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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.
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.
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 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
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.
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’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.
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 ….
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!
We have a 1987 Bayliner 20 ' Cuddy cabin with a 125 Force out board. (bought in Reno Nevada).. We have alway kept our boat inside, and covered, I have replaced all the switches (didn't live) I have replaced the water pump once, We have run our Bayliner in the ocean and mostly in fresh water. No troubles or real problems. I have completed all Maintenance my self. We are now in our 80's and love our Bayliner, and it will stay in our Family.
Look I’ve been a boat mechanic for 27 yrs I don’t know any good boat ! nothing is made for salt water period ! Bay liners are like any other boat . All boats are junk I owned 14 boats in my life deferent brands there all the same bud don’t knock peoples boats and manufacturers I did own a trophy in 1998 and believe it or not it was probably out of the 14 was the better one it came with a 115 merc and was a solid unit and I sold it for good money no matter what you have as long as you take care of it and maintain it there ain’t know better boat than a well maintained boat hands down there all bathtubs in the water and money pits
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 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 🤷♂️
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!
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 .
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.😊
Most people who bash Bayliner have never owned one. I had a 2005 Bayliner 275 cruiser. Built in generator, a/c, galley, the works. Owned it for 10 years with not a single issue. We used it two weekends a month and put well over 1000 hours on it. Very good build quality and a great ride. They all use the same motors wether its bayliner, sea ray, chaparral or who ever. Mercruiser or volvo penta. So a 250,000 sea ray wont run any better than an 80,000 bayliner. I loved that boat.
Thanks Fred! I’m looking into getting a 2022 Bayliner DX 2250 and I’m glad a lot of people here are standing up for Bayliners and it’s quality. Thanks again for your experienced opinion.
I'm not talking about the power of a boat when I discussed the quality of a boat. And if that's all you've been on and know then again you don't have anything to compare it to or if you're on a little Inland lake or a river that's very different than being out on one of the great lakes or in the ocean or even the intercoastal for that matter. I can take my hand and I've done this on a rail on a Bayliner and move it back and forth an inch and a half to 2 in each way because it's so weak. it's like somebody who drives a Kia and says it's just as good as a Porsche as they both get you to and from but that's where it ends
@@jettlobaton518 well way back in the day I used to be a sales manager at a car dealership and one of our best lines was jokingly of course" there's an ass for every seat and this one is for you" of course I say that tongue in cheek. Right now I don't own a boat because I have other things going on and my resources are devoted to that I could have a low quality vote and go out into the Gulf in Naples. However I would rather not have a boat and see all of the quality flaws and be miserable as opposed to waiting and getting what I know for sure is quality. Again jump on a Bertram a Cobalt a tiara or a Boston Whaler and then jump on a Bayliner then you'll know just what I'm talking about
All boats suck. They're all built like shit. I didn't wanna believe that, until I started working at a Marina, and I see brand new boats from really big brand names coming in with serious issues. And fit what's it's worth, we have a handful of very old Bayliner from the 80's that are still chugging along. Boats are all trash. But I still love em.
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'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.
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 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 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.
The first boat I ever purchased was a 10-year-old Bayliner Cierra Sunbridge 2150 with a twin axle trailer for $7,500 back in the late 90’s. Over the ensuing 20 years I ended up replacing the engine (swapped a 5.7 for the original 5.0), three outdrives (2 OMC Cobras and an SEI Alpha 1), 1 alternator, 1 starter, 1 distributor, 2 coils, 2 canvas tops and most of the electronics. If I averaged out all of the repair bills plus normal expenses (slip fees, winterization fees, storage fees, etc.) the boat cost me approx. $3,500/year. Considering that I only got towed in once over those 20 years and about $2,000/year of those annual expenses would have accrued even if the boat was a Cobalt or SeaRay, and in view of the amount of fun I enjoyed out on the water with my family and friends, I’d have to say that Bayliner delivered an exceptionally thrifty owner experience and was incredibly reliable in the process. I finally sold it last summer for $5,500 including the trailer since I bought a substantially bigger SeaRay. Bottom line, I agree with the good Captain in recommending a Bayliner for your first boat purchase as long as it has been reasonably well maintained.
