For someone with no "boat experience or connections", this video was very interesting and informative. Thank you for all the details and personal perspective.
I would say the journey of acquiring their boat highlights the difference between the average "joe" and "entrepreneurs" (which they said they both were self-employed). There is a core 'spirit' that shines through in this video. This couple "has it"!
I am all about the Carver yachts. Being solo the smaller sink/closets don't bother me at all. My 'home' now is a travel trailer. And yes, I want the sundeck with the enclosure. I have 7 grandchildren, and would use every inch of space when they're with me. I prefer the aft cabin set up as well. I know once I really begin to shop brokers will try to steer me into something they think I should want. Good tips here, thanks you guys. Long time sub and have always enjoyed your in depth and informative videos.
I WISH YOU GUYS LUCK IVE BEEN A BOAT OWNER FOR 30 YRS AND IM SURPRISED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE GETTING INTO BOATING STARTING WITH 40' TO 50' BOATS . THAT'S ALOT OF BOAT WITH NO EXPERIENCE ALSO SOMEONE THAT HASN'T EVER BEEN IN ROUGH SEAS YOU GUYS BETTER PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER BUT EVEN WITH KEEPING UP WITH THE WEATHER LIKE I SAID IVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME I'VE BEEN IN SOME BAD WEATHER WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER SO GOOD LUCK ! BECAREFUL LOOKING FORWARD TO WSTCHING YOUR VIDEOS . WHAT TYPE OF ENGINES ARE IN THAT BOAT YOU PURCHASED THATS SO IMPORTANT ! TAKE CARE !
Thank you very much for the info, Cherie & Chris. This is helpful to us, as we are just beginning our search for our first boat. Looking forward to more videos on your journey through the Great Loop. Safe and happy travels!
Great , i love that you are willing to share all the financial info with us. You have no idea how that helps when I am just in the planning stage. Nobody else shares the numbers. That's what we all need to know. I am so glad you took the bay liner. I do think they are undervalued and like you if you hunt you can find a great one. Its hard because you don't know what you need until you need it. How much do you think you will spend on upgrades .
Thanks.. glad the sharing is helpful. We'll spend on upgrades what we're comfortable spending (which means, we don't know yet.. but we'll share after we have ;) ).
I enjoyed this video and enjoyed listening to the both of you speak! You don't read from a script though your so I sync, you are the example of completing or complimenting each other. Very knowledgeable too, I have adhd and you both are very soothing to listen too and watch, I smiled the whole time, thank you, ;-)
Really like the financial disclosure part. So many people are shy or afraid to discuss actual costs involved but that discussion is so helpful for folks who are trying to make up their minds on big decisions. Nice Job on the Boat!!
Yeah believe it or not, my husband is a boat mechanic and we actually scored a FREE boat and after $1,500 in parts and a little cleaning up, we are cruising! Tonight was our first night sleeping on the boat and its AWESOME!!! Its a 1988 34-footer. We need to update the inside a little, but it FLIES!!! THANK U FOR THE INFORMATIVE VIDEO Cruz we need all the help we can get.
I always liked Bayliners because you get a lot of boat for your money. I think you made a great choice. Wouldn't want to go blue water boating but for you it is great.
Thank you. This was very informative. I also like your focus on content and usability in addition to making sure it totally meets height regs for inner channel waterways. Enjoy.
Really enjoy all your videos. Really excited you're taking to water for a while. Hurry up...get going! Saw your video where you are separating your channels and somewhere I think I heard you say you weren't really going to make it a travelogue. That's a shame if true. Half the reason a lot of us watch videos like yours is we can get a little sense of the adventure along with you. I wish you would take a single camera, mount it up top and just let it run every day. Maybe pause when not underway but I love watching a trip on water in real time. No dialogue, no tour guide, just experiencing the ride as if there. I know bandwidth is expensive and time consuming to upload, but just shoot and save. Minimal editing to save time. You may be glad you did down the road. And I would watch every minute, every bend in the waterway, every boring shoreline ugly power plant, everything. Please give it a thought. Again, time to get underway!
Oh gosh.. not sure there would be many tuning in for that :) And would be a bear to manage bandwidth, time and storage wise. We are going to do our best to capture some video along the way and integrate in some travelogue stuff of each leg... but our focus has always been more the whys, hows and philosophy behind travel. Hopefully with our slower pace of travel we can find a balance to do both. But this is our hobby, not our job :)
I understand perfectly. Oh wait...I could come along, watch over the camera, i'd bring my own bandwidth, sleep on the salon couch, would I need to bring my own food? Seriously, will be watching what ever you post. Have dreamed about doing the great loop myself when retired, but surprisingly my first mate is not enthralled by the idea. So I settle for other's videos. GOOD LUCK.
I have a 1994 2858 command Bridge, bought it brand new. She still runs great and is for sale. She’s for sale because we just purchased the elusive 1996 3388 WE LOVE OUR BAYLINERS !!
Interesting story about how you decided on the Bayliner Pilothouse. Actually it’s a very sizable solid boat that may not have the pizazz some of the higher end boats do but they will get the job done. I’ve always like the Bayliner Pilothouse boats and with planning on 3 years doing the loop the space will be nice to have. I’ve been a live aboard since 2003 and love it. No plans to move a shoe anytime soon. I don’t know how old this video is but I hope all has gone well and you’re living your dream.
