Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

[Homerr]

Everyone seems to really be bashing the Bayliner.<br />That's fine. Everyone has an opinion.<br /><br />So what is a good boat? Price? Options?<br /><br />Boat for the lake, For the ocean, for both?<br /><br />?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

I don't men to steal the thunder away from the forum pro (JB ) Over the years and after reading this board Boston Whaler comes to mind.<br /> JB is the resident Whaler Guru!<br />Bob

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

bliner r the best no matter what people think they are the best boats made after 1984 this will start something way577

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

Quality is:<br />hand laid glass...chopper gun glass is for the competition..<br />gelcoat with no spiderwebs....<br />being able to stick your arm in a below-decks compartment and come out with ALL your skin...<br />a minimum of wood structure, that which is necessary must be sealed up like somebody cared...<br />windsheilds that fit...<br />deck hardware that is real stainless...no chrome, no pot metal...and please, no plastic..<br />bilges that DRAIN...all the way, no excuses...<br />cabin ventilation that doesnt let the rain in...or ventilation, period!<br />Instrumentation, wire harnesses, controls, cables, that are made for the powerplant in the boat, preferably by the engine manufacturer, no low bidder junk, please...<br />enough power that the boat can be loaded to maximum weight and still perform reasonably well..<br />carpet and vinyl that can take a years worth of sun, water and use without lookin shabby.....<br />you bayliner owners know where you are in this list...but dont feel bad about it ...you have ALOT of company<br />this is the short list, off the top of my head....any body want to add?

 

[DJ]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

Ditto-ODD 1. Add 1: Deck hardware that IS backed with either glassed in wood or aluminum.<br /><br />If the parts that are hard to see are as nicely done as the parts you can, that's a quality boat.

 

[EGalvTex]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

I have said it several times on this forum and it sounds like i'm a salesman...I'm not. I work at Texas A&M at Galveston Marine Terminal and have operated or crewed upon a large variety of boats. I have yet to see a boat better than the Sea Hunt Triton 172. It stands up to ENORMOUS stress where many hulls would crack or fail. The hull is self bailing and the boat feels very solid. Sea Hunt manufactures many other models (cuddies & dual consoles, but I find the Triton to be the most versatile. The price is also unbeatable.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

Thanks for the replies...<br /><br />Having NOT owned an older Bayliner, I can only assume they were a real pile according to this board!<br /><br />I've been examining my 2001 Bayliner a bit more carefully now that I've read these posts to see what all the hubub is about, and the fact that my warantee on the engine and drive is almost up! So far, I can't see any justifications that mine is or will potentially be a 'bad boat'.<br /><br />The deck is secured with nuts and screws, and NOT the cheap-ass self-tapping sheetmetal/wood screw. The gelcoat seems to hold it's color well (so far anyways..only had it a year now) I waxed it for the first time last week. It didn't take much to wax..Color was fine.<br /><br />As far as the stainless hardware, I have a *****!<br />There are some bolts on the trailer that ARE NOT stainless, as well as the engine. I haven't seen any non-stainless bolts or screws on the boat itself.<br /><br />This is a pet peave of mine.. If it's going in the water, it better have the toughest bolts available!<br /><br />The glass on the inside is nicely sanded and covered completely with gelcoat (as far as I can see anyways...) The boat drains real well except for maybe a glass or so of water. The bilge pump sits upon a thin piece of wood (approx. 3/8")in the very back of the boat.<br /><br />It handles real well. I've had other boaters drive it, and they think it handles like a car.<br />I must admit, it drives nice, and hauls the mail!<br /><br />Speaking of the bilge pump, the original pump was WAY too small (500gph). Thanks for folks on this board to pursuade me to install a bigger one. I put in a 1250 gph. This is almost 3 times the size. It should do nicely. A job that took all ****ed day! (would have been much easier to pull engine out first!)<br /><br />Having built Marlin boats before, I know where some construction shortcuts are. I've seen some real crappy construction done. Maybe that's why they are out of business? I think it was management, but that's my opinion. They were morons!<br /><br />I was an engine installer. I personally treated each boat like it was my own, but sadly there were others that didn't care and took huge shortcuts. But that's another story...<br /><br />H.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

The true test of a quality boat is its resale value. <br />How much money did you save by buying a $20K boat over a $30K boat when your $20K boat is worth $10K 5 years later and the $30K boat is worth $25K.<br />For sake of argument I will not divulge the manufacturer of my boat, but I could sell mine right now for the same amount if not more than I paid for her in 1986.

 

[Rocnat4]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

Not being a smart as* but would love to know what make of boat holds it's value for 15 years? Other than the classic collector types? Cmon, you brought it up, divulge!

 

[Finger Lakes Boater]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

OK, I'll bite. The original question has an unmistakable answer in the runabout category. Cobalt! Design, seaworthiness, construction, hardware, gelcoat, service, support, and warranty are unsurpassed, and in most categories unequalled. The knock on them is price. And it costs money to supply all of the above. Which they do in spades! <br /><br />(We saved a long time to get one... )

 

[DJ]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

I've sold "average" quality boats for what I paid for them two and three years later.<br /><br />The "trick" is to take care of it!<br /><br />I can't believe what people try to pass off as: "showroom condition", "excellent condition", "perfect". Only one in 100 actually meets those words.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Ok, so what is a 'QUALITY' boat ?

Not sure about freshwater boats, but there more than a few SW hulls out there that people would die to get there hands on for performance purposes. Good designs don't go obsolete or out of vogue. web page. <br /><br />When all is said and done, its has nothing to do about what the boat looks like, or how big of a motor you can put on it, or about half the other things people use to compare boats. It all comes down to how much faith do you put in that boat to bring you home day and day out no matter what situation may arise.