Bayliner Boats?

rnbenton

rnbenton

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In looking at, and discussing with my friends, the prospect of buying a 28' to 32' Express Cruiser, one theme keeps popping up that I hear over and over. "Whatever you do, don't buy a Bayliner." Mind you, I've never owned a Bayliner and have only known one person who has owned one and that was back in the early 80's. (It was indeed a POS)

But, it would seem to me that, since Bayliner's parent company is Brunswick, who ownes several other boat brands with a reputation of better quality, it would only follow that Bayliner since, probably the early 90's is a much better quality boat than in prior years. But, since I have absolutely no first hand experience with them an thought I would ask here.

So, what's the deal with Bayliners? Are they as bad as their reputation? Or have they improved dramatically in the past decade or so?

Bob
 
I knew of a boat that was owned by two guys, but that was a gayliner.
 
I asked about Bayliner boats a year and half ago. There were some pretty good posts on the subject. It might help you to look at it; http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=148390

The boat that we were looking at turned out to have some issues that were only discovered after a survey, otherwise we probably would have bought it. It was a 2001 2855. I still really like the layout of that boat.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Britanic

I knew of a boat that was owned by two guys, but that was a gayliner.

Click to expand...


You sure it wasn't a Sea Gay?

Bob
 
I don't see any problems with Bayliners. If I were in the market, I would certainly look at them. I do see that fit and finish as well as materials are behind other brands (even in the Brunswick portfolio), but as long as you know that going in, you'll be fine.
 
Bayliners suck.

Now that I have your attention, from what I have seen in general they are "seaworthy" for what their intended purpose is -- I low cost, fair weather boat. But, they are "cheaply" built. For example, to keep costs down they tend to be light on standard power. Or their cushions might be a fraction thinner and less robust than other brands. It is a bunch of little things. In many cases, you can't go wrong. But it depends on what you're looking for. Good luck.
 
There was a twin engine 34 or 36 ft Bayliner next to me with twin 454's. It ain't under powered at all.
He always has generator problems, but it is not the boat. It is an Avanti, or someting like that.
It is decent outside. Lots of sitting room. Not sure about inside.
 
RamSport47 said....

"I do see that fit and finish as well as materials are behind other brands (even in the Brunswick portfolio), but as long as you know that going in, you'll be fine"

IMHO - truer words cannot be spoken. In addition to owning a number of other brand boats over the past 30 years we have owned 5 Bayliners. They often have less finish in certain areas and many have 'convenience' materials such as carpets and wall covering that are less expensive than other models. But most often the fittings that 'count' are as the same or even better in some cases than competing models (engine packages,cleats, gensets, A/C, thru hulls ,etc).
You will also likely discover that the newer Bayliners in the 90's and above as well as the larger Bayliners (above 30')have always been built with more attention then the earlier smaller Bayliners.
Another thought is to spend some time over at the Bayliner ownes site where we have been for 15 years and ask some of the owners themselves - they have not been known to hold back their complaints about specific models or issues when asked.

Baylinerownersclub (dot) org

Hope this helps
 
Have owned 2. Both 2655 models...one a 91, second a 98.

The 98 was a big improvement over the 91, but the 91 is still cruising the waters of S. Florida.

The 98 took us to Bimini 5 summers in a row, sometimes in less than ideal conditions with not a screw to be tightened after the crossing. Great handling in following seas. We were the lead vessel in the 2002 BoaterED Bimini crossing.

I could not fault the 98 in any way until the fuel tank developed a leak. Boat still looked so good that it was exported to the UK for conversion to EU/CE electrical standards and replacement of the fuel tank.

I am told that it is cruising the islands around Stockholm Sweden every summer.

Brunswick has consolidated much of their supply chain and engineering for their many brands.

I think that any of the express cruisers or motoryachts will hold their own vs. other brands.
 
It depends on the model and year. The larger ones were pretty well built and favored by many

My first boat was an 1985 2550. Kept in salt water year round for 13 years...no better no worst than other brands around that time I used to go finishing with that thing 15 miles in the Atlantic out of st Barth, aolid 4 footers were normal...

