Bassett Headers Closed

[dread Pirate]

Was just reading that Bassett has closed up or at least is no longer making headers. CP has their leftover stock and may start building headers if there's enough demand. Sad day for the jet boat and v-drive crowd.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

End of an era for sure.

 

[sintax]

everyones gonna say how sad it is, but you dont see any of these deckboat boi's running around with over the transom dry stacks on their magics, eliminators, or cheetahs!

 

[dread Pirate]

For the record, the bikes have nothing to do with the header/boat business. Completely different folks. The bikes were started by Paul bitd, but someone else bought the rights.

 

[Hydroman55]

Another piece of boating history gone.

 

[77charger]

There’s other choices for over transom headers lately that were better suited for higher hp. And rev boats ot headers were fading away.

Maybe they chose to not follow the trend and adapt.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

everyones gonna say how sad it is, but you dont see any of these deckboat boi's running around with over the transom dry stacks on their magics, eliminators, or cheetahs!

Be way cooler if they did...

 

[rivermobster]

End of an era for sure.

Definitely.

 

[Boat 405]

Dang.... Bum deal.

Bassett Twisties were some of the best performing headers around.

Is Paul still around?

 

[dread Pirate]

Dang.... Bum deal.

Bassett Twisties were some of the best performing headers around.

Is Paul still around?

Not sure, but I can ask someone that would know.

I'm fortunate to have 2 nice sets of twisties hanging in my shop. May go have a cocktail and wipe them down this evening,,,

Those brass t-valves are gonna get hard to come by real fast.

 

[jeteater1]

There Headerers made a lovely note.

 

[Gelcoater]

everyones gonna say how sad it is, but you dont see any of these deckboat boi's running around with over the transom dry stacks on their magics, eliminators, or cheetahs!

Very true.
The thing is?
All those guys need pipes to go between the Mercury exhaust manifolds and the transom.
Why didn’t Bassett get into the tail pipe end?
Twisties are cool and always will be, but times change and trends change.
Change with them or....

 

[JJ McClure]

For the record, the bikes have nothing to do with the header/boat business. Completely different folks. The bikes were started by Paul bitd, but someone else bought the rights.

Well. What happened? When I was a kid Bassett built BMX bikes. Now that they’re back in business building bikes... I want one. I thought Paul ran the bike side too.

 

[jetboatperformance]

I used to sell tons of Rewarders and entertained buying it from the Custom car people in Camarillo that Jim eventually sold to .... When I queried Bassett their "deal" was 30k buy in (to be maintained and only sell at MSR and the profit worked out to be around 10% to 15% ... simply not worth the struggle

 

[dread Pirate]

Well. What happened? When I was a kid Bassett built BMX bikes. Now that they’re back in business building bikes... I want one. I thought Paul ran the bike side too.

I wasn't paying attention when Basset started building bikes again, so I missed that and apparently a lot of drama? I had one of the first 24" back in the day and kick myself, but anyway,,,,

I don't know the person building them now. People who I know don't have good things to say. I haven't seen any of the newer bikes in person, but they do look good from the photos.

Also, Paul is well from what I just heard from a friend, but he hasn't seen him recently.

 

[ka0tyk]

They're pretty much banned everywhere or people get hassled. Those who still have small boats that use em, usually dont buy new ones they drive them so little they'll last forever. Performance boating changed. Their market basically disappeared and they didnt change with it.

I preferred to run center rise exhaust on my little 18 footer and I couldnt really find anyone else that had previous to me. There were a ton of people still runnning logs, but I thought it just looked boring and I 100% didnt want OTT wet or dry headers.

 

[JJ McClure]

I used to sell tons of Rewarders and entertained buying it from the Custom car people in c Camarillo that Jim eventually sold to .... When I queried Bassett their "deal" was 30k buy in (to be maintained and only sell at MSR and the profit worked out to be around 10% to 15% ... simply not worth the struggle

So where am i gonna get new wet OT Bassett’s and a spare t-valve or two?