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 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!
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.
All boat manufacturers are all powered by the same power plants. Bayliner is just an entry level boat that gives you a bang for the buck. They serve a purpose just like economy cars.
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.
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 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!
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
Sounds like Bayliner needs to refurbish their reputation. Nowadays social media and forums can start public stampedes against companies and or products.
That's why the rebadged their larger boats from Bayliner name to Meridian. Initially it was literally just a logo change but eventually most of the old models were replaced by newer designs. Still a price-point boat built to be the least expensive option at whatever size they competed in.
I totally disagree I had two Bayliner Capri a 1990 2000 that I bought new, and a 1997 1800 Capri. No issues with either. Both had Force outboards. Boats should never be left outside. The two boats I had problems with first was a used Searay, bad transom, and a Chapparell twin cabin cruiser, bad engines.
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!!!
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😂
I have a 2003 1950cl and a chaparral 2550sx. I’ll choose the Bayliner all day. If you’re just looking to have: Bayliner. If you want a race boat: get something with a big block
The only thing good about a byliner is you can sit in the engine compartment with the engine cover closed and still see what your doing because the light comes right thru the hull.
#1. If you’re going for strength, you lay fiberglass in, in sheets. #2. If you’re going for looks and rigidity and strength isn’t an issue. GUN IT. #3. Just stop being such a tight wad and penny pincher. Spend the BUCKS! After all, cheap is cheap. You’ll get what you pay for, for one … maybe two season the way some people take care of their toys. So by the third year. That pretty water ride is beginning to look a little rough. And may not have as much power as it did when you first got it. Now, if you haven’t gotten rid of it by the end of the third season. Then The Troubles you have at the beginning of the fourth season. And the old girl looks real tired and haggard, and all your buddies are asking you why you brought that nasty old hole to the party. You think to yourself,,, Self? Maybe it is time I tried to sell this thing. And you start out at one price…… and a few years later…… You’ve dropped the price several times and still own it? And you can’t figure out why? . . . . “BAYLINER” . . . . 🤦🏻♂️
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
I owned a Bayliner 185 in the early 2000's. Never had a bad day on the boat v6 power ran like a raped ape when I gave it full throttle. Had MANY great times on it from fishing to water-skiing to just riding around having a blast. I have nothing bad to say about it. People like acting "holier than thou"....screw them.
Had a capri 185 with a 4.3 Mercruiser. Boat is nothing special. Boat motor and trailer in the year 2001. All said and done, just over $15000 brand new. Proper maintenance always. Retired it in 2023. We used it for skiing. Constantly hammering the throttle. I personally was never nice to it. I liked to go wide open all the time. That motor was the best our family has ever had. It never missed a beat. Only issue in all those years was a cracked distributor cap! Otherwise it was oil changes and maintenance including gimble and bellows on sterndrive. I put a nice stainless prop on. It would do almost 60 with nothing in the boat but me and quarter tank of gas and a life jacket! It was fast but it wasn’t a very good handling boat. It wasn’t balanced like it would’ve been if it were a performance boat. Our 16 Glastron/Carlson was a different story. That thing handled like a Camaro or a Vette!
I don't own a Bayliner but I do own a Force motor. I'd say the force motors underwent the same troubles as the bayliners. Entry level package and they got abused by new owners who don't understand maintenance. I'm sure a lot blew up mostly due to poor maintenance. They are dirt simple old school motors. Easy to work on. I heard mechanics won't touch them but if you are DIY minded you will like them. They are underpowered and fuel hungry I hear. The force 70s with the single carb I hear are problematic.
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
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 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.
I owned a 17” Bayliner.. Its was a Ebay find for $500. It ran strong for a while then issues with the old 95 Merc-Force outboard motor. That thing absolutely was cringe. My next boat will be an inboard but not sure what brand.
