The Extra Mile: Baja Marine raised its game with a semi-custom 35 Outlaw Poker Run Edition.
Powerboat Magzine
When it comes to production-built performance boats, particularly for entry-level and budget-minded buyers, it's hard to go wrong with a Baja Marine product. Though they're usually not quite as fast as their stepped-hull competitors, Baja's conventional V-bottom offerings handle well, not to mention they are predictable, and tend to be priced fairly.

But that doesn't mean the Bucyrus, Ohio-based builder can't step it up several notches for buyers who want something in a Baja with a little more customization and a lot more attitude. Enter the 35 Outlaw Poker Run edition, a butt-kicker of a twin-engine V-bottom with a custom paint job and—thanks to two Mercury Racing HP700SCi engines—100-mph capability.

PERFORMANCE
"This is the best Baja I've run," said test driver John Tomlinson after putting the 35-footer through its paces. Lead test driver Bob Teague agreed.
"This is a cool boat," Teague said. "It turns great and accelerates great. We don't have any rough water here today, but I think it would be a good rough-water boat because you could just put down the tabs and plow through it. It's solid—it doesn't rattle or bang around. The only thing I'd add is a clear wind deflector. With just the fairing, it's pretty windy."

The 35 Outlaw Poker Run edition's deep-V hull featured four strakes, with the inner set ending roughly 8 feet forward of the notched transom, and a delta pad keel. Mercury Racing's NXT1 drives with 35"-pitch Mercury CNC propellers put the power to the water.

Although the 35-footer took some time to get the last couple of miles per hour before breaking the century mark, it eventually did get there by running 100.4 mph on radar and GPS. A touch of negative tab input was required to keep the boat securely planted at higher speeds. But the boat did its strongest, power-based work in the acceleration department. With its Mercury Racing 380S K-Planes down, it came on plane in 4.9 seconds. From a standing start, it reached 79 mph in 20 seconds.

The twin 700-horsepower supercharged engines also provided blast aplenty for the boat in the midrange. The V-bottom accelerated from 30 to 50 mph in 4.8 seconds, 40 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and 40 to 70 mph in 7.5 seconds. Our test drivers would have been disappointed had the 35 Outlaw Poker Run edition not exhibited smooth and predictable handling. Not to worry. The boat carved—in the truest sense of the word—deeply in circle and slalom turns. It was every bit as precise in straight-line tracking.

INTERIOR
By design, the cabin of our test boat was lean on frills—that's not a bad way to go for poker-run boats, which tend to get run hard. The cabin was outfitted with a V-berth, facing lounges, a suspended headliner, a sliding acrylic door in an aluminum track and not a heck of a lot else. But for buyers who want cabin frills, Baja will gladly provide them (for a price, of course).

All of the bases were covered in the deep cockpit, from twin bolsters with dropout bottoms and a sculpted rear bench to grab handles in all the right places and welted lay-in Berber carpet with the Baja logo covering the cockpit sole. Gunwale padding was ample. In the co-pilot's dash to port, the builder created molded steps for access to the deck. For stowing smaller items, there was a glove box in the co-pilot's dash as well as recesses in the gunwales. The gunwale trays also housed cupholders. Additional stowage lockers were located under the bottom cushions for the bench, which opened on a two-position hinge. And, as always, the entire cabin could be used as a place to stow gear.

The helm was outfitted with SmartCraft instruments from Mercury and rocker switches for the accessories. The boat's chrome-finished throttles and shifters were mounted in an extension from the starboard gunwale.

WORKMANSHIP
Although the 35 Outlaw Poker Run edition was laid up with "conventional" materials such as vinylester resin and layers of multidirectional fiberglass, its paint job was anything but. To dress the boat's smooth hullsides and deck to dramatic effect, the builder tapped the painting talents of the Custom Image Motorsports crew. A stainless-steel rubrail, expertly installed, provided protection for the outstanding tooling and paintwork.
To add to the bling, the builder chrome-plated the boat's swim platform. Less flashy, but still much appreciated and functional, pieces of hardware included retractable cleats, navigation lights and stainless-steel handrails.
An anchor locker was installed on the bow. Two Bomar hatches in the deck were nicely painted to match the graphics.

Our test model was equipped with what Baja calls its "poker run" hatch, which sported two sleek scoops with stainless-steel grilles in their openings. Like the deck hatches, the engine hatch, which was topped with a sun pad, was painted to match the colors of the boat.
An electric screw jack raised the hatch to a high angle. The fuel-injected Mercury Racing big-blocks boasted custom charcoal-gray accents and were installed on Mercury Racing plates/saddles through-bolted to the grid-stringer system. The builder even took the time to polish the stainless-steel nuts for the bolts. Batteries were mounted in black powder-painted billet boxes. All wires, cables and hoses were supported in a fashion that was well above production-boat standards.

OVERALL
Is Baja trying to shed its "production boat" image with models such as the 35 Outlaw Poker Run edition? To a degree, yes, but for the most part, no. The company's mainstay will continue to be solid, reasonably priced production-built performance boats. But for those who want more—and want it in a Baja package—the builder can deliver rather well.

Our test model, which had the steady performance we've come to expect from Baja but was built to semi-custom standards, proved that. Baja has lots of game, and we'd be grateful to play again in this red-hot 35-footer.

 

Nice looking Boat!!!

 

Cool ride. That back seat needs some T-handles!

That article is from last year, right? Baja has closed the Bucyrus plant and has been acquired by Fountain.