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I've owned a 2005 Bayliner 195 Classic since 2006. It's my first boat and has been very reliable in the 16 years I've owned it. All in, it was an affordable way for my family to get on the water and it sips gas (3.0L). I couldn't be more pleased with the purchase and experience. Oh and I own 2 Mercedes and 2 Audis....but ZERO Kias. 🙂 For something that gets limited use in comparison to a automobile, cost, safety and reliability are more important to my view. Snicker all you want at me....the Bayliner has ticked all three boxes and left me laughing all the way to the bank.
Yes ! My wife and I bought our 1986 Bayliner 19' Capri with a 125 Force We love our Boat. We have always kept it inside, and covered. We are 77 years young, We have a lot of wonderful times in our Bayliner. Our Bayliner will not be sold, it will stay in our family. !
So awesome! I kept my father's boat when he passed now his grandsons go fishing in it almost every weekend. Family boats are so great. Its about the memories
I just bought same 1986 Capri with a Volvo penta inboard/outboard boat. The 4 cylinder motor fired right up. Am excited to put in the water after this July 4th, 2021. Your comment brought a big smile! Thank you!!
@@maxipower6932 Be sure to keep the insides of you Bayliner dry ! Keep it covered or in side when not in use. The under floor wood it not sealed and will rot, We love our Bayline and had many years of good use.
I own a 2004 Bayliner 185 and have had it for five years. I have not had any issues with it and it has been a great boat. Just did the annual service and had a diagnostic completed and was advised there were no issues. No regrets with owning this boat!
Just ran my 1991 Bayliner 1850 I/O today. Bought it 12 years ago for 5k, well taken care of and the interior is immaculate. She runs great, loads of fun!
I bought a small Bayliner when I was a 19 year young man, i use to go to Elliott key every other day from Sundays on the bay in miami, and 34 year's later 90 percent of my stories have to do with things I use to do on that boat ,I barely speak about things I do now on my bigger more expensive boats I've owned, best memories, most fun , i had more fun then than now, it shaped me to be a good captain today, thank you my Bayliner friend
I've noticed some boaters with nicer boats look down on the guy getting it done with a smaller or cheaper boat. But like you said some of your best times were on your first (cheaper) boat people need to remember this when judging someone.
Picked up my brand new 2021 Bayliner T22 CC Trophy in October of 2020. Taken her out numerous times and have no complaints! She has put me on a lot of fish and lobster in Southern California and has never let me down!
2019 Bayliner Element F16. Great starter boat so far. I’ve taken it a few miles off shore. It gets it done on a budget. $50 bucks in gas can get me 2 weekends on the water.
I’ve owned several and now have a Searay. No doubt the Searay quality of materials and fit and finish are much better but price wise is it worth the difference. I took my Bayliner off shore and never had any structural issues. They didn’t come with all the options my Searay did but for my budget at the time I got a lot of fun per dollar spent.
If it wasn't for bayliner I would never have gotten I to boating. Purchased my first used bayliner in 1980 and had 4 others after that. Never had any issues.
I have been a boater for over 42 years and currently have my 11th boat - all of them used. 3 of them were I/O's and the rest outboard. One of the I/O's was a 1999 Bayliner 1954 with a 3.0L Mercruiser which I found to be very comfortable, excellent handling, smooth riding and well worth what I paid for it. I find everything you said in your video to be accurate. The flooring on my Bayliner was not as thick as it should be and the interior components (carpet, vinyl, etc...) were cheap quality. But the previous owner kept in good condition - and I am meticulous - so it was a fine boat. A Bayliner is fine as long as it is well kept and maintained - as with any boat.
That 3.0L (181ci) engine is one nearly bulletproof engine. Industrial generator engine. I remember skiing behind an Arista Craft w/120 HP just fine. Pulled 2 slalom skiers up no problem. For a lighter boat it's a great engine.
I bought a 2006 Bayliner 195 in 2021 for my first boat. The material quality isn’t the best, but it seems to be a solid boat. I’m in my second season. Good starter boat and I don’t get to worried about it. Boat is good for what I need it to do, beer drinking on sandbars in NJ bays 🤷♂️
I know mine has been also. People like this guy really piss me off the arrogance and ignorance are one thing but to diss a product by claiming it is poorly made even though that could not be further from the truth. Bayliner boats are sold in high volume made in Mexico and the savings are passed on to the buyer my boat has the same gauges used in Sea Rays same motor and lower even the same hardware and seat material. He has the same attitude Harley buyers have their bike is the best everything else is crap and most people know that is crap. Boating is an expensive hobby and the people who research and know boats are also smart enough to save money knowing they are not giving up anything over the other brands. People will pay a premium to have that brand name i say let them it's not my money I am wasting. Maybe this guy serves a purpose in keeping people ignorant and keeping the secret of how good Bayliner is. I used to believe the myth that Bayliner was no good until we bought our girl in 2008 brand new this boat has had zero issues let me repeat zero strange for a low-quality boat as he claims lmao.
Bayliner has been very good to me with any issues we have had with our 2016 190 db . I agree 100 % with the quality of some of the hardware . If you are a recreational boater , than the Bayliner is fine . We upgraded from the 115hp mercury to the 150hp and the boat hits near 50 mph on clam water . Cant beat it for the money .
Hi Captain Math - I am writing from Germany. Tks for your videos. Also in Germany the Bayliner boats are well sold. And they are easily beeing found in the I-net as used ones. I just bought a Bayliner 2052 Capri from 1993. So a 30 years old oldtimer. The condition is still excellent - the pre-owner mantained it very very well. Engine is a 3 Ltr. with compression 9,8 / 9,9/ 10,0 / 10,0. Not bad for this age.The boat was used in saltwater only for 3 weeks in Adriatic see (Croatia). After owning a 23 ft Searay 10 years ago, I was looking for an affordable used boat with a windshield wich can be opened in the middle to enter the front for handling the lines while docking. You can feel the thickness of the hull is less strong than on a Bayliner compared with the Sea Ray - but for me this is not so important. I can easily trailer it behind my RV. (allowed on my car is max. 2000kg with trailer), handling in the water is excellent, power of the enginge is absolutely OK for me. For more performance I use High Five propeller. So - I can recommend this brand for beginners (ore retired persons like me). It depends on your budget - you are absolutely right. Take car - Jörg from Bavaria
I've had numerous Bayliners in my 61 years and I've never had a major issue with any of them. My last Bayliner was a 1985 16 ft Trophy bass boat with an 85 hp Force. I owned it for 7 years and the only issues other than normal maintenance was a fuel pump diaphragm and one plug stripped out so I installed a helicoil. I landed many a fish from that boat over the years and it always treated me well. Sold it for $700.00 more than I paid 7 years earlier. I currently own a 1995 Spectrum with a Merc Force engine and I'm very happy with it. Very reliable. I'd have no regrets owning another Bayliner or Force.
I have a 1996 Bayliner Capri 1600 LS with a 1995 Mariner 75 hp motor on it and is sitting on an escort trailer, I bought it all brand new, have had very little problems with it, it stays covered and under a carport when not in use, It’s still a good boat and running strong!
I picked up a used Bayliner Bowrider (2008) and it's been fantastic. I was fortunate that the previous owners took good care of the boat and always trailered it, so the boat never sat in the water for long periods of time. Other than the routine maintenance items (plugs, cap & rotor, oil/fluids, impeller, etc.), it's been very reliable with no issues. The Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha One engine provides plenty of power and has been great for all-purpose use. I've added a few bells & whistles to it and bet it will sell for about what I paid for it in a few years. With boats, maintenance and care is the key...they'll last and retain value if you take care of them.
I bought my Bayliner 185 in 2007 and I have never had an issue with it. Other than replacing a battery or an oil change. It runs great and was worth every penny paid.
@@samuelbermudez2971 you missed what I said. I've never had an issue with the boat. Other than maintenance, I've done nothing to repair any part of the boat. It's 15 years old. No issues ever.
Bought my 1998 Bayliner Capri new. Mercruiser 135, Escort trailer, total $11,000. Mostly stored inside garage. Used on Lake Superior for 20 years. Currently covered on lift in my Florida back yard. DIY oil changes, lower unit lube, installed new prop in 2020. Yes, it’s a cheap boat. But 23 years of boating with maybe $1000 in DIY maintenance total. A good value for a casual family boater.
I’ve owned multiple bay liners over the years . All were I/o and I’ve never been stranded on the water or had any major issues. Not to mention with 3 kids into water sports we could spend a whole weekend on the lake and still have fuel in the tank when we leave. We don’t really care what boat snobs say about a bay liner! Lol
We bought a 2016 Bayliner F-18 new. We upgraded the motor to a Mercury 115. It was purchased mostly for fishing. We do a lot of inshore fishing along the North and South Carolina coasts. We added the swim platform for the kids for when we pull the towables. We have never had a moment’s trouble out of the motor. Serviced annually. We have found that Bayliner used some hardware that rusted after the first year. The seat they mounted on the front rusted badly and we had to replace it. Not too expensive. We love the center console. There is plenty of room for 3 fishermen to walk around. We also added the T-top which is great. Overall, after 5 years we still love this boat.
I own a 2017 VR6 that I bought new in the beginning of 17' with a 250 I/O Merc from the Detroit boat show. I grew up boating with my dad and wanted my kids to enjoy what my father introduced me too. I'm a regular middle class joe smoe Firefighter/ medic. I have not had 1 issue during the 4 years I've owned it and I recommend it to people if they want to start to get into boating. I get a lot of compliments from people when they see my boat. Bayliner did have a bad wrap years ago which I don't disagree with, but I can vouch that they have stepped their game up.
I bought a 3 year old 185 in 2015. For $15,000, 30 hours on engine. I know “like new” gets used a lot, but it was. A Michigan fresh water boat. Anyway, no issues, when my Bayliner graphics began to wear, I removed them with the intention of replacing them. Once o removed them, compound, polish and wax away the “Bayliner” shadows in the red gelcoat, I really like the”naked” appearance. I’m that guy that has a total of 4 different boats, ranging from my 185 thru a SeaRay 300 and each every one looks great for their age. I get asked all the time on water about the Bayliner “hey what kind of boat is that?” When I say a Bayliner, they are in amazement. I have looked at similar size, age model boats of other brands, and frankly this boat will compete with each builder...all these boats in this size range are entry level regardless of who makes it. The vinyl and stitching is equal in quality than same year Sea Ray runabouts. Same stable coming from Brunswick, but obviously very different level boats.