"under powered" honestly, to many people think EVERYTHING is under powered. you can cruise at 6 knots? thats so slow, underpowered engine!!! yes, but i can cruise at 6 knots for 550 miles... you can do 20 knots but need to refuel every 100 miles. buyers should be looking at the speed they need vs the fuel economy they need. a person who is buying a cruising boat to travel though canals, up rivers, running 100's of 60 miles a day between cities and such... isn't going to be needing a super powerful motor. A person looking to run the coast line, atlantic/pas... or run the great lakes... is going to want/need a really different boat then someone who wants to do water ski runs.
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.
Resale value is nowhere near as good as your statistics for any boat. I do agree that Bayliner is no worse than any other boat out there. Bayliner only makes the fiberglass, never had a problem with the fiberglass so I don't understand why people hate on the brand. It seems to be people that don't know much about boats.
Buy that 5 year old Mercedes and see just how quickly those repair bills add up. I'd much prefer to have the new Kia. There are really only 3 components to the boat. The hull, the engine and the trailer. It's the engine that is most prone to have issues and since Bayliner has the same engine as those "upscale" boats and the fact there is rarely an issue with a trailer it leaves the hull and I've only seen one boat that had a real hull issue and it was a Sea Ray. Remember, the more costly the boat the more profit in it for the dealer and manufacturer. So is't not just cheaper materials that separates the two. That $50K Sea Ray might have some better materials than the $30K Bayliner but it also has $10K more profit built into it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You saved me a lot of money. I don’t have any boating experience. I don’t even know how to swim. I don’t know how to take a breath when swimming. The longest I can swim is about 20-30 ft. 100% land animal. I’m looking into boating only because I want to take my kids out on the water to let them have fun. I don’t think I will go very fast on water. I’ll also do my research in advance to avoid any bad weather. Not looking for any challenge. I’m looking into DX2250 and Element 21.
@@andys5043 my best friend bought a 20 bay liner. He upgraded to the 5.3 liter. It was as fast as any non race boat on the Detroit river. He had it for ten years and sold it. He has had other boats, but always regretted ever selling it.
It's not a boat......it's a Bayliner lol. They used to say they were highest in repeat sales. That's because they were buried in the first bayliner and there was so much margin they could roll over the negative equity to the new one. A lifetime sentence. Notice on donation sites the majority are bayliners
They're called Bayliner because sooner or later they end up lining the bottom of the bay 😂🤣 Usually sooner than later... 😅 Mine is a 1975 Aquasport 170 with a 2000 Yamaha 115 😃🥰
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.
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.
Spending more money does not ALWAYS equate to better quality and long term durability. Ask anyone who owns a BMW after 100k miles lol. It sounds like Bayliner has solved most of their quality issues and figured out how to build a reliable yet affordable entry level boat.
Bayliner has a bad reputation because their 80's and early 90's runabouts didn't have glassed stringers or decks so they'd rot out shockingly fast, they were underpowered, and the Force outboard was a smoky 2 stroke with a head made of butter. The L drive was even worse. They were basically disposable boats but got a ton of people on the water and I didn't care when I was 11 being towed by one. That said, their newer boats are all fully glassed being pushed around by the same Mercruisers and Mercury outboards as Sea Ray and everyone else not using Volvos or Yamahas. If you don't care about crazy nice upholstery, a ton of options, and/or brand snobbery, your family will have just as much fun as they would on a Cobalt. Just order a bigger motor and don't take it on the ocean. Fiberglass being pushed around by a motor is fiberglass being pushed around by a motor. That said, their yachts are a completely different animal, they were built at a different factory and they're great coastal cruisers. Brunswick was fully aware of the brand's reputation, tarted the same boats up, called them Meridian and did just fine until the whole midrange yacht market collapsed in 2008. No, they aren't blue water boats but they aren't really devaluing any further because they're sought after and there are hundreds of decades old examples in marinas everywhere.
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!
I don't agree with what he says. I bought Bayliner 1999 capri 18 ft. Is my forth boat .has a 3.0 mercruser. Only cause this year. Gas. It's all how its taken care of.
Bayliner is the VW Bug of the boat industry. Sure they are built at a price point. Any used boat that isn't correctly stored will have most of the same issues with soft floors, stringer problems and wood rot.
