A Performance Boat Can be Your First Boat (Baja)
Kind Words for Baja (Fountain)
High performance on the water. 
Another perspective. 
A view of the bow. 
Comfortable seating. Captain's Report
For The Die Hard Offshore EnthusiastTested by Capt. Ron SvobodaNothing is quite as thrilling as driving a twin-engine muscle boat, especially when the water gets rough. Enjoyably, I recently had the opportunity to test the much anticipated new 30 Outlaw performance boat by Baja. Fortunately, the newly designed model did not disappoint in aesthetics, nor behind the wheel.FeaturesStarting with a clean sheet of paper, the engineers at Baja have designed an all-new boat. They have incorporated aerospace technology into the hull lamination and finished the deck design with wind tunnel testing. The result is a boat that offers great performance and good value, while also providing a cabin with more space and amenities than you’ll find on other performance boats of equal length. Now, add to that your choice of engine and drive set-ups available from MerCruiser, and you can have your Outlaw rigged from mild to wild. Either way, great handling and head turning style are all part of the package.LayoutThe cockpit is typical with a wide bench seat aft, and two drop-bottom bolster seats forward. As an option, McLeod electric seats are available for the captain and companion. If you plan on doing your boating in rougher waters, I highly recommend the upgrade over the stock Rotocast bucket seats. In the back, your guests will have plenty of room for their beverages and belongings in the side coaming panels. Throughout the cockpit are sturdy grab rails in addition to handles on the rear of the front bolster seats. While up front, the companion seating has access to the Clarion stereo and a self-draining glove box. Behind the WheelAt the helm, keeping an eye on the two engines will be easy, thanks to a clean dash configuration and ‘Monster Gauges’ by Gaffrig. The controls are divided at the helm with throttles to starboard and shifters mounted to port. Drive and tab switches are within reach of the throttles, as are the easy to read drive and tab indicators.CabinAccess to the cabin is through a curved acrylic cabin door. The door slides neatly into the helm station and is complimented by several steps that are notched into the console. These steps are a great help when moving to the fore deck, unfortunately, the non-skid surface ends at the steps. The foredeck is completely devoid of any type of grip, making it slippery, so use caution if you have to go up there. Should you dare to make the trip forward, you’ll find a large anchor locker located at the bow. It features hardware for securing a fluke style anchor and has plenty of space for rode. Inside the cabin, the Baja designers earn top marks for its layout. Rather than use the typical V-berth and twin facing couches that have to compromise space, they innovatively eliminated the forward berth and utilized two very long couches that convert quickly into a place for three people to sleep. Additionally, a snack table can be inserted, resulting in a large comfortable dinette area. Best of all, our test boat came equipped with cabin air conditioning than can be used while at the dock.GalleyBaja also made use of a mini-galley that is very well equipped with a pressurized faucet and sink, as well as a microwave oven located on a large Formica countertop. Above, you’ll find a power distribution panel and a CD changer, while below the counter is an AC/DC refrigerator and storage cabinet.Another luxury included on the 30 that you won’t see on other go-fast machines is a private head compartment. Large enough for tall adults to use, the head features a porta-potti and a convenient place to stow the snack table when it’s not in use.SpecsThe overall length of the new Baja is 30 feet, 1 inch. If you add the tubular aluminum swim platform to the equation, then total length will be 31 feet 9 inches long. The tall deck boat has a beam of 8 feet, 6 inches and weighs a substantial 6,900 pounds. With the drives in the down position you will need 35 inches of water to clear the Outlaw’s 4-blade, stainless steel propellers.Performance NumbersHammering down the Mercury Racing throttles, the Outlaw accelerated quickly to a top speed of 70.8 miles per hour at 4850 rpm. In order to get the most efficient cruise speed you will have to back the throttles down to 3500 rpm. This will result in fuel economy of 1.52 miles per gallon while traveling 52.5 miles per hour. So properly equipped, the new 30 Outlaw will provide even the most jaded offshore enthusiast with a great ride!Test Result Highlights
- Top speed for the Baja 30 Outlaw is 70.8 mph (113.9 kph), burning 65.1 gallons per hour (gph) or 246.4 liters per hour (lph).
- Best cruise for the Baja 30 Outlaw is 42.2 mph (67.9 kph), and the boat gets 1.65 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.7 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 211 miles (339.57 kilometers).
- Tested power is 2 x 425-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG HO.
Standard and Optional Features
Systems
| Air Cond./Heat | Optional |
|---|---|
| CD Stereo | Standard Clarion |
| Head: Portable | Standard |
| Head: Fixed | Optional |
| Power Steering | Standard |
| Trim Tabs | Standard |
| TV/DVD | Optional |
Galley
| Microwave | Optional |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Optional |
Exterior Features
| Carpet: Cockpit | Optional |
|---|---|
| Outlet: 12-Volt Acc | Standard |
| Swim Platform | Optional |
| Transom Shower | Optional |
Canvas
| Cockpit Cover | Optional Sunbrella |
|---|
Warranty
|
Hull Warranty Transferable |
5-year Limited Warranty Yes - Limited http://www.bajamarine.com/index.asp?display=ownerswarranty&tab=4& |
|---|---|
|
Deck Warranty |
5-year Limited Warranty http://www.bajamarine.com/index.asp?display=ownerswarranty&tab=4& |
|
Engine Warranty |
None |
|
Powertrain Warranty |
None |
|
Gelcoat Warranty |
3-Year Limited Warranty |
|
Blistering Warranty |
3-Year Limited Warranty http://www.bajamarine.com/index.asp?display=ownerswarranty&tab=4& |
| Certifications | |
| NMMA Certification Other Certification | Yes IQ Certified |
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