Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

[Kevinsheehy]

So I am looking at buying a 1984 Bayliner Capri with an open bow and a Volvo Engine. I was just looking for tips for a new boat owner on things to look at on the boat for possible repairs, what a boat like this would be good at as far as activities wise and what I might want to avoid trying. Anything really advice wise would be appreciate on any matter to boating with a boat like this. Also I am in the southern California region.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

That vintage Bayliner (and many other fiberglass boats) are prone to rot in their wooden components. Check carefully for a solid deck and transom. We'd need to know the size of the boat and motor in order to give more information.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

I agree with ezmobee.

Those bayliners have a lot of rot issues. Most of the ones i have seen need the deck replaced, the stringers replaced, and the sometimes the transom replaced. Do some careful checking of these components.

 

[Kevinsheehy]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

The boat is a 19' and the motor is a Volve 270 I think?

 

[Lrider]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

Did you read this?


Go to first new post Am I out $3000 plus or is there something we can do? (Multi-page thread 1 2)

Great posts on there

Basically have a boat shop go over it before you make any decision - best 150 bucks I ever spent

 

[Kevinsheehy]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

Now on the rot situation. What is the best way to go about looking for rot and if there was an issue how extensive and expensive is the repair process. Also is it more common for rot in a boat in a real warm climate and on a boat that spends more time on the trailor then in the water?

 

[Kevinsheehy]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

The other thing with the engine he hooked it up to a hose and it ran great, he said the gas in it was a little old so after I get some new gas it should run even better. (Not that I had any disapointment with how it sounded at the time) The engine raised and lowered perfectly so what else in that department would I look for?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

if there was an issue how extensive and expensive is the repair process.

It would be a deal killer. It's a long, laborious repair that you pretty much have to DIY because it would be incredibly expensive to pay someone to do it. Heck, it isn't even that cheap to DIY. If you take a look at some of the projects in the restoration section you can get an idea how glass boats are built and the problem areas. Look for stringer and transom repair threads.

You want to check the floor very carefully for soft spots. Boats tend to rot from the bottom up so by the time there's a soft spot in the floor, there's usually much more below in the stringers. 80's Bayliners just weren't very well built and had a lot of exposed wood so if the boat spent any time uncovered, exposed to the elements, chances are real good it has rot. However, if it was always well maintained it could be fine.

As for the motor, an on water test would be ideal, a check up by a mechanic would also be great. Lots of boats, mine included, run great in the driveway but not so much in the water.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

The other thing with the engine he hooked it up to a hose and it ran great, he said the gas in it was a little old so after I get some new gas it should run even better. (Not that I had any disapointment with how it sounded at the time) The engine raised and lowered perfectly so what else in that department would I look for?

You want to test it in the water. Even a crapped out motor with little compression can sound good running on the muffs with no load on the motor. A water test will also let you test the operation of the sterndrive.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Advice needed on 1984 Bayliner

I had a 1982 Bayliner bowrider with the AQ140 Volvo engine and Volvo Penta 270 outdrive.

Deck had to be replaced. 2 soft stringers under the rotted deck. Luckily, no transom rot.

Engine had multiple issues. Carbs, water pump, belt pulleys, starter, carbs again. Outdrive was always reliable. This was from a boat that was always garaged and maintained!!

The best thing I could have done was to raise the bow light up and slide a new boat in under it.

Food for thought.