Thanks... nearly four years later, and we love our 4788 (and have only done 1000 mile of the loop, but who's counting?). Loving the cruising life in general.
Fantastic video. Really enjoyed this one, hearing your thought processes and the evolution of your decision making process. Looks like you're setting yourselves up to have a very happy adventure!
I watched this when it was originally posted but I decided to watch it again today. It is one of the best videos of its type that I have seen, extraordinarily informative. It is also very well presented, one of your better productions. I'm still a bit hung up on how convenient it will be to "de-mast" in order to handle those low clearances after solar panels are installed. It's so easy now with the modified arch. I guess anything is possible and I look forward to seeing your solution.
Aww.. thanks. The solar install will be done with the same ease of taking down as the current biminis. They have to come down to get the arch down anyway.
Hard to beat a 4788 for that size of boat. When they rebranded to Meridian, the 4788 is the only boay they didn't redesign... must be a reason for that :)
It was very interesting following your thought process to arrive at you buying choice. Keeping a good costs log will identify where your spending your money and how to control those costs. Great boat for a great adventure. Happy sailing.
Really impressed with the intelligence you applied to the selection, search, financing, and purchase aspects of your project. I have been an owner of power- and sailboats for pretty much my whole life and my approach is exactly like yours. I see so many people just randomly flailing around in the sea of choices, making poor, anti-economic decisions. Just the fact that you applied actual mathematical analysis to your financing decision is, frankly, amazing. It seems obvious, doesn't it? But I've run in to too many people that are firmly convinced they're better off spending every last penny to pay cash for the thing, leaving them with nothing in reserve, and nothing invested earning a rate of return that in today's market conditions will quite likely stay ahead of the cost of financing. Best wishes to you both on your trip!
And then I read your other site and discovered that we're both in the tech industry. I've been in the IT/Engineering field my whole life. I find it to be effective in paying for the boats :). So yeah, now I definitely get it. BTW the issue of the age of the vessel and ability to obtain financing is a crucial one that I suspect pops up as a nasty surprise to many people. As you said, At 20+ it becomes harder to find, and at 30+ it's probably nearly non-existent. What are your thoughts about this for the future when you are ready to sell? Difficulty in obtaining financing can narrow your audience of potential buyers, effectively forcing the resale price downwards in discontinuous steps at those age points. I'm thinking about this a lot as I plan my future boat which will likely be in the 20+ bracket when I buy, and 30+ when I sell.
Just all part of the cost of owning a boat, and a consideration in the price we were willing to pay. Same thing happens to RVs, except they generally age out of being able to be financed at 10 years old.
So much about the Bayliner 4788 is fantastic but the below-decks quarters are claustrophobic for me and other people I have known. If you are okay with the accommodations then it is a home run great boat and you are lucky. There is so much to love about the design especially for the price. BTW I have had three Bayliners including two command bridge models and I would not hesitate to have another more recent model. There was a time in the 70' and early 80's when Bayliner had a huge lineup and churned boats out like street tacos and the very early larger models were a bit flimsy though just fine for protected waters but when they noticed they were having problems the entire line underwent a complete makeover in design and materials that stiffened and strengthened everything. Bayliners from the 90's on are so much better and well made that they almost should have changed their name. My first command bridge was awesome and I loved it and never had any problem and ran the daylights out of it but it would squeek and rattle a bit in a heavy chop. My newer larger one was confidence inspiring and incredibly stiff and solid even in horrific seas. Just watching this video and seeing the details of the 4788 is such a pleasure. I feel almost ashamed to say I felt claustrophobic below decks because I would buy a 4788 in a heartbeat. I have been aboard about 4 or 5 of these including the very first hull and I think you made an excellent choice.
We haven't found the below deck quarters to be an issue at all for us.. the front stateroom is far bigger than our RV :) And we spend most our time in the salon, which is wide open.
I am a full time RV er i have a Newmar King Air 2014 I had been looking for a Yachet for a year . So i went to the west coasr Man there she was 74 ft Darling marine grade Alum. It was 2002 . It had stablixation Upgrsde electfonics I am in the process of finalizing the purechase
With all of the new 16 inch Garmin electronics and fixing everything that was indicated on our 2001:Bayliner we’ve spent about $120,000, which includes the interior redecorating!
You guys are great you did a really good job on this video and extremely helpful in decision-making I have two questions number one if you had to do it all over again would you make the same decision? Second why did you choose a mono haul over a catamaran
Quick answers: 1) Yes 2) Catamarans at this size are wider than most slips. You can catch up with our more current coverage of the boat at www.technomadia.com/y-not.
I always liked the Pilothouse layout for entertaining but we are fishermen /divers and wanted walk around decks. So we spent 22 years with a 42' Californian aft cabin trawler. My kids lived on the sundeck. Your pilothouse will work out better for your trip. You will love the bow thruster every time you maneuver with cross winds! Fair Winds.
Walk around decks for the Great Loop are a plus too, given the 100+ locks you go through. We were impressed with how accessible the exterior of the this particular boat is (compared to others we looked at).