All of the “issues” you talked about with exposed wood and stringers ended by 1998. By 2000 85% percent of the materials used in Bayliners were the same materials used in Brunswick Sea Ray Boats. Which you claimed is a “better high end boat”, but forgot to mention was also built by Brunswick. Many of the smaller boats in fact were built in the SAME factories, by the same builders, using the same materials and construction. The biggest difference was Bayliner, like the Model T Ford, was offer with 3 color options. They were blue, blue and …. blue. They had no seating to limited options. No glitzy details like pleather interiors (yes I meant Pleather with a P). So they didn’t have to outsource ANY materials. They made their own, or had Brunswick source it. They’re stringers were NOT exposed wood. They were Alaskan Yellow Cedar (sourced from their own forests) that was then wrapped in fiberglass and resin coated into the hull. Same went for the floors. The hulls were 8 layers of hand laid fiberglass. The same hand laid fiberglass used in Sea Ray. In fact, by the late 90’s, the same fiberglass used in just about any boat at the time. The Gelcoat? Same exact gelcoat used in Sea Ray, except Bayliner bought millions of gallons of one color from Cook Composites, all at once because they new long before the gelcoat was sprayed how much they needed for the whole year. While other companies like Sea Ray had to buy smaller amounts of 10 different colors all throughout the year because they never knew what colors would sell. Who do you think paid less for the same high quality gelcoat, or vinyl or carpet for that matter? The company that could buy all it needs at once and in one color or the company that buys a little bit at a time all year long. I’ll give you one guess 😉 Same cleats, same stainless steel fittings, same motors etc etc. except with the motors, they didn’t offer 27 different configurations. They offered 3 at most. So guess which company ordered more motors, again, all at once. Chop fiberglass …. News flash, in the late 90s nearly every single OEM in the industry used chop. Most still do at some point. If you understand how a boat was laid up back then, you’d know that if you DIDN’T use some chop, the outside of your boat would look like a checkerboard. It’s an absolute lie that in the late 90’s Bayliners hulls were made ENTIRELY of chop. It was just a lie made up by competitors to try to explain how Bayliner can build the boats for so much less. Don’t believe it. Yes, Bayliner was an entry level boat, so yes, a lot of the used ones are beat up. Doesn’t mean they were a “cheaply made boat”. They could have been made with diamonds, if they were bouncing off of docks and other boats and not maintained properly they would still not look as good as a boat owned by a third time owner. Resale value? Well, you did cover that. But you forgot to mention that MOST boats lose 15-20% the first year and 10-15% each year after until around 6 years old, like you mentioned. Bayliner even in your review lost 7% in the second year. So they loss less value percentage wise. Isn’t that all that truly matters? They also. cost less to buy new, so guess what, they sell for less than say a Sea Ray of the same size. So Sea Ray salespeople would pull out they’re ABOS or NADA books back then and say something ridiculous like “look at this 5 year old 20ft Sea Ray, it’s worth 3 times the price of the 20ft Bayliner. Duh!!! If you fell for that back then …. You were fooled. Vertical integration (everything built in-house) and tremendous purchasing power (they sold more boats than ANY manufacturer ANYWHERE in the world, by several folds) and no to very limited options. That’s how they were so much less than “higher end” boats. Not because they were “built cheaply”. I’ve spent almost 30 years in the boating industry. I have toured no less than 20 different boat factories by more than a dozen different manufacturers. I can’t speak for how Bayliner boats were built before 1995 or how they are built today, but I will tell you, from 98 til around 2020, I would put the manufacturing process of a Bayliner up against most any boat, for even twice the price, and pick the Bayliner most every time. Don’t believe the crap and lies that have been spread by the sour salespersons that couldn’t justify their much higher prices. Believe me, I have heard them ALL! Most of the “facts” they share about how the Bayliners were being built were either from how they were built in the 70’s and 80’s or just simply made up “facts”. Do your research. Ask that arrogant salesperson who makes their gelcoat, or resin, or cleats, then learn who did the same for Bayliner. Maybe under a different brand name, so that they can charge more to the other builders, but most likely, it’s the same stuff. Then ask the Bayliner salesperson to set up a factory tour for you. I beat you’d be impressed, just line I was many times over. And as far as the Kia reference, I can’t speak to that, but I do know a LOT of Kia owners and they love them and they seem to run forever. So there’s that. Lastly …. Chrysler Force outboards and OMC Cobra I/O motors are responsible for most, if not nearly all, of the rumors that modern Bayliners “don’t last” or “fall apart”. They were crap. So much so that Bayliner offered to pay off the remainder of their contract with OMC and NOT TAKE ANY MORE ENGINES and OMC said NO. Because they knew at the time they would go out of business if their motors weren’t on the worlds best selling boats. That all changed by 1998 when Brunswick was finally able to fully integrate their own materials into the Bayliners. Thanks for the flashback by the way. I suggest that you talk to more than one actual Bayliner owner though next time before reviewing them. 😉😉. Or just ask me, I know hundreds to thousands of people that never would have gotten into boating if it wasn’t for Bayliner and they loved every minute on their Bayliners.
Well put my friend and just to be clear. the following brands are currently being made by Brunswick: Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hayday, Lowe, Lund, Prince Craft, Protector, Quick Silver, RayGlass, Spartan, Thunder Jet, Uttern.
@@MegaSling thank you. Truth be told, if it wasn’t for Brunswick , there would be no US boating industry after 1998. Their boats keep that industry alive back then when all the others were going out of business. My biggest gripe with Brunswick is they have forgotten their own heritage in the boating market, with Bayliner specifically. Bayliner was the perfect entry level boat. A higher quality and better built boat motor and trailer package, than any other company was able to offer, without all the color and interior options. This kept their boats AFFORDABLE for people that might not otherwise have gotten into Boating. There is no great entry level boats anymore. When an 19’ Bayliner is a $45K purchase, there is no one looking to fill up the top of the purchasing funnel anymore. Because of that, motorcycles, RV’s and other “leisure activities” has completely eaten up Bayliners piece of the recreational pie. Don’t believe me? Overlay a graph of motorcycle sales on top of a graph of boat sales from around 2000 to now. Too bad, because if you ask all those “high end” boat owners what their first boat was, a lion share of them would say a Bayliner. Now there is no company trying to convert successfully, golfers, kayakers, paddle boarders, hikers etc etc into boaters. That shrinks the entire boating market. All that’s left is the companies geared towards serving the wealthy boater. It’s why the industry is shrinking year after year. Sad ….
As a 17' Capri as a kid (1980s) - all we could afford. Trailered it back and forth to the NJ shore and it was solid. Bought new, dad was super handy and maintained it himself. Very minimal issues and nothing that was not relatively simple to fix. I personally grounded it 3x in the back bays of NJ - good times.
Boy the 80s sure was a great time to grow up. We had a sailboat (Catalina 25) in a lake in New Mexico. lol Yea, sailing in the middle of the desert. It was either 100+ degrees and zero wind or it was blowing 50mph creating a very short, steep chop. We saw many a jet boat sink in that chop but it was a great weekend outing to get away from the parental units for a while. I lived on that boat for most of one summer in 84 or 85. lol It made my first apartment seem down right spacious. Good times, great memories.
We owned a 28.5’ Bayliner Contessa Flybridge for the California Delta. It was the most enjoyable boat I owned out of 7 boats in my life. It was like the little tugboat that wanted to be a speedboat. I could have up to 10 passengers and it would quickly get up on plane and go up to 30 miles per hour. The interior was perfectly designed. It had a couch on the left side that made into a queen size bed. On the right side it had another couch that made into bunk beds that was good to throw our gear and a bed for our granddaughter. The V berth’s king size bed was the perfect, very comfortable bed for even a live aboard. We did add a microwave to perfect the galley. I acquired this boat when I took it as a trade-in on our 38’Hatteras tri-cabin that I really never enjoyed because It was just too big and too costly to maintain. Wish I had found the Bayliner when I first moved to the California Delta. The only negative was, since the Bayliner was only 6,000 lbs, it was not good in really rough water like when we went east past Pittsburg towards San Francisco. I learned weight matters!
Well going east to get to San Francisco from Pittsburgh instead of using the Panama Canal yea you would have to run into some rough water traveling around the world.
I have a 18’ Bowrider Bayliner for more than 20 years and I did total rebuild it. Remove the Forcé engine and replaced whit a four cycles Honda, Did the upholstered, install the hydraulic system, GPS, autopilot, Bluetooth stereo system and I just love it and had enjoyed for many years. Great small boat!
Well, I put it to you like this. I went shopping for a boat in 2009 and looked at a brand new Bayliner. I nearly bought it. Then I looked at a sea ray, which is made by the same company. I never looked back. A Bayliner will save you lots of money potentially but there’s no comparison in quality and craftsmanship to a Sea ray. You get what you pay for.
I've been boating for 50 years now. I've had Bayliner, Renken, Ocean Pro and Proline and now I'm back into one of the new 22' Trophy's. I've never had issues with any of these boats. All the issues that have cost me real money has been that thing hanging off the back of the boat. That engine costs $17,000 or $30,000 if your looking in the 21 to 23 foot range of boats. Keep up that oil in the engine and lower unit and keep it on a trailer, not in the water and you'll have fewer problems. Boats don't ruin boating, engines do 99 percent of the time. Finally, the worse thing for the actual boat is leaving it out in the open. Sun ruins fiberglass, decks and cushions. Not rain, not snow, not cold or even heat. Keep a boat on a trailer and under some form of enclosure where it keeps the sun off and you'll extent the life of the boat for years.
@megasling, how do you like your new 22' trophy? Am looking at picking one up for myself. How do you find it handles big water? I can't find much opinions on them from people that actually own one ...
@@TheSorento1 Loving it. I've put 100 hrs on it so far and she runs great. I've taken it to Bimini a couple of times without issue. She handles the rough stuff as well as you can expect from a 22 footer. 1 to 2 footers you can keep her on plan and moving right along. Anything more than that and you'll need to slow it down.
I owned 2 bayliners. 1 25 ft trophy and 1 19 ft Capri. Both needed work and both ran well. Didn't spend a bunch of $ on them and family enjoyed time on water!
Bayliner doesn't deserve a bad rap, they really stepped up their game later on. Don't buy a 20 year old boat if you don't know where and what to look for.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon This is what I appreciate about your channel, the helpful advice with comprehensive explanation. Good job, and big thumbs-up! ;)
I bought new in 1996, a 2050 SS Anniversary Edition with a 5.7. Defiantly not under powered and very reliable. Even though its 27 year old boat, It still a good looking boat even today. I've maintained it very well, and I think that's the key to owning ANY boat, maintaining and taking care of it. Even expensive boats will soon be run down, if not well maintained. I consider boat covers as sacrificial, I will buy a new cover every 2 or 3 years. I added a wake tower to it several years ago and will replace the carpeting this year, I think its still a cool looking and stylish boat even when compared to a comparable boat of today's standards. My kids have grown up having great times on this boat, and now my grand kids are having fun and making memories on it. The times we've spent on this boat have been priceless! I don't ever plan on selling it. It think it will probably stay in the family. I've never had issues with the boat and it's been very reliable, I would buy it all over again, it's been a great boat!!!
I loved my 2009 Bayliner 185 bowrider. I bought it at a boat show in February of 2010. The listed price was $29k with a boat show price of $24k. Since this was at the height of the recession I walked away paying just $17,900 cash. I owned it for 5 years. It was great on the lake. I was meticulous about maintenance and never had any issues. In 2015 I sold it for $15k. Now I have a Chaparral. My boat now is a nicer boat but I did love my value Bayliner.
I had two bayliners a 1996 CC 18’ Trophy walk around cabin and the boat was solid and well built, and yes I did have issues with the Force engine, however we had a great time fishing and cruising from Miami to Bimini. I also had a 160 BR just for Biscayne bay fun and fishing and after 8 years sold it with “0” issues. The latter one came with a 60 hp mercury engine. No issues! Looking now at the Boston Whaler 28’or 32’ Conquest, just considering it
I brought a 1996 Bayliner Capri 4.3 V6 carburetor 200 hp.What a fun boat and fast.Sold that for a Trophy walk-around cuddy out board.Kept that one from 1997 until 2010.Never had any problems with either one.Lots of great memories.The problems that I had was the truck I chose to tow them with.lol D R 5.9
I have a 99 Capri 2050 LS with the mercruiser equipped with the Chevy 305 and I love the hell out it. It planes up quickly, handles rough water well, and is very good on fuel. Absolutely no complaints
I just bought a 1998 Bayliner Trophy 1903 CC. I tried to stay away from Bayliner I really did. I looked at Regals, Four winds, Sea Ray's, key West ect ect. I looked at newer boats and in the end I couldn't find anything as nice as this older Bayliner. I have looked at the stringers and bilge area of this boat and I expected to see everything I heard about. I found the stringers to be well fiberglassed and solid. The only wood I found under the deck is the brace for deck to the hull and a piece of wood about two inches lower than the deck. It's under the seat panel. If water ever gets that high the boat is underwater. The wood is dry and solid on mine. I'm going to climb down into the CC access hatch and cover the braces with something to seal them just for piece of mind. The hull on this thing is flawless except for a small chip on the bow. Someone else gel coated this thing because it's got a nice gel coat and the hull is thick and solid. I got it from a guy that was in the process of messing the boat up with stupid shit like screwing metal L brackets into the floor with no sealant and any screws he could find. Instead of buying the original $49.00 cooler mounts he mounted a stupid regular cooler with the brackets. He used whatever screws he could find to screw down the hand rails if one was missing. I've been restoring it all plugging screw holes replacing screws with sealant. This thing was loved by someone then sold to a hack thank god he didn't own it long because it's going to be treated right and loved.😊
I got my first boat in my early 20's non running with a ok trailer. Ran it for a few seasons the went up to a larger boat. Years and a few boats later. I've realized being able to trailer the boat home is the vest way to keep the Maintenance up
I have had 2 Bayliner Trophy boats good riding boats never had any issues with the Hull repowered one from envinrude to Suzuki the other had mercury 225
Just bought an 89 Bayliner, 17', 85 Force outboard, $800. Definitely finding soft floor issues, cushion wood/stitching problems, having trouble with electrical and haven't been able to get the engine started yet but I'm having the previous owner come by this evening and seeing if there's something simple I'm missing. I knew we were getting into a bit of a project. Of course it's our first boat without a sail😂
We have a Ciera 3055 Its not a bad boat Use it a lot out in Cali here on the coast It has two new 350 mercs in it. Way better than the 305s for sure The boat has to be maintained. Def the key ! Looking to move up to a 45'-50' next. Great info here in this video 👍
I had a 1989 2455 cierra sunbridge ( cabin cruiser) for 15 years. I spent a total of 725 nights on the boat and only got stranded 1 time. The old ignition went out on it and I put a electronic ignition on it and never had any more problems. It was 10 years old when I bought it. I was well pleased and really enjoyed it. It stayed in the lake 6 months a year. That same boat now is a 2655.