Nope..that's the only boat I know that can't get wet..lol.wood not being incapacitated in glassed..lol. It's not even back painted...if it's not kept in a garage it's rotten someplace from rain water..
Chrysler is the best and easiest motor to work on out of all the outboards but like all you have to know how to maintain and work on them force was somewhat ok till mercury started putting their lower units on them with adapter plate and changed some other parts in ignition i have chrysler motors and still do i have a 1976 75 hp it still runs great has been built once in top end and that was my fault not knowing what to do on maintenance and how often just like any other motor water pump and lower gear oil inspection and proper fuel mixture and they will serve you well
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...
PS one more thing as being the man with yacht dreams in a rowboat income I get a lot of boats over my life that are at the end of their service life and all the boats are every year that I look at I look at all different brands and all different links and styles and I found That if I show up to look at a boat and it’s a Bayliner, it’s probably toast. It’s all done. There’s no wood left and not enough fiberglass to run it without the wood I’m just saying.
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
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.
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.
A boat is only as good as the person whos doing the maintenance and up keep. You treat a boat right, it will last and be pretty dependable. However, leave it outside, uncovered and just bash it then it will snowball quickly. There is a market for all boat manufacturers, not everyone can own Everglades or a Yellowfin or even come close to affording one. Bayliner gets people on the water that could have limited options due to income. So, hats off to anyone who pulls the trigger on one and is able to own a boat for their family. Memories will be made, thats all that matters.
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’ve read through a few dozen of these opinions here. I find it interesting that 99% of the people that owned one loved them. Not one story of hulls falling apart after hitting a wave or t-tops flying off in the wind or cleats pulling out etc etc. However, any post that has negative “facts” to make start with “I would never own a Bayliner”. I wonder why that is? Sounds like a lot of people listened to their Sea Ray salesman when they told them Bayliners were built like crap and paid WAY too much for their “higher end” boats. Yes maybe a Sea Ray had more plush and prettier seats. But cut the tops off boat boats and guess what. I’ll take a “hard seat” for a third of the price any day of the week. But that’s just me, what do I know. 😂😂😂😂
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.
got a 1989 19 foot bayliner capri cuddy cabin with a 2.3L ford inboard engine and the cobra outdrive. its nothing but fun. bought it new in 89 and keep it garaged all the time when not in use. runs perfect. i did have the head and engine redone about 15 years ago so its about a 160hp now and instead of a 15 3/4" prop i can run 16, 17,19 and even 20". got to go slow on throttle with the 17 and up sizes cause the donut wont handle the massive torque if i pour on the coals fast. but i can bury that 16 and hit 30+ mph quick. i also put in fresh water cooling so the engine and intake never corrode. i also added drains to exhaust manifold and heat exchanger.. so no water especially salt ever stays in the exhaust manifold etc. and i can flush it clean big time..everytime. it looks like new, runs like new. keep any boat outside and its soon rusted corroded mess, takes less than few years for weather to maul a boat kept outside. paid $14,000 in july 1989 for it. similar boat new now cost north of $30,000
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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
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
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 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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have a 1987 Bayliner 20 ' Cuddy cabin with a 125 Force out board. (bought in Reno Nevada).. We have alway kept our boat inside, and covered, I have replaced all the switches (didn't live) I have replaced the water pump once, We have run our Bayliner in the ocean and mostly in fresh water. No troubles or real problems. I have completed all Maintenance my self. We are now in our 80's and love our Bayliner, and it will stay in our Family.
Look I’ve been a boat mechanic for 27 yrs I don’t know any good boat ! nothing is made for salt water period ! Bay liners are like any other boat . All boats are junk I owned 14 boats in my life deferent brands there all the same bud don’t knock peoples boats and manufacturers I did own a trophy in 1998 and believe it or not it was probably out of the 14 was the better one it came with a 115 merc and was a solid unit and I sold it for good money no matter what you have as long as you take care of it and maintain it there ain’t know better boat than a well maintained boat hands down there all bathtubs in the water and money pits
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 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 🤷♂️
What a strange video filled with assumptions, conjecture, and misinformation. Why did you waste your time telling us what you don't know?
