Marine
Baja Marine, General Motors and Monroe Truck Equipment Partner on 2008 Split Decision Poker Run Tour
BUCYRUS, Ohio (February 14, 2008) - Baja Marine is pleased to announce the debut of the 2008 Split Decision Poker Run Tour boat and matching tow vehicle. Baja Marine and General Motors Corporation have brought together a customized 2008 Baja 40 Outlaw with a 2008 Chevrolet Kodiak pickup truck, both featuring all-new, one-of-a-kind graphics created by Baja Marine's in-house design team. This formidable twosome will set out later this year on the 2008 Split Decision Poker Run Tour, making stops at numerous poker runs and events all across North America.
The tradition of creating poker run tour Baja boats goes back several years, and each new boat sets a higher standard for astonishing performance and style. Baja Marine's 2008 poker run tour boat is no exception. Baja tuned this 40 Outlaw, dubbed Split Decision, with the finest high-performance options available from Mercury Racing and the most advanced instrumentation from Livorsi Marine.
"We can't wait to see Split Decision get out on the water and hear reactions from the community of Baja owners," said Barbara Grobicki, director of marketing at Baja Marine. "Beyond being a great source of pride for us, the poker run tour boats have really become centerpieces in the many get-togethers of Baja fans."
Twin 700-hp Mercury Racing 700 SCi engines, introduced in 2007, will power Split Decision through its crisscrossing tour of North America. Mercury Racing also supplied CNC five-blade cleaver propellers and NXT1 drives. Corsa Performance provided pressure-activated exhaust tips that help reduce high-end noise without sacrificing a shred of performance. And Mercury Racing's recently introduced SmartCraft VesselView Race Edition display makes its Baja debut on the Split Decision 40 Outlaw.
"Baja has incorporated the best Mercury Racing has to offer into Split Decision," said Rick Mackie, senior marketing manager at Mercury Racing. "It represents a huge technical stride forward. Out on the water, no other boat can match the bold presence this Baja is sure to achieve."
The Split Decision 40 Outlaw follows in the full-throttle footsteps of Lucky 7's, the award-winning 35 Outlaw from 2007. Also powered by twin 700-hp Mercury Racing 700 SCi engines and featuring a host of high-performance features and upgrades, Lucky 7's tore up its 20-plus-city tour and earned top honors at several stops along the way. Lucky 7's won "Best Poker Run Boat" at the Daytona Poker Run and stole the show at Montreal's Lac St. Pierre Poker Run, winning "Best Graphics" and "Best Overall Team." With such decorated predecessors like Lucky 7's, expectations are understandably high for Split Decision.
Rivaling its head-turning performance are Split Decision's eye-catching graphics. This year's design juxtaposes two opposing forces, lending the boat two distinct looks. "The main concept behind this year's boat is the use of fire and ice," said Steve Nelson, lead designer at Baja Marine. "The deck has been split down the middle - in a sense, creating two boats in one. Tying it all together is the Outlaw figure, who holds a royal flush in each hand."
Livorsi Marine provided instrumentation and numerous electrical upgrades to the Split Decision Baja. The tachometers and engine-monitoring gauges, such as water temperature and oil pressure, are from Livorsi. In addition, a revolutionary multi-function gauge from DataTach displays GPS speed, tachometer readings, compass heading, and even performs a mathematical equation to measure propeller slip-similar to measuring a tire spinning on a car. Split Decision features keyless ignition controlled by a security keypad. All the gauges and switches have blue LED lighting, lending the entire dash a brilliantly striking presence. Lexan windows on the engine compartment lid that reveal the 700 SCi engines have been etched to feature the Baja swoosh and are lit with blue and red LED lights. The LED dash and cockpit lighting even continues underwater, with transom lighting from Ocean LED mounted between the drives. And all of the 200-plus custom lighting elements throughout the boat, in addition to the engine compartment lid actuators, can be controlled from a handheld remote.
The commanding sound system combines JL Audio components and Clarion electronics, all from Marine Audio. The six custom hand-wound sub-woofers are all-new from JL Audio, and speakers play through seven individually controlled amps. All the speakers and even the dash and transom audio remote controls feature custom blue and red backlighting.
Split Decision is the first Baja to feature all-new McLeod IV bolsters. A set of four, each custom-embroidered with the Split Decision moniker, offers secure and comfortable cockpit seating. A Baja-designed triple bolster rear bench also keeps aft passengers snugly in place.
Livorsi supplied Split Decision's many hardware upgrades. The list of billet aluminum additions includes the throttles, dash gauge bezels, six in-cabin fender racks, six fender cleats and even small washers that highlight the stringer bolts. A pair of Livorsi hatch actuator covers show off the engine compartment, and Livorsi battery boxes and covers secure the Optima batteries. The two onboard chrome fire extinguishers with billet aluminum holders are also provided by Livorsi. And in the cabin are two innovative, custom-made life jacket racks. To create the racks, stainless steel jacket hangers were welded to polished stainless steel tubes mounted to the cabin walls. The Split Decision moniker has been laser-cut into the tubes, then backlit with LED lighting.