Never personally owned a Bayliner but know people who have and they will swear by them. Every boat is built to suit a budget, unless it's new ,look for well kept/maintained and keep that in mind when buying and always use the advice of an experienced marine engineer. I suspect the main problem is its reputation, give a dog a bad name and so on which is the hardest thing when it comes to resale.
I wanted a "Sleeper". It took some doing but I finally purchased a brand new 2002 Bayliner 215 BZ without a motor or drive. I pretty much tore the entire back half of the boat apart to retro-fit it to except a modified Chevrolet 383 Stroker (585 HP) and a Mercury Surface Piercing Drive. I was amazed to see that the entire lower half of the haul (to the rub rail) was reinforced with rolling woven glass. I loved this boat for eight years until selling it to a friend that continues to love it to this day
I owned a 1986 34ft bayliner trophy sportfish. It had dual 454s. I bought the boat in 97 and keep it until 03. Over all it was a good boat for us. Some cheaper hardware then a Silverton but I think it looked better and ran better in the ocean then other gas boats in that style. It looked just like the 34 searay and I was always told they where made at the same place.. overall good boat
I have a 94 2302 trophy I bought a few years ago as my first boat. I grew up fishing from a john boat and I didn't want to purchase a big expensive boat as I was learning my ways around the water. So far it has been a really good boat. I take it out a few times a month in the gulf of mexico and make 20-40 mile runs out. We have 4 boats in the family anywhere from 16 ft john boats to 29ft center console. We've caught the most fish and had the best of times on the bayliner. I'm mechanically inclined so I have had to do some maintenance and replace some pumps. But I don't have a burden over my head every month with a payment. It's done everything I've asked for and more. I've been caught in storms with 5-6ft waves with water coming over the bow and it handled everything well enough to get me home. I believe some years they used greenwood xl which I have heard that is made of cedar. Do you know if that is true?
I bought a new F18 a couple years ago. Spec'd it all out with all the options: 115 ProXs, hydraulic steering, etc. Been a good boat. My only issue is having the time to 'tweak' the top speed with outboard height and prop selection. I'm running high 30's mph, should be low 40's.
92 bayliner, had since 2019, steering is getting stiff and flooring is starting to soften around the dog house. Otherwise great boat for cruisin and tubin!
I've been a boater for 40 years I owned Sea Ray, Silverline, Campion, Glaspar, Starcraft, and recently purchase a Bayliner my take on Bayliner is you are right they are a very inexpensive Boat but if you dont beat on them they are fine the Quality has gotten better after 2000 but if you take care of it don't abuse them they hold up fine I have no issues with them. If you play rough then my suggestion find a top level brand but for the average person who takes care of there stuff Bayliner will be fine.
I owned a Bayliner Cierra 2655 (2001) with 5.7 Mercruiser MAG MPI with Bravo3. Great boat. I took it to Catalina Island all the time and stored it in salt water. Just do the maintence and its makes the same memories as a Sea Ray.
It's funny that as a kid in middle school I'd see Bayliner boats parked indoors at the Ocean County Mall (NJ) for people to look at (and hopefully buy). But even at my age, I got the sense that these boats were the Huffy of boats. I didn't know jack about boats but they just gave me that feeling. I also noticed that every boat I see has engines like Evinrude, Mercury, Yamaha etc. But all of a sudden there was some new brand stupidly named "Force". It reminded me of all the kids in school having Nike's & Adidas then the one kid that had MacGregor (K-mart's brand). Either way, I just thought it was strange that back in the 80's I had a gut feeling that these boats & Force engines were crap. Two years later I bought a brand new Boston Whaler (only 13 foot w/ 40hp Evinrude). It was great for tooling around in the Manasquan River. When the wind was right, I'd even take it out of the inlet and out to the mile marker. Had lots of great times & caught many a fluke & flounder with it.
Having or buying a Bayliner is having lots of risks associated with it. I agree with your statement of preference of "buying a new KIA vs buying a used Ford Explorer, i will personally take the Explorer". If you happen to have a Bayliner which is really manufactured cheap, you have to take real good care and pay attention on how you maintain the boat in order to keep it sea worthy, efficient and use-able when you need it. Take a real good care of your Bayliner boat more than you care and treat for your wife...if you don't then you will be facing some serious trouble/disaster. It requires so much TLC and time (less money). Thank you for the video, very educational and full of great information about boating in general.
I bought a Bayliner new in 1999. It was the model 1952 cuddy cabin. It was excellent. I sold it after 8 years to a friend of mine who loved it and just sold it last year. Yes a lot of people say all bad things about Bayliner but here is what I have to say. The running gear is the same as pretty much every other boat in the class. Mine had the 4.0 Mercruiser with an Alpha drive. Never a problem. The only issue was with the fuel filling tube for the gas tank that would spit back if you tried to fill it too fast. The problem was that the hose on the fuel fill was a little too long and it drooped a bit which caused the gasoline to back up as you filled it. It only happened if you filled it too quickly but the actual fix was to just shorten the hose a few inches. I was in Seattle years ago and went to the Port. The place was loaded with Bayliners. I served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and my boat was an official facility and we used it to patrol. We had 8 vessels in our Flotilla and 6 of them were Bayliners of various sizes. This was in New Jersey. Our patrol area was the New York Harbor approach and my boat participated on 9/11.
Captain mat. I bought a 2020 22 cc trophy. I am so happy with this boat I never had a problem since I got it. My personal opinion so far I think it’s a great well done boat. Maybe because is new still. It came with mercury 150 hp Engine. Maybe for this boat it needs a 200hp engine from factory. This boat is not a cheap boat $50,000 I know this boat can get pricey when you go with another brand. He came with a aluminum trailer that was optional from dealership which cost me $4700 extra. I’m really happy with this boat.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon yes. They first told it was $7,400. And then talking to the manager they dropped the price to $5,500 But I remember they saying that they didn’t have a 200 hp in stock. They were going to give me a 250hp I think that was and ok deal.
My husband and I purchased a new VR4 during COVID. It is garage kept. We use it every weekend and clean it from bow to stern every time we take it out. We have not had one second of issues with the boat. It looks brand new and we love the boat. We realize it isn't as high quality as a Chaparral...but for our first boat, it has not failed us and operates fantastic. Once we retire, we will get that chaparral. I'm guessing we will get decedent money on the resale. If you take care of your boat, it will last.
I bought a 2 year old 1992 18' Capri from a friend. As you said, there were some quality and material drawbacks, but it was not underpowered with the Mercruiser 155 hp. 4.3L- v6. At w.o.t. I could reach 53 mph on a good day.
I have a 22 foot bayliner and it's been a super good boat it's a 99 or a 2000 model i can't remember but i got it in 2002 and we take it out every weekend all summer long to lakes here and to lake Powell at least 5 times a year have party's in all the time but i have always kept it in a shop or a garage and get it washed and waxed every spring
Decades ago I worked the fuel dock at a small lake. Boat owners: Don't service the engine (Esp. Outboards at end of season) Remove battery (At end of season) Didn't really know how to operate a boat properly i.e. careless and drank alot of beer then would go out. This guy bought an older used boat maybe early to mid 60s. Ran over something and cracked the lower gearcase within two hours. Back when Brunswick was buying companies like Bayliner and Harley. They tried going cheap on things. They almost ruined Harley. Back in the 70s Bayliner was very popular.
My first boat in 1988 was a 19 ft Bayliner. 2 weeks in the Force 125hp wouldn’t start, we had to use a pull start to get it running. Fit and finish match the price you get what you pay for it. I sold it after 2 years and was so happy to get rid of it.
I had a 4285 Avanti, 1989 with 3208 Cats. Incredible boat, 2 staterooms, 2 heads, thick gel coat. Ahead of its time euro styling. Expansive yacht. The motor yachts are stellar.
Capt. Matt, Well said and explained! I bought a new E16 60hp, 2-3 years ago. Dealer is very good however, they are a far drive into the city (w/ pot holes & construction). Hauling it for minor issues was a waste of time and money. So we have an authorized Mercury service place less than two miles near our home. Any other items under warranty we still have the local shop do the work. I don’t think it’s worth towing it to the dealership. I may ask about invoices for reimbursement🤷🏻♂️. We did get some dealer discounts. As a new boater, there wasn’t much on the internet especially TH-cam about boating for newbies and what to look for. I found your channel after the purchase. & Bought it before the 16foot Tahoe ad. I actually love the boat, I take care of it by cleaning, waxing, engine, and winterization. Having said that, here is what I have learned: Before going into the pros/cons all boats seem nice when it’s great weather and calm water. Pros: 1. Sits 6 adults comfortably 2. Nice deck space and swim platform 3. OB Mercury 4 stroke is quiet 4. Bimini top and table option 5. Stable when anchored off 6. Cruising 7. Anchor locker 8. Trailer w/Swivel tongue 9. Easy to clean and tow. 10. Automatic & manual bilge pump. Cons: 1. Steering can pull if you let go of the wheel (common on manual) 2. A bit underpowered when you have more than 3 people. 3. M haul doesn’t do chop well, I have to maneuver. Also no trim tabs or steps, in the haul design. 4. No cool color options. 5. No gas gauge on the dash. 6. Place to put my phone or charging should be standard. 7. The foot area at the helm should be inset for you feet. One really good advice you said, is (paraphrased) about what/how will the boat handle the water way where you are likely to be. While I did test drive the 18foot version in calm waters at the dealership I misjudged and thought it the boat could handle some chop. For our creek no problem, but when we hit the part where the river meets the bay it’s slow moving. I would like to trade up and get a family friendly CC. Deeper v design. I want to able to handle moderate chop. What is a step up deck or CC you’d recommend? looking for 30-50k range.. I like the Robalo 18 or 20, both with a head compartment. Just a huge jump in price brand new.
Hey brother I appreciate your very much for making this video I own a 1990 Bayliner trophy I think it's a 1903 or 1803 model. I wish you would have covered more about the trophies or the center consoles because my issue is that my fuel tank is done and I really don't want to cut the floor I'm thinking about taking the cap off so what's your thought
I had a 17 foot capri for years with the Force motor. It was a great boat and rode excellent. People badmouth Force motors but when asked specifically why there are never any real reasons. I have two Force motors now and they are both good runners and easy to work on. What specific complaints are there against Force motors? Also how much strutural integrity does a boat need? Will it fail during normal use? I slammed my Bayliner on 5 foot waves with no problems. Maybe if I crash into a rip rap shore at full speed the hole will be a foot larger in diameter than a high end boat with more build quality.
Wish I could post a pic. I have two. 1990 2252 capri with the 4.3. Love the boat. Yes they are under powered but that's not hard to over come. Had my 90 for 5 years now. Vinyl sucks. What you said is correct. Cheap materials that way. My second boat is 1988 2655 ciera widebody. With trailer it ran great needed cleaning and I only payed $800 for that. I do all my own work so issues aren't big to me as long as there drive and engine are good. In the 80s Brunswick made the hulls for searay and a few other manufacturers. So if you line a searay 265 up to my ceira 2655 they have very similar profiles. I have absolutely no complaints on my Bayliners and I grew on the waters of NY up being told not to buy one. Glastron was my family's preferred brand.
I've owned 2 Bayliners 22 open bow and a 22 Cierra Express, both Merc I/O powered. Great boats for the price, ran them all over Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. I Did my own maintenance and never had problems. Never once did anyone ever make a condescending remarks about my boats. Most boaters look out for each other and enjoy being on the water. Boating to me is one of the best family recreational bargains out there.
There's a reason for that. Bayliner originally was built for Pacific (specifically Pacific northwest) conditions. A lot of the issues that Bayliner is derided on are from the few years after they moved their manufacturing to Florida. Much different boating environment in FL compared to PNW, including but not limited to: a 12 month boating season in FL, much higher average Temps and humidity, and overall oceanic differences between tropical and temperate which has drastic effects on fiberglass schedule, parts, etc. It took them a few years to really work out the kinks, but they finally got it in the early-mid 90's. The result is a boat that now can last anywhere in the world. The boat manufacturing industry has learned to design their products around a Florida market, because if it can last there it can last anywhere else.
