Buying used Bayliner B/R - 3.0L or 4.3L

[JoeRJGR]

Hi guys, getting ready to buy my first boat after skiing for many years off of a friends when I was younger. The boat will be trailed, and used for water skiing, tubing, etc. Now, when I say skiing, I would like to slalom, but dont know how practical that will be. I'm 55 (180lbs), and I have an 8 year old. Most of the time it will be just my wife, myself and my son...(for now). I'm looking at two boats. 1999 18.5 Bayliner with a 4.3L (asking 5K), and a 2005 18.5 Bayliner with a 3.0L (firm on $5600). I have heard that if I prop it right the 3.0L wou;d be fine, others tell me to go with the 4.3 because who cant use more power, especially for skiing...again, I know that getting up on 2 skis vs 1 is alot different. Since my wife is only now on board with this, fuel economy will be a important as I dont want to hear the complaining about hopw much gas the thing is using....I just remember when me and my pals starting skiing at age 30, we first had a searay with probably 150 outboard on it, which took a little time to get up on one skii, then they bought a Toyota ski boat and it popped us up like nothing....Im sure the 3.0 l will be fine for my son short term and Im wondering how much skiing I'll end up doing, but water sorts is why I am buyting the boat. Of course one boat is 6 years newer too. Im retty sure the 4.6 liter sat in the water for the last few years while the 3.0 was always trailed......

Thanks for your help.

 

[milehighjc]

IMHO, there is no substitute for power (read that hole shot) as soon as you put on a slalom ski. I think you would be able to get up on two pretty easily. I was able ski on two behind my son in law's boat (21' Rinker with a 4.3). I had no chance on a slalom, just would drag until i was out of breath.

Have a look in the "Water Skiing" forum here, there is a thread there that is titled "I have reached middle age..." that I started when I bought my Crownline 182. It has a 5.7L with a stainless 19 pitch prop. It will pull tree stumps, but I need that (I am 57, and weigh 210). I successfully got up on the slalom last summer, it was a blast... There is TONS of good advice I got in that thread...

 

[oldjeep]

All other things being equal definitely 4.3L. I owned a 2005 3.0L Bayliner 195 for 9 years and slalom skied behind it. Propped correctly and with decent skill you can get out of the water on a competition ski. I'm about your size - 6ft 180. That being said it is a whole lot nicer to have the extra HP so that you don't have to work so hard getting up. Once you are up it doesn't matter at all.

Now the 6 year difference between the 2 boats might give me pause, but it is all about condition.

 

[Scott Danforth]

one boat is 6 years older than the other. one boat has a 4.3, the other a 3.0.

the most important questions: which boat is in the better condition? which boat has been better maintained? which boat does the wife like?

 

[JoeRJGR]

Thanks guys...havent seen either boat...just by pictures..will be looking at this weekend. Wife is barley on board with this, so price is an issue. Honetsly I can probably pick up the 4.3 liter for about $4500 while I doubt the guy with the 3.0L will go below $5500. Per NADA the 3.0 is a better deal...I'll look at both....I'd prefer the newer one, but dont wont to be bummed if it cant get my fat butt out of the water on one ski....

 

[JoeRJGR]

and....I dont consider getting up on two skiing......agh....

 

[thumpar]

The only time the 4.3l will use more fuel than the 3.0l is when you use the extra power. The 3.0l may even use more fuel at a just on plane cruise speed than the 4.3l would because the 3.0l has to try harder.

 

[R055]

Imagine going up a hill in a 1.3 civic vs 3.0 BMW, the 4.3 hauls but you should get a survey done on the 1999 bayliner for sure. Good chance of rotten floor.

Is the 1999 carpet on top of plywood and the 2005 has fiberglass over plywood?

 

[JoeRJGR]

R055, could question....I have no idea....Im sure there must be a Bayliner person out there who would know how its made. There is a also a 2003 17.5 3.0L in the mix for around 4500..I'll try to do some reserach on the floor construction....I hate when work gets in the way of my reserach time!

 

[drrpm]

There are a lot of boats with 3.0 liter engines for sale because they aren't much good for watersports and they don't save much on gas. Realistically gas will probably be the least of your expenses. If slalom skiing in a priority a V8 would be the first choice and a V6 would probably be adequate. Also, once your son is a little older he will probably want to start bringing some friends which means pulling bigger tubes and needing more room in the boat if you want him to stay interested.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks guys...havent seen either boat...just by pictures..will be looking at this weekend. Wife is barley on board with this, so price is an issue. Honetsly I can probably pick up the 4.3 liter for about $4500 while I doubt the guy with the 3.0L will go below $5500. Per NADA the 3.0 is a better deal...I'll look at both....I'd prefer the newer one, but dont wont to be bummed if it cant get my fat butt out of the water on one ski....

without the wife on board, you would have better luck selling ice to eskimos.

that being said. newer isnt better. better condition is better condition PERIOD. the three things that matter when buying a boat is Condition, Condition, Condition.

