looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

[coolbikeguy]

1. 1987 bayliner capri 1700.

here is the description ..
130 HP. Trailer included.
This boat is in FANTASTIC shape and really flies on the water. New starter put on in July 2009

$2795.00

it has a ford 4 cyl. engine and a OMC outdrive. i have herd of OMC in a boat before but have never been around anything with an OMC. whats the deal with the ford engine ? did they make boat engines ? were they the supplier for omc ?? anything to be afraid of with this set up asfar as maint and repair ? i tlaked to the guy and saw the pics of the boats. for an 87 it is amazingly clean. i was told the floor is totally solid with no sot spots.

2. 1993 rinker captiva 20 ft

description .. none. just pics, the boat looks good but i did not talk to anyone about it yet. i know for sure it has a merc outdrive so i am assume a merc engine aswell which sits well with me.( always been a fan of merc marine ) i tried to copy and paste pics of each but iboats wont let me paste them here

price ..$5495.00 it also says ...BRING OFFERS thi boats is on consignment and MUST sell.

opinions please thanks guys, scott

 

[DaveM]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

I would avoid anything with an OMC as they are out of business. Parts, service will be problematic.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

boy those boats have nothing in common, big price and size difference. The ford OMC combo is a solid unit, but it has to be discounted because of the long term support issues (heck it is already really old).

With any old boat, condition is more important than anything else...so a full inspection will be needed on either.

 

[Thad]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

Boy, nothing like trying to compare a Hyndai to an Avalanche.
There is absolutely now comparison between the two boats.

If you can swing the 5 Gees, Rinker! And after INSPECTION, I would start at $4500 and expect/hope to get it around $5000. Keep in mind, consignment means the broker has to get a cut as well. So the boat is already marked up to make both parties involve happy. But, bottom line, they have to sell it.

That year of Bayliner and the years before and a few years after, have bad, well, everything. Parts will be difficult at best to get for that combo. And the price is a bit steep. I would put that boat in the around $2000 category.
Personally, I feel that anything that floats and runs well is worth 2 grand.

Rinker has been and still is a good boat. The mercruiser will have a GM block in front of it so both will have parts readily available if and when you need them.
The Rinker will have a far superior ride and handling as well as more room for gear and guests. As well as more power for playing and moving the gear and guests. Hard to say if it will have the 4.3 or the 5.0 but I think Captiva generaly went with the bigger engine. The lesser model of Rinker in that size I believe had the 4.3 engine.
Like Steve said, either one is going to need to be looked over. It has been said on here before, a three yr old boat can be in worse shape than a twenty yr old boat. It just depends on who had it and how they took care of it.

Just my opinion...you asked

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

thanks for the opinion guys ... im glad i asked ..

only problem is i found another one im interested in ... a 94 ebbtide.. not much info yet as i still have to call the guy. ive pretty much decided against that old bayliner.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

thanks for the opinion guys ... im glad i asked ..

only problem is i found another one im interested in ... a 94 ebbtide.. not much info yet as i still have to call the guy. ive pretty much decided against that old bayliner.

You have no idea what your're going to buy as of now
Happy shoping

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

That Rinker may have a 5.7, most I have seen of that age have one. So basically, you're just trying to buy the first boat that looks and sounds good? Take it from my first-hand experience, do not jump on the first deal that comes along!! I did that in February, and I am still paying for it, well, the boat is a good boat, but man I should have just bought a brand new outdrive, bell housing, gimbal ring, etc from the get go and saved myself the headaches of replacing it all piece by piece. Oh, and by the way, boats don't break down on the trailer, they typically wait until there are no other boats around, and you're pretty far from the dock. Ask me how I know that

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

yea ... im still shopping i have to admit .... after looking through the restoratin section of the forum it has me seriously considering an older aluminum boat ( starcraft maybe ) with an outboard and taking the winter to restore it ... this is worse than when i bought my motorcycle..lol so many and cool boats out there and so little money lol.

 

[Thad]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

This is kinda long, but it does lead somewhere.


OK, here is my personal experience.

I bought my first bowrider when I was 20. Did everything right. I grew up with boats and knew a lot but still did everything I could to learn more about being the one in charge. At the same time, I was narrowing down what I wanted. When I found something in my price range, I checked it all out, sea trial, etc. It was an '89 Bayliner 19 1/2' with an O/B. It was three yrs old when I bought it. I loved it right up to the day I tore 9 foot of keel out of her, some five yrs later. O.K. still learning.
My next boat was a Rinker with an I/O, I liked the I/O much better than the O/B, but the boat was just not right for me and the family. We knew we had to get a bigger, more powerful boat. We saved for seven years to buy a new, showroom floor boat. Now, my baby is six years old and I still want bigger. But we were and are on the water for all of that/this time as well.

So, what I am trying to say is, there are always bigger, better, faster, newer boats. But being on the water is more important than saying look at me.

Narrow down your search to a specific length. Determine if you want I/O or O/B. Determine your price range. (Keep in mind that even after you buy the boat, there is more money that needs to be spent on gear)
After you have got these basic criteria, ONLY search within these parameters.
Find a boat that fits, if it checks out and you like it, buy it.
Now for the hard part. Start saving, set an amount and a date for which you
will have the scratch to buy a newer or new boat with more of what ever you want. Use the time on the water in the current boat you will have to learn to be a better captain and be in full control of a bigger boat. You won't worry so much about smacking a dock, or hitting bottom, or even running up on the sand bar. It can and will be a learning experience for you.
When you reach the date you set for the new boat, look/shop around. Again, don't buy the first thing you see.
I reached my date in the fall of '02 and thought I knew exactly what I wanted until I started looking, we did not actually decide on and buy a boat until June of '03.

P.S. I am STILL learning how to be a better captain of my boat and it has been 18 years since I boiught my first one.

Hope this was worth reading

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

i bought a 87 bayliner but it has a 110 outboard have been very happy--would stay away from anything that will be hard to get parts for-- if it's mechanical it will eventually break no matter how good you take care of it--it just prolongs the obvious- good luck

 

[rpstrickland]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

Get you a Glastron late 1993 or newer. And with all boats look for transom rot tug on the outdrive up and down if you see the transom move then you should run away as fast as you can. That movement is a $3500 repair on a I/O. And yea a rotten transom will sink the boat. My ole Sea Arrow may she rest in peace suffered a rotten transom and was parted out. Bayliners are the bottom of the barrell in terms of quality. Dad had a 21 foot Capri and boy it was bad. A 1988 with Hull flex, hardware falling off, cheap seats, weak floor need I go on. Bayliners are sold to people who have no Idea about boats they are entry level boats, low price point and people who buy them are generally new to boating and don't maintain them. So bottom line their reputation is made worse because they are not maintained. Do you really think a Yugo owner maintains the car to dealer spec? Same can be said of Bayliners. keep in mind this is in general. There are a few well maintained Bayliners they are the exception not the rule just look around you will see what I mean

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

I have seen many boats that would be better off being shot and put out of there misery for not being well maintained or taken care of, I can take the time and list them all but the post would be too long, I have a 1991 bayliner with a 4.3L and and Alpha One drive and as of right now the parts are as plentyful as a fruit tree during harvest time, I have not ran across any parts for the engine, outdrive, or for the whole boat for that matter that I can not get parts for, so far parts for my boat are everywhere!! cooling system, you name it, as far as boats being in bad condition, I think that applies to "ALL" boats by owners who have not taken care of them!! Alot of guys here have Bayliners and really like their boats, do we have to work on them, SURE, but so does everyone else out here who don't own bayliners who buy or own an older model boat, funny same problems as us bayliner owners do...Hmm

 

[allpoints360]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

Different boats. How are you going to use a boat? Probably watersports, right? Kids or adults? The Rinker has about 100 more hp and, IMHO, both of the asking prices are negotiable, especially the Rinker: like $3500.

Listen to Thad and others. Good deals come along hourly. AMAZING deals come along about weekly. Don't limit your search to your own town and be willing to travel. I once drove 500 miles for a boat and 400 miles for a motor.

Good luck!

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: looking at a couple boats... opinons PLEASE

Do you want to work on it or drive it? Don't get me wrong a restore is fun and I enjoy it, but you have to come to some realizations before you start. The boat will never be worth what you put into it or think it is. And beleive me you will put alot of money into it. If I was to recommend a restore for a first timer it would be a metal boat. Their easier and simple and you can learn alot.
I think the previous poster was correct that you have to know what your going to do with it.
How many people expect to ride in it? Size is a big issue. They all look huge until you get a cooler, food, life jackets, kids ect. in there. They get small really quick. Narrow down the size and how far either direction your willing to go as a comprimise.
Inboard or out board?
Bowrider or closed bow? There's advantages to both, but if fishing is high on your list and you have a few kids, I'd go with bowrider.
I wouldn't get hung up on the brand of boat to much. Yes there are some out there that weren't built with the highest grade of material. But if taken care of properly many have lasted. I have seen well taken care of Bayliners that would buy over a higher end boat anyday (especially one that's been neglected). Bayliners presented a value in boats that got alot of people started and many are happy with. You just have to expect some issues. My 1st car was a Kia that stuff would randomly fall off of. But it was inexpensive and I took care of it and got 250,000 out of it with no real issues other than annoiances.

Lastly, Price. What are you willing to pay.

Right now your doing what I and many others probably did on our 1st. You've got XXX amount of money to spend. Let me look at everything in that range and pick the one I like. You'll end up all over the board.

I would shop based on what you want. If you can't find the boat you wan't in that price range then go back to the list and make a comprimise some where.

Good luck and know that Craigslist is like crack for boaters.