I bought a used Element 16, 10 years ago. I got everything I need nothing that I don't. Sure, there are much better boats out there, but you need to know what you want. I agree she's underpowered so be it. Quality overall is excellent. Thank you for the info.
I owned a Trophy 2002WA. The previous owner had re-powered with a Honda BF130 4 stroke. This is an excellent motor but significantly heavier then the stock outboard. This caused the boat to be stern heavy and left the scuppers under water. The boat itself was in good condition. No major structural issues, just wear and tear. The boats ride was comfortable and stable. As you said in the video they had cut corners to keep costs down. An example was the only access to the bilge, bilge pump, live well pump, and bait tank pump was through an 8” access port. Making servicing these extremely difficult. There were other “cuts”, but too much for this type of comment.
I bought a 2004 242 classic cruiser brand new, the boat was nothing but great year in and year out until I sold it in 2018. Bayliner is exactly what you said mostly a entry level boat. No regrets what so ever.
If Bayliner was such a bad boat then I must be crazy for just buying another one today. 1979 Saratoga Command Bridge. Cool timeless styling, 350 Volvo Penta motor. Still a solid built boat built with pride back then.
I have a 1996 Bayliner Capri 18.5 with outboard 120 Force engine. I've owned it for about three years now. I paid $2,300 for it. I had to replace half the floor because of rot and some of the seats have rips but over all, it's been a pretty good reliable boat on the water. Yes, I've had to rebuild the carbs, replace the starter, and basic maintenance but the boat gives me much fun on the water. The boat always gets me back home. An outboard motor is easier to work on. It's pretty basic and I've learned a lot about my motor.
We've owned a 2003 305 since new had one before that too(26') and from the first day have loved it and have had no problems at all. we also have retired and live on the boat in the summer. Every few years we go on a trip in it too. We keep the boat on Long Island Sound and have gone to south New Jersey, up the Hudson and out the Erie canal then back up the Hudson to south of Lake Champlain, also, out to the Cape Cod canal picked up 5 good friends and swam with some whales on still wagon bank out the entrance of Cape Cod Bay then spent the night with all of our friends in Provincetown (total of 7 for the night) What a blast! 2 months ago I got a call from a man that was looking at my boat to buy it. I spend my winters in Florida, and let him know I'd be back in Connecticut in the spring and he could look at the boat then, but I was not really looking to sell at this time. We sent him some pictures and told him what I would take for the sale, We'll see what happens. The problem is that I really don't want to sell the boat 'cause We both still love that boat so much. Just want to say that we've both been on some great boats in our short boating life but I'll still pick my 305 out of all of them! LOVE BAYLINERS c
@carole ross Thank you for your comment. My father first had the Bayliner Liberty, then he purchased the Bayliner Victoria Sunbridge from the Boston Boat Show (the actual boat that was in the show). He had no issues and back then, the Sunbridge was on the cutting edge with it's sporty looks and manueverabioity We constantly visited Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and many places on Cape Cod. My father was a doctor and a brilliant man. He wouldn't have bought junk..
Anything that's popular always has a bunch of hater trolls skulking around or snob knobbers who buy only at boutiques and live forever in debt. I bought a used 19 ft 1991 Capri with the 120 Merc/Alpha 1. Cost less than anything else it's size and condition, served my young family well, super simple and cheap to work on yourself and I sold it 6 years later for nearly what I paid for it. I'm looking for 2452 for my retirement for Canadian lake exploration. Snicker all you want at the gas dock. I'll be having fun.
It all depends on where the boat going to be used, fresh water or salt. Will the boat be moored or in a lift or a trailer queen. Mostly rough water or fairly calm (small lakes). Bayliner are one of the cheaper boats. My thinking is, usually with a well known brand name you get what you pay for. A Bayliner doesn`t have the quality of more expensive boats. But in the right conditions it will do.
Great info! BUT it seems like OLD NEWS. Yes the older Bayliners from the 1980's and 90's that were under the U.S. Marine label seemed to utilize thier own cheaper components such as with thinner glecoats, cheap flimsey windshileds, thin vinyl seats, not great hull construction etc. They were not the same... HOWEVER Newer Bayliners are made different now with components shared of bruswick (they share hundreds of parts and components now). Bayliners are ultimately family boats and may not have a 400hp option available but they are not underpowered anymore (standard engine on the 2004ish-2017ish Bayliner 175 was the 135hp 47mph which is the same as any SeaRay or other brands), or look at the standard base engine now on a 18.5' VR4 i/o bayliner is 200hp!). I remember selling these back in the mid 2000's when they had composite floors and encapsulated stringers. their ...And how many people heard of the Bayliner rendezvous? Ive been on the water 30+ years, never seen or heard of one for sale, why would you talk about a unicorn from any brand?? Yes im calling you out here, so tell us the thickness of the gelcoat on a Bayliner VS SeaRay? You won't know the answer, but they are the same 'buff back' gelcoat. Actually I can recall vividly at one time selling these bayliners i had a cut-out sample from a mechanic that cut a hole in a bayliner to install more speakers and he showed us a comparison and you would actually be VERY surprised at how thick it is of the Bayliner! The bottom line is because they are owned by brunswick, they tend to share some components that are 100% identical such as gelcoat, engines, and components like windshields, canvas, fittings, vinyl etc. Bayliners are cheaper because of the interior finishing's (no hinges on seats, no big 1000 Watt stereos, no 400hp engines, no mag wheels on the trailers, unfinished storage areas, simple interior design and dash, less upholstry, not many options or ways to custom build them, they are cookie cutter, ... They have come a long way. Essentially its like buying a new base house without upgraded flooring/kitchens and baths. Do Bayliners fall apart, no they don't just fall apart on their own lol. The boats ride and perform shockingly well, and are literally more reliable than the others we have sold back when i was selling boats... If you are looking for a fancy looking boat with upscale interiors, unnecessary HP, and overkill construction methods then don't buy a Bayliner. Otherwise, they are actually a pretty good value!
My dad was plant manager for a major manufacturer in the 80s and he said they had QC problems with delamination and such.. I never owned one so no clue if it's true...
So if Bayliner is the Hyundai of the water, what would the Nissan, AND infiniti; of the water be??? Good show. We're moving from Co, to Ocean Ciry, Md, next year. We're budgeting for a first time boat. So far bayliner, Sea Ray, Chaparral, Rinker, Yamaha; are in the running. Good show, thanks for insight
Hey guy, I think you gave a fair and truthful review of Bayliners. Having been on the water since I was 5 years old, now 65, I like you would never purchase one new, however if I was budget driven and found a properly maintained used one at a reasonable price point, then yes. I’ve owned several boats over the years from a 1949 Ramsey 12 ft plywood/fiberglass up to a 25’ Sportcraft. My favorite was a 22’ Pursuit- very well made, repowered several times over it’s life. But it’s like you said cheaper boat means cheaper materials and labor…. There’s no free rides
Ive riden n owned countless Bayliner thruout my 30yrs in the Boating World..Honestly there just as good as any other boat brand...i have a Buddy that does the Miami to Bimini Run 4 times each summer in a 26foot Trophy center console with 2 Mercs 200hp..Never had any problems...
I sold bayliners w/force engines in the late 70's early 80's. The package boats were ALWAYS underpowered. I used to beg people to upgrade but they always thought I was trying to increase my commission so they wouldnt do it. I would always see them back at the dealership telling me what a piece of junk I had sold them. The boats were just ok but the force engines were a complete joke. The people that I talked into powering up were usually satisfied. I wouldn't buy a bayliner now, but if I was 25 again and starting my young family out in the wonderful world of boating I would not hesitate to buy an adequately powered baayliner. Love your site and youtube channel, captain. Good job.
I have a 1987 bayliner 3450 avanti Sunbridge the two 7.4 litre v8's were reconditioned before I bought it and the cabin had a refit in 2011 its a stunning boat past its safety test last year no problem everything works perfectly and they're quite rare here in the uk now its my first boat and I couldnt be happier with it
@@chunkyhebrew8805 Excellent all around boat especially for the money. Fully loaded gas, gear, passengers the standard 150 is a little under powered,op for the 200 if you can. Just went out today fishing the CBBT with 8 passengers. Did I mention it's an awesome everything boat? Gas mileage is expected, 3.5 MPG cruising at 27MPH, 2.3-1.9 WOT standard load which for me is 5 people+gear. Ride is VERY stable below 30MPH LOADED and stable up to 45 (max I've been with the 150 Merc on mine) with 2 to 3 people+gear. Quality issues are there... Snap cover screws pulled through, the head hatch mold and ski hatch mold didn't match the tub mold (PLEASE CHECK THIS) so I have 2 latches...Other than that she's been great and the Merc 150 which is 2/5's the cost of this boat is perfect (if under powered) so far. I and my family love it and use it every day we can. This boat is a jack of all trades and a master of none. I've been in 5ft seas with her (stupid) and in the Atlantic when it's glass. For the money, I'd do it again. Hope this helps.
My attitude against Bayliner comes from being a fiberglass tech & boat builder. I have had to repair many hulls, inside & out & seen the difference in workmanship & quality up close. I can hardly believe some of the slack-ass work & lack of material used in Bayliner boats. One of my old bosses that I learned the most from told me something I live by to this day. "A boat is only as strong as it's weakest point." He would only laminate by hand, NEVER use chop. I was so proud of every vessel we made. 20' - 39', all seaworthy!
My grandad bought his 86 Capri cuddy new. He passed in 04. I recently found it up the street from my employer. I can tell it's been sitting for a long time. I have resisted the urge to try buying it from them... I can only imagine what could be wrong with it but it breaks me to see it like that. Grandad LOVED that thing and I wish I could've taken it when he passed. I got his 89 Silverado but wasn't given the option to keep the boat - plus I had no place to put it.
@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon indeed. Thanx man. I have been debating getting something small like a Tahoe T16. I'm 48, I hadn't piloted his boat since I was 15.
I agree, I bought 1994 bayliner Capri im the 3rd owner, the boat are excellent , the boat take care like a baby and kept in garage. The people say bayliner suck maybe they don’t take care of it.
A lot of used Bayliners suck, because they were poorly maintained by entry level Bayliner buyers. The boats themselves are fine. It’s like a Chevy or a Ford, where something like a Mariah or a Cobalt is at the other end.
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I've owned a 2005 Bayliner 195 Classic since 2006. It's my first boat and has been very reliable in the 16 years I've owned it. All in, it was an affordable way for my family to get on the water and it sips gas (3.0L). I couldn't be more pleased with the purchase and experience. Oh and I own 2 Mercedes and 2 Audis....but ZERO Kias. 🙂 For something that gets limited use in comparison to a automobile, cost, safety and reliability are more important to my view. Snicker all you want at me....the Bayliner has ticked all three boxes and left me laughing all the way to the bank.
Yes ! My wife and I bought our 1986 Bayliner 19' Capri with a 125 Force We love our Boat. We have always kept it inside, and covered. We are 77 years young, We have a lot of wonderful times in our Bayliner. Our Bayliner will not be sold, it will stay in our family. !
So awesome! I kept my father's boat when he passed now his grandsons go fishing in it almost every weekend. Family boats are so great. Its about the memories
I just bought same 1986 Capri with a Volvo penta inboard/outboard boat. The 4 cylinder motor fired right up. Am excited to put in the water after this July 4th, 2021.
Your comment brought a big smile!
Thank you!!
@@maxipower6932 Be sure to keep the insides of you Bayliner dry ! Keep it covered or in side when not in use. The under floor wood it not sealed and will rot, We love our Bayline and had many years of good use.
@@johnriise9506 Will do Sir. Thank you!
I just got 86 capice
I own a 2004 Bayliner 185 and have had it for five years. I have not had any issues with it and it has been a great boat. Just did the annual service and had a diagnostic completed and was advised there were no issues. No regrets with owning this boat!
The motors not the issue.its the boat.but I like the Bayliner trophy coming from a Grady White owner
Just ran my 1991 Bayliner 1850 I/O today. Bought it 12 years ago for 5k, well taken care of and the interior is immaculate. She runs great, loads of fun!