NADA is a guide, nothing more. I would rather buy a 40 year old, well maintained boat in excellent condition with the power and amenities that fit my needs than a newer boat that doesnt fit my needs.

that being said. if you get bummed not getting up on one ski. dont get the 3.0. the 3.0 will require to be propped down to a 15P for slalom skiing, especially if you have a bit of a belly like I do. Then you may need a 19p or 21p for general boating

My favorite all-around boat to date was my 2002 Sea Ray 190 with the 5.0. plenty of power for water sports, It handled great, I installed a keel guard for beaching it where I wanted, I could fish out of it, and there was plenty of room for friends and family.

 

[milehighjc]

If you want to Slalom ski and you dont like the 4.3 boat, then I would keep looking. In fact, it you think you are going to try to Slalom with more than the driver and one observer, then I would keep looking until you find a good V8 boat. When I bought mine I had to keep reminding myself that there was ALWAYS another boat out there. When I found mine, it was a gem... meticulously kept and maintained, big motor with low hours, and in great shape. It took me 4 months to find the RIGHT boat, but it was worth the wait. It will pull me out of the water with 3-4 adults in the boat. To be fair, technique was a BIG issue for me too... It had been 30 years since I had last slalom skied, and apparently at least for me, it was NOT like riding a bike. But once I got the technique right, I am generally up in one pull, two at the most.

BTW, the sticky on this forum with the checklist is priceless. It was a GREAT tool for me when I started looking at boats seriously There is nothing shocking on it, but it was the reminder checklist I used to make sure I didnt miss anything.

 

[southkogs]

I have an '02 195 Capri Classic with the 3.0l. I go out with 5 on board and we can get in the mid-30s without runnin' WOT. Skiing, any one of my kids (granted they're featherweights for the most part, but adults none-the-less) can ski - slalom or two - with the remaining 3 of us on board. No real issues. I haven't tried going up slalom behind it (don't get to ski much, 'cuz I'm the main driver), and I'm not sure if it'd pull me out easily ... but I think I could do it.

Is it a ski boat? No. Not like a tow boat. But it'll pull ya'.

With just two of us in the boat, WOT my boat will dip in the low 40s. If I could find some smooth water on our lake sometime (lotsa' traffic), I'm curious if we could hit 45.

Scott is right - condition is the key, and one of those boats is in better shape than the other. But I'm impressed with the 3.0l ...

 

[Old Ironmaker]

At 55 and you are skiing, you go young man. You never played Football did you? The only skiing I did was on white stuff. But I can tell you in anything power is King. Power = Speed = towing capacity= speed.

 

[JoeRJGR]

Wow Guys, I sort of nes this would happen....honestly I believe the more motor the better, but if I buy something older which ends up taking time repairing, I know the wife will flip...But I hear from guys like South Kogs the 3 liter will do it. What if I get a 3.0 liter and put trim tabs and a ski prop on it, can I get the best of both worlds? Of course I remember when I quit skiing behind the 150 HP SeaRay outboard and started skiing behind the Toyota Epic.with a V8....it pulled me out so fast I never got my hair wet.....

 

[JoeRJGR]

Oh, and Mile High...I LOVE the Crownline boats...Im really jealous....I always thought they were the most beautiful boats around....and I appreciate the advice....you're right of course...there are tons of boats for sale and Im in the drivers seat...dont need one today, but so excited....I bet by September I could get a great deal......since I started this thread, there became a 99 SeaRay with the 4.3 FI engine available near my shore house...always things coming and going. And of course everyone is right.....great condition is great condition....one of the things I am insisting on is speaking to whoever has done the winterizing and work on the boat....

 

[thumpar]

The age is really not the factor in how much you will have to work on it. Maintenance is the main factor in that. I only had to do regular maintenance on my 1983 2.5l (basically same as a 3.0l) over the 7 years I had it. It will cost you no matter what but it will cost you more if not maintained. I would put age down low on the list of things to check.

PS Yes Crownlines are great.

 

[southkogs]

Any place around ya' with a rental boat with a 3.0 in it? Maybe tryin' one out for a bit would answer a few questions.

 

[JoeRJGR]

Southkogs, why must you say the same things as my wife....? I won t buy anything unless I can take it out....so I can do that....

 

[tpenfield]

My comments . . .

Fuel efficiency and boats don't go together.

The 3.0L will use almost as much fuel as the 4.3L when asked to do the same sort of work. so, you really won't be meeting a fuel economy objective with the smaller engine, all the while you will wish you had more power.

Boating is expensive, so the Admiral (wife) will have to become accustom to the $$$$

Bayliners are not the world's best boats, but they have upped their game within the past 15 years or so. Still it would be best to really check out both boats to see if there are any deterioration or structural issues.

If the 1999 is well maintained, then it may be OK and have the power you need.

Do you have a 3rd and 4th option?