Baker Custom Boats- History?

**Old fiberglass** · 12-18-2012, 01:47 PM

Got a picture of the deck ?? At ~20' yours is a couple of feet bigger than the ones in question I believe.

The center sponson looks pretty wide compaired to other tunnels I have seen.

**BuckCamp** · 12-18-2012, 02:08 PM

Here is the top & inside...

I did read where it appears that a fire hit the Tahiti-Facility in So-Cal in the 80's. This lead to some of the Tahiti molds being sold off & Hardin may have bought a few. I have researched Tahiti's & have yet to find anything remotely close.

I have the original brochure that came with the boat; it has other Jet & I/O powered (Caribbean/Tahiti-Boats by Hardin-Marine) displayed. Mine, the Caribbean Model "GT-200" is the only one that is powered by O/B-ONLY from the factory & the only Mod-VP they offered in the late 80's & early 90's.

It is not a "Super-Light-Lay-Up" & shows NO stress cracks on the deck, or anywhere else. It is a Full-4-Stringer-Hull (balsa-wood), with Hand-Laid-Glass throughout; no spray-crud -- but no kevlar. All seats & non-essential-interior can be removed VERY quickly.

Thanks Again!!!

~Buck

**Michael Martin** · 12-18-2012, 04:17 PM

very pretty - I'd like to see the bass deck too

**BuckCamp** · 12-18-2012, 04:44 PM

Sorry for my ignorance Mr. Martin, but what is the "bass-deck"?

Originally Posted by Michael Martin

very pretty - I'd like to see the bass deck too

**racer** · 12-18-2012, 09:07 PM

Buck, The Hardin boat was not splashed from the boats you mentioned I however cant remember it origin right now

**BuckCamp** · 12-18-2012, 10:56 PM

Thanks Racer, Glad To See You Chime In!!! I have some receipts from your fine shop; back when the boat was in California --> prop-work, jack-plate, L/U-work, PH-tune, etc.

I Love The Boat, it is my first performance-type-hull & I will never go back to a "vanilla-boat" - Thanks to 2-Stroke-Oil, V-Pads, Tunnel's, Out-Boards, S&F & the Members on the board!!!

I had heard that Art Carleson may have had some design-influence, but this info came from a sketchy "6th-hand" type source... Thanks For Any And All Input You May Have!!! I am trying to get her set-up correctly for a few different circumstances --> Lake Cruising w/ passengers, 800'-Passes & Top-End-Run's. I know i will have to change prop's, engine-height, etc for each purpose. I am also putting her on a dyno this winter so as to dial-in the PCU (Brucato, 10,250 max-rpm, 260-curve). It is a Dale Eaves built 2.5L 225PM power-head, steel-sleeves, forged-pistons, top-pinned, SVS, 39psi, Bosch-pump, 30-mic before pump, 10-mic before rail, ported, cut-chest, rod-slots, steel-caged-bearings, 33cc-heads, balanced, lightened, 16-amp, etc.

Thanks Again & Lemme Know If You Come Up With Any Other Info; I'll buy you a tank of gas if I ever make the Parker-Run (it's on my bucket-list)!!!!

~buck

Originally Posted by racer

Buck, The Hardin boat was not splashed from the boats you mentioned I however cant remember it origin right now

**F14** · 12-19-2012, 12:35 AM

Baker built this model as well, the Rampage. I have seen one with a blown V8 jet.

**Da Bull** · 12-19-2012, 09:29 AM

Well, I spent most of the day, yesterday, looking for a picture of Tom Soares building the "PLUG" for the Darth Bake Pickle Fork..and never found it...

After Tim "lost" at Parker, he never really recovered his interest in MOD VP.... But when he came home from Parker, he drew some drawing for a new boat. Some of the design features I liked, but I thought he's made it too big for MOD VP....

When Tim had the bottom finished, I worked out an agereement with Jerry Baker to build a deck mold and built "US" a boat. Jerry built the deck, and the boat became known as THE DARTH BAKER. Had the had 2.5 EFI power it would have been a ROCKET.. Or had we contiuned to race Havasu in 4 foot waves...

Tim raced the boat at Parker and I don't recall how it did. Jerry sold quite a few DARTH BAKERS as jets. Because of their size they supported the car engine weight and with extra horse power, they ran really

What ever happened to this "Darth Baker" boat? Did any make it to any of the COR races? Parker of latter years? Ron i know you have a picture or two.

DB

**Kona 21** · 03-05-2015, 11:00 PM

I know this is an old thread but being a Kona fan I found this looks around and find it interesting. Wasn't Jerry Baker the owner or Co-Owner of Kona Boats? The Baker 20' XTR-2000 Mini Day Cruiser and the Kona 20' Mini Day Cruiser are the same hull and deck right? Who has those molds now?

**Da Bull** · 03-06-2015, 01:54 PM

Wow this is an old thread. Kona was made by Fiberglass Unlimited in Westminster, Ca. untill they sold the molds to VIP in Vivian, La. I think it was in the mid 80`s.

**Kona 21** · 03-10-2015, 10:43 PM

How does the Baker 20' XTR-2000 Mini Day of the same hull and deck design come into play between those times? Also my 78 Kona has a HIN of ENP with Kona title and cast Kona emblems the guy (Rod Hudson an avid well known car guy) I bought it from here in the Houston area said he got it new in 79 or 80 here in the Houston area. He told me the boat was one of the traveling boat show boats and was sold off after Kona went defunct.

It for sure in not a VIP since I had another friend who had a 82 VIP Kona and it was the same hull and deck design but rigged (OB) and the gel finish\interior was different with chrome vinyl stickers in the same font. Mine looks like an original Kona.