Baja boats
 

What is the word on these boats? Anyone know anything about them? Are they a good boat to get?

Ron, it really depends on the year, model, and the w3ay the previous owner (s) took care of it. I've seen some older ones (late 80's) that look like new. Then I've seen some beat up newer ones too. If you go to look at one, look for stress cracks in the gussets on the deck (everywhere there is a curve or angle). Common on Baja's (mine has many, drives me nuts).

Are you looking at a particular model? Year? Power???

I think they are well made. Mine is 13 years old and I've never had a problem with it (that wasn't self inflicted:rolleyes: ) It doesn't even show a stress crack anywhere. Overall my experience says Baja makes a good product.

owned three

A lot of boat for the $$.

Not the quality of say a Cig or some of the other custom builders but not the price, they aren't a bayliner either. They are large for their size. Drove past Big thunder and stopped and looked at a 29 tonight. It's a big boat. I thought my Pantera 28 was pretty good size but the baja is bigger. Baja doesn't glass the hull and deck together, they do screw it together and "bond" it. I think they are good looking boats.

Like 'Foul says it really depends on care. Seems like they also had some stringer problems in the past but I haven't heard much about it lately. They do offer a lot options for a production boat builder.

A lot of them are out there.

A Baja is a great boat at a reasonable price..Need to know size you are thinking..I had 91 26' w blower and 96 272 w 454Mag..the 272 ran a lot better in rough..never had a stress problem..never had upholstery or glass repair..Bajas are better looking and more passenger comfort ie bolster seats, thick sundeck pad, higher headroom in cabin..and when you go alone many models have a window to open so you can come across the front deck & get in easily..and you can sell them used quickly..
Sold my blower boat and 272 in short order!!
sky

Some new ones, I think the 27 or 29's have had some stringer issues, and quite a bit on some horrible glass and gel coat jobs. What size are you looking for?

As others have said before, a lot of boat for the money.... Our 1990 19' is actually 21' 8" with the swim deck, but it is a glassed in swim deck, not a metal bolt on.... see what i mean in the pic below.

As for problems with the boat- None that werent caused by stupidity (ie, mom and dad beaching her on 4th of july weekend loosening the plug causing a sinking, or some idiot flying through the docks out of control and hitting the boat.)

Swim deck Link
http://www.stupidfastboats.com/shoot/jvm1028.jpg

2 Running pics
http://www.stupidfastboats.com/shoot/jvm1023.jpg
http://www.stupidfastboats.com/shoot/jvm1024.jpg

Good luck with deciding on what year/boat to get.

Have considered the 36' Outlaw...HUGE boat for it's size and they can be found for reasonable $. Sky...still got that Donzi down there? The 33'? We had discussed it a couple times...see it's not on trader, did it sell?

Re: Baja boats
 

Never heard of them.:D

Good stuff. You really can't go wrong, they make a nice boat and you get a lot of boat for the money. The hardware, electronics, etc. are pretty much top of the line industry standard; Gaffrig gauges, Clarion audio, etc. Good rigging. They're structurally sound, employ quality materials and are sharp looking boats. The factory is easy to work with. Opinions are like azzholes, everyone has one and this is mine. Opinion, that is. ;)

I'm on my second, and I couldn't be happier. Never had a problem, no blemishes, no cracks. I'm satisifed. :cool:

Don't place your willy in a socket???

Too Old you been in the uncensored section too many times!!

I'm on my 3rd, wouldn't have
any problem buying another one.
Lot's of bang for the buck.
Good overall performance,
I also haven't had any boat
problems to speak of, and
YES, I do use the thing,
and it's had it's share of
being beat on.

How it's been taken care of is key,
I have seen higher end boats that
weren't taken care of that were a real
POS
my .02
jt

As Too Old mentioned, I am on my third Baja and have been very satisified.

Baja is owned by Brunswick, which owns Mercury, Four Winds, Bay Liner and Sea Ray.

They are a high volume builder, but use the same materials the other guys do. I have visited the plant and was very impressed. They do many nice things and overall build a solid product.

All Baja's are still true deep vee (not stepped), which gives them a very good ride, excellent handling and make them easy to drive for those that do not have a lot of experience. The down side is they are a little slower size per size and horsepower per horsepower with the stepped boats.

My first was a 1999 Baja 212 with 454. We have a lot of fun with it, skiing and tubing and it was fast. We then traded it for a 2000 Baja 272 with 502 mag. The 272 is a lot of boat for the size. The wife and I overnighted on it twenty times at least and made several trips to the coast. It is easy to trailer, has a great ride and a lot of room.

Still wanting more, we purchased a new 36 Outlaw this last June with twin 500 EFI's. Baja offers a lot of options that many other manufactures don't in that size boat. Because of the options and the Cigarette like styling it was the boat for us.

It has A/C, Vacu-Flush head and holding tank, fresh water tank, water heater, microwave, electric stove, refridgerator, television, shorepower, McClod electric bolsters, triple bolster rear seat, boat on swim platform (True 36 Foot Boat), good head room in cuddy, great stereo, Grafrig gauges, etc, etc.

Bottom line is that they are a lot of boat for the money.

If I can answer any questions send me an e-mail.

Good luck
Mark

http://www.bajamarine.com/speed/built.asp

On how their built

www.bajamarine.com is the baja site.

BankerRon , if your thinking about the 272 at perry dont waste your time. saw it saturday and it has had the snott beat out of it.

it had stress cracks , a torn bolster , and was filthy all over. i dont think the owner took very good care of it.

my feeling is like many others , alot of bang for the buck.

Here is another shot. By the way, they are not perfect. I think they could do a little better job of rigging in the engine compartment. On the 36, it is currently in the shop getting a new headliner in the cuddy. No one knows what happened with the headliner, but Baja is taking care of it and has been good to work with.