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!
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 .
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.😊
Most people who bash Bayliner have never owned one. I had a 2005 Bayliner 275 cruiser. Built in generator, a/c, galley, the works. Owned it for 10 years with not a single issue. We used it two weekends a month and put well over 1000 hours on it. Very good build quality and a great ride. They all use the same motors wether its bayliner, sea ray, chaparral or who ever. Mercruiser or volvo penta. So a 250,000 sea ray wont run any better than an 80,000 bayliner. I loved that boat.
Thanks Fred! I’m looking into getting a 2022 Bayliner DX 2250 and I’m glad a lot of people here are standing up for Bayliners and it’s quality. Thanks again for your experienced opinion.
I'm not talking about the power of a boat when I discussed the quality of a boat. And if that's all you've been on and know then again you don't have anything to compare it to or if you're on a little Inland lake or a river that's very different than being out on one of the great lakes or in the ocean or even the intercoastal for that matter.
I can take my hand and I've done this on a rail on a Bayliner and move it back and forth an inch and a half to 2 in each way because it's so weak.
it's like somebody who drives a Kia and says it's just as good as a Porsche as they both get you to and from but that's where it ends
@@jettlobaton518 well way back in the day I used to be a sales manager at a car dealership and one of our best lines was jokingly of course" there's an ass for every seat and this one is for you" of course I say that tongue in cheek. Right now I don't own a boat because I have other things going on and my resources are devoted to that I could have a low quality vote and go out into the Gulf in Naples. However I would rather not have a boat and see all of the quality flaws and be miserable as opposed to waiting and getting what I know for sure is quality. Again jump on a Bertram a Cobalt a tiara or a Boston Whaler and then jump on a Bayliner then you'll know just what I'm talking about
All boats suck. They're all built like shit. I didn't wanna believe that, until I started working at a Marina, and I see brand new boats from really big brand names coming in with serious issues. And fit what's it's worth, we have a handful of very old Bayliner from the 80's that are still chugging along.
Boats are all trash. But I still love em.
A boat is all to often, a vessel propelled along the water by the rapid combustion of money!
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'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.
Bull shit i love me bayliner and i work on mine to
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 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.
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...
The first boat I ever purchased was a 10-year-old Bayliner Cierra Sunbridge 2150 with a twin axle trailer for $7,500 back in the late 90’s. Over the ensuing 20 years I ended up replacing the engine (swapped a 5.7 for the original 5.0), three outdrives (2 OMC Cobras and an SEI Alpha 1), 1 alternator, 1 starter, 1 distributor, 2 coils, 2 canvas tops and most of the electronics. If I averaged out all of the repair bills plus normal expenses (slip fees, winterization fees, storage fees, etc.) the boat cost me approx. $3,500/year. Considering that I only got towed in once over those 20 years and about $2,000/year of those annual expenses would have accrued even if the boat was a Cobalt or SeaRay, and in view of the amount of fun I enjoyed out on the water with my family and friends, I’d have to say that Bayliner delivered an exceptionally thrifty owner experience and was incredibly reliable in the process. I finally sold it last summer for $5,500 including the trailer since I bought a substantially bigger SeaRay. Bottom line, I agree with the good Captain in recommending a Bayliner for your first boat purchase as long as it has been reasonably well maintained.
Had to laugh, they always have that 16' Element with a 60 Merc to giveaway on the Price is Right game show, must be getting rid of old stock.
Bayliners get a lot of people on the water who couldn't otherwise.
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 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!
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.
All boat manufacturers are all powered by the same power plants. Bayliner is just an entry level boat that gives you a bang for the buck. They serve a purpose just like economy cars.
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.
I have a 87 bayliner its still going strong 85hp Force.
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 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'd have no problem buying a used Bayliner as long it was 1 owner and garage kept. Most of them turn to crap from sitting outside.
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
Sounds like Bayliner needs to refurbish their reputation. Nowadays social media and forums can start public stampedes against companies and or products.