What do you mean? Is the fiberglass not good?@@eugenelaky1993
IT IS STILL JUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bought a small Bayliner when I was a 19 year young man, i use to go to Elliott key every other day from Sundays on the bay in miami, and 34 year's later 90 percent of my stories have to do with things I use to do on that boat ,I barely speak about things I do now on my bigger more expensive boats I've owned, best memories, most fun , i had more fun then than now, it shaped me to be a good captain today, thank you my Bayliner friend
I've noticed some boaters with nicer boats look down on the guy getting it done with a smaller or cheaper boat. But like you said some of your best times were on your first (cheaper) boat people need to remember this when judging someone.
Picked up my brand new 2021 Bayliner T22 CC Trophy in October of 2020. Taken her out numerous times and have no complaints! She has put me on a lot of fish and lobster in Southern California and has never let me down!
2019 Bayliner Element F16. Great starter boat so far. I’ve taken it a few miles off shore. It gets it done on a budget. $50 bucks in gas can get me 2 weekends on the water.
I had 10 years ago a 32 feet Bayliner motoryacht with twin Hino diesels. This might have been the best boat i ever had. Very robust and well equipped.
West coast loves Bayrays, Sunbird is a bayliner and hardly no glassing over stringers I put 12 gallons of resin below the floor and she's golden
@@TheDoug9901 i thought Sunbird was inferior in quality compared to Bayliner.
Those Hino engines are dead as soon as they have any issues. They don't make parts for them anymore.
I’ve owned several and now have a Searay. No doubt the Searay quality of materials and fit and finish are much better but price wise is it worth the difference. I took my Bayliner off shore and never had any structural issues. They didn’t come with all the options my Searay did but for my budget at the time I got a lot of fun per dollar spent.
If it wasn't for bayliner I would never have gotten I to boating. Purchased my first used bayliner in 1980 and had 4 others after that. Never had any issues.
Tell him again I love mines
I have been a boater for over 42 years and currently have my 11th boat - all of them used. 3 of them were I/O's and the rest outboard. One of the I/O's was a 1999 Bayliner 1954 with a 3.0L Mercruiser which I found to be very comfortable, excellent handling, smooth riding and well worth what I paid for it.
I find everything you said in your video to be accurate. The flooring on my Bayliner was not as thick as it should be and the interior components (carpet, vinyl, etc...) were cheap quality. But the previous owner kept in good condition - and I am meticulous - so it was a fine boat. A Bayliner is fine as long as it is well kept and maintained - as with any boat.
What type of “family boat” would you recommend for a beginner boater?
That 3.0L (181ci) engine is one nearly bulletproof engine. Industrial generator engine. I remember skiing behind an Arista Craft w/120 HP just fine. Pulled 2 slalom skiers up no problem. For a lighter boat it's a great engine.
I bought a 2006 Bayliner 195 in 2021 for my first boat. The material quality isn’t the best, but it seems to be a solid boat. I’m in my second season. Good starter boat and I don’t get to worried about it. Boat is good for what I need it to do, beer drinking on sandbars in NJ bays 🤷♂️
Owned multiple Bayliners and they are all outstanding.
I know mine has been also. People like this guy really piss me off the arrogance and ignorance are one thing but to diss a product by claiming it is poorly made even though that could not be further from the truth. Bayliner boats are sold in high volume made in Mexico and the savings are passed on to the buyer my boat has the same gauges used in Sea Rays same motor and lower even the same hardware and seat material. He has the same attitude Harley buyers have their bike is the best everything else is crap and most people know that is crap. Boating is an expensive hobby and the people who research and know boats are also smart enough to save money knowing they are not giving up anything over the other brands. People will pay a premium to have that brand name i say let them it's not my money I am wasting. Maybe this guy serves a purpose in keeping people ignorant and keeping the secret of how good Bayliner is. I used to believe the myth that Bayliner was no good until we bought our girl in 2008 brand new this boat has had zero issues let me repeat zero strange for a low-quality boat as he claims lmao.
@@erics9754 you couldn't be any further from the truth...
Bayliner has been very good to me with any issues we have had with our 2016 190 db . I agree 100 % with the quality of some of the hardware . If you are a recreational boater , than the Bayliner is fine . We upgraded from the 115hp mercury to the 150hp and the boat hits near 50 mph on clam water . Cant beat it for the money .
Hi Captain Math - I am writing from Germany. Tks for your videos. Also in Germany the Bayliner boats are well sold. And they are easily beeing found in the I-net as used ones. I just bought a Bayliner 2052 Capri from 1993. So a 30 years old oldtimer. The condition is still excellent - the pre-owner mantained it very very well. Engine is a 3 Ltr. with compression 9,8 / 9,9/ 10,0 / 10,0. Not bad for this age.The boat was used in saltwater only for 3 weeks in Adriatic see (Croatia). After owning a 23 ft Searay 10 years ago, I was looking for an affordable used boat with a windshield wich can be opened in the middle to enter the front for handling the lines while docking. You can feel the thickness of the hull is less strong than on a Bayliner compared with the Sea Ray - but for me this is not so important. I can easily trailer it behind my RV. (allowed on my car is max. 2000kg with trailer), handling in the water is excellent, power of the enginge is absolutely OK for me. For more performance I use High Five propeller. So - I can recommend this brand for beginners (ore retired persons like me). It depends on your budget - you are absolutely right. Take car - Jörg from Bavaria
I've had numerous Bayliners in my 61 years and I've never had a major issue with any of them. My last Bayliner was a 1985 16 ft Trophy bass boat with an 85 hp Force. I owned it for 7 years and the only issues other than normal maintenance was a fuel pump diaphragm and one plug stripped out so I installed a helicoil. I landed many a fish from that boat over the years and it always treated me well. Sold it for $700.00 more than I paid 7 years earlier.
I currently own a 1995 Spectrum with a Merc Force engine and I'm very happy with it. Very reliable.
I'd have no regrets owning another Bayliner or Force.
Bret,,,I never had a problem with my
1979 25 foot bayliner flybridge
Love it and my kids love it,,👍👍
I once replaced steering cable on a Trophy with an outboard. What a headache.
I have a 1996 Bayliner Capri 1600 LS with a 1995 Mariner 75 hp motor on it and is sitting on an escort trailer, I bought it all brand new, have had very little problems with it, it stays covered and under a carport when not in use, It’s still a good boat and running strong!
I picked up a used Bayliner Bowrider (2008) and it's been fantastic. I was fortunate that the previous owners took good care of the boat and always trailered it, so the boat never sat in the water for long periods of time. Other than the routine maintenance items (plugs, cap & rotor, oil/fluids, impeller, etc.), it's been very reliable with no issues. The Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha One engine provides plenty of power and has been great for all-purpose use. I've added a few bells & whistles to it and bet it will sell for about what I paid for it in a few years. With boats, maintenance and care is the key...they'll last and retain value if you take care of them.
I bought my Bayliner 185 in 2007 and I have never had an issue with it. Other than replacing a battery or an oil change. It runs great and was worth every penny paid.
The engine and battery isnt made my bayliner
@@samuelbermudez2971 you missed what I said. I've never had an issue with the boat. Other than maintenance, I've done nothing to repair any part of the boat. It's 15 years old. No issues ever.
hi, i'm a owner of bayliner 185, i'm not sure she can do offshore. i like my boat, Do you do offshore when the weather is not that good?
@@仲叔叔钓鱼分享记 I don't live near an ocean but I wouldn't take an 185 out in it.
Bought my 1998 Bayliner Capri new. Mercruiser 135, Escort trailer, total $11,000. Mostly stored inside garage. Used on Lake Superior for 20 years. Currently covered on lift in my Florida back yard. DIY oil changes, lower unit lube, installed new prop in 2020.
Yes, it’s a cheap boat. But 23 years of boating with maybe $1000 in DIY maintenance total. A good value for a casual family boater.
I’ve owned multiple bay liners over the years . All were I/o and I’ve never been stranded on the water or had any major issues. Not to mention with 3 kids into water sports we could spend a whole weekend on the lake and still have fuel in the tank when we leave.
We don’t really care what boat snobs say about a bay liner! Lol
We bought a 2016 Bayliner F-18 new. We upgraded the motor to a Mercury 115. It was purchased mostly for fishing. We do a lot of inshore fishing along the North and South Carolina coasts. We added the swim platform for the kids for when we pull the towables. We have never had a moment’s trouble out of the motor. Serviced annually. We have found that Bayliner used some hardware that rusted after the first year. The seat they mounted on the front rusted badly and we had to replace it. Not too expensive. We love the center console. There is plenty of room for 3 fishermen to walk around. We also added the T-top which is great. Overall, after 5 years we still love this boat.
I own a 2017 VR6 that I bought new in the beginning of 17' with a 250 I/O Merc from the Detroit boat show. I grew up boating with my dad and wanted my kids to enjoy what my father introduced me too. I'm a regular middle class joe smoe Firefighter/ medic. I have not had 1 issue during the 4 years I've owned it and I recommend it to people if they want to start to get into boating. I get a lot of compliments from people when they see my boat. Bayliner did have a bad wrap years ago which I don't disagree with, but I can vouch that they have stepped their game up.
I'd be happy to talk about the boat and share pics if anyone would like to see.
I bought a 3 year old 185 in 2015. For $15,000, 30 hours on engine. I know “like new” gets used a lot, but it was. A Michigan fresh water boat. Anyway, no issues, when my Bayliner graphics began to wear, I removed them with the intention of replacing them. Once o removed them, compound, polish and wax away the “Bayliner” shadows in the red gelcoat, I really like the”naked” appearance. I’m that guy that has a total of 4 different boats, ranging from my 185 thru a SeaRay 300 and each every one looks great for their age. I get asked all the time on water about the Bayliner “hey what kind of boat is that?” When I say a Bayliner, they are in amazement. I have looked at similar size, age model boats of other brands, and frankly this boat will compete with each builder...all these boats in this size range are entry level regardless of who makes it. The vinyl and stitching is equal in quality than same year Sea Ray runabouts. Same stable coming from Brunswick, but obviously very different level boats.
All of the “issues” you talked about with exposed wood and stringers ended by 1998. By 2000 85% percent of the materials used in Bayliners were the same materials used in Brunswick Sea Ray Boats. Which you claimed is a “better high end boat”, but forgot to mention was also built by Brunswick. Many of the smaller boats in fact were built in the SAME factories, by the same builders, using the same materials and construction. The biggest difference was Bayliner, like the Model T Ford, was offer with 3 color options. They were blue, blue and …. blue. They had no seating to limited options. No glitzy details like pleather interiors (yes I meant Pleather with a P). So they didn’t have to outsource ANY materials. They made their own, or had Brunswick source it.
They’re stringers were NOT exposed wood. They were Alaskan Yellow Cedar (sourced from their own forests) that was then wrapped in fiberglass and resin coated into the hull. Same went for the floors. The hulls were 8 layers of hand laid fiberglass. The same hand laid fiberglass used in Sea Ray. In fact, by the late 90’s, the same fiberglass used in just about any boat at the time.
The Gelcoat? Same exact gelcoat used in Sea Ray, except Bayliner bought millions of gallons of one color from Cook Composites, all at once because they new long before the gelcoat was sprayed how much they needed for the whole year. While other companies like Sea Ray had to buy smaller amounts of 10 different colors all throughout the year because they never knew what colors would sell. Who do you think paid less for the same high quality gelcoat, or vinyl or carpet for that matter? The company that could buy all it needs at once and in one color or the company that buys a little bit at a time all year long. I’ll give you one guess 😉
Same cleats, same stainless steel fittings, same motors etc etc. except with the motors, they didn’t offer 27 different configurations. They offered 3 at most. So guess which company ordered more motors, again, all at once.
Chop fiberglass …. News flash, in the late 90s nearly every single OEM in the industry used chop. Most still do at some point. If you understand how a boat was laid up back then, you’d know that if you DIDN’T use some chop, the outside of your boat would look like a checkerboard. It’s an absolute lie that in the late 90’s Bayliners hulls were made ENTIRELY of chop. It was just a lie made up by competitors to try to explain how Bayliner can build the boats for so much less. Don’t believe it.
Yes, Bayliner was an entry level boat, so yes, a lot of the used ones are beat up. Doesn’t mean they were a “cheaply made boat”. They could have been made with diamonds, if they were bouncing off of docks and other boats and not maintained properly they would still not look as good as a boat owned by a third time owner.
Resale value? Well, you did cover that. But you forgot to mention that MOST boats lose 15-20% the first year and 10-15% each year after until around 6 years old, like you mentioned. Bayliner even in your review lost 7% in the second year. So they loss less value percentage wise. Isn’t that all that truly matters? They also. cost less to buy new, so guess what, they sell for less than say a Sea Ray of the same size. So Sea Ray salespeople would pull out they’re ABOS or NADA books back then and say something ridiculous like “look at this 5 year old 20ft Sea Ray, it’s worth 3 times the price of the 20ft Bayliner. Duh!!! If you fell for that back then …. You were fooled.
