2003 Baja Outlaw 20 Restomod

[Marios Metalworks]

A thread on freshening up my float. What I've done in the past, what I'm doing now and for whatever might come next.

It’s my first boat and we’re on our fourth season together. Originally purchased in December 2018 with the proceeds from selling furniture I designed, built and sold as a side hustle. Aptly named "Furniture Money" whom just rolled 700hrs on the San Juan arm of Lake Powell 2021 (bought with 514hrs). You can read about that HERE

Some of my favorite memories from over the years:

 

[Marios Metalworks]

One of the first projects was adding a closed cell PE/EVA foam to the swim step. It just straight up hurt to kneel on it and the textured finish left me wanting more grip.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Another one of the very first projects was a much needed upgrade to the sound system. Electrical engineering was never a strength of mine so I made sure to go deep into detail when designing the setup. Went overkill on the first iteration then simplified the setup immensely. This project also called for adding a 2nd battery, 2nd perko and an isolated power/ground loop w/ and inline fuse for safety.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

The next round of upgrades is currently underway!

Started with a repair to the bow which induced a color-way change. Went back and forth on paint/gel/wrap and decided on the wrap as the cost and time savings was unbeatable. Thought it was cool that the original graphics are now ghosted in but you wouldn't know unless you were looking for them.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

I spent the last four months sourcing all types of parts that would help refresh the Baja's looks. RDP def helped along the way!

The projects that I'll be posting up on this thread:

• New stainless steel rubrail ---> read about it HERE
• New air-horn w/ stainlesl steel cover plate
• New stainless steel mushroom style fender pop-outs ---> thank you @gqchris
• New NOCO dual battery tender
• Repurposed Gaffrig guage set w/ GPS speedo ---> thank you @Tank
• New navigation lights ---> read about it HERE
• Repurposed silver bimini modified into a low profile setup

 

[Marios Metalworks]

I started the bimini project last night. I got a great deal on huge bimini from a pontoon boat that color matched my boat perfectly. I would of spent more on just sourcing the aluminum tube so it was a no brainer. Once the frame is completed, the idea is to cut up the fabric and sew in a white stripe along with new tube sleeves.

Going for this shape but with more length:

 

[gqchris]

I spent the last four months sourcing all types of parts that would help refresh the Baja's looks. RDP def helped along the way!

The projects that I'll be posting up on this thread:

• New stainless steel rubrail ---> read about it HERE
• New air-horn w/ stainlesl steel cover plate
• New stainless steel mushroom style fender pop-outs ---> thank you @gqchris
• New NOCO dual battery tender
• Repurposed Gaffrig guage set w/ GPS speedo ---> thank you @Tank
• New navigation lights ---> read about it HERE
• Repurposed silver bimini modified into a low profile setup

Cant wait to follow along and see the upgrades Mario!!

 

[counterpart7]

Looks great! Stereo looks really good and I think the boat looks cleaner without those factory graphics! How is that swim step material holding up? I have been considering doing the same thing.

Where are you located? Couple of those pics look like Bartlett or Canyon? Haven't been to any of the East Valley lakes yet.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

@counterpart7 Thank you. The swim step material has been great but It's showing signs of needing replaced after 3yrs of heavy use. At <$60 per sheet I am more than happy about how well its held up AND I'll be using the templates to cut out the next batch from that very same sheet.

I'm in downtown PHX and frequent mostly Pleasant, Bartlett and Saguaro. Couple of those pics are from Canyon which is always a nice break from our usual lineup.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Cant wait to follow along and see the upgrades Mario!!

Updating the thread should be fun and def hold me accountable. FYI I'm pulling the blue coating off the pop-outs and polishing them up to match all the other SS trim.

 

[counterpart7]

@counterpart7 Thank you. The swim step material has been great but It's showing signs of needing replaced after 3yrs of heavy use. At <$60 per sheet I am more than happy about how well its held up AND I'll be using the templates to cut out the next batch from that very same sheet.

I'm in downtown PHX and frequent mostly Pleasant, Bartlett and Saguaro. Couple of those pics are from Canyon which is always a nice break from our usual lineup.