I've owned several boats over the years starting off with Bowriders and working my way through Cuddy Cruisers, fast cruisers, 30 plus foot Trawlers and next month I pick up a 2014 Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 in Turkey. A couple of my earlier boats were Bayliners and having lived in Canada and California, I've often heard them referred to as Binliners. And you know what? It's usually jealous idiots who've never stepped foot aboard a boat in their life or at most, had a 30 year old Bowrider who call them Binliners. They may not have all the bells and whistles and luxury teak fittings coming out of their ying yang of other more expensive models. But they let many more people get into the joys of boating, represent great value for money and in the case of yours, you get one helluva lot of boat for your money. Your little little ship is a beauty and I'm glad you guys stuck to your gunwales (guns lol) I wish you both many years of safe & exciting boating adventures. Happy New Year!
Fabulous video. Interesting to know you needed to get under 15th bridges with it but do you have to deconstruct the flybridge and Bimini with all your solar panels on it to drop it to the 12’ you mentioned ? I’m doing exactly the same thing!
Great video and very informative. I had to do a double take because @ 6:05 as my actual boat was in the background and might I mention that it also is a Bayliner. I have been boating for close to 20 years and this is my 3rd Bayliner. I have to say if they are well cared for and any time after the late 90's then it is a solid boat! Just remember that the parent company for Bayliner is Brunswick, same as Maxum, Boston Whaler and Sea Ray just to name a few. I believe they even built Hatteras as well and a long list of others. Although, the Bayliner has a much cheaper cost then most. In my personal experience they are a great boat and you can't go wrong with one. I hope you are happy w/ your new one and congrats!
But... they are a cheaper layup. Everyone always makes the same bayliner argument, but how many times have you actually gotten into the actual structure and layup? They are not solid boats.
I'd like to see a segment on the maintenance for the boat. Water getting in through any deck penetrations where the caulking isn't periodically renewed can be a concern as a boat ages. Sometimes the sources of leaks can be difficult to track down.
As an older Bayliner owner, I would never had paid that much for so many up grades. Even though their boats were built better before 1985. They give you a lot of bang for you buck on the interior at the cost of the haul. Following waves will toss you like a toy. I had my '83 fly-bridge in 11 to 13 swells on long island sound. The waves were only 4 to 6 feet when we left. As we headed west they just kept getting bigger as the sound got tighter. We were going into the waves so no turning back. We got back going slow and just riding the waves up and down. When you go down a swell and see a wave coming at you over your head, well just scary. Anyway, I went to a boat show back then and the over 40 foot Bayliner's would tip when my over 200 lb frame walked on. Carvers were not much better build but the haul was better and just tip a bit. My favorite aft-cabin was the 40 ft Trojan aft cabin. Too bad Carver bought them out and then went bankrupt a few years later. Nice that the arch lowers. I live near canals and that would be useful. What is the beam on that 40 footer? I found them shorter than any other MFG. Good luck and keep out of large seas!
Hi guys! Very informative video, but 1 question... I love that folding arch idea, was that a factory option or some custom job? If custom, is the shop that did it still around? (Ok, ok, TWO questions) ;)
Love this overview of your purchase process. It answered so many questions, still I have one more: how many years is the loan? Thanks for demystifying your search, ready to tag along on the trip (no guest room required). Happy looping.
Thanks for the financial details. Looks like the lender was looking at about a 50% equity position on the part of the borrower, from their underwriting perspective. This financing structure could have been challenging if the lender required "hold backs" for essential repairs. Looks like you selected a boat within that lender's "appetite". Nice deal and good luck.
did you scrap the old ray 215 vhf and the RL70 pathfinder unit? curious as to what your choice of upgraded electronics are. (I am a marine electrician)
I really appreciate your perspective, this was a valuable video for me and worthwhile for you to do, thank you! Question, in your search did you ever consider any of the tugs or trawlers, like Ranger or Nordic? If not why, or if you did why did you decide against that version of your floating lifestyle? Thanks again!
We did initially look at Grand Banks.. but one in our price range would have been older than we were comfortable with, and a newer one out of the budget. They are awesome however.
I love my 96 Cuddy with twin force's. I have replaced all the gauges and every bit of plastic/zamak with stainless and any thing for new if necessary. I have noticed the bias but none of the people owned a boat not even a Bayliner. It is a sweet boat and affordable. Maybe they got better.
BS......I had a 1989 Cuddy and it was a darn good boat.....The Force 125 ran like a top and never left me stranded.. My opinion is people bought Bayliners and then didn't take care or didn't know how to do maintenance.
With what seems to be very little boating experience, I am curious how you obtained boat insurance. They generally wont cover a boat that big without the skipper having a lot of experience in a boat of around 30 feet or more. How did you overcome this. I only ask because I am having this problem now. thanks
Meridian cut all pilothouse models and switched to all sedan bridges we have a 391sb 07'. When they moved to sedan bridges they switched to sea ray factories and not bayliner. Now I think bayliner only makes day boats.
