Baja/Fountain trouble?
01-06-2009 | 07:40 AM
#71
Registered
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: The Sunshine State
Excuses...huh?
External hinges. This was an engineering driven initiative that sales, production and customer service supported fully. As XT noted, they added cost. With external hinges, the motor lid could be installed and adjusted so the alignment was square in the closed position with equal gaps between the padding and the receiver in the deck. With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
All in all, I do not recall making ANY excuses for our product. It was what it was. A damn nice boat that was less expensive than most (if not all) of the competition. Everyone is entitled to their respective opinion and I am all for everyone expressing that opinion. That is what we are here for. Sometimes acquisition of the facts change opinions, sometimes they don't.
External hinges. This was an engineering driven initiative that sales, production and customer service supported fully. As XT noted, they added cost. With external hinges, the motor lid could be installed and adjusted so the alignment was square in the closed position with equal gaps between the padding and the receiver in the deck. With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
All in all, I do not recall making ANY excuses for our product. It was what it was. A damn nice boat that was less expensive than most (if not all) of the competition. Everyone is entitled to their respective opinion and I am all for everyone expressing that opinion. That is what we are here for. Sometimes acquisition of the facts change opinions, sometimes they don't.
01-06-2009 | 08:31 AM
#72
Registered
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 762
Likes: 237
From: Boerne, TX.
Excuses...huh?
External hinges. This was an engineering driven initiative that sales, production and customer service supported fully. As XT noted, they added cost. With external hinges, the motor lid could be installed and adjusted so the alignment was square in the closed position with equal gaps between the padding and the receiver in the deck. With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
All in all, I do not recall making ANY excuses for our product. It was what it was. A damn nice boat that was less expensive than most (if not all) of the competition. Everyone is entitled to their respective opinion and I am all for everyone expressing that opinion. That is what we are here for. Sometimes acquisition of the facts change opinions, sometimes they don't.
External hinges. This was an engineering driven initiative that sales, production and customer service supported fully. As XT noted, they added cost. With external hinges, the motor lid could be installed and adjusted so the alignment was square in the closed position with equal gaps between the padding and the receiver in the deck. With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
All in all, I do not recall making ANY excuses for our product. It was what it was. A damn nice boat that was less expensive than most (if not all) of the competition. Everyone is entitled to their respective opinion and I am all for everyone expressing that opinion. That is what we are here for. Sometimes acquisition of the facts change opinions, sometimes they don't.
Very well put. I totally agree with you.... Damn nice boat for the money... "Dollar for dollar, bang for the buck you cannot beat a Baja"...that's how I used to sell'em....
MR BAJA!
01-06-2009 | 10:33 AM
#73
Registered
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Naperville, IL
Excuses...huh?
External hinges. This was an engineering driven initiative that sales, production and customer service supported fully. As XT noted, they added cost. With external hinges, the motor lid could be installed and adjusted so the alignment was square in the closed position with equal gaps between the padding and the receiver in the deck. With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
All in all, I do not recall making ANY excuses for our product. It was what it was. A damn nice boat that was less expensive than most (if not all) of the competition. Everyone is entitled to their respective opinion and I am all for everyone expressing that opinion. That is what we are here for. Sometimes acquisition of the facts change opinions, sometimes they don't.
External hinges. This was an engineering driven initiative that sales, production and customer service supported fully. As XT noted, they added cost. With external hinges, the motor lid could be installed and adjusted so the alignment was square in the closed position with equal gaps between the padding and the receiver in the deck. With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
All in all, I do not recall making ANY excuses for our product. It was what it was. A damn nice boat that was less expensive than most (if not all) of the competition. Everyone is entitled to their respective opinion and I am all for everyone expressing that opinion. That is what we are here for. Sometimes acquisition of the facts change opinions, sometimes they don't.
Its my fault for percieving the hidden hardware to be more costly. To me, the hidden stuff looks cleaner, and usually when flush or hidden hardware takes a back seat to more clunky, obvious parts and the comment is made "thats where the industry us heading," it sounds like an excuse.
I will admit I have never worked for a boat company, but have many hours in the design industry as an engineer, and most of the time flush mount or hidden hardware is the expensive alternative.
Sorry for the comment, the last thing I wanted was to get former and current employees and dealers in an uproar. It was more about questioning the PR comment about why the chrome and exposed hardware was really added. I can easily respect and understad the reasoning explained in regards to service and ease of fitment.
01-06-2009 | 10:57 AM
#74
Registered
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,636
Likes: 0
From: Bucyrus, Ohio
I'll have to agree after having the pull-apart style on my FORCE. Those were a pain.
I liked the external ones we were using on the Outlaws. Didnt Greg H. come up with that design?
01-06-2009 | 01:37 PM
#76
Offshoreonly Advertiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 801
Likes: 83
From: LOTO/Performance Boat Center
01-06-2009 | 02:35 PM
#77
Charter Member #34
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,151
Likes: 2
From: Beautiful North Carolina
I've never been to Nebraska.
Who wants to go?
I went to the St. Louis and Fort Lauderdale shows last year which were two firsts and need to do something different this year.
What are the dates?
Who wants to go?
I went to the St. Louis and Fort Lauderdale shows last year which were two firsts and need to do something different this year.
What are the dates?
01-06-2009 | 03:01 PM
#78
Registered
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,801
Likes: 33
From: Palm Bay FL
With external hinges, the motor lid could be installed and adjusted so the alignment was square in the closed position with equal gaps between the padding and the receiver in the deck.
With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
With hidden hinges, you have to get alignment, then lift the lid, hold it in place, drill holes, and screw and bolt the hinge all without the lid moving. Lots of room for error in production and a b!tch for the service guys in the dealer network.
01-06-2009 | 03:50 PM
#79
Offshoreonly Advertiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 801
Likes: 83
From: LOTO/Performance Boat Center
Last year I took over 48 boats. 10-12 New Baja's 4-5 Used other power boats, a bunch of new fishing boats and other family boats (Larsons). I will have a couple custom boats on display, might break the HP700-35 Outlaw out.
Probably not worth the drive if you are not in the near area, but we have fun and it, hey....its free!
01-06-2009 | 03:54 PM
#80
Charter Member #34
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,151
Likes: 2
From: Beautiful North Carolina
The Open House is next Friday and Saturday Jan 16th and 17th. Nothing too crazy. We rent out 25000sq ft at a local Event Center, Open the doors (free admission).
Last year I took over 48 boats. 10-12 New Baja's 4-5 Used other power boats, a bunch of new fishing boats and other family boats (Larsons). I will have a couple custom boats on display, might break the HP700-35 Outlaw out.
Probably not worth the drive if you are not in the near area, but we have fun and it, hey....its free!
Last year I took over 48 boats. 10-12 New Baja's 4-5 Used other power boats, a bunch of new fishing boats and other family boats (Larsons). I will have a couple custom boats on display, might break the HP700-35 Outlaw out.
Probably not worth the drive if you are not in the near area, but we have fun and it, hey....its free!