Vertical integration (everything built in-house) and tremendous purchasing power (they sold more boats than ANY manufacturer ANYWHERE in the world, by several folds) and no to very limited options. That’s how they were so much less than “higher end” boats. Not because they were “built cheaply”.
I’ve spent almost 30 years in the boating industry. I have toured no less than 20 different boat factories by more than a dozen different manufacturers. I can’t speak for how Bayliner boats were built before 1995 or how they are built today, but I will tell you, from 98 til around 2020, I would put the manufacturing process of a Bayliner up against most any boat, for even twice the price, and pick the Bayliner most every time.
Don’t believe the crap and lies that have been spread by the sour salespersons that couldn’t justify their much higher prices. Believe me, I have heard them ALL! Most of the “facts” they share about how the Bayliners were being built were either from how they were built in the 70’s and 80’s or just simply made up “facts”. Do your research. Ask that arrogant salesperson who makes their gelcoat, or resin, or cleats, then learn who did the same for Bayliner. Maybe under a different brand name, so that they can charge more to the other builders, but most likely, it’s the same stuff. Then ask the Bayliner salesperson to set up a factory tour for you. I beat you’d be impressed, just line I was many times over.
And as far as the Kia reference, I can’t speak to that, but I do know a LOT of Kia owners and they love them and they seem to run forever. So there’s that.
Lastly …. Chrysler Force outboards and OMC Cobra I/O motors are responsible for most, if not nearly all, of the rumors that modern Bayliners “don’t last” or “fall apart”. They were crap. So much so that Bayliner offered to pay off the remainder of their contract with OMC and NOT TAKE ANY MORE ENGINES and OMC said NO. Because they knew at the time they would go out of business if their motors weren’t on the worlds best selling boats. That all changed by 1998 when Brunswick was finally able to fully integrate their own materials into the Bayliners.
Thanks for the flashback by the way. I suggest that you talk to more than one actual Bayliner owner though next time before reviewing them. 😉😉. Or just ask me, I know hundreds to thousands of people that never would have gotten into boating if it wasn’t for Bayliner and they loved every minute on their Bayliners.
Well put my friend and just to be clear. the following brands are currently being made by Brunswick: Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hayday, Lowe, Lund, Prince Craft, Protector, Quick Silver, RayGlass, Spartan, Thunder Jet, Uttern.
@@MegaSling thank you. Truth be told, if it wasn’t for Brunswick , there would be no US boating industry after 1998. Their boats keep that industry alive back then when all the others were going out of business.
My biggest gripe with Brunswick is they have forgotten their own heritage in the boating market, with Bayliner specifically. Bayliner was the perfect entry level boat. A higher quality and better built boat motor and trailer package, than any other company was able to offer, without all the color and interior options. This kept their boats AFFORDABLE for people that might not otherwise have gotten into Boating. There is no great entry level boats anymore. When an 19’ Bayliner is a $45K purchase, there is no one looking to fill up the top of the purchasing funnel anymore. Because of that, motorcycles, RV’s and other “leisure activities” has completely eaten up Bayliners piece of the recreational pie. Don’t believe me? Overlay a graph of motorcycle sales on top of a graph of boat sales from around 2000 to now.
Too bad, because if you ask all those “high end” boat owners what their first boat was, a lion share of them would say a Bayliner. Now there is no company trying to convert successfully, golfers, kayakers, paddle boarders, hikers etc etc into boaters. That shrinks the entire boating market. All that’s left is the companies geared towards serving the wealthy boater. It’s why the industry is shrinking year after year.
Sad ….
Thanks for this. Curious - what happened after 2020 that you can't speak to the manufacturing?
@@judgoodman7441 I left the boating industry after 2020.
As a 17' Capri as a kid (1980s) - all we could afford. Trailered it back and forth to the NJ shore and it was solid. Bought new, dad was super handy and maintained it himself. Very minimal issues and nothing that was not relatively simple to fix. I personally grounded it 3x in the back bays of NJ - good times.
In Minnesota we have plenty of rocks to devastate our boats, but at least there is no salt.
Boy the 80s sure was a great time to grow up. We had a sailboat (Catalina 25) in a lake in New Mexico. lol Yea, sailing in the middle of the desert. It was either 100+ degrees and zero wind or it was blowing 50mph creating a very short, steep chop. We saw many a jet boat sink in that chop but it was a great weekend outing to get away from the parental units for a while. I lived on that boat for most of one summer in 84 or 85. lol It made my first apartment seem down right spacious. Good times, great memories.
We owned a 28.5’ Bayliner Contessa Flybridge for the California Delta. It was the most enjoyable boat I owned out of 7 boats in my life. It was like the little tugboat that wanted to be a speedboat. I could have up to 10 passengers and it would quickly get up on plane and go up to 30 miles per hour. The interior was perfectly designed. It had a couch on the left side that made into a queen size bed. On the right side it had another couch that made into bunk beds that was good to throw our gear and a bed for our granddaughter. The V berth’s king size bed was the perfect, very comfortable bed for even a live aboard. We did add a microwave to perfect the galley. I acquired this boat when I took it as a trade-in on our 38’Hatteras tri-cabin that I really never enjoyed because It was just too big and too costly to maintain. Wish I had found the Bayliner when I first moved to the California Delta. The only negative was, since the Bayliner was only 6,000 lbs, it was not good in really rough water like when we went east past Pittsburg towards San Francisco.
I learned weight matters!
Well going east to get to San Francisco from Pittsburgh instead of using the Panama Canal yea you would have to run into some rough water traveling around the world.
I have a 18’ Bowrider Bayliner for more than 20 years and I did total rebuild it. Remove the Forcé engine and replaced whit a four cycles Honda,
Did the upholstered, install the hydraulic system, GPS, autopilot, Bluetooth stereo system and I just love it and had enjoyed for many years. Great small boat!
Well, I put it to you like this. I went shopping for a boat in 2009 and looked at a brand new Bayliner. I nearly bought it. Then I looked at a sea ray, which is made by the same company. I never looked back. A Bayliner will save you lots of money potentially but there’s no comparison in quality and craftsmanship to a Sea ray. You get what you pay for.
I've been boating for 50 years now. I've had Bayliner, Renken, Ocean Pro and Proline and now I'm back into one of the new 22' Trophy's. I've never had issues with any of these boats. All the issues that have cost me real money has been that thing hanging off the back of the boat. That engine costs $17,000 or $30,000 if your looking in the 21 to 23 foot range of boats. Keep up that oil in the engine and lower unit and keep it on a trailer, not in the water and you'll have fewer problems. Boats don't ruin boating, engines do 99 percent of the time. Finally, the worse thing for the actual boat is leaving it out in the open. Sun ruins fiberglass, decks and cushions. Not rain, not snow, not cold or even heat. Keep a boat on a trailer and under some form of enclosure where it keeps the sun off and you'll extent the life of the boat for years.
all the other brands you mentioned are bottom feeders just like bayliner
@megasling, how do you like your new 22' trophy? Am looking at picking one up for myself. How do you find it handles big water? I can't find much opinions on them from people that actually own one ...
@@TheSorento1 Loving it. I've put 100 hrs on it so far and she runs great. I've taken it to Bimini a couple of times without issue. She handles the rough stuff as well as you can expect from a 22 footer. 1 to 2 footers you can keep her on plan and moving right along. Anything more than that and you'll need to slow it down.
I owned 2 bayliners. 1 25 ft trophy and 1 19 ft Capri. Both needed work and both ran well. Didn't spend a bunch of $ on them and family enjoyed time on water!
What you got was what Bayliner sold. Fun and value. A very good deal in my opinion.
I had a 95 2252 Cierra. No issues and did great for me. V8 Merc IO. It was a good value and we had a lot of good times on it with no issues.
My papa has an old Capri - started every time - wasn't a super nice boat but it did the job every time!
I had a 91 185 Capri and loved it. The old 4 cyl mercruiser ran great and for a 32 year old boat I was plenty happy with it.
Bayliner doesn't deserve a bad rap, they really stepped up their game later on. Don't buy a 20 year old boat if you don't know where and what to look for.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon This is what I appreciate about your channel, the helpful advice with comprehensive explanation.
Good job, and big thumbs-up! ;)
I bought new in 1996, a 2050 SS Anniversary Edition with a 5.7. Defiantly not under powered and very reliable. Even though its 27 year old boat, It still a good looking boat even today. I've maintained it very well, and I think that's the key to owning ANY boat, maintaining and taking care of it. Even expensive boats will soon be run down, if not well maintained. I consider boat covers as sacrificial, I will buy a new cover every 2 or 3 years. I added a wake tower to it several years ago and will replace the carpeting this year, I think its still a cool looking and stylish boat even when compared to a comparable boat of today's standards. My kids have grown up having great times on this boat, and now my grand kids are having fun and making memories on it. The times we've spent on this boat have been priceless! I don't ever plan on selling it. It think it will probably stay in the family. I've never had issues with the boat and it's been very reliable, I would buy it all over again, it's been a great boat!!!
I loved my 2009 Bayliner 185 bowrider. I bought it at a boat show in February of 2010. The listed price was $29k with a boat show price of $24k. Since this was at the height of the recession I walked away paying just $17,900 cash. I owned it for 5 years. It was great on the lake. I was meticulous about maintenance and never had any issues. In 2015 I sold it for $15k. Now I have a Chaparral. My boat now is a nicer boat but I did love my value Bayliner.
I had two bayliners a 1996 CC 18’ Trophy walk around cabin and the boat was solid and well built, and yes I did have issues with the Force engine, however we had a great time fishing and cruising from Miami to Bimini. I also had a 160 BR just for Biscayne bay fun and fishing and after 8 years sold it with “0” issues. The latter one came with a 60 hp mercury engine. No issues! Looking now at the Boston Whaler 28’or 32’ Conquest, just considering it
I brought a 1996 Bayliner Capri 4.3 V6 carburetor 200 hp.What a fun boat and fast.Sold that for a Trophy walk-around cuddy out board.Kept that one from 1997 until 2010.Never had any problems with either one.Lots of great memories.The problems that I had was the truck I chose to tow them with.lol D R 5.9
I have a 99 Capri 2050 LS with the mercruiser equipped with the Chevy 305 and I love the hell out it. It planes up quickly, handles rough water well, and is very good on fuel. Absolutely no complaints
I just bought a 1998 Bayliner Trophy 1903 CC. I tried to stay away from Bayliner I really did. I looked at Regals, Four winds, Sea Ray's, key West ect ect. I looked at newer boats and in the end I couldn't find anything as nice as this older Bayliner. I have looked at the stringers and bilge area of this boat and I expected to see everything I heard about. I found the stringers to be well fiberglassed and solid. The only wood I found under the deck is the brace for deck to the hull and a piece of wood about two inches lower than the deck. It's under the seat panel. If water ever gets that high the boat is underwater. The wood is dry and solid on mine. I'm going to climb down into the CC access hatch and cover the braces with something to seal them just for piece of mind. The hull on this thing is flawless except for a small chip on the bow. Someone else gel coated this thing because it's got a nice gel coat and the hull is thick and solid. I got it from a guy that was in the process of messing the boat up with stupid shit like screwing metal L brackets into the floor with no sealant and any screws he could find. Instead of buying the original $49.00 cooler mounts he mounted a stupid regular cooler with the brackets. He used whatever screws he could find to screw down the hand rails if one was missing. I've been restoring it all plugging screw holes replacing screws with sealant. This thing was loved by someone then sold to a hack thank god he didn't own it long because it's going to be treated right and loved.😊
I got my first boat in my early 20's non running with a ok trailer. Ran it for a few seasons the went up to a larger boat. Years and a few boats later. I've realized being able to trailer the boat home is the vest way to keep the Maintenance up
I have had 2 Bayliner Trophy boats good riding boats never had any issues with the Hull repowered one from envinrude to Suzuki the other had mercury 225
Just bought an 89 Bayliner, 17', 85 Force outboard, $800. Definitely finding soft floor issues, cushion wood/stitching problems, having trouble with electrical and haven't been able to get the engine started yet but I'm having the previous owner come by this evening and seeing if there's something simple I'm missing. I knew we were getting into a bit of a project. Of course it's our first boat without a sail😂
We have a Ciera 3055
Its not a bad boat
Use it a lot out in Cali here on the coast
It has two new 350 mercs in it.
