haftoo55

Rusty is a good guy I worked with him in 75 & 76. He also lived next to us in Bucyrus.

Sidewinder-Boats

http://www.concordboats.com/index.htm

Concord is still around.

Dono77056

They were probably built at what became the Concord plant.

Concord Boat Corporation
7901 Warden Rd
Sherwood, AR 72120
Phone: (501) 834-1759

They used to have a nice size plant until a book keeper ran off with the cash and about shut them down. I had some gel coat work done on my baja there in 2004 and they were mainly doing repairs and build to order boats in a small shop behind the plant.

The guy doing my work told me his dad, (Fritz Hawkins) and another guy Neil Baker help found Baja, said they lived in Bucyrus and were building them at a skating rink. He said they landed in Arkansas during the jet boat craze of the 70's I believe with Youngblood/Apollo Jet Boats and then started Concord probably early 80's. I've known several people that have owned Concords, they look a little dated, (old school Baja) as they're stuck in the 80's design but seemed to be built well; I still see quiet a few on the water when I boat in Arkansas.

TEAMBAJA

Are you still in Bucyrus? Whats your background with Baja?

haftoo55

Yes I still live close to Bucyrus. I work for Doug Smith at Checkmate. Fritz Hawkins is the person that hired me at Baja in 1975. Neil was a great guy also. He was the President of the Corp. I have not worked for Baja since I quit in late Oct. or early Nov. of 1976. I was also at the Chicago boat show in 1976.I road up in the semi with Charlie Brown & Fred Miller road in the other one with the other truck driver. I was suppost to talk to the fire marshal about the fire that happened at the plant in 1976. But I was going to be in Chicago so Neil fixed it up so I wouldn't have to. After I quit I did call Doug about a dealership while I was living in Houston Texas in 1978. I started at Checkmate in 1983 I quit in 1985 and they got me to come back in 1988. I've been there ever since.

XT-Innovator

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I did not know a lot of this stuff. My very first ride in a Baja boat was with Frank Morris (I believe) in a 19-20 jet boat on the (just) built Alum Creek Res. in Columbus OH. I was probably 11-12 years old at the time! I was told that Frank was a owner/salesman before Doug Smith purchased the company?

XT

haftoo55

I met 4 or 5 of Baja salesmen in Chicago in 1976 but I can't remember there names.(32 plus years) We left on a Monday morning got to Chicago by 11 am But set in line to get unloaded until Tuesday at 1 am. Got to the Lake shore Drive Hotel at 2 am. Also Doug was only a salesman at that time. Also I don't think they had any hull molds with the jet insert in them yet. I had to put the insert in each mold and put clay around it to hold it in place while it was being gel coated.I set in that semi for 22hrs befor we finally got unloaded. You talk about boring stareing at the back of another semi is boring. But every once in a while a roach coach would pass by and we would get some coffee. I don't remember Frank Morris the people that I remember as owners were Neil Charlie Couter Fred Miller and a silent partner named John Sears I think. Of cource Neils Dad Ted was there too but I don't know if he owned any of Baja or not.

haftoo55

Hey Dave Ask your Dad about the 1971 Maverick that I purchased from him in 1973. I know he will remember.