I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

[woollums]

I've never owned a boat, but i have had pwc's for awhile and i do all my own auto/motorcycle/pwc mechanic work.
I'm looking at a 1985 Bayliner Capri with 350 v8. The owner is selling because he bought a new boat last summer. The seats need recovered badly and it needs carpet, the floor feels alittle soft in one spot, and it hasn't been started in almost a year. We tried to start it but the distributor is corroded. He's asking $2500 for it with a fairly new trailer (3 years old?) but i think he's willing to trade for my 1997 Seadoo jetski(i have about $2000 invested). Is this a fair deal? What are you opions on this model boat? Are they relliable? Expensive to repar/maintain?

 

[dcg9381]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Bayliners of that vintage, especially the Capri model take a lot of heat on this forum for not being quality boats.

Assume it needs a new floor, perhaps new stringers and is going to take a lot of work.

The 350 is a good motor, but you really don't know what's wrong with it besides the distributor.

Consider it as "worst case" until proven otherwise.. You're not even going to be able to check on the condition of the outdrive until it's running.

You could easily end up with a ton of time - or a $5k+ repair bill just getting the thing back on the lake. I'd pass, at least until you can water test it.

 

[donnymac]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

This is not an opinion, I would not buy that old of a Bayliner.

 

[H20 2go]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Bayliner is the Yugo of boats !!!

 

[oops!]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

this is a guess, as i have not seen the boat.

i deeply suspect the deck stringers transom are all rot, the foam is soaked, and the boat is unsafe........thats wayyyyyyy 2 much money for that boat....i bought a 89 for 2200....

if you want a 200 hour project that will cost you 2000. (thats just getting the hull back in shape....never mind the upholstry)

the bayliners were an entry level boat, and in those years were prone to rot, as minor rot prevention detailes were left out of construction to bring down build cost. as a result, if just about any bayliner was not kept in a garage all its life....it is just about gaurenteed rotted right out.

there is a lot of really good used boats in those years....searay, chris craft.
spend some time in the restoration section of this forum, you will learn fast.

cheers
oops

 

[marine4003]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Jump on your seadoo, and boogie......quick.
Bad Boat + Bad Condition = lots of your $$$$$$$$$

 

[Dakota47]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Dont trade or buy that thing.. sell your seadoo on e-bay and start shopping.. any boat you buy "take a hour test ride in it BEFORE buying..

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Those boats are like a high maintenace woman. Take the make up off and its scarey to say the least. Pass it buy,,,,,quickly!

Before buying any boat, spend at least 20 hours at iboats searching threads about the differencies in makes and models. You will learn a lot of knowledge that has been posted here. You will learn what outdrives, engines, and hulls that have been either out of business or nightmares. Many stories of nightmares have been posted here. At least you came to the right place to gain experienced knowledge.........SS

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

pass on this one.

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.

A 30 year old boat motor combo, may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

 

[guiltypleasure]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

I hope you're paying attention to what everyone has posted here so far.
Do not buy it (unless you can get it for $500 - at the very least you'll have a trailer that you can resell).

I own a '95 Bayliner Capri with a Force 120 outboard. It actually still runs so I'm hoping I can get $2k for it. If you pay that much for a boat that doesn't run AND is ugly then I think you'll regret it from day one.

Also, mine has soft spots in the floor. About 2 weeks ago I saw a post on here with a photo of a Bayliner someone sawed in 1/2. The work to replace those floors is enormous. I've had my boat for 3 years now and gotten a fair amount of use out of it. I got my money's worth for sure but now I'm looking for a "real" boat.

Heed everyone's advice and walk away.

 

[tmh]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

That Bayliner is worth exactly what you could sell the useable parts for minus the time/effort to take them off and sell them! Unless you plan to part the boat out it's worthless. $2500 would be a good price IF it was in very good condition AND the engine ran great.

Dude must be joking.

 

[woollums]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Thanks a million guys, you prolly saved me from drowning my family!! I think i'll put all three of my jetski's up for sale and look for a nicer boat. How do i decide what kind/size is right for us? We are a family of 6 and like hanging out in the bay (Destin, FL area), tubing, and alittle fishing.

 

[marine4003]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

pass on this one.

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.

A 30 year old boat motor combo, may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

Sums it all up.....Find something that fits the above criteria then post it on iboats for all to see.

 

[oops!]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Thanks a million guys, you prolly saved me from drowning my family!! I think i'll put all three of my jetski's up for sale and look for a nicer boat. How do i decide what kind/size is right for us? We are a family of 6 and like hanging out in the bay (Destin, FL area), tubing, and alittle fishing.

as above, read td's post again.......

then hang out in the resto forum and get an education on hull repairs.....with that you will what to look for in a used boat

 

[Dakota47]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Look on e-bay just to get an idea, Get a 18ft - 20ft Searay or Chaperall or Renker bowrider with a 5.0 V-8 Mercruser or 5.7, or Volvo/Penta outdrive.. Do not buy a boat with the word OMC on it. the company no longer exist.. Also Look for a boat that has only been used in fresh water.. lots of them out there..

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

Hey,Dakota, lot's of OMC owners here!

 

[Dakota47]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

i know, i have a Renker with the Omc 4.3 v-6 Cobra outdrive.and i love it BUT. i would not buy one now knowing what i do ,, thats all,, parts are pricey, and hard to get.. the local shops dont like to work on them either.

 

[H20 2go]

Re: I need your opion on this boat. (Bayliner)

You can't go wrong with a good used glastron with a 4.3l mercruiser an 18ft to 20ft would do you good . The power is similar too the v8 the boats superior hull design give it excellent handling and planing ability no matter the conditions and the fuel consumption is low, hull design is a huge factor in boats i have friends with the same drive setup with boats of the same size as mine and they dont get the same performance characteristics that I have and I carry 400lbs of steel weights in my boat at all times not to mention a 650lb fat sack that i fill once on the water and still put 5 to 6 adults in it with a 17 pitch prop I can pull a boarder out the water with ease I have a friend wity a bayliner capri with a 5.0 and a 17 pitch and no ballast and it struggles to pull you out!!