Choices and opinions on manufactures

Lance

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
9
Good evening,
i wanted to asked the knowledgable masses on your collective opinions on manufactures. We are looking at buying a new boat in the next couple weeks at the local boat show.

A little background: This would be our second boat. Our first that we still own is a Bayliner Jazz with a 120hp jet that we would sell in the spring. we have owned it for 7 years. We are a family of four and enjoy water sports. I kneeboard, my wife skis ad boards, my son tubes and I would like to have him try skis or the kneeboard soon. Daugter just rides along and smiles at the air in her face (3 yrs old)

We are looking at 18' - 19' I/O bowriders. I am seriously looking at the Bayliner 185, Four winns 180, Glastron GT185. These are boats that have dealers all in close vicinity, and pricing is in the same ballpark, with the most economical being Bayliner and the most expensive being four winns. Propulsion in all three is via the 4.3 v6. Dealer service is not overly important to me, as I perform all my own wrenching, but I do return for parts.

Anybody have experience either good or bad with these particular boats or manufactures in general? I know in the past Bayliner did not have the best name, but at the same time they seem decent now, I believe they all have lifetime hull warrantee's, etc. Fit and finish is important, but not a pre-requisite. I like the fact the bayliner has the largest fuel tank, as the boat stays on a lift in the lake from May to September, so if I can cut down on refueling trips, it is a big plus in my books.

Any thoughts or opinions good or bad are welcomed.

Lance
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
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9,715
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

one thing to watch for on any "popular" boats from mass dealers is that they might underpower the boat to bring the price down. This is especially common (pun intended) with outboards.

get somem advice here for what size motor works best for your various i/o's you are considering; I don't know them.
 

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,419
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

I'll relate my experience with my Four Winns as its a 19'6" so it fits in the higher end of your range. I ordered this boat in '05. Within a month, I had to have a void filled in one of my tow hooks on the transom. Dealer took care of it and you can't tell it was patched - the guy was that good. Other than that my boat has been very good to me. I had (1) stress crack I had repaired up near the windshield this past summer. I probably could have left it alone but it was there, I noticed it, and I plan on trading this in at some point so I'm trying to keep it up best as I can.

I opted for the 5.0L FI Volvo - 270HP and I wouldn't dream of running anything lower given that I usually have a boatload of family during tubing. That extra power is very nice and if I lay off the throttle when not fully loaded I'm fine. Hard to do as my wife loves WOT but hey, its there when I need it.

Only items I added were (4) cleats - (2) in front of the windshield and (2) near the rear bench. I have the sunsport seating so I have a full rear bench and large sunpad.

I have had warranty work done as well - its been fairly easy to get the work done. Now, I will explain why its fairly easy and not a slam dunk: The marina I bought my boat from are total idiots. Stay away from Brobeil Marine like the plague. So I took my boat to a marina I trust that is not a Four Winns dealer BUT is a Volvo Penta dealer. I had to make a call to Four Winns to get them to authorize the warranty work but once that was done I was reimbursed for my expenses in a timely fashion.


I've also dealt with Bayliner as you can see in my sig. It was a nice entry level boat. It doesn't have as many frills as the Four Winns. Hull wise, it was sound. The original Force engine sucked. Again, if it were me, I'd be going with the largest engine possible as its easy to lay off the throttle but hard to add power when you truly need it out on the water.


One thing I will mention, the next boat I am looking at has popup/pull up cleats. Both my wife and I have had decent bruises in the past from catching standard cleats with our legs/arms getting in/out of the boat on a trailer. It might be something to consider when you're looking for your boat.

Can't comment on Glastron as I don't own one...yet. I'm looking at the GTS225 as a replacement for my Four Winns. If you go with Glastron, let me know your thoughts on the quality these days.


One other thing since you have young children...you may want to check for an extended swim platform to protect them from hitting the outdrive/prop when jumping off the back of your boat. Also check to see that they can get in/out of the boat that way easily. I had to add a grab handle to my Bayliner to accomplish that.
 

RotaryRacer

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Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
1,361
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

Current Glastrons and Four Winns are made in the same factory. The same location where Four Winns has always been made. They now have many shared resources between the 2 companies and I would guess that Glastrons are built to the same standards as Four Winns.
 

briangcc

Commander
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Jul 10, 2012
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Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

Yeah I knew Glastron and Four Winns were part of Genmar but once Genmar broke up I wasn't sure what happened with the brands. Nice to know they're made side by side. Thanks for the info!
 