With all the criteria And if you wanted the good layout you guys picked a good one i am a little more partial to the Carvers as ive always thought they were one of the best users of all the space And maybe have a little better re sale values ? Ive owned 17 or 18 power boats in my life the bigger Bayliners have always been known by boaters to have a higher quality then the small ones that did have some major quality control issues fo certain. Years although i have not done the Great Loop personally i have done the ICW from the Chesapeake Bay to Ft Lauderdale and over to the Bahamas and back to the United States luckily having plenty of time in the Carribean
Bayliner changes to Meridian after the Sea Ray parent company Brunswick bought them. They change the name to Meridian on the 35 plus foot boats to try and shake the stigma of low end low quality attached to the Bayliner. I’ve owned a couple Bayliners and had a lot of fun with them. Don’t ever think the quality of a Bayliner comes close to Sea Ray , Carver , Regal , Cruisers etc. the fit and finish and materials are much higher end. Now the bigger Original Bayliner boats are no longer produced and the Meridian which is a mid level cruiser no longer uses any of the old Bayliner designs and the quality of construction has greatly improved. What’s left of Bayliner is now built in one of the several plants Brunswick has in Tennessee where the smaller Sea Rays and Meridians are built. With that being said even though the Bayliners have the low end reputation the bigger ones like yours have been a great value for someone to have a very comfortable boat without spending a fortune. The older ones built in Washington were rugged and very popular for coastal cruising on the Pacific coast. This boat should absolutely be a great loop boat and provide you hours of enjoyment. Since your post is old I’m sure you’ve already had a lot of memorable times on it.
Congrats on the new home. I am looking for a loop boat myself. some people say a sail boat some people say power ( Aft cabin, or trawler). I am lost, I have no idea what boat. But I have a question though, now that you bought your dream boat, and I know you stated that you own your own business, what do you recommend on how to calculate your operating budget for someone who doesn't have a home base business?
I'm not sure how having a business or not would impact a boat's operating costs? It's going to cost you the same in fuel, maintenance and marina fees regardless. The AGLCA (www.greatloop.org) membership provides a Great Loop cost calculator for helping folks budget their expenses based on their specific type of boat. Since this is "just life" for us - we move at a pace that fits our comfortable monthly living expenses budget. Which is one reason our Great Loop journey will be over multiple years. We'll be limiting our monthly mileage and taking advantage of monthly marina rates for extended stays.
Bayliners have carried such a negative reputation because of boats built in the 80's and even early 90's. Beyond that they are solid boats that have gotten a lot of people into boating for a reasonable price. My first boat was a little 2004 Bayliner 18' bowrider that was reliable as a stone. You've got an excellent boat there, enjoy!
After all the researching you did what source (web site, brokerage, publication, whatever) would you say is the one you’d go back to to start looking for your next vessel?
Loved your video!!! bayliner 4788 is such a pretty boat, I'm so excited to see your great loop adventure. On the weekends I used to grow up on a 2004 sea ray 460 Sundancer but I much like the aft cabin layout better!!! Hope you too have a great boating experience!!!
Wow! I'm wondering how your fuel burn is working out? Though the boat will do 22 kt, her hull speed will be around 8 kt. Anything over that is just going to suck fuel. That fuel cost may end up being a huge expense compared to a single screw full displacement boat. Hope you enjoy your Great Loop trip. David
I love the way you two can interrupt each other with a continuous conversation to the camera.
My wife would have KILLED me if I interrupted her.
LOL
We really don't look at it as interrupting it each other.. more like we share a brain and are just containing to train of thought :D
For someone with no "boat experience or connections", this video was very interesting and informative. Thank you for all the details and personal perspective.
Glad this was interesting even to non-boaters!
I would say the journey of acquiring their boat highlights the difference between the average "joe" and "entrepreneurs" (which they said they both were self-employed). There is a core 'spirit' that shines through in this video. This couple "has it"!
I am all about the Carver yachts. Being solo the smaller sink/closets don't bother me at all. My 'home' now is a travel trailer. And yes, I want the sundeck with the enclosure. I have 7 grandchildren, and would use every inch of space when they're with me. I prefer the aft cabin set up as well. I know once I really begin to shop brokers will try to steer me into something they think I should want. Good tips here, thanks you guys. Long time sub and have always enjoyed your in depth and informative videos.
I've rarely seen or heard a more sensible approach. You guys have covered it all. Well done and fair seas M8s!
All of the models they were drawn to would have been high on my list as well.
I WISH YOU GUYS LUCK IVE BEEN A BOAT OWNER FOR 30 YRS AND IM SURPRISED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE GETTING INTO BOATING STARTING WITH 40' TO 50' BOATS . THAT'S ALOT OF BOAT WITH NO EXPERIENCE ALSO SOMEONE THAT HASN'T EVER BEEN IN ROUGH SEAS YOU GUYS BETTER PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER BUT EVEN WITH KEEPING UP WITH THE WEATHER LIKE I SAID IVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME I'VE BEEN IN SOME BAD WEATHER WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER SO GOOD LUCK ! BECAREFUL LOOKING FORWARD TO WSTCHING YOUR VIDEOS . WHAT TYPE OF ENGINES ARE IN THAT BOAT YOU PURCHASED THATS SO IMPORTANT ! TAKE CARE !
Thank you very much for the info, Cherie & Chris. This is helpful to us, as we are just beginning our search for our first boat. Looking forward to more videos on your journey through the Great Loop. Safe and happy travels!
Happy boat shopping... so many options out there!
I first learned about the great loop from one of your videos quite awhile ago. I am starting to look at boats and plan on doing the loop. 👍
Great , i love that you are willing to share all the financial info with us. You have no idea how that helps when I am just in the planning stage. Nobody else shares the numbers. That's what we all need to know. I am so glad you took the bay liner. I do think they are undervalued and like you if you hunt you can find a great one. Its hard because you don't know what you need until you need it. How much do you think you will spend on upgrades .
Thanks.. glad the sharing is helpful.
We'll spend on upgrades what we're comfortable spending (which means, we don't know yet.. but we'll share after we have ;) ).
