Re-launch Baja as a stand-alone brand
12-05-2010 | 05:28 PM
#31
Registered
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: S. Fort Myers, FL
12-06-2010 | 08:33 PM
#32
VIP Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 333
From: ankeny,ia.
reasons as I see it.
1. As already mentioned, to distance themselves from the liner issues.
2. Brunswick needs to sell powetrains and needed
the line out there on the market to do so...they had Reggie
on the hook for $$'s owed, so make him market them.
Did Reggie do some good things to them..... yes.
They have stringers again....anything else( compared to Ohio built units)...I dont know....I havent had the opportunity to crawl around one.
I'd love to pull the dash off of a fountain built one.....if the wiring still looks a birds nest, I doubt there's much impovement elsewhere.
Last edited by JaayTeee; 12-06-2010 at 08:36 PM.
12-06-2010 | 09:01 PM
#33
Ginger or Mary Ann?
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 9
From: L
__________________
Some people are like Slinkies - Not really good for anything, but they
bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
Some people are like Slinkies - Not really good for anything, but they
bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
12-06-2010 | 09:08 PM
#34
Registered
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Woodbury, NJ
"Liberty has also announced plans to re-launch Baja as a stand-alone brand. According to Walker, who will serve as president of the new company, "We have given Baja a very thorough evaluation. The brand has some of the most loyal customers in all of high performance boating, and many of them, along with several very successful past Baja dealers, have given us some tremendous feedback. We will reintroduce Baja with a very new and fresh model lineup, while retaining the key attributes and features that made this company so popular and successful for so many years."
More reading here....http://www.fountainpowerboats.com/
More reading here....http://www.fountainpowerboats.com/
12-06-2010 | 09:14 PM
#35
Gold Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,748
Likes: 869
From: Delray Beach, FL
Brunswick basically gave Baja to Reggie...for a couple
reasons as I see it.
1. As already mentioned, to distance themselves from the liner issues.
2. Brunswick needs to sell powetrains and needed
the line out there on the market to do so...they had Reggie
on the hook for $$'s owed, so make him market them.
Did Reggie do some good things to them..... yes.
They have stringers again....anything else( compared to Ohio built units)...I dont know....I havent had the opportunity to crawl around one.
I'd love to pull the dash off of a fountain built one.....if the wiring still looks a birds nest, I doubt there's much impovement elsewhere.
reasons as I see it.
1. As already mentioned, to distance themselves from the liner issues.
2. Brunswick needs to sell powetrains and needed
the line out there on the market to do so...they had Reggie
on the hook for $$'s owed, so make him market them.
Did Reggie do some good things to them..... yes.
They have stringers again....anything else( compared to Ohio built units)...I dont know....I havent had the opportunity to crawl around one.
I'd love to pull the dash off of a fountain built one.....if the wiring still looks a birds nest, I doubt there's much impovement elsewhere.
12-07-2010 | 12:40 AM
#36
Custom Interiors & More
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 2
From: Bucyrus, OH.
Brunswick basically gave Baja to Reggie...for a couple
reasons as I see it.
1. As already mentioned, to distance themselves from the liner issues. (If it looks like a duck, it must be a Duck)
2. Brunswick needs to sell powetrains and needed
the line out there on the market to do so...they had Reggie
on the hook for $$'s owed, so make him market them. Baja Marine had long been Mercury Marine's largest buyer of 454's, 502's, and 496 power. It was in the contract that they continue buying engines around Baja's 08' levels. Who knew then how bad it was about to become. Look at the Fountain ads just before the Baja deal (no Mercury logos) After the deal (Power by Mercury) sorry, Ilmordude
Did Reggie do some good things to them..... yes. OK, but you need to exclude the high pricing, badly "painted-on" graphics, bad logos, carpeted enclosed heads, stainless bow rails, ugly windscreens, and dune buggy steering wheels...RIGHT?
They have stringers again....anything else (compared to Ohio built units)...I don't know....I haven't had the opportunity to crawl around one. Not many people know this, but the newly hired president of Baja had the engineering department going back to stringer designs on models with any issues. (it's NOT rocket science)
I'd love to pull the dash off of a fountain built one.....if the wiring still looks a birds nest, I doubt there's much improvement elsewhere.
A Bayliners wiring would compete with Baja's! Baja did make some much needed improvements starting around 2005 with waterproof connectors, proper wire size, no in-line fuses, and proper breakers. The majority of them out there are as you stated.
reasons as I see it.
1. As already mentioned, to distance themselves from the liner issues. (If it looks like a duck, it must be a Duck)
2. Brunswick needs to sell powetrains and needed
the line out there on the market to do so...they had Reggie
on the hook for $$'s owed, so make him market them. Baja Marine had long been Mercury Marine's largest buyer of 454's, 502's, and 496 power. It was in the contract that they continue buying engines around Baja's 08' levels. Who knew then how bad it was about to become. Look at the Fountain ads just before the Baja deal (no Mercury logos) After the deal (Power by Mercury) sorry, Ilmordude
Did Reggie do some good things to them..... yes. OK, but you need to exclude the high pricing, badly "painted-on" graphics, bad logos, carpeted enclosed heads, stainless bow rails, ugly windscreens, and dune buggy steering wheels...RIGHT?
They have stringers again....anything else (compared to Ohio built units)...I don't know....I haven't had the opportunity to crawl around one. Not many people know this, but the newly hired president of Baja had the engineering department going back to stringer designs on models with any issues. (it's NOT rocket science)
I'd love to pull the dash off of a fountain built one.....if the wiring still looks a birds nest, I doubt there's much improvement elsewhere.
