Best Model Year
 

What do you guys consider to be the BEST model year for Baja & why?

Factor in quality, improvements, styling, models, numbers built, popularity, resale, etc.

I would like to start... But before I list my year,

I think this is actually a 2 part question:

1) I base this on what year did they actually have the least amount of issues, vs styling performance?

2) How did they handle it on a corporate/customer service level?

My least problem year was our 2003 33OL Ran great, was fast and the only problem we had was drives. Hard to imagine that.

But for customer service was our 2007 40OL. They had changed some production adhesives and ways the boats were put together.(this relates to the cabinets and countertop in the cuddy) WE had some issues right off the bat. (this was all during the "liner" crossover times with the 405)

They found out what the problem was and fixed it. They also fine tuned our boat for maximum performance. When we ordered it we had made some changes to the x, etc and it didnt work as well as we had hoped. Again, they were great in getting everything resolved (note: the boat was taken back to the plant for these procedures at their expense)

I went with my dealer to pick up the boat after it was fixed, we were taken for a test ride and given top notch treatment.

I have ALOT of respect for the people that were at the old plant. Hats off to them and hope the future does them well!

97'/98' had to be pretty good years,
thats when the 25,29,33 and 36 O/L's
came into exsistance.

I think JT is right. Late 90's were probably the best.
The 35 is a tough boat to beat in my opinion.

Mine's a '98 and I still haven't had any major problems with it. I love that boat!

Got a 97. Since it's mine I say '97!

I think most will say the year they own because if they did not like it they would not have bought it, and if it was not good they would not keep it. So that is a fair assumption and I fall into that same category.

Our 1999 model 212 Islander was a great boat with zero problems or complaints.

Our 2000 model 272 Boss was an exceptional boat that really gave us a ton of enjoyment that opened us up to overnight trips on the boat, poker runs and coastal trips. Again zero problems, zero complaints and a boat I wish we could have kept.

For me the BEST year is the 2002 model year for many other reasons also.

I really liked the total line up that Baja offered for 02.

I especially like the graphics offered in 02 and those from 1999 through 2002.

I like that in 02 with the exception of the development of the 20 Outlaw that Baja was still an all STRINGER construction builder.

I found the customer service and all the folks at Baja to be exceptional to work with during the building process of our 36 Outlaw.

The boat has been exceptional and from a construction point of view as been ROCK SOLID.

Thanks Baja before Fountain

My first time chimming into the Baja site. I have a 93 370. A boat I fell inlove with durining the late eighties. Although I have had my share of problems I always thought it was the perfect boat, great lines with a perfect combination of cockpit and cabin. To this day anyone new stepping onto my boat is amazed how much room is in the cabin. We are weekend and weeklong boaters here on the great lakes and for a trailerable performance boat with stand up head room it has been perfect.

late 90's. i have 97' 32 outlaw-blown 502 efi's-one solid riding rig will run hard in the big stuff.

I bought a 97 272 brand new.

It was a very well cared for trailer queen.

Jacking the boat off of the trailer one day to wax the bottom ( told Ya ) I saw all these blacks spots I thought were debris,,,,, nope,,,, blisters,,,, popped blisters !!1

I was about in tears,,,, Baja di step up and cover the repairs so no complaints there.

Next was when I went to swap the 454 out for the 502 I bought,,,, I noticed the lag bolt holding that motor mount plate to the stringer was loose,,,, just tighten it down and drop the motor in right? uh no,,,,, rotted stringer !!!!!

owned by me,,,, from day one,,,, nevr had water in boat aside from me cleaning the bildge.

Oh well,,,, fixed it myself droped the motor in and enjoyed the boat for another 4 years before I sold it.

I came to find out they had some barrier coat issues that year so that explained the bottom.

Love my 2000 36 so far though !!!

The 25OL has to be up there some where as the bread and butter as far as style and speed and popularity regardless of what year.

Absolutely

One of the most popular of all and a great boat in all year models produced.

I agree, loved my 2006 35th Anniversary addition. I hate I had to sell it but I would definitely not mind having another one at some point.

Oh yeah I remember that running picture very well!:ernaehrung004:

The whole 35th Anniversary Package was my design work at Baja. The decals, graphics, panels, gauges, billet shifter, and motorlid design. I would love to have one of the 23s, or 25s with that package. Or, if I hit the lotto - it will be one the 35ol Anniversary boats produced.

