In the next month or two, Houston boater Chris Lutich is going to be eagerly awaiting the delivery of a boat that was just a pipe dream many years ago. That’s because Lutich, who had always wanted to own a new Baja Marine sportboat but thought it unlikely given the volatility of the brand before and after the last economic depression, recently ordered a 2018 Baja Marine 27 Outlaw from the team at Big Thunder Marine in Gravois Mills, Mo.

Erin and Chris Lutich are excited about the new Baja Marine 27 Outlaw they ordered from Big Thunder Marine.

And the best part is that Lutich and his wife, Erin, have been able to be part of the customization process, which includes choosing a paint design and color scheme with Mark Morris and company at Visual Imagination in Peculiar, Mo.

“I’ve wanted a Baja for as long as I can remember but right around the time I was in a position to get one, the economy took a dump and Baja went south,” Lutich said. “My wife and I ended up buying a Sea Ray SX210, and it was a good boat but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I eventually sold the boat, and not long after the Iconic Marine Group started bringing the Baja line back around, which is awesome.

“About a year ago we had the opportunity to go to the factory in North Carolina,” he continued. “Thanks to Joe Curran of Iconic, we saw the plant and got to ride on a 26-foot Baja with an 8.2 Mag engine. That really got us thinking about getting a new boat.”

To reinforce the thought process, Lutich went to visit Ed Champion of Big Thunder Marine last summer for a local Lake of the Ozarks boat show and ended up stopping by Visual Imagination to meet with Morris and see some of the work he had going on. Half a year later, Lutich finalized the deal on a 27 Outlaw with a Mercury Racing 540 engine.

Although the rendering above (click to enlarge) says Outlaw 26, the Lutich’s Baja that is being painted by Visual Imagination is a 27.

“The more we started talking the more I realized we should do it right and go with the 540,” Lutich said. “I don’t know how fast it will run, but I’m not concerned with top speed.”

Lutich, who said he ordered a MYCO Trailer to carry the 27-foot V-bottom, is all about having fun on the water and being safe. That’s one of the reasons he ordered the boat with Mercury Racing’s Performance Active Trim system, the integrated boat speed-based engine trim system specifically designed for performance application where the gear cases are running partially surfaced.

Lutich said it was neat to be able to pick out colors for the Livorsi Marine controls and bezels, as well as the engine package, the interior and other accents. He added that getting to work with Ed, Barb and the rest of the Big Thunder Marine team has been a pleasure.

“Everyone I’ve dealt with has been so nice,” Lutich said. “They all make you feel like family. And I don’t even have my boat yet.”

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