Power Boat Magazine

[Seize n Ticket]

Congrats to Chris McKendry (Gottahaveit) for getting his question into Power Boat Magazine and the shout out for teambajamarine.com :trampoline Chris I remember when we were discussing this on the board, I guess I did not realize it was going to make the magazine. It is in the front of the magazine in the mailbag (page 16). That kicks a$$ for Blake and all of the faithful followers of tbm. :party It looks like they are chomping at the bit to test the new 30 Outlaw. We'll see where this goes from here. Once again, good job Chris :tiphat

[GottaHaveIt]

I didn't expect that either. It's definitley good for the forum getting the URL published in such a widely read boating publication! Do I get some kickbacks? :biggrin

Check out the cartoon above the article... 0]

[Seize n Ticket]

Chris,
It looks like maybe Blake already knew this was coming...hence, the photo of the month! I guess maybe you could just be on a hot streak. If that is the case how about some advice on the next Power Ball pot. :trampoline

[TeamBajaMarine]

Wow,
Chris I cant wait to see the issue, I didnt know TBM had a plug. WELL DONE!

[GottaHaveIt]

Big-time plug! :biggrin The whole URL is there. I had no idea they were going to print my email to the editor in the mag! :party

[Houston Propeller]

CHRIS ,GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11:party

WHERE CAN I get a copy.Darin:huh

[haulinvols]

which issue is it in? I looked in my current feb. issue not there. March?

[GottaHaveIt]

Yes it's the March issue.

[haulinvols]

Great, I have not got mine yet. Look forward to it so I can see the letter in all it's glory.

[TeamBajaMarine]

Guys,
My wife just sent me a Fedex and the new issue of POWERBOAT was in it along with POKER RUNS AMERICA, so I have seen the latest. Chris, NICE PLUG for the site. The 30OL article in POKER RUNS was ok and a good review, but the blue and orange prototype boat they show in the main photo is getting old and dated.

[Seize n Ticket]

30 OL old and dated? That was not one of the 30 reason to buy a 30 was it? I guess you can tell we have very differing opinions about the 29 & 30. :headspin

[eddie]

blue and orange prototype boat they show in the main photo is getting old and dated.

I hope you ment that your tired of seing the same 30 OL in all the pictures, it's not been out long enought to be old and dated.... :trampoline

[TeamBajaMarine]

Sorry guys,
To clarify...I did mean that the colors and graphics is what is getting old and dated. I think Baja should be banging out a full blown Custom Shop 30OL for promotion

[bajatroublemaker]

Isn't that 30 down in P.A. at fox chapel marine?

[TeamBajaMarine]

The prototype is at Fox Chapel, the cool thing about this boat is it has a version 1 of the cuddy, not what the current production boats have.

[haulinvols]

Finally got my issue of Powerboat in the mail. Love the plug for the site, and I find it interesting next to the letter is a full page add for Baja. :rollin

[Seize n Ticket]

Matt,
I noticed you added the admiral to your signature...boating truly is a family event.:tiphat

[haulinvols]

Yes Don it is, that and every time she would walk past while I was reading the threads she would ask "why is my name not on there, all the others are?" Whats a guy to do, except keep the peace.

[Reload]

Man you ARE whipped:lol

[haulinvols]

I wouldn't say whipped, I have just learned to pick my battles. :biggrin Trust me, there is no winin that one with her.

[Seize n Ticket]

Matt,
I would say you're smart. It's awesome having the girls loving the boating scene as much as we do. ;)

[bajacraig]

see what you started Don

[haulinvols]

:lol :lol :lol

[Seize n Ticket]

It a beautiful thing... Funny I've never been one to start anything...:thatsfunny

[bajaneil]

Just received my April edition of Powerboat and they have tested the 245 starting on page 84.

The boat looks great and is equipped with a 496 mag. The top speed with radar is 63.8 and the price of the boat as tested is $73,348.00. Seems pretty high for just a mag?

It has a wider beam than the 25 outlaw, however, I'm sticking with the 25.

Neil

[bajaneil]

And for the record, my short note to Powerboat in the mail bag IS a coincidence, referring to last months letter by Chris.

Just a quick request I emailed to them a while ago and forgot about. Never thought it would get printed.


Neil

[GottaHaveIt]

And look what's on the page right next to it! P. 15 that is..

:dancinbanana

[bajaneil]

Fellas,

I need some help understanding the test in powerboat regarding the 245. It is a bit of a discrace to Baja in my opinion, but maybe I'm wrong. Please offer info for me.

Heres what I see: A 24' 5" boat with integrated swim platform; 8.6' beem; 23 degree bottom; that weighs 4000 pounds; w/ a 496 mag that only goes 63.8 miles per hr. What the hell?

I can't understand why this boat doesn't have a better top speed. It is my understanding that 50 horse only gives you about 2 miles per hour. Which would give this boat a top speed of 65.8 miles per hr with an HO motor?