XT:ernaehrung004:

XT..
Was there anytihng else special on the 35th annv. edition on the 35OL.
Mine is a 35th annv. All that is displaying is the glove box that has 35th Anniversary logo wording. The previous owner removed the front and side decals( I asume).

Unless that is all that is displayed (35th Annv on the glove box for 2006)???

Weren’t there special graphics like on Matt’s 25OL shown above distinguishing all the anniversary boats from the others?

I’ve seen the oval sticker on the side and the smaller oval decal for the rear but I though the graphics were unique as well.

Dealers had the option of ordering the Ann. package with any exterior graphic choice. The 2006 Wave graphic like your boat was also very popular, but the large chrome oval decals did not look correct on that paint graphic. You would have got everything else in the package, at the reduced package price.

Chrome Billet Shifters
K-Planes
Cockpit Cover
Carbon Fiber Panels
Chrome Monster Gauges
Ect.

It was basicly the SST Package with extras.

XT:cool:

The raised oval logo on the transom was common for all 2006 Baja models. The larger oval decals only came with the Ann. paint scheme, and you HAD to order the package to get that.

XT

These shifters?
http://bowtye8.tzo.com/baja/Boat%20P...a/DSC03253.JPG

Well I thought wrong....... I thought these were standard issue on the 2006 and up...well I see Reggie is back to the earlier style livorsi.
I do love the outlaw dash with the dark carbon fiber look and chrome monster guages.:drink:

I sure like that windscreen better than those bug deflectors Fountain is using.

The new avatar looks good(the 29 was sweet too!):drink:

It looks AWESOME!

I like the look and the steering wheel.

Thanks for the information Dave, I learn something new every day.

1988 240 sport 1st year with the bravo 1 drive, 2nd year for that model. and 1992 when they brought it back calling it the outlaw with faring instead of windshield. but in 88 they were the top boat in its class and it has alway taken rough water well and after 16years in the ocean I found some glass issues but hey thats a lot of running time. up to the 2000 I put a lot of hours on it. and slowed down after with motor changes and adding stuff, then getting hurt. but its a tuff lil boat and has beat a lot of custom 24s in my area:ernaehrung004:

I beg to differ :( . Overall looks yes and rough water handling it does pretty good, but build quality :(

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/b...so-begins.html

hey theres a 24 superboat a 99 that stuffed a wake and separated the deck from hull go slow, I stuffed my boat in the ocean in a 12 hole blew the windshield off and took so much air out of my engine room my boat started to stall. I got the stress cracks just like my other buddys cig bullit, and another sb24, I seen formulas withstriggers broken fountains with stringers broke, and stress cracks on lots of boats. hey if I built that 24ol from scratch it would have had a full rear bulkhead with a center section that unbolted, a full bulkhead going into the cabin with built in steps to rest your feet on and molded the steering and throttle dash area in place and attached to the floor thats what I working on this spring and the boat would be more solid but I have never lost a run against a 24 with big power in the late to early 90s I kill my friends 550hp super boat, ran a red one with twin obs a 30 blew him away I have had good luck but mantain your boat is a must you can't just wash it and wax it theres screws, bolts that loosen on all boats the only boats I have seen with out a stresscrack is AT, SKATER, SUTPHEN. ands thats it cape cod is a trough place to boat:D

I actually intend to do the same thing, the bulkhead at the rear of the gas tank will go up the sides as will the bulkhead at the front of the gas tank and thus get rid of that stupid tinted wall/sliding door, but it will be cut so that access to the cuddy is not restricted. I also plan to put a drain plug at the bottom of the rear bulkhead, facing the bilge, so that in case water does get up under the gas tank it can be drained out but will also keep any water that may collect in the bilge from backwashing toward the front of the boat out of the bilge. As well as 3/4 inch floors to replace the existing 3/8 inch. I also plan to reconfigure the back seat so that the middle section of the backrest will raise with the engine hatch and the seat will fold forward, to allow easier access to the front of the engine and mainly facilitate easier water pump changes. I'm probably going to raise the X-dim one inch, possibly two. Still haven't decided yet what I'm going to do with the dash. I didn't realize how bad mine actually was structually until I started ripping into it. I will rebuild it, it will crush again!