That's why the rebadged their larger boats from Bayliner name to Meridian. Initially it was literally just a logo change but eventually most of the old models were replaced by newer designs. Still a price-point boat built to be the least expensive option at whatever size they competed in.
I totally disagree I had two Bayliner Capri a 1990 2000 that I bought new, and a 1997 1800 Capri. No issues with either. Both had Force outboards. Boats should never be left outside. The two boats I had problems with first was a used Searay, bad transom, and a Chapparell twin cabin cruiser, bad engines.
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!!!
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😂
I have a 2003 1950cl and a chaparral 2550sx. I’ll choose the Bayliner all day. If you’re just looking to have: Bayliner. If you want a race boat: get something with a big block
The only thing good about a byliner is you can sit in the engine compartment with the engine
cover closed and still see what your doing because the light comes right thru the hull.
That's a fact lol. Truth hurts people but if you know boats you know they suck
#1. If you’re going for strength, you lay fiberglass in, in sheets.
#2. If you’re going for looks and rigidity and strength isn’t an issue. GUN IT.
#3. Just stop being such a tight wad and penny pincher. Spend the BUCKS!
After all, cheap is cheap. You’ll get what you pay for, for one … maybe two
season the way some people take care of their toys. So by the third year.
That pretty water ride is beginning to look a little rough. And may not have
as much power as it did when you first got it. Now, if you haven’t gotten rid of it by the end of the third season. Then The Troubles you have at the beginning of the fourth season. And the old girl looks real tired and haggard, and all your buddies are asking you why you brought that nasty old hole to the party. You think to yourself,,, Self? Maybe it is time I tried to sell this thing. And you start out at one price…… and a few years later…… You’ve dropped the price several times and still own it? And you can’t figure out why? . . . . “BAYLINER” . . . . 🤦🏻♂️
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
I owned a Bayliner 185 in the early 2000's. Never had a bad day on the boat v6 power ran like a raped ape when I gave it full throttle. Had MANY great times on it from fishing to water-skiing to just riding around having a blast. I have nothing bad to say about it. People like acting "holier than thou"....screw them.
Had a capri 185 with a 4.3 Mercruiser. Boat is nothing special. Boat motor and trailer in the year 2001. All said and done, just over $15000 brand new. Proper maintenance always. Retired it in 2023. We used it for skiing. Constantly hammering the throttle. I personally was never nice to it. I liked to go wide open all the time. That motor was the best our family has ever had. It never missed a beat. Only issue in all those years was a cracked distributor cap! Otherwise it was oil changes and maintenance including gimble and bellows on sterndrive. I put a nice stainless prop on. It would do almost 60 with nothing in the boat but me and quarter tank of gas and a life jacket! It was fast but it wasn’t a very good handling boat. It wasn’t balanced like it would’ve been if it were a performance boat. Our 16 Glastron/Carlson was a different story. That thing handled like a Camaro or a Vette!
I don't own a Bayliner but I do own a Force motor. I'd say the force motors underwent the same troubles as the bayliners. Entry level package and they got abused by new owners who don't understand maintenance. I'm sure a lot blew up mostly due to poor maintenance. They are dirt simple old school motors. Easy to work on. I heard mechanics won't touch them but if you are DIY minded you will like them. They are underpowered and fuel hungry I hear. The force 70s with the single carb I hear are problematic.
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
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 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.
I owned a 17” Bayliner.. Its was a Ebay find for $500. It ran strong for a while then issues with the old 95 Merc-Force outboard motor. That thing absolutely was cringe. My next boat will be an inboard but not sure what brand.
"under powered"
honestly, to many people think EVERYTHING is under powered. you can cruise at 6 knots? thats so slow, underpowered engine!!! yes, but i can cruise at 6 knots for 550 miles... you can do 20 knots but need to refuel every 100 miles.
buyers should be looking at the speed they need vs the fuel economy they need. a person who is buying a cruising boat to travel though canals, up rivers, running 100's of 60 miles a day between cities and such... isn't going to be needing a super powerful motor. A person looking to run the coast line, atlantic/pas... or run the great lakes... is going to want/need a really different boat then someone who wants to do water ski runs.