Nice! Do you have a link to that specific manufacturer?

Our shop is in Downtow PHX as well, hope to see you out on the water sometime and feel free to come say Hi if you see us out there!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Sure thing ---> Marine EVA Foam Decking <--- Mine specifcally is the Faux Teak in "light brown w/ white seam line"

Let me know when you plan on ordering as I need more to test a snap-in carpet concept in a larger scale than what I've been playing around with below:

 

[coolchange]

Cool thread but…. What kind of furniture did you build?

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Cool thread but…. What kind of furniture did you build?

Still build! My three hottest ticket items are dining tables, office desks and giant leaning mirrors.

 

[TOOLEY]

Cool thread

 

[pull-on]

Great thread Mario. Looking forward to more!!!!!!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Today is a short day as I have a rental drop off for my mobile bar business. Read about it HERE <—

Shifted to the rubrail project as I was literally one pop-rivet short of what was needed to complete the Bimini cross bars!

Measured out for drill patterns and fastener count so I could pick those up along with the pop rivets this evening.

Ran 12V through the nav lights and horn and they’re fully functional Also managed to pull out the batteries and get them hooked up to the NOCO tender.

 

[Tank]

Can’t wait to see the project come along! Funny this just came up I just finally paid my buddy for the gauges you bought lol. I forgot and he forgot

Keep up the good work!!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Sunday funday!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Having an extra set of hands made this go quick!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

We put in a good four hours at the shop today and managed to to get the semi-rigid rubrail installed, test fit the polished steel insert and clean up the interior for reinstall.

 

[ChrisV]

Badass dude! Keep up the good work

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Thanks @ChrisV, I had been on the fence with the rubrail project and your build thread pushed me in the right direction

@Tank thank you sir. The gauge project will be intense and require modifying the dash significantly but it’ll bring the electronics more up to date on a budget

 

[Riverryder]

so what does the system look like now? it installed? is the corgi the girls?

 

[Marios Metalworks]

@Riverryder The heart of the system looks like the photo below and is ready to go back into the boat. It's been running flawlessly since the initial install, I'll post up some more detailed pics once It's back in. Sits high and dry on a shelf under the bow, you pull the sub out of the box to access (3) through bolts. Then connect a simple sub-harness that hangs up and out of the way for power, RCAs and speaker wire.

That mean old corg is Wintson and belongs to my lady. FYI when I first met him he was recovering from back surgery and couldn't walk!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

I think my first corner turned out great!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

This went surprisingly quick and I’m pretty happy so far. The hard part will be shaping the bow but luckily I have two shots at it.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Well damn boys! Aside from a few touch ups and adding a few counter sunk fasteners to the SS trim, the rubrail is in!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

On a roll tonight! Holes for the navigation lights are drilled and they're ready for #10 SS pan head screws. I'll pick those up tomorrow and get to work on the new wiring harness.

At first I wasn't too happy with the location but it's growing on me. Tried a few different spots but ultimately decided on a USCG/ABYC compliant location of 24 deg. relative to the boats centerline above the rub rail.

 

[Riverryder]

nice!!!! good job dude i really like everything your doing to the boat..

 

[Marios Metalworks]

nice!!!! good job dude i really like everything your doing to the boat..

Thank you. I've really enjoyed the whole process from research & sourcing to planning & executing.


Here's an update from post #5:

• New stainless steel rubrail ---> read about it HERE
  • The install is 95% complete.
  • What's Next? Adding a few counter sunk fasteners and making a clean cap to cover were the ends meet at the transom.
• New air-horn w/ stainless steel cover plate
• New stainless steel mushroom style fender pop-outs ---> thank you @gqchris
• New NOCO dual battery tender
• Repurposed Gaffrig guage set w/ GPS speedo ---> thank you @Tank
• New navigation lights ---> read about it HERE
  • The install is 50% complete.
  • What's Next? Drill mounting holes for fasteners and build wiring harness from new lights back to the original harness location.
• Repurposed silver bimini modified into a low profile setup
  • This project is 10% complete.
  • What's Next? Continue modifying the cross bars to match the initial 13" width reduction.