Fantastically clear, thoughtful and informative video. Thanks y'all!
I enjoyed this video and enjoyed listening to the both of you speak! You don't read from a script though your so I sync, you are the example of completing or complimenting each other. Very knowledgeable too, I have adhd and you both are very soothing to listen too and watch, I smiled the whole time, thank you, ;-)
Really like the financial disclosure part. So many people are shy or afraid to discuss actual costs involved but that discussion is so helpful for folks who are trying to make up their minds on big decisions. Nice Job on the Boat!!
A great story well told , articulate and the right amount of passion i think bodes well for the exciting adventure ahead . Good luck and best wishes .
You guys are awesome. thank you so much. your journey really helps me in my quest for a live aboard.
Yeah believe it or not, my husband is a boat mechanic and we actually scored a FREE boat and after $1,500 in parts and a little cleaning up, we are cruising! Tonight was our first night sleeping on the boat and its AWESOME!!! Its a 1988 34-footer. We need to update the inside a little, but it FLIES!!! THANK U FOR THE INFORMATIVE VIDEO Cruz we need all the help we can get.
I always liked Bayliners because you get a lot of boat for your money. I think you made a great choice. Wouldn't want to go blue water boating but for you it is great.
Thank you. This was very informative. I also like your focus on content and usability in addition to making sure it totally meets height regs for inner channel waterways.
Enjoy.
I used to build bayliner boats. I always loved those boats.
Awesome.. did you work on the motor yacht line at all?
Really enjoy all your videos. Really excited you're taking to water for a while. Hurry up...get going! Saw your video where you are separating your channels and somewhere I think I heard you say you weren't really going to make it a travelogue. That's a shame if true. Half the reason a lot of us watch videos like yours is we can get a little sense of the adventure along with you. I wish you would take a single camera, mount it up top and just let it run every day. Maybe pause when not underway but I love watching a trip on water in real time. No dialogue, no tour guide, just experiencing the ride as if there. I know bandwidth is expensive and time consuming to upload, but just shoot and save. Minimal editing to save time. You may be glad you did down the road. And I would watch every minute, every bend in the waterway, every boring shoreline ugly power plant, everything. Please give it a thought. Again, time to get underway!
Oh gosh.. not sure there would be many tuning in for that :) And would be a bear to manage bandwidth, time and storage wise. We are going to do our best to capture some video along the way and integrate in some travelogue stuff of each leg... but our focus has always been more the whys, hows and philosophy behind travel. Hopefully with our slower pace of travel we can find a balance to do both. But this is our hobby, not our job :)
I understand perfectly. Oh wait...I could come along, watch over the camera, i'd bring my own bandwidth, sleep on the salon couch, would I need to bring my own food? Seriously, will be watching what ever you post. Have dreamed about doing the great loop myself when retired, but surprisingly my first mate is not enthralled by the idea. So I settle for other's videos. GOOD LUCK.
Happy to hear that it's all working out so well. I can hardly wait until you start the loop.
I have a 1994 2858 command Bridge, bought it brand new. She still runs great and is for sale. She’s for sale because we just purchased the elusive 1996 3388
WE LOVE OUR BAYLINERS !!
Interesting story about how you decided on the Bayliner Pilothouse. Actually it’s a very sizable solid boat that may not have the pizazz some of the higher end boats do but they will get the job done. I’ve always like the Bayliner Pilothouse boats and with planning on 3 years doing the loop the space will be nice to have. I’ve been a live aboard since 2003 and love it. No plans to move a shoe anytime soon. I don’t know how old this video is but I hope all has gone well and you’re living your dream.
Thanks... nearly four years later, and we love our 4788 (and have only done 1000 mile of the loop, but who's counting?). Loving the cruising life in general.
Fantastic video. Really enjoyed this one, hearing your thought processes and the evolution of your decision making process. Looks like you're setting yourselves up to have a very happy adventure!
I watched this when it was originally posted but I decided to watch it again today. It is one of the best videos of its type that I have seen, extraordinarily informative. It is also very well presented, one of your better productions.
I'm still a bit hung up on how convenient it will be to "de-mast" in order to handle those low clearances after solar panels are installed. It's so easy now with the modified arch. I guess anything is possible and I look forward to seeing your solution.
Aww.. thanks. The solar install will be done with the same ease of taking down as the current biminis. They have to come down to get the arch down anyway.
Oh my gosh, this is so so good. You really excel at presenting thorough information! I was so curious about prices and practicality. Thanks so much.
Ohhh the back story. That makes the boat that much better. Awesome
Hard to beat a 4788 for that size of boat. When they rebranded to Meridian, the 4788 is the only boay they didn't redesign... must be a reason for that :)
Thanks for your very informative videos. Your post have been the main source of research for my retirement.
You guys are great! Please keep the awesome videos coming.
Thanks for bringing us along on your adventure 🌞
It was very interesting following your thought process to arrive at you buying choice. Keeping a good costs log will identify where your spending your money and how to control those costs. Great boat for a great adventure. Happy sailing.
Looks like a lovely looper and an excellent deal to boot! Best of luck and Happy Travels!!
Very interesting story on your process!
The candor is great! Thanks guys.