Way better than the 305s for sure
The boat has to be maintained.
Def the key !
Looking to move up to a 45'-50'
next.
Great info here in this video 👍
I had a 1989 2455 cierra sunbridge ( cabin cruiser) for 15 years. I spent a total of 725 nights on the boat and only got stranded 1 time. The old ignition went out on it and I put a electronic ignition on it and never had any more problems. It was 10 years old when I bought it. I was well pleased and really enjoyed it. It stayed in the lake 6 months a year. That same boat now is a 2655.
Never personally owned a Bayliner but know people who have and they will swear by them.
Every boat is built to suit a budget, unless it's new ,look for well kept/maintained and keep that in mind when buying and always use the advice of an experienced marine engineer.
I suspect the main problem is its reputation, give a dog a bad name and so on which is the hardest thing when it comes to resale.
I wanted a "Sleeper". It took some doing but I finally purchased a brand new 2002 Bayliner 215 BZ without a motor or drive. I pretty much tore the entire back half of the boat apart to retro-fit it to except a modified Chevrolet 383 Stroker (585 HP) and a Mercury Surface Piercing Drive. I was amazed to see that the entire lower half of the haul (to the rub rail) was reinforced with rolling woven glass. I loved this boat for eight years until selling it to a friend that continues to love it to this day
I owned a 1986 34ft bayliner trophy sportfish. It had dual 454s. I bought the boat in 97 and keep it until 03. Over all it was a good boat for us. Some cheaper hardware then a Silverton but I think it looked better and ran better in the ocean then other gas boats in that style. It looked just like the 34 searay and I was always told they where made at the same place.. overall good boat
I have a 94 2302 trophy I bought a few years ago as my first boat. I grew up fishing from a john boat and I didn't want to purchase a big expensive boat as I was learning my ways around the water. So far it has been a really good boat. I take it out a few times a month in the gulf of mexico and make 20-40 mile runs out. We have 4 boats in the family anywhere from 16 ft john boats to 29ft center console. We've caught the most fish and had the best of times on the bayliner. I'm mechanically inclined so I have had to do some maintenance and replace some pumps. But I don't have a burden over my head every month with a payment. It's done everything I've asked for and more. I've been caught in storms with 5-6ft waves with water coming over the bow and it handled everything well enough to get me home. I believe some years they used greenwood xl which I have heard that is made of cedar. Do you know if that is true?
I bought a new F18 a couple years ago. Spec'd it all out with all the options: 115 ProXs, hydraulic steering, etc. Been a good boat. My only issue is having the time to 'tweak' the top speed with outboard height and prop selection. I'm running high 30's mph, should be low 40's.
92 bayliner, had since 2019, steering is getting stiff and flooring is starting to soften around the dog house. Otherwise great boat for cruisin and tubin!
I have a 1996 Cierra 2355. I live on the Bay and use it daily. No issues with proper maintenance
I have a 87 bayliner its still going strong 85hp Force.
I've been a boater for 40 years I owned Sea Ray, Silverline, Campion, Glaspar, Starcraft, and recently purchase a Bayliner my take on Bayliner is you are right they are a very inexpensive Boat but if you dont beat on them they are fine the Quality has gotten better after 2000 but if you take care of it don't abuse them they hold up fine I have no issues with them. If you play rough then my suggestion find a top level brand but for the average person who takes care of there stuff Bayliner will be fine.
I owned a Bayliner Cierra 2655 (2001) with 5.7 Mercruiser MAG MPI with Bravo3. Great boat. I took it to Catalina Island all the time and stored it in salt water. Just do the maintence and its makes the same memories as a Sea Ray.
It's funny that as a kid in middle school I'd see Bayliner boats parked indoors at the Ocean County Mall (NJ) for people to look at (and hopefully buy). But even at my age, I got the sense that these boats were the Huffy of boats. I didn't know jack about boats but they just gave me that feeling. I also noticed that every boat I see has engines like Evinrude, Mercury, Yamaha etc. But all of a sudden there was some new brand stupidly named "Force". It reminded me of all the kids in school having Nike's & Adidas then the one kid that had MacGregor (K-mart's brand). Either way, I just thought it was strange that back in the 80's I had a gut feeling that these boats & Force engines were crap.
Two years later I bought a brand new Boston Whaler (only 13 foot w/ 40hp Evinrude). It was great for tooling around in the Manasquan River. When the wind was right, I'd even take it out of the inlet and out to the mile marker. Had lots of great times & caught many a fluke & flounder with it.
Bayline has been the best most solid boats ive owned. Ive had two now and absolutely love them.
Having or buying a Bayliner is having lots of risks associated with it. I agree with your statement of preference of "buying a new KIA vs buying a used Ford Explorer, i will personally take the Explorer". If you happen to have a Bayliner which is really manufactured cheap, you have to take real good care and pay attention on how you maintain the boat in order to keep it sea worthy, efficient and use-able when you need it. Take a real good care of your Bayliner boat more than you care and treat for your wife...if you don't then you will be facing some serious trouble/disaster. It requires so much TLC and time (less money). Thank you for the video, very educational and full of great information about boating in general.
I bought a Bayliner new in 1999. It was the model 1952 cuddy cabin. It was excellent. I sold it after 8 years to a friend of mine who loved it and just sold it last year. Yes a lot of people say all bad things about Bayliner but here is what I have to say. The running gear is the same as pretty much every other boat in the class. Mine had the 4.0 Mercruiser with an Alpha drive. Never a problem. The only issue was with the fuel filling tube for the gas tank that would spit back if you tried to fill it too fast. The problem was that the hose on the fuel fill was a little too long and it drooped a bit which caused the gasoline to back up as you filled it. It only happened if you filled it too quickly but the actual fix was to just shorten the hose a few inches. I was in Seattle years ago and went to the Port. The place was loaded with Bayliners. I served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and my boat was an official facility and we used it to patrol. We had 8 vessels in our Flotilla and 6 of them were Bayliners of various sizes. This was in New Jersey. Our patrol area was the New York Harbor approach and my boat participated on 9/11.
I purchased a new 1992 Trophy 2502 walk around and have been very satisfied with a few exceptions. Mercury Force motors failed after about 4 years
Captain mat. I bought a 2020 22 cc trophy. I am so happy with this boat I never had a problem since I got it. My personal opinion so far I think it’s a great well done boat. Maybe because is new still. It came with mercury 150 hp Engine. Maybe for this boat it needs a 200hp engine from factory. This boat is not a cheap boat $50,000 I know this boat can get pricey when you go with another brand. He came with a aluminum trailer that was optional from dealership which cost me $4700 extra. I’m really happy with this boat.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon yes. They first told it was $7,400. And then talking to the manager they dropped the price to $5,500 But I remember they saying that they didn’t have a 200 hp in stock. They were going to give me a 250hp I think that was and ok deal.
I have a 1999 Bayliner capri 1600 I removed the force motor and install a 2020 Suzuki 90 and I love it
My husband and I purchased a new VR4 during COVID. It is garage kept. We use it every weekend and clean it from bow to stern every time we take it out. We have not had one second of issues with the boat. It looks brand new and we love the boat. We realize it isn't as high quality as a Chaparral...but for our first boat, it has not failed us and operates fantastic. Once we retire, we will get that chaparral. I'm guessing we will get decedent money on the resale. If you take care of your boat, it will last.
Owned 3 Bayliner's all great, I now have a 2002 2855 super boat
I bought a 2 year old 1992 18' Capri from a friend. As you said, there were some quality and material drawbacks, but it was not underpowered with the Mercruiser 155 hp. 4.3L- v6. At w.o.t. I could reach 53 mph on a good day.
I have a 22 foot bayliner and it's been a super good boat it's a 99 or a 2000 model i can't remember but i got it in 2002 and we take it out every weekend all summer long to lakes here and to lake Powell at least 5 times a year have party's in all the time but i have always kept it in a shop or a garage and get it washed and waxed every spring
Decades ago I worked the fuel dock at a small lake.
Boat owners:
Don't service the engine (Esp. Outboards at end of season)
Remove battery (At end of season)
Didn't really know how to operate a boat properly i.e. careless and drank alot of beer then would go out.
This guy bought an older used boat maybe early to mid 60s. Ran over something and cracked the lower gearcase within two hours.
Back when Brunswick was buying companies like Bayliner and Harley. They tried going cheap on things. They almost ruined Harley.
Back in the 70s Bayliner was very popular.
My first boat in 1988 was a 19 ft Bayliner. 2 weeks in the Force 125hp wouldn’t start, we had to use a pull start to get it running. Fit and finish match the price you get what you pay for it. I sold it after 2 years and was so happy to get rid of it.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Nope stared buying Regals had 3 of them
I had a 4285 Avanti, 1989 with 3208 Cats. Incredible boat, 2 staterooms, 2 heads, thick gel coat. Ahead of its time euro styling. Expansive yacht. The motor yachts are stellar.
Had a 1979 25 foot bayliner flybridge never had a issue,,my kids love it
Capt. Matt,
Well said and explained!
I bought a new E16 60hp, 2-3 years ago.
Dealer is very good however, they are a far drive into the city (w/ pot holes & construction). Hauling it for minor issues was a waste of time and money.
So we have an authorized Mercury service place less than two miles near our home. Any other items under warranty we still have the local shop do the work. I don’t think it’s worth towing it to the dealership. I may ask about invoices for reimbursement🤷🏻♂️.
We did get some dealer discounts. As a new boater, there wasn’t much on the internet especially TH-cam about boating for newbies and what to look for. I found your channel after the purchase. & Bought it before the 16foot Tahoe ad.
I actually love the boat, I take care of it by cleaning, waxing, engine, and winterization.
Having said that, here is what I have learned:
Before going into the pros/cons all boats seem nice when it’s great weather and calm water.
Pros:
1. Sits 6 adults comfortably
2. Nice deck space and swim platform
3. OB Mercury 4 stroke is quiet
4. Bimini top and table option
5. Stable when anchored off
6. Cruising
7. Anchor locker
8. Trailer w/Swivel tongue
9. Easy to clean and tow.
10. Automatic & manual bilge pump.
Cons:
1. Steering can pull if you let go of the wheel (common on manual)
2. A bit underpowered when you have more than 3 people.
3. M haul doesn’t do chop well, I have to maneuver. Also no trim tabs or steps, in the haul design.
4. No cool color options.
5. No gas gauge on the dash.
6. Place to put my phone or charging should be standard.
7. The foot area at the helm should be inset for you feet.
One really good advice you said, is (paraphrased) about what/how will the boat handle the water way where you are likely to be.
While I did test drive the 18foot version in calm waters at the dealership I misjudged and thought it the boat could handle some chop.
For our creek no problem, but when we hit the part where the river meets the bay it’s slow moving.
I would like to trade up and get a family friendly CC. Deeper v design. I want to able to handle moderate chop. What is a step up deck or CC you’d recommend?
looking for 30-50k range..
I like the Robalo 18 or 20, both with a head compartment. Just a huge jump in price brand new.
Hey brother I appreciate your very much for making this video I own a 1990 Bayliner trophy I think it's a 1903 or 1803 model. I wish you would have covered more about the trophies or the center consoles because my issue is that my fuel tank is done and I really don't want to cut the floor I'm thinking about taking the cap off so what's your thought
I had a 17 foot capri for years with the Force motor. It was a great boat and rode excellent. People badmouth Force motors but when asked specifically why there are never any real reasons. I have two Force motors now and they are both good runners and easy to work on. What specific complaints are there against Force motors? Also how much strutural integrity does a boat need? Will it fail during normal use? I slammed my Bayliner on 5 foot waves with no problems. Maybe if I crash into a rip rap shore at full speed the hole will be a foot larger in diameter than a high end boat with more build quality.
Wish I could post a pic. I have two. 1990 2252 capri with the 4.3. Love the boat. Yes they are under powered but that's not hard to over come. Had my 90 for 5 years now. Vinyl sucks. What you said is correct. Cheap materials that way. My second boat is 1988 2655 ciera widebody. With trailer it ran great needed cleaning and I only payed $800 for that. I do all my own work so issues aren't big to me as long as there drive and engine are good. In the 80s Brunswick made the hulls for searay and a few other manufacturers. So if you line a searay 265 up to my ceira 2655 they have very similar profiles. I have absolutely no complaints on my Bayliners and I grew on the waters of NY up being told not to buy one. Glastron was my family's preferred brand.