 

[DUN]

Dang my crew needs 3 new sets immediately then..

Sad stuff.

Also, had no idea they built BMX bike's.. pretty neat.

They're pretty much banned everywhere or people get hassled. Those who still have small boats that use em, usually dont buy new ones they drive them so little they'll last forever. Performance boating changed. Their market basically disappeared and they didnt change with it.

I preferred to run center rise exhaust on my little 18 footer and I couldnt really find anyone else that had previous to me. There were a ton of people still runnning logs, but I thought it just looked boring and I 100% didnt want OTT wet or dry headers.

They also get repaired as opposed to buying new ones.

 

[JJ McClure]

Dang my crew needs 3 new sets immediately then..

Sad stuff.

Also, had no idea they built BMX bike's.. pretty neat.


They also get repaired as opposed to buying new ones.

Bassett originally built BMX bikes for his kid. Paul I suppose? Early 80’s. Always wanted one. Match to dads headers.

1982 Bassett Racing Pro - BMXmuseum.com

bmxmuseum.com

 

[jetboatperformance]

So where am i gonna get new wet OT Bassett’s and a spare t-valve or two?

The last few we have sold/used were from Chads Headers pricey but nice (crappy pic)

 

[DUN]

Bassett originally built BMX bikes for his kid. Paul I suppose? Early 80’s. Always wanted one. Match to dads headers.

1982 Bassett Racing Pro - BMXmuseum.com

bmxmuseum.com

That's badass. Learn something new every day..

 

[poncho]

Bought my first new set in 88 ($650), hung them on the motor with 2 bolts and drank 6 beers admiring them, sad its an end of an era.

 

[brgrcru]

seems a few of you have not been to the lower river . It’s full of open header boats .
Thankfully.
Long live the wet and dry header boats.

 

[JJ McClure]

seems a few of you have not been to the lower river . It’s full of open header boats .
Thankfully.
Long live the wet and dry header boats.

Agreed. But on my lake I have to run wet headers to keep the noise down. Mufflers too

 

[JJ McClure]

Seems like you could still buy a bike.
Why no headers?

Frames & Forks

Bassett's collection of Frame & Forks in production

bassettbmx.com

 

[brgrcru]

Agreed. But on my lake I have to run wet headers to keep the noise down. Mufflers too

They tried that Parker years ago.

Then they figured a lot of the bigger boats were running water cooled headers. that were much louder . you could hear them coming from miles away .
You could barely hear a small boat with headers coming at you . Just cruising

Rip to Basset . One of the great ikons of river rat hot boats . Sad day for me . Those headers have been and still are in my life .

 

[JJ McClure]

Shit out of luck.

 

[JJ McClure]

They tried that Parker years ago.

Then they figured a lot of the bigger boats were running water cooled headers. that were much louder . you could hear them coming from miles away .
You could barely hear a small boat with headers coming at you . Just cruising

Rip to Basset . One of the great ikons of river rat hot boats . Sad day for me . Those headers have been and still are in my life .

Kk. Dey headers it is. Then we can put more cam in it. Win win? RIP Bassett

 

[rivermobster]

I'll always have the burn scars on my calves to remember them by.

 

[JJ McClure]

I'll always have the burn scars on my calves to remember them by.

That’s also why I do t like dry headers. Fine point RM

 

[DUN]

Collectors item? (No pun)

 

[JJ McClure]

You show me yours. I’ll show you mine.

 

[DUN]

3 scotch's deep and couldn't help it

 

[JJ McClure]

I’m going out to the garage now. Wait 2 minutes

 

[77charger]

I'll always have the burn scars on my calves to remember them by.

Everyone got a scar from them. Best one was at Powell at wawheap I just pulled into a slip and lady is on a sit down ski clueless hits rear of my boat cause she doesn’t know what she’s doing I yell at her and again she’s trying to maneuver bumps rear hard again but decided to use her hands to push off yup grabs the tip of headers without thinking. Well deserved

 

[JJ McClure]

Here’s mine.