Among the most dazzling visual features of the Split Decision combo are the fully integrated graphics. The unique paint job covers the boat's hull, cockpit, dash and even the cabin. The graphics continue onto dash gauge bezels and across dial faces, creating a seamless, unified design. And Split Decision even features a one-of-a-kind billet aluminum swim platform machined and painted to carry the boat's name and signature graphics.
"The coolest part of our work was on the gauge dials and rims," said Ed Mannion, general manager of Livorsi Marine. "We worked with Kustom Kolors to create a paint job on the dials that matches precisely with the whole color scheme of the boat."
Between its on-water appearances, the Split Decision 40 Outlaw will ride in style aboard a tri-axle trailer courtesy of Heritage Custom Trailers. This specially outfitted trailer includes a drive guard to protect propellers and custom steps with handrail to aid boarding during boat launch. The Heritage trailer sports Alcoa rims, which match the wheels on the Split Decision tow vehicle.
The matching tow vehicle for the 2008 Split Decision Poker Run Tour is a 2008 Chevrolet Kodiak pickup truck customized by Monroe Truck Equipment, Inc. (MTE). The Kodiak MTE boasts a Duramax 6.6L Diesel engine that churns out 330 horsepower and 620 ft-lbs of torque through a capable Allison 2350 HS Series six-speed overdrive transmission. With this potent combination of engine and transmission, the Kodiak MTE achieves an impressive gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 30,000 pounds. The Split Decision tow vehicle rides on 22-inch wheels and an MTE Cab Air Ride Suspension. The exterior upgrades include three-inch tubular stainless steel step bars, stainless steel tubular bed rails and a three-inch tubular chrome bumper. For optimal navigation lighting, the Split Decision Kodiak MTE is outfitted with a three-inch chrome tubular front light bar with two PIAA driving lights and two PIAA fog lights.
The cab has also been decked out with the MTE premier upgrade interior package. It includes a 15-inch flip-down entertainment system and six MTX Thunder Dome axial speakers. The interior also comes equipped with a Pioneer Navigational Radio system including a rear- and side-view camera system. MTE custom carpet, floor mat and premier leather seat packages round out the interior upgrades.
"General Motors and Monroe Truck Equipment have combined the hardworking attributes of the Chevrolet Kodiak with the style and flair only Baja can bring to the market," said John Gaydash, GM's director of marketing for fleet and commercial operations. "The collaboration of General Motors and Monroe Truck Equipment allows GM dealerships to combine the many towing needs with the comfort and amenities that Class 2 and 3 pickup truck owners have come to enjoy, while not compromising the safety needed for larger towing requirements. This truly is the complete package for boating lifestyle enthusiasts. It delivers the power needed to fit their daily lives while, at the same time, showcases their passion and distinctive style."
"By teaming up with world-class Baja Marine for its 2008 Split Decision Poker Run Tour and select boat shows, Monroe Truck Equipment is demonstrating the Kodiak MTE's versatility-show-stopping style coupled with head-turning power and maneuverability, which matches the full-throttle Baja experience," said Rick Rufenacht, vice president of marketing and sales at Monroe Truck Equipment. "This unique vehicle provides all the muscle needed to tow these exceptional boats, yet gives the comfort and ride of a pickup truck."
There will be plenty of opportunities for Baja fans to catch the Split Decision 40 Outlaw and matching Chevy Kodiak MTE during its season-long tour. "With Split Decision, Baja further pushes the boundaries of what a performance boat can be and do," said Dave Olson, president of Baja Marine. "This unrivaled combo of boat and tow rig proves yet again that Baja is at the forefront of performance and style."
For more information about Baja Marine's events and to learn more about the 40 Outlaw and the rest of the full-throttle lineup, visit www.bajamarine.com. For more information about the Chevrolet Kodiak MTE pickup truck, visit www.gm.com and monroetruck.com. For more information about the Mercury 700 SCi engine, visit www.mercurymarine.com.
ABOUT BAJA(r) MARINE CORPORATION
Baja Marine Corporation is the leading manufacturer of performance boats. Headquartered in Bucyrus, OH, Baja is a division of Brunswick Corporation. For more information on Baja Marine Corporation, please call (877) 321-BAJA (2252) or visit www.bajamarine.com. Baja manufactures and markets runabouts and performance boats from 19 to 42 feet.
About General Motors Corporation
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 274,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
About Mercury Racing
Based in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Racing, a division of Mercury Marine, is a leading provider of high-performance marine propulsion systems to discriminating boaters worldwide, offering an exciting and fulfilling powerboating experience on the water. Using leading-edge technology, Mercury Racing produces high-performance outboards, sterndrives, propellers, parts and accessories. Mercury Racing-powered boats worldwide win more races and set more records than any boats powered by other marine engine manufacturers. Mercury Marine is a division of Brunswick Corp. (NYSE: BC), the world's largest manufacturer of recreational products, including pleasure boats, marine engines, fitness equipment, and bowling and billiards.
About Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill "Genuine Ingenuity" in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Albemarle, Arvor, Baja, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Laguna, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Örnvik, Palmetto, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Savage, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; IDS dealer management systems; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Dynamo, Tornado and Valley pool tables, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit www.brunswick.com.
Contact: Barbara Grobicki
Director of Marketing
Phone: 865-971-6538
E-mail: barbara.grobicki@bajamarine.com