My Bayliner is dependable, safe, easy and nice looking. My family has had so many good times on Lake of the Woods!!!
Thanks for sharing! In the end, it’s all about having fun!
I bought a 1802 trophy bayliner brand new first 7 yrs turn key & go great boat love it
I've owned 2 Bayliners 22 open bow and a 22 Cierra Express, both Merc I/O powered. Great boats for the price, ran them all over Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. I Did my own maintenance and never had problems. Never once did anyone ever make a condescending remarks about my boats. Most boaters look out for each other and enjoy being on the water. Boating to me is one of the best family recreational bargains out there.
There's a reason for that. Bayliner originally was built for Pacific (specifically Pacific northwest) conditions. A lot of the issues that Bayliner is derided on are from the few years after they moved their manufacturing to Florida. Much different boating environment in FL compared to PNW, including but not limited to: a 12 month boating season in FL, much higher average Temps and humidity, and overall oceanic differences between tropical and temperate which has drastic effects on fiberglass schedule, parts, etc. It took them a few years to really work out the kinks, but they finally got it in the early-mid 90's. The result is a boat that now can last anywhere in the world. The boat manufacturing industry has learned to design their products around a Florida market, because if it can last there it can last anywhere else.
I bought a used Element 16, 10 years ago. I got everything I need nothing that I don't. Sure, there are much better boats out there, but you need to know what you want. I agree she's underpowered so be it. Quality overall is excellent. Thank you for the info.
Thanks for sharing your real world experience
Oh, ya dont like Bayliners? Cool, dont call me lookin to come out on the water when I take mine out.....LOL
Agreed 100% Joe!
10000%
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon no worries buddy, plenty of room aboard my Pro Line…
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon
Do you buy a boat to enjoy or to worry about resale value?
Same.
Try going in a Bayliner 2556,guaranteed to put a smile on your face,one of the Best little fly bridge cruisers
ever built.
Lining the bay, I had one, a "Cobra" 24' version, loved it, other than OMC outdrive
I owned a Trophy 2002WA. The previous owner had re-powered with a Honda BF130 4 stroke. This is an excellent motor but significantly heavier then the stock outboard. This caused the boat to be stern heavy and left the scuppers under water.
The boat itself was in good condition. No major structural issues, just wear and tear. The boats ride was comfortable and stable. As you said in the video they had cut corners to keep costs down. An example was the only access to the bilge, bilge pump, live well pump, and bait tank pump was through an 8” access port. Making servicing these extremely difficult. There were other “cuts”, but too much for this type of comment.
I own an 86 245 ceira sunbridge with a 5.7 omc. Love her
I bought a 2004 242 classic cruiser brand new, the boat was nothing but great year in and year out until I sold it in 2018. Bayliner is exactly what you said mostly a entry level boat. No regrets what so ever.
If Bayliner was such a bad boat then I must be crazy for just buying another one today. 1979 Saratoga Command Bridge. Cool timeless styling, 350 Volvo Penta motor. Still a solid built boat built with pride back then.
I have a 1996 Bayliner Capri 18.5 with outboard 120 Force engine. I've owned it for about three years now. I paid $2,300 for it. I had to replace half the floor because of rot and some of the seats have rips but over all, it's been a pretty good reliable boat on the water. Yes, I've had to rebuild the carbs, replace the starter, and basic maintenance but the boat gives me much fun on the water. The boat always gets me back home. An outboard motor is easier to work on. It's pretty basic and I've learned a lot about my motor.
We've owned a 2003 305 since new had one before that too(26') and from the first day have loved it and have had no problems at all. we also have retired and live on the boat in the summer. Every few years we go on a trip in it too. We keep the boat on Long Island Sound and have gone to south New Jersey, up the Hudson and out the Erie canal then back up the Hudson to south of Lake Champlain, also, out to the Cape Cod canal picked up 5 good friends and swam with some whales on still wagon bank out the entrance of Cape Cod Bay then spent the night with all of our friends in Provincetown (total of 7 for the night) What a blast!
2 months ago I got a call from a man that was looking at my boat to buy it. I spend my winters in Florida, and let him know I'd be back in Connecticut in the spring and he could look at the boat then, but I was not really looking to sell at this time. We sent him some pictures and told him what I would take for the sale, We'll see what happens. The problem is that I really don't want to sell the boat 'cause We both still love that boat so much. Just want to say that we've both been on some great boats in our short boating life but I'll still pick my 305 out of all of them! LOVE BAYLINERS
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@carole ross Thank you for your comment. My father first had the Bayliner Liberty, then he purchased the Bayliner Victoria Sunbridge from the Boston Boat Show (the actual boat that was in the show). He had no issues and back then, the Sunbridge was on the cutting edge with it's sporty looks and manueverabioity We constantly visited Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and many places on Cape Cod.
My father was a doctor and a brilliant man. He wouldn't have bought junk..
Anything that's popular always has a bunch of hater trolls skulking around or snob knobbers who buy only at boutiques and live forever in debt.
I bought a used 19 ft 1991 Capri with the 120 Merc/Alpha 1. Cost less than anything else it's size and condition, served my young family well, super simple and cheap to work on yourself and I sold it 6 years later for nearly what I paid for it.
I'm looking for 2452 for my retirement for Canadian lake exploration. Snicker all you want at the gas dock. I'll be having fun.
It all depends on where the boat going to be used, fresh water or salt. Will the boat be moored or in a lift or a trailer queen. Mostly rough water or fairly calm (small lakes). Bayliner are one of the cheaper boats. My thinking is, usually with a well known brand name you get what you pay for. A Bayliner doesn`t have the quality of more expensive boats. But in the right conditions it will do.
Great info! BUT it seems like OLD NEWS. Yes the older Bayliners from the 1980's and 90's that were under the U.S. Marine label seemed to utilize thier own cheaper components such as with thinner glecoats, cheap flimsey windshileds, thin vinyl seats, not great hull construction etc. They were not the same...
HOWEVER Newer Bayliners are made different now with components shared of bruswick (they share hundreds of parts and components now).
Bayliners are ultimately family boats and may not have a 400hp option available but they are not underpowered anymore (standard engine on the 2004ish-2017ish Bayliner 175 was the 135hp 47mph which is the same as any SeaRay or other brands), or look at the standard base engine now on a 18.5' VR4 i/o bayliner is 200hp!).
I remember selling these back in the mid 2000's when they had composite floors and encapsulated stringers. their
...And how many people heard of the Bayliner rendezvous? Ive been on the water 30+ years, never seen or heard of one for sale, why would you talk about a unicorn from any brand??
Yes im calling you out here, so tell us the thickness of the gelcoat on a Bayliner VS SeaRay? You won't know the answer, but they are the same 'buff back' gelcoat. Actually I can recall vividly at one time selling these bayliners i had a cut-out sample from a mechanic that cut a hole in a bayliner to install more speakers and he showed us a comparison and you would actually be VERY surprised at how thick it is of the Bayliner!
The bottom line is because they are owned by brunswick, they tend to share some components that are 100% identical such as gelcoat, engines, and components like windshields, canvas, fittings, vinyl etc.
Bayliners are cheaper because of the interior finishing's (no hinges on seats, no big 1000 Watt stereos, no 400hp engines, no mag wheels on the trailers, unfinished storage areas, simple interior design and dash, less upholstry, not many options or ways to custom build them, they are cookie cutter, ... They have come a long way.
Essentially its like buying a new base house without upgraded flooring/kitchens and baths.
Do Bayliners fall apart, no they don't just fall apart on their own lol. The boats ride and perform shockingly well, and are literally more reliable than the others we have sold back when i was selling boats...
If you are looking for a fancy looking boat with upscale interiors, unnecessary HP, and overkill construction methods then don't buy a Bayliner. Otherwise, they are actually a pretty good value!
Cheers !
My dad was plant manager for a major manufacturer in the 80s and he said they had QC problems with delamination and such.. I never owned one so no clue if it's true...
So if Bayliner is the Hyundai of the water, what would the Nissan, AND infiniti; of the water be??? Good show. We're moving from Co, to Ocean Ciry, Md, next year. We're budgeting for a first time boat. So far bayliner, Sea Ray, Chaparral, Rinker, Yamaha; are in the running. Good show, thanks for insight
Hey guy, I think you gave a fair and truthful review of Bayliners. Having been on the water since I was 5 years old, now 65, I like you would never purchase one new, however if I was budget driven and found a properly maintained used one at a reasonable price point, then yes. I’ve owned several boats over the years from a 1949 Ramsey 12 ft plywood/fiberglass up to a 25’ Sportcraft. My favorite was a 22’ Pursuit- very well made, repowered several times over it’s life. But it’s like you said cheaper boat means cheaper materials and labor…. There’s no free rides
Ive riden n owned countless Bayliner thruout my 30yrs in the Boating World..Honestly there just as good as any other boat brand...i have a Buddy that does the Miami to Bimini Run 4 times each summer in a 26foot Trophy center console with 2 Mercs 200hp..Never had any problems...
I sold bayliners w/force engines in the late 70's early 80's. The package boats were ALWAYS underpowered. I used to beg people to upgrade but they always thought I was trying to increase my commission so they wouldnt do it. I would always see them back at the dealership telling me what a piece of junk I had sold them. The boats were just ok but the force engines were a complete joke. The people that I talked into powering up were usually satisfied. I wouldn't buy a bayliner now, but if I was 25 again and starting my young family out in the wonderful world of boating I would not hesitate to buy an adequately powered baayliner. Love your site and youtube channel, captain. Good job.
Bayliner has had a bad rap since I was a kid
I have a 1987 bayliner 3450 avanti Sunbridge the two 7.4 litre v8's were reconditioned before I bought it and the cabin had a refit in 2011 its a stunning boat past its safety test last year no problem everything works perfectly and they're quite rare here in the uk now its my first boat and I couldnt be happier with it
Bought a 2200DX June of last year most of what you state is spot on. Nice vid.
Kevin, I'm looking into that exact model? Please whenever you have time, can you share your thoughts?
@@chunkyhebrew8805 Excellent all around boat especially for the money. Fully loaded gas, gear, passengers the standard 150 is a little under powered,op for the 200 if you can. Just went out today fishing the CBBT with 8 passengers. Did I mention it's an awesome everything boat? Gas mileage is expected, 3.5 MPG cruising at 27MPH, 2.3-1.9 WOT standard load which for me is 5 people+gear. Ride is VERY stable below 30MPH LOADED and stable up to 45 (max I've been with the 150 Merc on mine) with 2 to 3 people+gear. Quality issues are there... Snap cover screws pulled through, the head hatch mold and ski hatch mold didn't match the tub mold (PLEASE CHECK THIS) so I have 2 latches...Other than that she's been great and the Merc 150 which is 2/5's the cost of this boat is perfect (if under powered) so far. I and my family love it and use it every day we can. This boat is a jack of all trades and a master of none. I've been in 5ft seas with her (stupid) and in the Atlantic when it's glass. For the money, I'd do it again. Hope this helps.
@@kevincere8460 thank you! Very informative
My attitude against Bayliner comes from being a fiberglass tech & boat builder. I have had to repair many hulls, inside & out & seen the difference in workmanship & quality up close. I can hardly believe some of the slack-ass work & lack of material used in Bayliner boats. One of my old bosses that I learned the most from told me something I live by to this day. "A boat is only as strong as it's weakest point." He would only laminate by hand, NEVER use chop. I was so proud of every vessel we made. 20' - 39', all seaworthy!
Curious, what did he use between each layer of fiberglass to limit delaminate and pattern printing through the Gelcoat?
My grandad bought his 86 Capri cuddy new. He passed in 04. I recently found it up the street from my employer. I can tell it's been sitting for a long time. I have resisted the urge to try buying it from them... I can only imagine what could be wrong with it but it breaks me to see it like that. Grandad LOVED that thing and I wish I could've taken it when he passed. I got his 89 Silverado but wasn't given the option to keep the boat - plus I had no place to put it.
Keep the memories they are the most valuable
@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon indeed. Thanx man. I have been debating getting something small like a Tahoe T16. I'm 48, I hadn't piloted his boat since I was 15.
As with anything, it's all in how you take care of it!
I agree, I bought 1994 bayliner Capri im the 3rd owner, the boat are excellent , the boat take care like a baby and kept in garage. The people say bayliner suck maybe they don’t take care of it.
A lot of used Bayliners suck, because they were poorly maintained by entry level Bayliner buyers. The boats themselves are fine. It’s like a Chevy or a Ford, where something like a Mariah or a Cobalt is at the other end.