Really impressed with the intelligence you applied to the selection, search, financing, and purchase aspects of your project. I have been an owner of power- and sailboats for pretty much my whole life and my approach is exactly like yours. I see so many people just randomly flailing around in the sea of choices, making poor, anti-economic decisions. Just the fact that you applied actual mathematical analysis to your financing decision is, frankly, amazing. It seems obvious, doesn't it? But I've run in to too many people that are firmly convinced they're better off spending every last penny to pay cash for the thing, leaving them with nothing in reserve, and nothing invested earning a rate of return that in today's market conditions will quite likely stay ahead of the cost of financing. Best wishes to you both on your trip!
Awww.. thanks. Really appreciate this comment and how you "get" our decisions :) Truly, thank you!
And then I read your other site and discovered that we're both in the tech industry. I've been in the IT/Engineering field my whole life. I find it to be effective in paying for the boats :). So yeah, now I definitely get it. BTW the issue of the age of the vessel and ability to obtain financing is a crucial one that I suspect pops up as a nasty surprise to many people. As you said, At 20+ it becomes harder to find, and at 30+ it's probably nearly non-existent. What are your thoughts about this for the future when you are ready to sell? Difficulty in obtaining financing can narrow your audience of potential buyers, effectively forcing the resale price downwards in discontinuous steps at those age points. I'm thinking about this a lot as I plan my future boat which will likely be in the 20+ bracket when I buy, and 30+ when I sell.
Just all part of the cost of owning a boat, and a consideration in the price we were willing to pay. Same thing happens to RVs, except they generally age out of being able to be financed at 10 years old.
I've always loved Bayliners
Great video, you will help so many people with this information, hope you have many wonderful voyages!
So much about the Bayliner 4788 is fantastic but the below-decks quarters are claustrophobic for me and other people I have known. If you are okay with the accommodations then it is a home run great boat and you are lucky. There is so much to love about the design especially for the price. BTW I have had three Bayliners including two command bridge models and I would not hesitate to have another more recent model. There was a time in the 70' and early 80's when Bayliner had a huge lineup and churned boats out like street tacos and the very early larger models were a bit flimsy though just fine for protected waters but when they noticed they were having problems the entire line underwent a complete makeover in design and materials that stiffened and strengthened everything.
Bayliners from the 90's on are so much better and well made that they almost should have changed their name. My first command bridge was awesome and I loved it and never had any problem and ran the daylights out of it but it would squeek and rattle a bit in a heavy chop. My newer larger one was confidence inspiring and incredibly stiff and solid even in horrific seas. Just watching this video and seeing the details of the 4788 is such a pleasure. I feel almost ashamed to say I felt claustrophobic below decks because I would buy a 4788 in a heartbeat. I have been aboard about 4 or 5 of these including the very first hull and I think you made an excellent choice.
We haven't found the below deck quarters to be an issue at all for us.. the front stateroom is far bigger than our RV :) And we spend most our time in the salon, which is wide open.
I am a full time RV er i have a Newmar King Air 2014
I had been looking for a Yachet for a year . So i went to the west coasr
Man there she was
74 ft Darling marine grade Alum. It was 2002 .
It had stablixation
Upgrsde electfonics
I am in the process of finalizing the purechase
I can read english fine .
I ended up with a 72 ft 1998 Fleming
The Darling had some problems
Great video. Informative and fun. Good luck!
Wow I had no idea you could take a boat around the entire East coast. That's insane!
The Viking did that trip and many before them.
Thank you for the info! I am working to one day hopefully own one of these!
I am loving your approach to the loop to life to each other....fun series thanks
With all of the new 16 inch Garmin electronics and fixing everything that was indicated on our 2001:Bayliner we’ve spent about $120,000, which includes the interior redecorating!
You guys did great! Great boat for a very good price.
Just love your channel!!! Thank you for being up front with cost and budget. Keep up the great work!
Great informative video. Enjoy it and keep having fun!
You guys are so awesome. Thanks very much for sharing the story
Looking forward to seeing you do The Great Loop. I never had heard of it until on your video.
Nice Venture. Had a few friends do this same trip. I am to poor lol. Good luck and Glad i found this Venture. New Sub
We know people doing this trip on a paddle board :)
Sounds like you will have Great Time. Good Karma for The Trip. Watching from Wisconsin
I enjoyed your story, best of luck with your travels!
Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to more of your adventures!
NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY BAYLINERS,,👌🍻
Congratulations and very informative video. New subscriber
Very good video of a smart and informative purchase.
You guys are great you did a really good job on this video and extremely helpful in decision-making I have two questions number one if you had to do it all over again would you make the same decision? Second why did you choose a mono haul over a catamaran
Quick answers: 1) Yes 2) Catamarans at this size are wider than most slips.
You can catch up with our more current coverage of the boat at www.technomadia.com/y-not.
I always liked the Pilothouse layout for entertaining but we are fishermen /divers and wanted walk around decks. So we spent 22 years with a 42' Californian aft cabin trawler. My kids lived on the sundeck. Your pilothouse will work out better for your trip. You will love the bow thruster every time you maneuver with cross winds! Fair Winds.
Walk around decks for the Great Loop are a plus too, given the 100+ locks you go through. We were impressed with how accessible the exterior of the this particular boat is (compared to others we looked at).
