Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cabin

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

I put a new starter on the boat today. The good news is I did get it start and idles smooth. The bad news well it is bad. The motor has water in the oil. It was not evident before we started the boat as it had not been started in a long time and the water and oil had completely separated. The oil looked clean before the start. After running for 20 seconds or so, I shut it off and checked the oil. It was milky. So um yeah, That means it either injested lots of water which is not likely or it has a blown head gasket or cracked head. Also when revved the motor up to about 1500 or 2000 RPM the bottom end made a death rattle sound. I shut it off and told the owner the bad news. I also told him I most likely no longer interested in the boat.

After thinking about it for a while, I thought maybe if I was to offer him 500 which is basically his asking price minus the price to repair or rebuild the motor if I do it myself then I would consider it. The good thing then would be at least I would know the motor was fresh and the starter is new. The registration was just brought current and has 2015 tags on it and fresh registration on the trailer.

If I was to do all this, I realize that there may be more money into the boat than it is worth however, I would have spent 500 on the boat, 1000 or so to fix the motor, 1000 or so to redo the upholstery for a grand total of 2500 dollars. This would be a boat that is comfortable with a new reliable engine. My labor is free. Just a thought.

We have looked at other boats and the wife did not really care for most of them. She really liked the style of this Bayliner.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

The boat doesn't have much going for it, trashed interior, dead engine, then you don't know the condition of the drive ($1500). If this boat had a nice interior, fixing the mechanical problems would probably be worth it, but this sounds like a money (and time) pit.

1000 or so to fix the motor, 1000 or so to redo the upholstery

I think both of those figures are optimistic. The engine itself would be around $1000, but are you going to use all the old accessories, alt, pumps, ignition, etc? The most likely reason for water in the oil is a cracked block from freeze damage, so I would suspect bad manifolds, another $500+.

I would have taken the $2000 cream-puff OMC runner over this fixer-upper boat.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

We do not get freeze damage here. I rebuild small block Chevys all day long for less than $800. Last year I did a performance rebuild on my 383 Big Block Dodge for less than $1000 so a stock 5.0 Chevy should not be a problem. I know the gaskets and such will have to be marine grade. Yes I would reuse all the accessories. It would get a new sea water pump impeller. I will replace the alternator if it tests bad and replace it as needed. You mentioned bad manifolds. I assume you are talking about the exhaust manifolds. They do not leak right now. How would you tell if they were bad? I also have a guy who can do the interior for $900. He did my friends boat and did an excellent job. I actually was rounding up on those figures.
These were just ideas on the Bayliner.

I also looked at a 1976 Jet boat today after I left the Bayliner. It has a 455 Oldsmobile motor with a Berkley Jet. He needed a starter and he had it half torn apart trying to get the starter out. I thought about making him a fair offer on the boat on the condition that after I replace the starter I need to lake test the boat. If it fails the lake test, I would be out the price of the starter but the deal would be off. How could you write a legally binding contract for something like this? The wife is not completely sold on the boat as it only seats 5 and she wants an open bow. I on the other hand think a good running big block jet boat could be fun. lol

Oh well the search continues.

 

[pckeen]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Hi Condor,

Use your common sense if writing something up. There are no magic words to a contract. I wouldn't recommend beginning to repair someone else's boat. We're rooting for you - you'll find something decent. What area are you looking in?

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

I have been looking around Bakersfield California. It is the closest large town to where I live. I am not apposed to going further away to find a good boat but as mentioned a few pages ago,some of the trailers and tires are a little sketchy espesially when I am looking in the price range that I am in. I am about 100 miles north east of Los Angeles. I am using craigslist as my primary search tool. Thanks for rooting for me on this. I know I will find something.

I half thought about changing the oil on that bayliner and putting in the water the way it sits to see if the outdrive works. Of course knowing the condition of the engine I couldnt run it near as hard.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Also as far as working on someone elses boat goes. I am willing to be creative to get a good running boat down in my price range. If i was to write the contract have it noterized, pay the man for the boat on the express coningency that it runs properly in the lake. I pay for the starter and put it all back together. I am assuming the risk of my time and the price of the starter. If something else is wrong with it i am out the price of the starter and I get my money back. This is all assuming he honors the contract. I am not a lawyer so I would have to find out if it would be legaly binding.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

We do not get freeze damage here. I rebuild small block Chevys all day long for less than $800.

I live in Las Vegas, the desert, and we can get freeze damage here... ( I used to think the same thing about not getting freeze damage in the desert.)

I don't doubt $800 for a self built long block, but that will double (or more) if things on the outside of the block needs to be replaced. At least the $200 starter is taken care of.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

I used to live in the high Desert of a town called Ridgecrest. It has very similar climate as Vegas and we did freeze a couple of times during the winter. Bakersfield is close to where I live now and it will get below freezing about 1 or 2 times a year but 30 is the lowest it genarally gets and it never a sfays that cold all day.Typical winter temperatures are about 45 f to 50.