I think they cut some corners in the late 80s and early 90s and improved a bit after that. Late 90s when I moved up I looked at them and find them a nit h below Maxum, regal and sea ray

But again, every builder he bad years or bad models, you have to look at the specific boat
 
Pete and I represented BE during a media event that US Marine hosted at the plant in SC, now closed I believe. At any rate, we saw the Bayliner and Maxums getting built from laying up the hulls in the molds all the way to applying decals. The important items like the hulls, powerplants, running gear, cleats, etc are all the same as used on Sea Rays and other Brunswick products. Other items that were more form than function were less expensive products (cabinets,carpets, etc.) I would not hesitate to look at a Bayliner if I were shopping for a particular model.
 
7 years of no issues with my 2002 285(5), didn't make it through Sandy, but brands weren't on her mind while she devastated the metro area. Not a canyon runner, but great for the weekend cruisers who like ample cabin room and the efficiency of a single engine / drive. No problem cruising with 6 people, full fuel, water, etc at 23 MPH. No frills, but paid off and no upside down note, unlike my Sea Ray neighbor.
 
I had a 1995 2855 that we kept for 10 years and enjoyed immensely. I agree with all of the above comments.

We cruised North Carolina and parts of South Carolina and trailered it to the Keys several times. Went over to Bimini once. Great interior space, economical to operate and trailerable (if you have the right tow vehicle). The only problem: we had to replace the fuel tank that started leaking. It was somewhat expensive as the engine had to be removed and a large hole cut in the rear stateroom floor.
 
I think brand is less important with used boats than it is with new. It's more important that the used boat was well maintained and suits your needs. I wouldn't hesitate to by a well maintained Bayliner.
 
Ask Les. He owned a Bayliner for awhile and I seem to recall him giving it a decent rating.
 
Had a 1998 2355 Cierra for five years. Sold it for what I paid for it. never had a problem with it. Kept it on an inland lake. Same engine as in comparable Sea Ray.
 
I had a 1976 2050 Admirlty. It certainly was not underpowered. Great ski pulling boat.

The one problem that I found, and it was a major problem, was that they did not sufficiently encapsulate the wood used. I had to replace the floor, the engine cover and some of the wood in the little cuddy cabin.

Otherwise the boat was very good in performance and seaworthy. I once took it out of the Galvaston channel to fish the closest oil rigs.

Later year Bayliners did not use as much wood and seemed to protect it better.

Would I buy another one. If I had of found a Bayliner that fitted what I wanted when I was last boat shopping the answer is yes.

Would I buy another one now? No. At 76 I will buy no more boats. Just want to sell the 1999 Pursuit 3000 that I own.

George
 
quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

But, it would seem to me that, since Bayliner's parent company is Brunswick, who ownes several other boat brands with a reputation of better quality, it would only follow that Bayliner since, probably the early 90's is a much better quality boat than in prior years.

Click to expand...


Strictly one data point, as I have no first-hand experience with the Bayliner brand. But a few years ago, I had the opportunity to view the construction of a SeaRay that had been in a collision. My conclusion is that the construction of other Brunswick brands has moved closer to Bayliner's reputation than vice versa.
 
quote:
Originally posted by gcolton

I had a 1976 2050 Admirlty. It certainly was not underpowered. Great ski pulling boat.

The one problem that I found, and it was a major problem, was that they did not sufficiently encapsulate the wood used. I had to replace the floor, the engine cover and some of the wood in the little cuddy cabin.

Otherwise the boat was very good in performance and seaworthy. I once took it out of the Galvaston channel to fish the closest oil rigs.

Later year Bayliners did not use as much wood and seemed to protect it better.

Would I buy another one. If I had of found a Bayliner that fitted what I wanted when I was last boat shopping the answer is yes.

Would I buy another one now? No. At 76 I will buy no more boats. Just want to sell the 1999 Pursuit 3000 that I own.

George

Click to expand...


George, you have a PM

Bob
 
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