So which brands are good and which are not?

[Timmys88Z]

I've heard from a few people that Bayliners are bad... why? What else? What brands do I stay away from, which ones are the best?<br /><br />Most seem to use common drive-trains so that shouldn't be the issue. <br /><br />Thanks.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

This kind of question raises a lot of oppinions.<br /><br />Use the search option to find info on specific brands after you've sorted out what kind of boat you're interested in.<br /><br />Any boat can be a good boat to you if only it fulfills your expectations. Problem is to decide what you expect.

 

[Mumblerone]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

Boston Whalers are good!

 

[RJS]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

Start off small. My first boat was a 16 ft Aluminum Starcraft with a 40 hp Yamaha. I learned basic boating skills and more importantly,not to underestimate the water. I outgrew this boat, but was extremely easy to launch and handle. My next boat was a Scout 172 with a 115 HP Yamaha. I really like this boat, but you had to watch it in the ocean or the rough stuff because water came over the transom. The HullTruth board raves about Scouts, they're very good, but extremely overrated on the board. My next boat and current one is a Trophy 2103 with a Mercury 200 EFI saltwater. This is my favorit boat so far. I know Bayliners history, but this is a redesigned boat. Great layout. Incidently, I bought my Scout before they caught Whaler disease (over-hyped/over-priced)

 

[Timmys88Z]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

Well what I want is a nice clean bow rider in the ballpark of 18' or so. And a motor with at least a decent power output.<br /><br />Thats about it. And something for about $8,000 or less.

 

[Knoxes]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

There's a lot more to a boat than just the outdrive. Look at things like the shift linkage, steering, quality of interior, etc. My experience with Bayliner hasn't been good, but I've never been an owner and it has been a few years. The shift linkages were never solid, so it was hard to tell when you were in gear or not (very important with skiers), the seats would tear and break easily, the windshield broke off the mounts on the thru to the bow seats, lights never worked right.... lots of problems. I'ld keep shopping. You get what you pay for....

 

[45Auto]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

My personal experience:<br /><br />I bought a 1996 18' Bayliner bowrider 2 years ago for $5000. Bought it from the original owner with all receipts, records, etc. It has a 120 Hp Force 120 outboard. From what I understand from '95 up the Force motors used a Chrysler powerhead with a Mercury lower unit. I have heard that earlier ones had problems with the Chrysler lower units.<br /><br />The boat gets used almost all day every weekend from May thru October for skiing, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding (in New Orleans, hot a long time!) The only problems I have had were once the engine started running like crap, turned out to be a cracked rubber fuel line sucking in air(cut the cracked end off and stuck it back on). One other time the starter drive gear didn't engage (needed the shaft greased). Both these problems happened on the water and took about 30 seconds to fix, but could have been a major hassle for someone who is not familiar with engines and would have had to get towed in and take it to a dealer to have fixed.<br /><br />My kids and most of their friends are less than 150 lb and the boat has no problem pulling 2 at a time on the kneeboards or skis. Only problem I've had is trying to pull up a novice 250 lb football player on skis. Felt like I had a whale behind the boat! Never could get him up.<br /><br />The Bayliner boat itself has been excellent. Upholstery, carpet, etc. still looks like new. The original owner had replaced the steering cable when it was a couple of years old and froze up.<br /><br />With an $8000 dollar budget you should be able to find something very nice. My family has enjoyed this boat very much. I would have no hesitation buying another Bayliner.

 

[gmguy 01]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

My boat is an 89 Bayliner Capri with an 89Force L-Drive. It is in excellent shape. Finding parts are fairly easy and after buying the manual is easy to work on. We take it out in the Passamaquoddy Bay, which is off of Maine and New Brunswick and wind can come up on you at any time. It planes off quickly and the waves we have here are really close together and choppy and can get high. We have 3 kids that go with us all the time. It didn't pound any worse than anything else, at least I wasn't bouncing off the seat and if you slacken back on the throttle it didn't pound at all. It is not our final boat and I can't say it would or would not be another Bayliner. I find its a very pretty boat and cosmetically the only thing we have to do is a small gelcoat repair on the keel. It is just from wear, the fibreglass under is fine and there is no gelcoat blistering. It's a simple patch we can do ourselves. We don't leave it in the water, only while we are using it, we wash it and flush the motor every time we are out and store it in our garage. We were really lucky that the person who owned it before us took such good care of it because the interior is better than most used boats that i've seen. I think like anything if they are taken care of you can have good luck but like anything else if you don't look after it who will?

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: So which brands are good and which are not?

my first boat was a '69 larson w/40hp Jhonny.<br />that was 3 yrs. ago.<br /><br />have spent a fair amount of time on the water,<br />fresh and sea in everything from my Dad's pride<br />and joy 15' crest/chrys 50 when I was growing up<br />in Buffalo, to my F. in law's 37' troller w/<br />straight 6 ford diesel in Catalina's Cat Harbor.<br /><br />paid a farmer $400 for Larson/motor/trailer and put her in the water and just ran her... (to the<br />bottom of the Erie Canal eventuallly)<br /><br />needless to say, it was time for a new boat <br />looked at several open bows 15'-17' in the $2K-$4K<br />range, but most were rode hard and put away wet.<br />here it's June, going on a fishing trip in a few <br />weeks (1000 Islands) and I have no boat!!!!<br />not to mention, if I don't spend the money soon,<br />I'm sure my wife will... <br /><br />out of sheer luck, I get a tiny newspaper from <br />the next county and look at the boat adds.<br />1976 sea sprite 16' for $1600....<br />not exactly what I was dreamin' of, but I'm gonna <br />be in the area in 2 days, so I make an appt. to<br />go see her. getting desparate! so I show up and<br />once I got past the fact that the boat was<br />"harvest Gold", I look her over.....<br />this boat is in 100% pristine origional cond.<br />it has a inline 6 115hp merc that you could eat<br />off of.... runs like a bat outa hell!!!!<br /><br />moral:<br />unless I was desparate, I may not have even <br />looked at her.... too old etc. (IDIOT)<br />I guess what I wanted to get across here is that<br />you should keep an open mind!<br />boats aren't like cars and it's the hours it has<br />been subjected to and the care that she has <br />received that makes the difference. your next<br />boat is out there, just be patient! <br />even though sometimes it's tough.<br />I have certainly learned my lesson....<br />best of luck,<br />M.Y.

 

[aretert]

Ok

Ok

I've heard from a few people that Bayliners are bad... why? What else? What brands do I stay away from, which ones are the best?<br /><br />Most seem to use common drive-trains so that shouldn't be the issue. <br /><br />Thanks.

I tend to agree mostly but im still not sure I understand everything here

 

[KCook]

Re: Ok

Re: Ok

Note .... 6 year old thread!