It's a stereotype to be sure, but the image that immediately springs to mind when someone mentions a 'performance' boat is a brightly painted water rocket piloted by a guy with three obvious needs: speed, babes in bikinis and roughly four pounds of gold jewelry around his neck. If you spend any time at all in south Florida, you know where the stereotype got started. But there are performance boaters all across the country ready to rumble across any open stretch of water they can find ' babes and bullion optional. That's the kind of boater the Baja 20 Outlaw was made for.

Just like all the boats Baja makes, it's an attention-getter. Even sitting at the dock being gently bounced by the wake of marina traffic, the 20 Outlaw looks like it could take off at any second. The combination of a low-profile foredeck, flat transom and racy flame paint give you a sense of motion and excitement that builds as you walk closer. Casting off the lines and idling toward Sarasota Bay, all eyes are on the boat. Particularly since you've left the Captain's Call exhaust option open to announce your presence with a deep, throaty growl.

Everyone in the marina is also checking out the bright four-color graphics package. One of the distinguishing options for Baja is that you can personalize the look of your boat by choosing from four different multicolor graphics packages with matching upholstery accents. By the way, the graphics are actually set into the gel coat, not slapped on after the fact.

But this boat wasn't meant for idle zones, so once you're free to create a little wake, you seize the opportunity to be in a hurry. You soon discover one thing the boat is missing: a windshield. With the wind in your hair, it's hard to conceal the fun you're having at the helm of this ride. Not that you'd have any reason to. After all, a crisp, sunny March morning on the water is about as good as it gets anyway. But having the throttle of a 260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI at your disposal makes it that much better. Might as well feed your need for speed, right? So it's straight to the good stuff. With a top end of just over 60 mph, the boat feels even faster than that with a face full of fresh air. Slamming the throttle down delivers a respectable holeshot, getting you to 30 mph in just under nine seconds. That's not exactly a whiplash-inducing launch, but performance designs tend to build up a little anticipation before they take off. Time to plane, with Baja's True V hull, is close to four seconds.

There's no doubt whatsoever that the Outlaw is built specifically for velocity. When you're wide open, it makes for a happy boat. Even when you're cranked up, however, you have a complete sense of control and stability. A good bit of that is due to the construction methods Baja uses in all its products. A bonded fiberglass stringer system and end-grain balsa core makes for a strong package you can feel even when you finally get around to giving the wheel a few hard spins.

The Outlaw turns predictably and precisely no matter what speed you take it. The combination of a super-grip steering wheel and power steering gives you a fine sense of control. But, you would be right to wonder, especially in rougher water, why an optional trim tab setup is not available. Also, the lower-unit tilt drive is a bit of a challenge to use underway because it's a dashboard switch rather than on the throttle control (available as an option).

But while all that whipping around is a blast for the driver, sometimes your passengers are forced to endure a rough ride. To address that potential problem, Baja has strategically placed grab handles in all the right places. As expected, the adjustable, twin bucket seats up front make for a comfortable place to sit, but the rear seat is a pleasant surprise. The bench features a large roll just under your knees that really gives you a sense of control and security. There are also two molded rear passenger footrests so you can brace yourself when needed.

You can't live by top-end alone, however, so there will inevitably be a time when the standard Clarion radio/CD player is the only thing being cranked up while you're sprawled out on the large rear sun pad. You've got plenty of storage under the seats for a day's worth of provisions, and there's 7 feet of room under the bow for larger items. You'll wonder why there's no built-in tie-down system under there, but it won't be long before you custom-design your own. And while the engine's shut down, you'll be glad you went for the optional fiberglass swim platform with a ladder. While you're writing the check, go ahead and pony up for the snap-in Sunbrella cockpit cover as well.

There are a number of features on the Outlaw that bear mentioning as well, such as stainless-steel hardware, a watertight glove box, a passenger-side 12V receptacle, a ski-tow eye and an assisted-lift engine hatch cover.

Even though you may not fit the stereotype of a performance boater, the Baja 20 Outlaw has the punch and personality to satisfy your need for speed while putting a high-quality performance boat within your reach.