One More

Cuddy

Good Looking boat Doc.

Whattlshe do with "normal" gear and fuel and what do you normally cruise at RPM/MPH?

Von,

The best I have seen has been 73 MPH on the GPS at 4850 RPM. The fuel tank is 235 gallons and the boat is always loaded down with a lot of gear. We overnight almost everytime we take it out.

Turning 26 pitch bravo 1, 4-blades, standard XZ drives, 1.5:1 ratio.

I just had the props labbed and added billet air filters. Also took off the factory mufflers and put on straight tips. I hope to see 1-2 more miles per hour. I think on a perfect day without a lot of gear it is a 75 MPH boat.

The ride and handling are AWESOME!

Good information Doc, I was going to guess mid 70's.

Like you said a lot of boat for the $$

please do not take this as anything neg. towards anybodies baja in particular. i had a 1989 226 sport, later called a 240 es, and it was the biggest piece of %$it i have ever owned.

many things that were very poorly designed and even built worse. this boat was pampered from the day i bought it new until i sold it 9 years later.

baja did as little as possible so fix anything on it and when they did it was so half-assed i would redo their fix.

some of the things wrong were incredible, such as the piece of plastic conduit i found to be taking up the slack in the stripped out lag bolt holding the motor to the stringer.

theres much more but even now i get so pissed about it and the way baja handled it ( try chasing baja prez. through a crowded boat show complaint list in hand, boy he was faster than O J in a airport) :mad:

What is a Baja Targa? Anyone ever heard of that boat?

I believe your thinking of BAHA boats not Baja. They made a Targa

Your right. I thought the add was mis spelled. So what is the word on a Baha Targa?

Good GAWD Von Bongo! I feel like I need a shower after reading that. ICK! Maybe even a shot of some sort. YUCK! Thanks for the link though, I have ear marked that site as I look for a boat. As for the add for the Baha Targa....ah yea...it goes in the trash!

I'm on my second. Current boat is a 29 but looks and feels bigger. A leading competitor makes a 29 that's equally priced except you only get one engine vs. two and when put side by side with the 29 I have, it's almost unfair. I can see 78mph on gps with stock, production power.

Hey Mark - Have you thought about adding some red spun alluminum cup holders? I put some purple ones in mine, what a difference from the stock plastic white ones not too expensive either. I got the ones from Rex Marine, they have a neoprene insert that goes in the bottom of the cup. My cup holders were pretty scummy and somewhat yellowed that is why I replaced them. I put them in the cabin too. Eric

Eric,

The wife spent more on the boat for Christmas than on me. She bought all blue cup holders for the cockpit area, five total. They match the blue gauge mounts we have on the dash now for the water pressure gauges. She bought polished ones for the cuddy, black billet fire extinguisher mount with chrome extinguisher for the cuddy and a black billet vent to replace the plastic one on the steps as you enter.

You are right, they make a big difference and add a nice touch.

I'm on my third Baja now and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
Great boat!!

wow a thread on Baja Quality that hasn't gone south!!! Very nice to see the board play nice for a change!!!

who is the competitor ????

What power gets you 78???

...and we all know how important THAT is when overnighting with the wife/gf!!! :D :D :p

I think it really depends on what you plan on doing with the boat. I also don't have any idea of the build quality lately, but they appear to "look" pretty good. I had an '89 280 Sport with a pair of 454s. I run primarily the Atlantic Ocean, the bottom of the boat delaminated under the motors as well the bulkheads ripped from the sides and bottom. The bolsters also pulled from the floor. No doubt about it, I was hard on the boat and realize that most people don't boat the ocean almost exclusively like I do. If you're not punishing on the equipment then the Baja is a great buy. If my boating habits were to change I would definately give one a look again. I gave mine to a fiberglass repair guy and he fixed the bottom and dropped a pair of 350s into it. He is still running around here today.

jb,

That is stock HO's. Could just be the driver but that boat really handles and runs well.

Someone noted earlier that the hull/deck joint is not glassed. This shouldn't be a huge factor in recreational structural integrity or value. Formula's hull/deck is assembled the same way, I believe. Those chemically bonding adhesives are very, very strong. Along with screws and bolts, I don't see how you could rip that joint apart. If it's a strong enough method for Formula....:D

I won't mention the competitor since this is not a bashing thread.

As far as 78mph - I have twin 496HO's turning Bronson Hill 27" Mirage Plus. Best of 78.3mph on gps.

I don`t know your whole story Saber, but a crowded boat show is not the best place to confront any boat maker with a complaint list.

Rippem,

You are correct about the structural bonding. It is a method that we frequently use here in the aerospace industry for primary structural applications. The shear strength of these bonds are incredible along running lengths of joints. Baja screws the decks along with bonding on all single-engine boats and through-bolts the decks on twin engine models.

BTW, Baja uses Plexus Adhesive, Baltek end grain Balsa and bi- and tri-axial woven cloths, all industry standards. Also, contrary to popular belief, chopped fiber is not used in any way structurally, only as an outer barrier coat for cushioning and damage tolerance. This is what you see right under the gelcoat layer, beyond that is the structural cloths.

Having said that, it is imperitive to understand the strengths and weaknesses of these joints. The bondlines are great in shear, but not in tension. The shear strength is provided by the bond, while the tensile requirements are met by the screws. The screws/bolts are simply a failsafe to prevent the joint from working loose at one end and unzipping along the length.

For simplicity's sake, take a piece of scotch tape and stick a portion of it on your desk. Pulling along the length of it, puts the adhesive in shear and it can be quite strong...Pulling straight up on it puts it into tension. It is very easy to remove like this.
This is pretty representative of most deck joints :cool: