My first boat

[ScottieSLG]

Hey all.

I'm looking at buying my first boat, and I know next to nothing about them...other than I really have a LOT of fun in my friends boats.

So, looking in our local classifieds, I've found an '02 Bayliner Capri Sport 19.5'. One of my boating friends advised me against buying a Bayliner, claiming that they are the Yugo's of boats. Basically that Bayliners are the most cheaply built boats out there. The hulls are paper thin and you feel every bump. Plus the V6 motor wouldn't be enough power to pull me.

The boat looks extremely well taken care of, and the owner claims there is only 15 hours on it.

Any advice here?

Thanks all.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: My first boat

give them a low ball offer..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My first boat

the bayliners were much better after 2000. 4.3L is great engine, for that boat, especially for a first boat. main thing is a 1 hour test drive.

 

[Robert185]

Re: My first boat

Hey ScottieSLG! For good info on Bayliner's go to the Bayliner club website. Baylinerownersclub.org
I have a Bayliner 185 and it is a very good boat, especially for the price. All of the bad raps on Bayliner pretty much happened in the '80's. Bayliner builds more boats than anyone else, most NEW boaters buy Bayliner's due to their competitive pricing. New boaters understand the least about boat maintenance, newbie neglects said maintenance, boat has problems due to not being taken care of properly, owner curses Bayliner. Do some good research before listening to someone saying (fact or hearsay?) that it is a badly built boat.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[ScottieSLG]

Re: My first boat

Thanks for all of your responses. I'll check out that website.

The one thing my friend said is that the hull on the Bayliners is the thinnest of any boat, and therefore you can feel every bump in the water.

Is there any truth to this?

 

[45Auto]

Re: My first boat

Don't have any real info on the relative thickness of boat hulls. But a hull with LESS stiffness tends to ride better because it flexes to absorb the bumps from the waves while a stiff hull will transmit every bump into the boat. Kind of like a soft Cadillac suspension on a car versus a stiff Corvette suspension. With the Vette you feel EVERY bump in the road. The steepness of the V of the hull also makes a huge difference in ride, steeper V gives a softer ride.

So if your friend actually feels more bumps in a Bayliner does that mean it has a THICKER hull than other boats, making it stiffer??

I had an 1996 18' Bayliner with a 120 Force till last summer when I sold it to buy a 22' Crownline. My kids grew up with the Bayliner, we used it every weekend from May to October for 10 years. Only problems I ever had with it was the wood on the bottom of the seats rotted out after 4 years and I had to replace it, and I had to replace the starter once. Poor design under the lounge seats, no way for water that runs off bathing suits to drain from below them. Once I realized it and made sure I never stored it with water under the seats I never had another problem.

Bayliner trim materials do tend to be on the less expensive end, which is reflected in the price. The difference in trim between the Crownline and the Bayliner was obvious, but the Crownline also cost 5 times as much as the Bayliner. Kind of like a BMW versus a Corolla. Both will do the same job, but the BMW cost 5 times as much.

As Robert says, the biggest factor is proper maintenance.

 

[Marcq]

Re: My first boat

It all depends on the price you pay for a boat no matter the kind. I hate Bayliner boats but just bought two in the past month because the price was right and made a good profit

Marc..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My first boat

i don't get where your friend say you can feel every bump on the water. it effects all boats. bayliners ride rather nicely. some people are jealous you are getting a new boat.

 

[ScottieSLG]

Re: My first boat

Thanks again for all of your relipes.

Now if the weather here would actually cooperate with me, I might be able to take the boat on a test drive!!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: My first boat

The 4.3 engine is a big plus on that boat.most of the Bayliners you see for sale have the 3.0. The 4.3 is plenty of power for that hull..

 

[10 FOOT INVADER]

Re: My first boat

The older bayliners just looked so good. Loved the older capris. For looks the bayliners in my book would score a 10. Built wise the older ones if not taken care of, went down hill fast.