I've owned several boats over the years starting off with Bowriders and working my way through Cuddy Cruisers, fast cruisers, 30 plus foot Trawlers and next month I pick up a 2014 Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 in Turkey. A couple of my earlier boats were Bayliners and having lived in Canada and California, I've often heard them referred to as Binliners. And you know what? It's usually jealous idiots who've never stepped foot aboard a boat in their life or at most, had a 30 year old Bowrider who call them Binliners. They may not have all the bells and whistles and luxury teak fittings coming out of their ying yang of other more expensive models. But they let many more people get into the joys of boating, represent great value for money and in the case of yours, you get one helluva lot of boat for your money. Your little little ship is a beauty and I'm glad you guys stuck to your gunwales (guns lol) I wish you both many years of safe & exciting boating adventures. Happy New Year!
Fabulous video. Interesting to know you needed to get under 15th bridges with it but do you have to deconstruct the flybridge and Bimini with all your solar panels on it to drop it to the 12’ you mentioned ? I’m doing exactly the same thing!
Yup.. with the new solar setup, we'd have to take that down too.
Great video. Thank you! Never owned a boat, but this was a very informative video.
Thanks for the information good vid would love to see some vids of your travels and how you still like the boat and any upgrades you have done.
We have done several of those videos since.. check the channel / play list.
Great video and very informative. I had to do a double take because @ 6:05 as my actual boat was in the background and might I mention that it also is a Bayliner. I have been boating for close to 20 years and this is my 3rd Bayliner. I have to say if they are well cared for and any time after the late 90's then it is a solid boat! Just remember that the parent company for Bayliner is Brunswick, same as Maxum, Boston Whaler and Sea Ray just to name a few. I believe they even built Hatteras as well and a long list of others. Although, the Bayliner has a much cheaper cost then most. In my personal experience they are a great boat and you can't go wrong with one. I hope you are happy w/ your new one and congrats!
But... they are a cheaper layup. Everyone always makes the same bayliner argument, but how many times have you actually gotten into the actual structure and layup? They are not solid boats.
I'd like to see a segment on the maintenance for the boat. Water getting in through any deck penetrations where the caulking isn't periodically renewed can be a concern as a boat ages. Sometimes the sources of leaks can be difficult to track down.
+eb1888 Once we have more exexperience to share.:)
Thank you for posting this. Incredible content here.
Hope you two are happy! Cheers
Glad to hear Leonard from Big Bang Theory tell this story. LOL Just kidding. Great video and a decent boat. Cheers!
As an older Bayliner owner, I would never had paid that much for so many up grades. Even though their boats were built better before 1985. They give you a lot of bang for you buck on the interior at the cost of the haul. Following waves will toss you like a toy.
I had my '83 fly-bridge in 11 to 13 swells on long island sound. The waves were only 4 to 6 feet when we left. As we headed west they just kept getting bigger as the sound got tighter. We were going into the waves so no turning back. We got back going slow and just riding the waves up and down. When you go down a swell and see a wave coming at you over your head, well just scary.
Anyway, I went to a boat show back then and the over 40 foot Bayliner's would tip when my over 200 lb frame walked on. Carvers were not much better build but the haul was better and just tip a bit. My favorite aft-cabin was the 40 ft Trojan aft cabin. Too bad Carver bought them out and then went bankrupt a few years later.
Nice that the arch lowers. I live near canals and that would be useful.
What is the beam on that 40 footer? I found them shorter than any other MFG.
Good luck and keep out of large seas!
Our's is actually a 47', not 40'. LOA is 54'. Our beam is just under 15'.
Very helpful information
Hi guys! Very informative video, but 1 question... I love that folding arch idea, was that a factory option or some custom job? If custom, is the shop that did it still around? (Ok, ok, TWO questions) ;)
It was done by the prior owner many years ago.. no idea by whom.
Nice video and like the yacht......best of travels ....looks fun.
Thanks, very helpful video
interesting, WELL DONE PRESENTATION
Love this overview of your purchase process. It answered so many questions, still I have one more: how many years is the loan? Thanks for demystifying your search, ready to tag along on the trip (no guest room required). Happy looping.
It's a 15-year loan.
Nice video, thanks, you two are alright...
Thanks for the financial details. Looks like the lender was looking at about a 50% equity position on the part of the borrower, from their underwriting perspective. This financing structure could have been challenging if the lender required "hold backs" for essential repairs. Looks like you selected a boat within that lender's "appetite". Nice deal and good luck.
The reflection on the glass is the the caloosahatchee River?
did you scrap the old ray 215 vhf and the RL70 pathfinder unit? curious as to what your choice of upgraded electronics are. (I am a marine electrician)
We installed all Garmin late last year. Someday we'll find time to video it.
I really appreciate your perspective, this was a valuable video for me and worthwhile for you to do, thank you! Question, in your search did you ever consider any of the tugs or trawlers, like Ranger or Nordic? If not why, or if you did why did you decide against that version of your floating lifestyle? Thanks again!
No.. we didn't consider them. Out of our price range, and too small for our extending cruising desires.
👍 Love being on this journey with you guys. 💞
did you consider the grand banks 36 or 42? they looks like a good loop boat, and seem to hold their value when it comes time to sell.
We did initially look at Grand Banks.. but one in our price range would have been older than we were comfortable with, and a newer one out of the budget. They are awesome however.
interesting. i remember the bayliners in the 1980's with the force outboard motors which were i think the worst of the worst.
I love my 96 Cuddy with twin force's. I have replaced all the gauges and every bit of plastic/zamak with stainless and any thing for new if necessary. I have noticed the bias but none of the people owned a boat not even a Bayliner. It is a sweet boat and affordable. Maybe they got better.
