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

[oldjeep]

I had the 2005 bayliner 185 with a 3.0. It was great for tubing, knee boarding, and wake boarding. However, it was real hard to get adult slalom skiers up, especially new skiers. How about start on 2 (super easy with 3.0) and drop one.

Yeah, new skiers are tough behind a 3.0. We didn't have any problems going up on one behind our Bayliner 195 3.0 but we are all pretty decent skiers. Even with a good skier it is so much nicer to have some more power so that you don't need to work at all to get up.

 

[milehighjc]

Mile High, had you ever thought of getting a Mastercraft or Ski Nautique? There's an older SN 2001 near me in great shape..

Yes, and inboard ski boat is likely what I do next. The Crownie has been awesome as my first boat to own, but I do want to surf, and I would like a flatter wake for slalom. I have started looking at some, found one in southern CO that has my attention, but not ready to pull the trigger yet. If I had to guess, the earliest transition is probably next spring.

 

[jkust]

I'm of two minds here....personally the additional 46% more horsepower of the 4.3 makes me not even consider a 3.0 but that said I see 3.0's all over the place (you can hear a 3.0 from a mile away) and those people are doing the same watersports and have smiles on their faces. I am ignoring resale, Bayliner perception, condition considerations, etc. In addition, when I learned how to ski, trick ski, deep water slalom start, knee board and even barefoot (off of a kneeboard), I learned behind an 85 HP Bayliner in the mid 80's and it did everything we asked it to do.

 

[JoeRJGR]

This is a really hard decison because there are so many 3.0 around and it will most times just be me (180 lbs), my wife, and my son (50 lbs). There is a super clean 18" Searay near me and the guy has dropped the price from $6K to $5K and now told me he would take $4K because he will be out of town for the rest of the summer. I agree that I hear so many people talk about being fine with the 3.0 and skiing, but I really dont think most of them slalom.....anything can get you up on two skis or tube....I'm getting old and I since the boat is really something I want for water sports, I almost need the extra power to get up on one without killing myself, but then again, how much is an old man like me going to ski? Again, anything will be able to get my kid out of the water....agh....as I said, there is a ski nautigue in my price range....its of course older, but if all I want is water sports? which is all I want...the one thing I dont want to do is buy a 3.0 and never be able to get up on a one...I would be so bummed....I dont want to crusie along the bay I want to ski....

Thanks guys!

 

[R055]

This is a really hard decison because there are so many 3.0 around and it will most times just be me (180 lbs), my wife, and my son (50 lbs). There is a super clean 18" Searay near me and the guy has dropped the price from $6K to $5K and now told me he would take $4K because he will be out of town for the rest of the summer. I agree that I hear so many people talk about being fine with the 3.0 and skiing, but I really dont think most of them slalom.....anything can get you up on two skis or tube....I'm getting old and I since the boat is really something I want for water sports, I almost need the extra power to get up on one without killing myself, but then again, how much is an old man like me going to ski? Again, anything will be able to get my kid out of the water....agh....as I said, there is a ski nautigue in my price range....its of course older, but if all I want is water sports? which is all I want...the one thing I dont want to do is buy a 3.0 and never be able to get up on a one...I would be so bummed....I dont want to crusie along the bay I want to ski....

Thanks guys!

Ask the guy for a test ride to see how it is getting up in one ski on a 3.0, if you don't like it give the guy a $50 for his time and you'll know if you'll be fine with a 3.0 or not.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I rented a boat with a 3.0L and was eye opening. R055's idea is a good one.

Truth's in the tell. Some people find it a piece of cake to ski behind a 3.0L. Some of it depends on the size of your ski as well. As you already noted, 3.0L boats are common find. They are THE entry level boat motor for the last 30 years. Good motor. I bought one thinking it would be least maintenance and plenty of motor. Ended up I never got up on slalom behind the boat when it had a 3.0L. Times I tried the wife had trouble making things work the way I thought would work or I just wasn't using good enough techniques. But I couldn't do it and ended up dropping a ski to accomplish it, and after the first few trips just drove for the most part.