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 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.
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 a new 1996 sold 2018 for $5,500 had 3900 hours on force 120 never had trouble with boat and engine water pump ever 2 years
Resale value is nowhere near as good as your statistics for any boat. I do agree that Bayliner is no worse than any other boat out there. Bayliner only makes the fiberglass, never had a problem with the fiberglass so I don't understand why people hate on the brand. It seems to be people that don't know much about boats.
Someone was trying to sell me a Bayliner from 2007 with ruined seats and home made solutions for 20k USD.... bargain right?
Try going in a Bayliner 2556,guaranteed to put a smile on your face,one of the Best little fly bridge cruisers
ever built.
Buy that 5 year old Mercedes and see just how quickly those repair bills add up. I'd much prefer to have the new Kia. There are really only 3 components to the boat. The hull, the engine and the trailer. It's the engine that is most prone to have issues and since Bayliner has the same engine as those "upscale" boats and the fact there is rarely an issue with a trailer it leaves the hull and I've only seen one boat that had a real hull issue and it was a Sea Ray. Remember, the more costly the boat the more profit in it for the dealer and manufacturer. So is't not just cheaper materials that separates the two. That $50K Sea Ray might have some better materials than the $30K Bayliner but it also has $10K more profit built into it.
Totally agree. At least you'll get 60K miles out of the Kia of which I'm not a fan of. Mercedes is a Money pit.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You saved me a lot of money. I don’t have any boating experience. I don’t even know how to swim. I don’t know how to take a breath when swimming. The longest I can swim is about 20-30 ft. 100% land animal. I’m looking into boating only because I want to take my kids out on the water to let them have fun. I don’t think I will go very fast on water. I’ll also do my research in advance to avoid any bad weather. Not looking for any challenge. I’m looking into DX2250 and Element 21.
@@andys5043 my best friend bought a 20 bay liner. He upgraded to the 5.3 liter. It was as fast as any non race boat on the Detroit river. He had it for ten years and sold it. He has had other boats, but always regretted ever selling it.
It's not a boat......it's a Bayliner lol.
They used to say they were highest in repeat sales.
That's because they were buried in the first bayliner and there was so much margin they could roll over the negative equity to the new one. A lifetime sentence. Notice on donation sites the majority are bayliners
They're called Bayliner because sooner or later they end up lining the bottom of the bay 😂🤣 Usually sooner than later... 😅
Mine is a 1975 Aquasport 170 with a 2000 Yamaha 115 😃🥰
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.
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.
It scares me when you compare Kia vs Cadillac, BMW or Mercerdes, all of them are money pits. They are very luxurious but no reliable.
Spending more money does not ALWAYS equate to better quality and long term durability. Ask anyone who owns a BMW after 100k miles lol. It sounds like Bayliner has solved most of their quality issues and figured out how to build a reliable yet affordable entry level boat.
Bayliner has a bad reputation because their 80's and early 90's runabouts didn't have glassed stringers or decks so they'd rot out shockingly fast, they were underpowered, and the Force outboard was a smoky 2 stroke with a head made of butter. The L drive was even worse. They were basically disposable boats but got a ton of people on the water and I didn't care when I was 11 being towed by one.
That said, their newer boats are all fully glassed being pushed around by the same Mercruisers and Mercury outboards as Sea Ray and everyone else not using Volvos or Yamahas. If you don't care about crazy nice upholstery, a ton of options, and/or brand snobbery, your family will have just as much fun as they would on a Cobalt. Just order a bigger motor and don't take it on the ocean. Fiberglass being pushed around by a motor is fiberglass being pushed around by a motor.
That said, their yachts are a completely different animal, they were built at a different factory and they're great coastal cruisers. Brunswick was fully aware of the brand's reputation, tarted the same boats up, called them Meridian and did just fine until the whole midrange yacht market collapsed in 2008. No, they aren't blue water boats but they aren't really devaluing any further because they're sought after and there are hundreds of decades old examples in marinas everywhere.
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 !
