Offshoreonly.com - I finally joined the club!!!

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I finally joined the club!!!

Well it's official now. I sent the seller his certified check and my transport company will be bringing the boat here on
Fri 5-20 or Sat 5-21. I can't begin to tell you guys how pumped I am, LOL!!!
People, I could never telll you guys just how stressful it was during the process.
I've never enjoyed the luxury of deep pockets many of the enthusiasts of the go fast boats have.
I've wanted one for decades but never started looking until a buddy of mine told me how cheap many had become back in early 2010.
I started and stuck with a reasonable cash budget but it limited me to boats from the 80's up to the mid 90's.
Finding the right boat at the right price was the hardest part.
When i stumbled across this boat on searchallcraigs.com I loved the pic's from the get-go and when I talked to the seller and he told me
about the boat's history from Baja and how long he'd owned it I was caught hook, line, and sinker.
Being sceptical of "seller hogwash" I tossed out some threads asking about the unit.
Dave at XT cemented it when he vouched for everything the old man had told me, he even offered me his copy of Powerboating magazine
with her on the cover.
Here's her story, she was built late in 95 and rigged to be the Baja fatory's official poker run boat for 1996.
It was on the cover of Powerboating magazine with a little bit of a write up about the build.
She was equipped with stock 525SC's that were then modified by Baja with supercharger intercooler/chillers and had the pulleys changed to
put out more boost through the supercharger. It has all the great options that were available for that year.
My surveyor brought to my attention hundreds of baby blisters on the hull under the freeboard and asked me if I wanted to stop, he said this was plenty
of reason to request my deposit back. I was like "no" survey her with a fine toothed comb and pull up every stray hair you can so I can renegotiate.
Due to the costs of these repairs I was able to reel her in for much less than my original budget but am now stuck with having to deal with the repairs.
She aced the powertrain survey leakdown and compression tests and pushed into the 70's GPS'd at top end speed. Not to bad for a big boat like this!!!
I think the thing that tickled me the most was that the paperwork shows her USCG registred name as "Team Baja" from back then.

What I really need now is to contract someone to enlighten me on the in's and out's of a boat like this. I'm willing to pay one of you members to assist me in getting up to speed
on operations and PM. This is a major step up from our old play boat and all of my and the kids jet skis.
I'm hoping for a launch on Lake Conroe next weekend the 20th or 21st.

Thanks to all of y'all for helping me during my search by answering all my questions, without you guys and girls here on OSO and the members over at Bajaboatowners.com I'd of been in a heap of hurt getting quality information.
See ya,
Kelly

Congratz!!! Pics!!!!:coolcowboy:

Congrats on the new boat! You'll do great with her, just take your time. On the first few outings, you might want go out on a weekday, when the lake/ramp aren't as crowded, so you can take your time learning with her.
Dean

you're screwed now. :)

Congrats!

:worthless_without_p

Good for you - enjoy!

Awesome!!!

Spend some time with her before you throw the entire family on the and mash the throttles. It's not a pontoon boat:drink:

Congrates:) It's always a great feeling to get a new boat. Have fun

Welcome to the "Oh crap what's that sound and how much will it cost to fix it?" club!!!

Congrats!

Congrats Man!

My Tip - KEEP your eyes on the guages. If something expensive is about to happen they will normally give you a warning.

I think it's a cool boat. The history is neat, and it sure is a TON of boat for the money. Great performance boat that is suitable for weekend trips with all the comforts. You will love it.

---BTW, is that a huge rock sticking out of the water in the pics :eek:

Congrats kelly.
Welcome to the most idiotic group on the planet, where we spend more time in the bilge then with our honey, we spend hundreds for matching collored sneakers, thousands matching vests. We collect props in the attemp to chase the ever ellusive next 1.25 MPH, and we talk about our boats more then we talk about our first born.
Have fun with your toy bud, and join us in this nut house. :)

very cool ride, i really like the two sets of bolsters :drink:

Quote:

Originally Posted by RT930turbo (Post 3401710)

I think it's a cool boat. The history is neat, and it sure is a TON of boat for the money.

It's almost as cool as your pic of Reggiemeister out flogging his new line of the pimpin powerboats LOL!!!
Trust me on this, I previewed well over 1000 boats on the internet and dozens in person before ever making an offer on any.
This unit hit a grand slam with me when I found out about the factory history, the powertrains, and just how long he'd owned it. That and him being 73 made me think that this is one which should have been well cared for. He was very honest and sincere up front and his marina had records back to 1998. Now when the blisters came up at the survey I was pissed bigtime and renegotiated with a heavy hand.
I really feel that the weekend rental of the soda blaster and then the paying of a pro for a new gelcoat I'll come in at my busget.

See ya,
Kelly

Oh - TIP # 2 - Don't start the boat with the drives in the UP position like in the picture you posted. That will hamper U-Joint life!!

Congratulations! and welcome to the club!
Looks like a great ride and well cared for from the pics!
Take care of it and it should take care of you!
Have fun, be safe and enjoy.

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Quote:

Originally Posted by seafordguy (Post 3401766)

Oh - TIP # 2 - Don't start the boat with the drives in the UP position like in the picture you posted. That will hamper U-Joint life!!

Thanks, I'll take every tidbit of information I can.
I don't have a big problem with me going it alone on her maiden voyage here but would really have a lot more confidence if I had someone aboard to offer insight just like you did.
I don't feel I'm going to break the boat but I'm no way familiar with drive heights, trim tabs settings, etc.
I'll gladly take any insight, large or small, that you members have to offer.
Although I've owned tons of water toys, I'm a total beginner to boats of this caliber.

Thanks,
Kelly

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskyrider (Post 3401784)

I don't have a big problem with me going it alone on her maiden voyage here but would really have a lot more confidence if I had someone aboard to offer insight just like you did.

Too bad you're in TX! I'd go with ya in a heart beat. I'm sure someone in your neck of the woods would be happy to join you and show you the ropes of running the boat. I think you will find it's just a matter of some practice and seat time before you are totally comfortable with the boat. Just take it slow, and feel it out.

Another trick, go find a bouy or something in open water, and practice "docking". Try to position the boat precisely and get used to the way it handles when gently adding power to the forward or reverse engine. With a little practice you will be spinning that beast in a tight canal and sliding her sideways into a spot on the wall in front of your favorite watering hole. :drink:

I'm sorry but I couldn't resist posting this pic.
It was just after the rigging but before the sponsors graphics came in when they shot the photo's for the mag. I guess you don't get to reschedule your photoshoot for a cover if your not quite finished, LOL!!!
I've looked at that pic hundreds of times and wanted to post it but couldn't until I actually owned it.
IMO, she looked good then and just as good now, excepting the friggin baby blisters. I'll get some pic's of them when I get delivery for advice on the best way to move forward.

http://www.powerboatmag.com/images/s...tober_1995.jpg

See ya,
Kelly

Wait 'till you sell it!