powered by the 496 mags or smaller engines. When other companies send a boat to the magazines they supply them with blue motors or larger custom rigging jobs. If Baja wants to remain competitive in the eyes of powerboat owners, they need to start trying to market themselves a little better in the magazines. Lets face it, without a bombarment of T.V. commercials like auto companies, print adds and magazine reviews are all a Boat company has.

[firehill19]

Hey Matt, let's see how long it takes for Blake to change your board member status to "premier". Welcome to the 500 club.

[firehill19]

That didn't take long.

[TeamBajaMarine]

And here is the super quick response from POWERBOAT MAGAZINE. Baja, what are you guys thinking? Send them a 30 to test, this bad boay has been out for a year now!

"We didn't even test the 30 Outlaw during last year's trials, so it wasn't even eligible"

Brett Becker, editor
Powerboat magazine

[haulinvols]

Thanks for the premier status Blake. Regarding a 30 to test. I think it is kind of funny they send a 245 to Trailer Boats magazine to test, but ignore the larger powerboat market by not sending a 30 to Powerboat to test. Hey Baja whats up? If I had a hot new model out, I would be damned if I would not show that thing off everywhere I could. It is sad that the only smidgen of a right up for this boat was in Baja's own magazine. I have not seen one test on this boat from an outside source.

[TeamBajaMarine]

Baja is hardcore fishing this year for some odd reason, I think they feel there is more to the family and fishing audience. At the factory there were a ton of smaller boats being built, and not many over 25's.

BTW, I offered my 30OL to POWERBOAT for testing.

[haulinvols]

Baja is hardcore fishing this year for some odd reason I noticed that as well Blake. I saw on their website where they launched a new clothing group with Team Baja fishing on everything, as well as a couple new center console boats. I would be interested to see just how much of their market is made up by the fishing boats. As far as a test of you 30, I would think that would be a great write up, especially with the history of the web site.

[Rusty Jug]

I hope they test your boat!:biggrin

Hey Blake I got my shirts, but were is my free poker run shirt:huh

[TeamBajaMarine]

Todd,
I missed it on your order form, I will get one right out to ya! Sorry about that.

[TeamBajaMarine]

Powerboat Magazine have already tested the 2004 30 Outlaw, It will be in the July issue of Powerboat Magazine. I am told the boat was driven by none other than Bob Teague and it had twin 6.2L (320HP each) It was apparantly done in Florida a few weeks ago. Hope this helps.

The editor at Powerboat Magazine is a stand up guy and has personally answered each email I sent him. Kudos, something you dont really see these days.

[saleen367]

Call me stupid, but I think this is a marketing strategy.

STUPID ... there, I said it.:rolleyes

What I'm referring to is the way Baja markets their product.
Take for instance Fountain. Fountain brings the name a reputation for speed and offshore racing.

Baja, while advertising speed with the logo, but never do you see a Baja tested with 575's or custom engines.

Here's my reasoning and I think Ford Motor Co. does the same.

Insurance, insurance, insurance.

The cost of insurance on a Fountain is what in comparison to a similar Baja? Has anyone tried getting insurance on a Skater or Spectre these days?:o :o :o

I think the insurance industry notices who the major speed players are and who takes a back seat. I for one am glad they don't send one out with twin 1075's.

My $.02 , take it for what its worth.:tiphat

[haulinvols]

Jeff, you make a good point, as far as the advertising such as ford. I work in the insurance buisness, and the advertised performance of a car does make a difference in the price of insurance, such as weather it is listed as performance, high performance, or sports car. In the boat world however, as least in my company, Baja is lumped into the same catagory as every other performance builder out there, wheather it be Fountain, Donzi, or any one else. When an insurance company looks at what to charge for a boat they look at three things. First is the approximate speed of the boat based on length, type, and total horse power. Second is the value the owner wishes to insure the boat for, due to the fact most boat policies are agreed value now. Third is the navagational region the boat will be used, such as Inland, Coastal, or a combination of the two. Now that said, your comparison between the cost of insuring a Baja vs. a Fountain, The Fountain would cost more because of the approximate speed over the Baja with similar hp numbers and cost. It is no question the Fountain cost more than a Baja, and per similar length, they are also a little faster. As far as the Skaters and similar high dollar boats are concerned, cost alone makes them out of this world to insure. :biggrin

[BDannecker]

When I insured my boat they asked 4 major questions: cost, length, HP and top speed. I don't think they knew the difference between a Baja and a Bayliner. Any vessel worth $X.XX going XX mph with XX Hp to get it there carries X amount of liability.:winkgreen

[25OutLaw]

don't forget that other "x"..."operator experience"

[BDannecker]

Yup. My 30 plus years plus Power Squadron helped a bit (I guess).

[25OutLaw]

its my understanding that its hard to get insurance for a high HP boat without at least 5yrs at the helm...

[BDannecker]

Possibly, but how would they check?

[25OutLaw]

you're right, i'm not sure how'd they check but when I was shopping around for the best insurance they all asked for #yrs experience...

[haulinvols]

You guys are all correct, I was talking about rating the boat itself. Most CSRs at boat insurance companies do not know all that much about the boats they are quoting. They relly on what the customer tells them. Boater experience plays a large roll in the price as well as any training you may have, such as power squadron, captains training, ect. Also auto driving history is starting to come into play as well. You are also correct in questioning how they verify your experience....the simple answer is, they can't. Underwiriting a boat policy is not quite as in depth as an auto policy for the simple reason, that boats cost insurance companies much less per year than an auto policy in losses. As long as that stays true, there will be little for me to do to underwrite these policies.