RotaryRacer

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Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

In truth, while Glastron and Four Winns were both under Genmar they did not share anything during that period. Glastron's were made in Little Falls, MN and Four Winns were made in Cadillac, MI. When Genmar was broken up, Platinum Equity (Rec Boat Holdings) bought Four Winns, Glastron, Wellcraft and consolidated them all to Cadillac, MI.
 

D1vemaster

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Jan 23, 2013
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Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

We love our GT-205 , bought it new last year. 4.3Lmpi , plenty of hp to pull up a single ski. Neighbor has one 2 years old and wouldn't part with his either.
Looked at sea ray and saved about $13,000 going with glastron. It's a good solid boat. Like buying Chevy instead of the same car / engine with a Cadillac logo .
 

UncleWillie

Captain
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Oct 18, 2011
Messages
3,995
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

I have a 2012 Bayliner 185BR with the 4.3 V6.
It has plenty of power and is on the verge of being over powered if that is possible. :D

It will pull tubes and skiers easily at less than half throttle all day.
I ran it 80 hours and used 285 gallons last year at a 3.5 gal per hour average for the season.
I run it on Lake Erie which is much like the Ocean only worse.
The lake conditions do not allow WOT throttle very often.
The addition of smart tabs allows running at 20-25mph in the 2ft seas common on the open waters of the great lakes.

We have been into Canadian waters 20 miles offshore.
This year we are taking the passports and going all 40 miles to the other shore.

On an unusually calm evening last year we did a pickup race with a jet ski.
With two adults on the boat we out ran the jet ski by maybe one mph at just under 60 mph.
The jet skier was impressed!

It has been a reliable and economical boat and I would do it again.
 

Lance

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
9
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

Thanks for taking the time to reply everypne. I am trying to get the biggest motor I can get in a given boat. A swim platform and tower are a must, and a bimini would be nice as well. I am leaning towards the Bayliner as it leaves some money on the table to tick off a few extra options as opposed to the other two. Realitically my wife willl sit in all of them and make the decision for me.....
 

D1vemaster

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Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
22
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

"Realitically my wife willl sit in all of them and make the decision for me....."
Here's the deal on that, have her sit in some real plain janes FIRST. Then go sit in the one you want.
Usually works.
 

Lance

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
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Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

We went there last night ready to pull the trigger on a Bayliner 185. Well, I ended up getting a little carried away. They had some pretty good deals, an I kept going up "just a little bit" more a few times. I ended up purchasing a new Four Winns H200 with the 5.0mpi all loaded up. They dont come with extended swim platforms unfortunatly, but the standard one is a pretty decent size. It will have to do..... Only 16 more weeks until the ice comes off the lake.....Not that I have started counting or anything.
 

D1vemaster

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Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
22
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

We went there last night ready to pull the trigger on a Bayliner 185. Well, I ended up getting a little carried away. They had some pretty good deals, an I kept going up "just a little bit" more a few times. I ended up purchasing a new Four Winns H200 with the 5.0mpi all loaded up. They dont come with extended swim platforms unfortunatly, but the standard one is a pretty decent size. It will have to do..... Only 16 more weeks until the ice comes off the lake.....Not that I have started counting or anything.

Congrats, we need pictures !!!!!!!!
 

RotaryRacer

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Jul 18, 2004
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Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

Bubba, he bought a Four Winns...read his post. ;)
 

emilsr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
774
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

Congratulations on your new boat, and be sure to post some pics!

You made some good choices. Four Winns makes a fine boat, and the 5.0mpi is a great power option.
 

Lance

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
9
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

Thanks! Looking forward to picking it up at the end of the month. Picked black with red accents.

I did consider the Yamaha's, but was quite impressed with the handeling and lack of engine noise in an I/O boat when I rode in a few. I thought it would suit me better this time around.
 

Slip Away

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May 11, 2010
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Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

I have a 2012 Bayliner 185BR with the 4.3 V6.
With two adults on the boat we out ran the jet ski by maybe one mph at just under 60 mph.

Test Here of a 2012 Bayliner 185 with same motor. Top speed was 45.4 knots.
45.4 Knots = 52.24538694026883 Miles per Hour

So was the race against the jet ski on the local interstate ? That 's the only way you will get 60 mph out of a 185. My brother has the same boat. 52 mph on GPS is best he can get.
 

jestor68

Commander
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Jun 12, 2012
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2,308
Re: Choices and opinions on manufactures

Test Here of a 2012 Bayliner 185 with same motor. Top speed was 45.4 knots.
45.4 Knots = 52.24538694026883 Miles per Hour

So was the race against the jet ski on the local interstate ? That 's the only way you will get 60 mph out of a 185. My brother has the same boat. 52 mph on GPS is best he can get.

That boat test was down under; where boats don't go as fast. :lol:
 
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