I realize it has a 23 degree deadrise, and the beam is 8.6, as apposed to the 25 outlaw's 24 degree and 8.2 beam. But the weight is only 4000 pounds. What is the situation? What am I missing?

Thanks,

Neil

[bajaneil]

Below are the TEST RESULTS for a nordic 25' rage. Notice the top speed with an HO.

Come one fellas give some info. Is the 245 really only going to get 63.8 miles per hr with the mag?



HULL INFORMATION
Deadrise at transom 22 degrees
Centerline 24'9"
Beam 8'6"
Hull weight 3,700 pounds

PRICING INFORMATION
Base retail $63,690
Price as tested $65,490

ENGINE & PROPELLER
Engine MerCruiser 496 Mag HO
Cylinder type V-8
Cubic-inch displacement/horsepower 496/425
Lower-unit gear ratio 1.5:1
Propeller Mercury Bravo One lab-finished 15 1/4" x 26"

STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Colors and graphics, two-inch billet ski-tow, bilge pump and blower, heavy-duty marine vinyl, built-in swim platform, tilt steering, full instrumentation, stainless-steel prop, frenched-in navigation lights, stainless fasteners and staples, electric engine hatch lift, dual marine batteries, remote drive-trim switch, AM/FM CD player and four speakers, four full-length stringers, chart light/lighter, stainless fuel solenoid, drop-in ice chest, remote control anchor light and recessed deck cleats.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Upgrade to open bow ($1,800).

ACCELERATION
5 seconds 26 mph
10 seconds 45 mph
15 seconds 58 mph
20 seconds 67 mph

MID-RANGE ACCELERATION
30-50 mph 5.2 seconds
40-60 mph 5.9 seconds
40-70 mph 16.5 seconds

RPM VS. MPH
1000 9 mph
1500 11 mph
2000 18 mph
2500 33 mph
3000 44 mph
3500 51 mph
4000 58 mph
4500 65 mph

TOP SPEED AT RPM
Speedometer NA
Radar 75.6 mph at 5000
Nordskog Performance Products GPS 77.2 mph

PLANING
Time to plane 6.4 seconds
Minimum planing speed 23 mph

FUEL ECONOMY
At 25 mph 3.8 mpg
At 35 mph 3.8 mpg
At 45 mph 3.4 mpg
At 55 mph 3 mpg
At 65 mph 2.3 mpg
At WOT 2.3 mpg

FUEL CAPACITY
54 gallons

Test conducted at Parker, Ariz.

MANUFACTURER
Nordic Boats Inc., Dept. PB, 770 N. Lake Havasu Ave., Lake Havasu, AZ 86403, 520-855-7420, www.nordicpowerboats.com.

[GottaHaveIt]

The Nordic is lighter, narrower, 22 deg bottom (less drag).
It has a 26 pitch B1 prop. But it still sounds fishy to me.
I would expect the Nordic to run 73 not 77! Hmm..maybe they pump up the Nordic numbers (speed sells boats, give the tester a few $50s and tell 'em to add 3 MPH to the test)?
Nah..
Well the Baja should have run 64-66 as tested. And with an HO, 68. I don't have the magazine issue right here. Wonder what prop they had on the 245. Should be a 3 blade Mirage Plus 23.

Their numbers how that Nordic weight is about 1,000 lbs lighter than a 25 Outlaw. That alone is worth a few MPH!

[MR BAJA]

Hey Neil,

Thanks for the email and I do have some ideas and/or theories of my own...

Chris and some others have touched on some of them....

Regarding the Nordic....Nordic just builds a fast boat...fast layup (light), typical "West Coast Custom" style of boat... flatter bottom, narrower beam and "less guts" do make a difference.

The 245 "should" with a MAG run in the mid-upper 60's....66-68 MPH. The boat really (think about it) isn't that much bigger than an old 232 (length) but is wider and heavier.

Another thing to keep in mind is some of the equipment when comparing both boats (Nordic and 245) The Nordic was running an HO with a "LAB" 26 Bravo 1 4-blade...labing as we all know in perfect conditions will add 2-4 MPH easy..coupled with the flatter bottom (like a HAMMER) and the lighter lay up it is easy to see those speeds in my opinion. The 245 was running a "stock" 3-blade Mirage (boat needs more prop)..in my opinion "old technology"?

I do not know what the "test conditions" were for the Nordic but the for the 245 the temp was in the low to mid 90's....pretty warm to try and get a motor to breathe.

Now the most important one (in my opinion). We allllllll remember allllllllll the controversy with the 30 OL and boattest.com saying the boat only ran "70.4" with HO's.... we alllll know that was and is incorrect now. 30 Ol they tested was just that...a "test boat" or "prototype"....my guess is the 245 they tested was the "test boat" or the "prototype"...in other words...not all the bugs worked out?

Hopefully I helped clear the waters for everyone a little (and didn't muddy them up more). Again, this is my opinion and best guess.

Hope everyone has a good one!

MR BAJA!