 

[JJ McClure]

3 scotch's deep and couldn't help it

Zip it out DUN.

 

[DUN]

Here’s mine. View attachment 1218407 View attachment 1218408

These headers are 11-12 years older than I am and, on the surface, are in much better condition than I am also. I'd bag em up lol

 

[Sharp Shooter]

I'll always have the burn scars on my calves to remember them by.

I bought these headers new from Paul back in the early 90's and never burned a calve ever on them. And we skied quite a bit behind this boat. The few burns I had were on my forearms from adjusting carburetors. I remember hearing the sizzle before feeling it.

I did mess with the water injection pills and t-valve spring allowing a good amount of water through them pipes. That kept them a little cooler and less blue over the years.

There were a lot of Bassett products advertised in magazines that I just assumed were from the same family, but I don't know. I'm sure TwoCents, Riverbottom and Clank will know.

 

[JJ McClure]

Oh f me. Now I need a waterski too??

 

[brgrcru]

Oh f me. Now I need a waterski too??

And the life jacket to match …

 

[Hydroman55]

My Bassett and less produced Hooker.

 

[bonesfab]

My last name is Bassett. So I have been asked many times if there is any relation. Nope. Not that I am aware of. Never had the headers. I have a scoop, a ski and the life jackets though.

 

[rivermobster]

My Bassett and less produced Hooker. View attachment 1218536

Bad azz!!!

 

[AZLineman]

Definitely the end of an era. I tried to call them early last week for zoomie baffles and was surprised to hear they are closed. They made an excellent product for the money for decades. I'm sure we will see more of this in the near future as the government is making it harder and harder for small business especially in California.

 

[Hydroman55]

1970 ad

 

[Hydroman55]

Bassett ski trivia.. They made 2 versions… 1st with Bassett on the ski and a 2nd with Medalist on the ski coupled with Bassett on the fin flange.
Some nerdy shit going on with me today

 

[jetboatperformance]

My first set of Bassets were FREE , My New 76 Miller came with OTs . One of our first trips out was to Lopez . While anchored stern out in the normally serene little cove a dumbass thought it cool to swoop in thru the cove and turn allowing his skier to slide up on the beach. About the second time he did this his "whacker" grabbed an anchor rope and said swinging like a "bludgeon" summarily clubbed my OT pipe over side ways . My 20 something temper screamed at Him a line of expletives, stomped over and confronted him "You clubbed my new fucking boat you dumbass" ............. The Bassets replace the OTs (at his expense )

 

[Clank123]

Definitely end of an era.
Talk about a product that dominated an industry!
Love to know how many sets of headers they have made over the years! The number has to be incredible!

They also made 10 and 14 quart oil pans along with aluminum scoops for single and dual carbs(I think they were the first to make them in large quantities)
I first met John at the drag races in about 1973.
Seemed like he was at nearly every race.
I was just a 13 year old kid but he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.
As the years went by every time I would see him, we would always chat a bit.
When I bought my 2.5 liter hydroplane in 1983 it had an awful looking header on it I took the boat up to him and had a custom header made. I’ll see if I have a picture of it.
He passed in the late 80’s under strange circumstances as I remember…he was only around 50 I’ll bet.
Can’t imagine the number of sets of his headers and zoomies I’ve been around over the years.
Oh, and I’ve had my fair share of forearm burns in the last 50 years.
Just got one 3 months ago setting the floats on a guys boat.
Healin up nice!

 

[lakemadness]

First set of Bassets, it rivaled seeing the first set of titties as a kid. A new set of Bassets went on our Nordic flat in the mid 90's, damn they looked sooooo sharp. We replaced a set of dry ceramic coated headers. I may have been more excited about the headers than I was the boat lol.

It would be super cool to have one or two hanging in the garage.