BS......I had a 1989 Cuddy and it was a darn good boat.....The Force 125 ran like a top and never left me stranded..
My opinion is people bought Bayliners and then didn't take care or didn't know how to do maintenance.
With what seems to be very little boating experience, I am curious how you obtained boat insurance. They generally wont cover a boat that big without the skipper having a lot of experience in a boat of around 30 feet or more. How did you overcome this. I only ask because I am having this problem now. thanks
We worked with an insurance agent who works with the MTOA and AGLCA to find a suitable policy.
Thank You for the reply! Watched all the videos.
Meridian cut all pilothouse models and switched to all sedan bridges we have a 391sb 07'. When they moved to sedan bridges they switched to sea ray factories and not bayliner. Now I think bayliner only makes day boats.
Options please on Bayliner 4588 Pilothouse? Wonderful condition 1988
We've only ever stepped foot on three 4788s... have never seen a 4588. They weren't a consideration for us.
Im on the Great Loop, Lake Erie Dunkirk New York (My TH-cam channel URL) theres a big pier here as well as a coupe Marinas
With all the criteria And if you wanted the good layout you guys picked a good one i am a little more partial to the Carvers as ive always thought they were one of the best users of all the space And maybe have a little better re sale values ? Ive owned 17 or 18 power boats in my life the bigger Bayliners have always been known by boaters to have a higher quality then the small ones that did have some major quality control issues fo certain. Years although i have not done the Great Loop personally i have done the ICW from the Chesapeake Bay to Ft Lauderdale and over to the Bahamas and back to the United States luckily having plenty of time in the Carribean
So looking forward to following your Great Loop adventures. Such a beautiful boat. Safe travels
Did I hear a barn owl at the 10:46 mark? Or should I say "serendipitously" hear...
Bayliner changes to Meridian after the Sea Ray parent company Brunswick bought them. They change the name to Meridian on the 35 plus foot boats to try and shake the stigma of low end low quality attached to the Bayliner. I’ve owned a couple Bayliners and had a lot of fun with them. Don’t ever think the quality of a Bayliner comes close to Sea Ray , Carver , Regal , Cruisers etc. the fit and finish and materials are much higher end. Now the bigger Original Bayliner boats are no longer produced and the Meridian which is a mid level cruiser no longer uses any of the old Bayliner designs and the quality of construction has greatly improved. What’s left of Bayliner is now built in one of the several plants Brunswick has in Tennessee where the smaller Sea Rays and Meridians are built. With that being said even though the Bayliners have the low end reputation the bigger ones like yours have been a great value for someone to have a very comfortable boat without spending a fortune. The older ones built in Washington were rugged and very popular for coastal cruising on the Pacific coast. This boat should absolutely be a great loop boat and provide you hours of enjoyment. Since your post is old I’m sure you’ve already had a lot of memorable times on it.
good for you. I always find the asking price then add 10%.I never learn just like my spelling.
Awesome vid. Very informative. Thanks
Great story !!!!
Really enjoyed this video. Thanks
Congrats on the new home. I am looking for a loop boat myself. some people say a sail boat some people say power ( Aft cabin, or trawler). I am lost, I have no idea what boat. But I have a question though, now that you bought your dream boat, and I know you stated that you own your own business, what do you recommend on how to calculate your operating budget for someone who doesn't have a home base business?
I'm not sure how having a business or not would impact a boat's operating costs? It's going to cost you the same in fuel, maintenance and marina fees regardless. The AGLCA (www.greatloop.org) membership provides a Great Loop cost calculator for helping folks budget their expenses based on their specific type of boat.
Since this is "just life" for us - we move at a pace that fits our comfortable monthly living expenses budget. Which is one reason our Great Loop journey will be over multiple years. We'll be limiting our monthly mileage and taking advantage of monthly marina rates for extended stays.
Well I didn't mean it in a bad way, i ment you have an income still. when I start my trip, I am leaving with what I have in my pockets or bank.
Bayliners have carried such a negative reputation because of boats built in the 80's and even early 90's. Beyond that they are solid boats that have gotten a lot of people into boating for a reasonable price. My first boat was a little 2004 Bayliner 18' bowrider that was reliable as a stone. You've got an excellent boat there, enjoy!
After all the researching you did what source (web site, brokerage, publication, whatever) would you say is the one you’d go back to to start looking for your next vessel?
I don’t think there is one single source - the more sources the better.
great information.) Cheers.)
Loved your video!!! bayliner 4788 is such a pretty boat, I'm so excited to see your great loop adventure. On the weekends I used to grow up on a 2004 sea ray 460 Sundancer but I much like the aft cabin layout better!!! Hope you too have a great boating experience!!!
You used to grow up? was your growth stunted? Joking..... My dad had a smaller Sea Ray.
Great way to grow up water skiing and fishing.
Wow! I'm wondering how your fuel burn is working out? Though the boat will do 22 kt, her hull speed will be around 8 kt. Anything over that is just going to suck fuel. That fuel cost may end up being a huge expense compared to a single screw full displacement boat.
Hope you enjoy your Great Loop trip.
David
Check our '1 Year Loopiversary' video we put out back in April with a recap of that sort of stuff after a year.
Thank you for spelling it out? I was so curious. Love you guys!
What year is the boat?
1999