A Bayliners wiring would compete with Baja's! Baja did make some much needed improvements starting around 2005 with waterproof connectors, proper wire size, no in-line fuses, and proper breakers. The majority of them out there are as you stated.
12-07-2010 | 09:00 AM
#37
Ginger or Mary Ann?
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 9
From: L
... just wanted to add some comments "Did Reggie do some good things to them..... yes. OK, but you need to exclude the high pricing, badly "painted-on" graphics, bad logos, carpeted enclosed heads, stainless bow rails, ugly windscreens, and dune buggy steering wheels...RIGHT?".
Those are for most part just opinions.
I'd rather a painted on graphic than in gel myself. The gel is nice. I like the twin rails over the Baja single rail also, again, my preference. Single cost less $$$, right?
Have you seen the plastic windscreen Baja used on the 322's? No bragging room there.
I'll give you the carpeted head. Not sure what Fountain was thinking there. Maybe us Fountain guys have better aim?
Steering wheel, well, maybe a little there too. Some of the higher pricing came with the upgrades such as full Hyd steering, and real trim tabs. Not sheet metal. Just to name a couple quickies.
But then, these are just my opinions. Eitherway, everybrand has their nich.
__________________
Some people are like Slinkies - Not really good for anything, but they
bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
Some people are like Slinkies - Not really good for anything, but they
bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
Last edited by US1 Fountain; 12-07-2010 at 10:54 AM.
12-07-2010 | 12:09 PM
#38
VIP Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 333
From: ankeny,ia.
Those are for most part just opinions.
I'd rather a painted on graphic than in gel myself. The gel is nice. I like the twin rails over the Baja single rail also, again, my preference. Single cost less $$$, right?
Have you seen the plastic windscreen Baja used on the 322's? No bragging room there.
I'll give you the carpeted head. Not sure what Fountain was thinking there. Maybe us Fountain guys have better aim? Steering wheel, well, maybe a little there too.
Some of the higher pricing came with the upgrades such as full Hyd steering, and real trim tabs. Not sheet metal. Just to name a couple quickies.
But then, these are just my opinions. Eitherway, everybrand has their nich.
I'd rather a painted on graphic than in gel myself. The gel is nice. I like the twin rails over the Baja single rail also, again, my preference. Single cost less $$$, right?
Have you seen the plastic windscreen Baja used on the 322's? No bragging room there.
I'll give you the carpeted head. Not sure what Fountain was thinking there. Maybe us Fountain guys have better aim?
Steering wheel, well, maybe a little there too. Some of the higher pricing came with the upgrades such as full Hyd steering, and real trim tabs. Not sheet metal. Just to name a couple quickies.
But then, these are just my opinions. Eitherway, everybrand has their nich.
I have had both in gel graphics and paint...the in gel graphics
dont rock chip.
My 97' 29 O/L had the same round stainless bow rail
as what fountain started using, seems like styling went backwards.
What I did see on a fountain built twin engine boat ( 35 O/L I think) that I thought was interesting, is that it didn't have K-planes....maybe Dana's ?.....I was wondering how they
got around not using a Brunswick product (K-planes)
when one was available ?
12-07-2010 | 01:04 PM
#39
Custom Interiors & More
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 2
From: Bucyrus, OH.
Those are for most part just opinions. I said comments, but opinions works too.
I'd rather a painted on graphic than in gel myself. The gel is nice. I like the twin rails over the Baja single rail also, again, my preference. Single cost less $$$, right? If your going to do painted, at least do fades, and let colors touch colors with new interesting graphics. They continued with boring 08' Baja gel graphics in paint. I never seen the (twin) SS rails, just a single stainless rail down the center on the Outlaw models?
Have you seen the plastic windscreen Baja used on the 322's? No bragging room there. AGREED, the Baja 322's and 420 style windscreens were terrible. My opinion is only on the Outlaw series.
I'll give you the carpeted head. Not sure what Fountain was thinking there. Maybe us Fountain guys have better aim? I thought that maybe they just sit on it? SORRY, for that one! Steering wheel, well, maybe a little there too.
Some of the higher pricing came with the upgrades such as full Hyd steering, and real trim tabs. Not sheet metal. Just to name a couple quickies. All the Baja twins had Latham steering except 6.2's in the 30ol. Any blue power in any model Baja came with Latham in the package. The only model FB added it was with the 496ho in the single 26ol, and 278 models. The Baja 23ol had it on the HO option, but cable steering with Mags, and 6.2's.
But then, these are just my opinions. Eitherway, everybrand has their nich.
I'd rather a painted on graphic than in gel myself. The gel is nice. I like the twin rails over the Baja single rail also, again, my preference. Single cost less $$$, right? If your going to do painted, at least do fades, and let colors touch colors with new interesting graphics. They continued with boring 08' Baja gel graphics in paint. I never seen the (twin) SS rails, just a single stainless rail down the center on the Outlaw models?
Have you seen the plastic windscreen Baja used on the 322's? No bragging room there. AGREED, the Baja 322's and 420 style windscreens were terrible. My opinion is only on the Outlaw series.
I'll give you the carpeted head. Not sure what Fountain was thinking there. Maybe us Fountain guys have better aim?
I thought that maybe they just sit on it? SORRY, for that one! Steering wheel, well, maybe a little there too. Some of the higher pricing came with the upgrades such as full Hyd steering, and real trim tabs. Not sheet metal. Just to name a couple quickies. All the Baja twins had Latham steering except 6.2's in the 30ol. Any blue power in any model Baja came with Latham in the package. The only model FB added it was with the 496ho in the single 26ol, and 278 models. The Baja 23ol had it on the HO option, but cable steering with Mags, and 6.2's.
But then, these are just my opinions. Eitherway, everybrand has their nich.
