TEAMBAJAMARINE
August 14th, 2008, 12:30 PM
Reggie Upgrades - Bajas By Fountain
Fountain Powerboats produced the first two Baja boats in their Washington, NC plant and last week celebrated the event with local dignitaries. Reggie gave accolades to the Brunswick Corp. for their assistance in the transition of Baja manufacturing from Ohio to Washington, NC -- and he might have added thanks as well for the $4 million Baja price tag he could not refuse. Fountain also thanked the people responsible for getting him the North Carolina $12 million employment grant.
Reggie said that when he ran the Baja 26 it was going 71 mph on the speedo, and a tick slower on the gps. The boat was powered by a single MerCruiser 496 HO. He said he was pleased with the handling and there was no chine walking.
Six more Bajas coming down the line, according to Fountain, and that soon Baja dealers around the world would have new Fountain-made Baja boats, he said.
Most important, it sounds as if Fountain is using some different materials than when Brunswick built the boat. Reggie says that the boat is built with vinylester resin and is cored with high-density foam instead of bulsa. Also, the Bajas will have hydraulic steering systems by Latham, the same as are used in Fountain Powerboats. Clearly, Fountain is upgrading the quality of materials.
"Best of all, the boats will be about the same price as before, except for a slight up-tick to pay for the better materials we are using," Fountain said. He also said he was proud to have been in business for 30 consecutive years and would be building boats "as long as I'm still walking."
Fountain Powerboats produced the first two Baja boats in their Washington, NC plant and last week celebrated the event with local dignitaries. Reggie gave accolades to the Brunswick Corp. for their assistance in the transition of Baja manufacturing from Ohio to Washington, NC -- and he might have added thanks as well for the $4 million Baja price tag he could not refuse. Fountain also thanked the people responsible for getting him the North Carolina $12 million employment grant.
Reggie said that when he ran the Baja 26 it was going 71 mph on the speedo, and a tick slower on the gps. The boat was powered by a single MerCruiser 496 HO. He said he was pleased with the handling and there was no chine walking.
Six more Bajas coming down the line, according to Fountain, and that soon Baja dealers around the world would have new Fountain-made Baja boats, he said.
Most important, it sounds as if Fountain is using some different materials than when Brunswick built the boat. Reggie says that the boat is built with vinylester resin and is cored with high-density foam instead of bulsa. Also, the Bajas will have hydraulic steering systems by Latham, the same as are used in Fountain Powerboats. Clearly, Fountain is upgrading the quality of materials.
"Best of all, the boats will be about the same price as before, except for a slight up-tick to pay for the better materials we are using," Fountain said. He also said he was proud to have been in business for 30 consecutive years and would be building boats "as long as I'm still walking."