2001 Baja 40 Outlaw

Testers Notebook: Baja 40 Outlaw Location: Lake Ontario, St. Catharines, Ont. Test load: Driver and safety gear; half fuel, no water, no waste. Test day conditions: One to two-foot waves; wind variable, 8 to 10 knots. Synopsis: Powered by three Mercury Racing big blocks, the Baja 40 Outlaw proves that you don't necessarily need a stepped hull to get more than 80 mph performance and solid handling from a V-hull.

By: Mark Rotharmel
     To some people, the connotation of being bad is attractive - and when applied to fast boats like Baja's 40 Outlaw, it's a compliment.
     As implied by its full model name, the 40 is one mean performance machine, the biggest, toughest model in Baja Marine's famed Outlaw series. Powered by triple - that's right, three - big blocks from Mercury Racing, this beauty is truly race-inspired, designed to look and act like an outlaw should.
     With crisp, straight lines and a sleek, low profile, the Outlaw shouts "attitude" sitting on the trailer. With increasing demand for more traditional deck and hull styling, the softer, gentler angles, for which Baja is well known, have all but disappeared on this model. Still, Baja's flair for flow shines through with its contemporary graphics, cockpit and cabin design.
     Our test boat was strikingly white, accented by refreshing splash patterns of purple, black and green. Integrated and recessed into the deck is a low windscreen that works well considering its height. Built-in steps lead to the 40's long foredeck for ease of access when docking, handling lines and anchoring.
     Moving into the cockpit, one very busy helm greets the operator. It's a command centre filled with instruments, switches and controls - three of everything needed to monitor the 40's triple-engine set-up. Colour co-ordinated to the boat, powder-coated bezels outline the strategically placed Gaffrig performance gauges, while switches and trim buttons are positioned within fingertip reach of the throttles for a fast-safe ride.
     Seating consists of two creatively designed McLeod power bolsters for the operator and co-pilot, and a triple-bolster aft bench for passengers, complete with armrest billet handles. If aft-riding passengers choose to stand, pistol-grip handles are also built into the forward bolsters flanking the high backrest.
     The cabin is plush, crisp and clean, with creature comfort amenities you would expect in a boat of this caliber. Large stowage compartments are located under the seat cushions in the lounge and berth, as well as a separate stowage locker. While the base interior scheme is both functional and smart, you may opt for the racing-inspired Team Baja cuddy cabin - a package that will appeal to NASCAR and Indy fans everywhere.
     Sticking to its guns (as Outlaws do), the Baja 40 shuns recent tricks of the performance trade. Its step-free hull proves how remarkably well a boat will run when a builder capitalizes on and refines a conventional, proven design. Graced with a 24-degree deadrise, level chine and four running strakes (its two inside strakes ending at the driver's seat location), the Outlaw's hull handles business in a straight-forward way - choosing water tests rather than marketing copy to answer questions on design choice.
     Tabs level with the bottom, the Outlaw planed in 4.54 seconds, and laid completely flat in 7.43 seconds, at which point the speedometer was already reading 40 mph. From 40 to 70 mph takes a scant 7.64 seconds, demonstrating the awesome acceleration of this hull powered by three HP500 EFI's, pushing a grand total of 1,410 hp. Even from a dead stop to 75 mph, we clocked a time of 17.58 seconds - very quick indeed.
     Getting the centre of gravity right on a twin-engine rig is tough enough; adding another 1,000 lbs.  of motor aft could have spelled trouble, but not so with the Outlaw. The 40's ride was well balanced and smooth, with nimble maneuverability to boot. While we wished for rougher water, the one-to-two foot waves at least broke the 12,000-lb. hull free enough to flaunt its stuff at high speed.
     With 125 gallons of fuel, tabs up and trimmed three degrees positive, we captured a top end speed of 81.4 mph on GPS. While the boat's 100 mph, liquid-filled Gaffrig speedometer read accurately at slower speeds, the needle hit 84 mph during our high-speed passes.
     Until I felt comfortable with the hull's balance and cornering characteristics, turns were performed at mid-range speeds. Once comfortable, I stepped up the entry speed to 65 mph, and carved flat, tight turns. For a big boat, the 40 slalomed well and tracked smoothly - attributed in part by it's effortless Latham steering system. Spinning 28-inch pitch Bravo One props (port and centre engine turning left, starboard engine turning right),  I found the boat cornered best when trimmed slightly positive. Using negative trim induced bow steer and regardless of angle, turning to port was far more comfortable than turning starboard at higher speeds.
     Constructed for offshore conditions, the Outlaw's lamination schedule includes hand-laid bi-axial fiberglass cloth, vinylester resins and balsa core. Mercury Racing's triple powerplants were through-bolted using L-angle configurations, with two motors aft and one forward. Heralded for workmanship, Baja should be proud of the 40 - its wave-free hull sides and shining gelcoat finish did not come easy, preparation and meticulous mold work being key.
     Ultimately,  Baja's 40 Outlaw is a boat you can count on to handle consistently well regardless of water conditions. As the company loves to point out, this Outlaw "walks the walk and talks the talk."

Specs:

For the dealer nearest you contact:

Baja Marine Corporation,
PO Box 151,
Bucyrus, Ohio, U.S.A.
44820-0151
(877) 321-BAJA, Fax: (419) 562-9848