I did do some searching last night and found several running 305 engines for sale for around 300. I could pick one of them up and replsce the gaskets with marine gaskets if i found block damage.

 

[pckeen]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Take a look at Posts 41 and 42 on Watermann's thread - he had some good advice for boat searching. Mind you, he was looking for something specific - harder search than yours.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

START SEARCHING LA!


If you find a deal you like and you can't get the trailer roadworthy in short order have it hauled on a rollback.

I drove 973 miles to pick up my MonteCarlo 28.... 105 miles to pick up my V-20 fisherman..... 200 miles to pick up my Jet'n'cat.

 

[pckeen]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Hi,

I was trolling ebay - found a prospect that looked pretty good within 250 miles of you.

Peter
16' Invader Ski-Fishing Boat in Fishing Boats | eBay Motors

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

I found a nice boat today. I am going to go look at it this evening if it is not sold by then. It is a very clean looking 1990 19 foot bayliner with a 4.3 mercriuser. It is a bit more than i wanted to spend but if it is ready to go it would be worth it.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

never mind it sold. Every time I do find a really clean boat for a good price I get the story that there is a guy coming from out of town to look at it and if they do not buy it, they will call me back. Every time this has happened, the boat was sold. Oh well.

 

[pckeen]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Sorry to hear that. More will come along.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

It is ok. I know this is part of the deal. I looked at some more boats today. I bumped the money I wanted to spend up and found some more although still sifting through the junk. Today I found "deal" on an older tri hull boat that hasn't been started in 4 years. The price was right as he seemed very motivated and I probably could have towed it out of there for around 200 dollars. It had a 302 ford with am OMC stringer outdrive. He had receipts for having the outdrive rebuilt at a marine shop. The trim motor was bad and he had a new one. It had worn interior but a good cleaning could go a long way. The floors seemed solid but I did not do a bunch of investigating besides feeling the floors. I noticed some fiberglass repair patches on the keel of the boat. I don't mind an older boat but ultimately I want something a little nicer when it is finished.

Another boat I looked at was a 1972 jet boat with a 455 olds that ran good. Only thing he said it needed was the rubber flaps that go over exhaust to keep water from going into the exhaust when the engine is shut down. It seats six but there is no wall between the engine and passenger compartment. Not the best deal with kids. He said his reason for selling it was he wanted a Tahiti jet boat with a 460 and this one was not fast enough for him. Wife was not sold on the seating arrangements.

Another boat that shows some promise is a, get this, 1985 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cabin which has a 5.0 chevy in it. The outdrive appears to be a Penta? It is white in the picture and does not have the transom boot that the OMC would have. Other than the lack of OMC powertrain, the boat looks exactly like the boat that I sold that started this whole thread. Only difference is this one has been cared for and stored under a cover. Interior is clean, It starts and runs, and allegedly the floor is solid. It is about an hour away at a local lake town. The owner lives 2.5 hours away so I am hoping we can meet at the lake and take a look at it. I asked if we could put it in the water and try and it out and he said not a problem. It is a bit more than I wanted to spend but if it looks good, I may go for it.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Here is another question. All the boats I have been considering up to this point have been inboard outboard design. What are the downfalls or upside to boat with an outboard motor?
I am also looking at a Reinell open bow boat with a 250 Merc on the back of it. It has a ski pole in the middle and looks like it could be a fun little boat.

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

I'd say for you, you probably want the I/O. You are an expert mechanic on 4-stroke car engines, which is what these engines started out as. Also, they get better gas mileage and are quieter. I went with an outboard on my fishing boats because I am not a car mechanic, and did not want to get into engine swapping where I have to do a bunch of stuff down around the stern drive.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Looked at another bayliner today. Everything is good but the floor. Only odd thing is it looks like it rotted from the top. The carpet is worn through just in front of the dog house and the wood is chipped and peeling off the top. Under the ski locker and in the engine compartment look fairly clean. It is a 1991 bayliner capri with a 4.3 mercruiser. I like the style of the boat and the full width swim deck on the back is nice. The apholstery is in good condition and it comes with a boat cover. The floor so far is the only issue.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

4.3 Mercruiser is a good engine. How was the rest of the interior, trailer and what did they want for the boat?

That rot could be a lot deeper that just the deck in front of the engine.... Though, with any 20 year old boat you could run into rotted wood, unless it was taken very good care of. Repairing the rot properly could be a huge job, lots of "easy deck repair jobs" have turned into full blown stringer and transom repair stories here on the forums. You could get lucky, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[condor74]

Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Oh I have read plenty of threads about floor and stringer replacement. I would rather have mechanical issues than floor and stringer issues. I thought maybe if everything else checks out, I may do a quick and dirty deck replacement and enjoy the boat till winter time. Go through and do it properly then. Just an idea. Ideally, I would find a boat that wont need that. Just considering all my options.

I am supposed to go see this 1985 Bayliner cuddy cabin this weekend at a local lake. He lives farther away from the lake than me so he has problem scheduling a showing. The possibility of the meeting not happening is high though.