 

[Ty N]

Well damn boys! Aside from a few touch ups and adding a few counter sunk fasteners to the SS trim, the rubrail is in!

View attachment 1101288 View attachment 1101289

Where did you find the stainless rail?

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Where did you find the stainless rail?

Ordered from Chris @ Integrity Marine back east. You can read more about it in this rubrail thread. Feel free to ask whatever questions you have.

 

[gqchris]

Coming right along Mario, thanks for taking us on the journey!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

You're welcome @gqchris. I consume a crazy amount of content on this site so figured I'd pay it back.

Little lunch break pulling the blue coating off your old fender anchors. I need a stiffer buffing wheel and red compound to bring back the gloss but it's close!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

So closed up the shop to run down to McFadden Dales and couldn't find Hitch. He's usually right by my side when in the back but was nowhere to be found until....

The face says it all

 

[gqchris]

You're welcome @gqchris. I consume a crazy amount of content on this site so figured I'd pay it back.

Little lunch break pulling the blue coating off your old fender anchors. I need a stiffer buffing wheel and red compound to bring back the gloss but it's close!

View attachment 1101616

View attachment 1101615


View attachment 1101618

View attachment 1101619

Nice, never thought of doing that! Great idea.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Short night tonight as it's tennis tuesday with my lady.

Got the nav lights mounted and the new air horn installed. All the polished SS accents are really coming together!

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Today's lunch break.

Damnit @02HoWaRd26 what have I started!??!! Why is this is addicting

Welp, looks like all the SS hardware is coming off the boat! Quick wet sand and polish on the left of the cleat, 19 years of of use on the right.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

In my opinion it’s what makes a boat your own, adding your own detail and attitude into it.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Well said!

She’s back at it fellas while I’m in the hole cleaning up horn/nav light wiring.

We’re going to make serious headway tonight. Surprising her with a nice bike ride to a new dinner spot downtown tomorrow.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Mario your floats looking good man!

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Where did you find information on building your audio system? I'm not an audio junkie myself.

 

[ChrisV]

coming out bitchin! Trailer next

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Where did you find information on building your audio system? I'm not an audio junkie myself.

90% Crutchfield FAQ page. Their how-to’s are written extremely well. Then I’d say 5% online forums like this one and 5% YouTube videos.

I’m the furthest from an audio junkie so there’s hope for you. Def helped me to get it all on paper.

BTW it’s not complete yet! I got a little trick up my sleeve for a floating speaker pod that runs off the radio deck amp (I have a 400w amp running my mids/highs). I’ll be tinkering with that this summer.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Today's lunch break. Held off on reinstalling batteries as the bote was due for some much needed deep cleaning. Went through the interior scrubbing down everything I could get my hands on.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

coming out bitchin! Trailer next

You first! As ugly as it might look, the thing is mechanically sound. I had a catastrophic leaf spring failure in 2018 which caused me to rework it top to bottom sans aesthetics. I can't tell you how many Adrenaline trailer posts/stories I have saved for inspiration.

In my opinion it’s what makes a boat your own, adding your own detail and attitude into it.

It's starting to feel that way. It's that "you know what I'm already here..might as well" phrase, gets me everytime.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

Shit i need to figure out my own trailer as well sooner than later.

 

[ChrisV]

You first! As ugly as it might look, the thing is mechanically sound. I had a catastrophic leaf spring failure in 2018 which caused me to rework it top to bottom sans aesthetics. I can't tell you how many Adrenaline trailer posts/stories I have saved for inspiration.




It's starting to feel that way. It's that "you know what I'm already...might as well" phrase, gets me everytime.

I ended up getting American racing thrust wheels. Should be here next week so I can get cracking.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

@ChrisV Wowza those are going to look clean. Are you going to mind the gap? Haha

The lady came and stole my pup, I think she’s on to surprise dinner plans

Power nap complete. Time to put some work in! Batteries and sound system are next. Plan on firing her up on the hose before closing up shop. Bet she’ll fire first turn.