Incredibly repetitive review. Every point is repeated alt least 5 times. 5 minutes of information stretched into a 20 minute video.
I don't agree with what he says. I bought Bayliner 1999 capri 18 ft. Is my forth boat .has a 3.0 mercruser. Only cause this year. Gas. It's all how its taken care of.
Yes, they do.
Bayliner is the VW Bug of the boat industry. Sure they are built at a price point. Any used boat that isn't correctly stored will have most of the same issues with soft floors, stringer problems and wood rot.
Nope..that's the only boat I know that can't get wet..lol.wood not being incapacitated in glassed..lol.
It's not even back painted...if it's not kept in a garage it's rotten someplace from rain water..
Chrysler is the best and easiest motor to work on out of all the outboards but like all you have to know how to maintain and work on them force was somewhat ok till mercury started putting their lower units on them with adapter plate and changed some other parts in ignition i have chrysler motors and still do i have a 1976 75 hp it still runs great has been built once in top end and that was my fault not knowing what to do on maintenance and how often just like any other motor water pump and lower gear oil inspection and proper fuel mixture and they will serve you well
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...
Like my KIA Rio, if you take care of it, it will last. May not get the attention of the ladies, but it will get you where you want to go.
Bayliner are like fords everyone loves to hate them,they are not high end,but their prices reflect this.
Aa a previous owner i think they get a bum rap! They're awesome bottom of the Bayliners!
PS one more thing as being the man with yacht dreams in a rowboat income I get a lot of boats over my life that are at the end of their service life and all the boats are every year that I look at I look at all different brands and all different links and styles and I found That if I show up to look at a boat and it’s a Bayliner, it’s probably toast. It’s all done. There’s no wood left and not enough fiberglass to run it without the wood I’m just saying.
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
Are 1989 2455 bayliner a good value here in New Zealand, seem to get alot of boat for the money
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.
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.
I don't have a bayliner, but... I couldn't give a fuck less what other boaters think about my boat.
Bayliner equals junk boat ,cheap everything!!
Bayliners are just cheap entry level boats
In Sweden Bayliner is called an aids boat! Once you get it, its impossible to get rid of !
Was a great boat long ago- Past 20 years it’s fine boat - but a value boat and built to be inexpensive. Use same engines and controls as high end -
A boat is only as good as the person whos doing the maintenance and up keep. You treat a boat right, it will last and be pretty dependable. However, leave it outside, uncovered and just bash it then it will snowball quickly. There is a market for all boat manufacturers, not everyone can own Everglades or a Yellowfin or even come close to affording one. Bayliner gets people on the water that could have limited options due to income. So, hats off to anyone who pulls the trigger on one and is able to own a boat for their family. Memories will be made, thats all that matters.
Great take... there is a right boat for every situation and budget
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’ve read through a few dozen of these opinions here. I find it interesting that 99% of the people that owned one loved them. Not one story of hulls falling apart after hitting a wave or t-tops flying off in the wind or cleats pulling out etc etc.
However, any post that has negative “facts” to make start with “I would never own a Bayliner”. I wonder why that is? Sounds like a lot of people listened to their Sea Ray salesman when they told them Bayliners were built like crap and paid WAY too much for their “higher end” boats. Yes maybe a Sea Ray had more plush and prettier seats. But cut the tops off boat boats and guess what.
I’ll take a “hard seat” for a third of the price any day of the week. But that’s just me, what do I know. 😂😂😂😂
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.
They line the bottoms of many bays
got a 1989 19 foot bayliner capri cuddy cabin with a 2.3L ford inboard engine and the cobra outdrive. its nothing but fun. bought it new in 89 and keep it garaged all the time when not in use. runs perfect. i did have the head and engine redone about 15 years ago so its about a 160hp now and instead of a 15 3/4" prop i can run 16, 17,19 and even 20". got to go slow on throttle with the 17 and up sizes cause the donut wont handle the massive torque if i pour on the coals fast. but i can bury that 16 and hit 30+ mph quick. i also put in fresh water cooling so the engine and intake never corrode. i also added drains to exhaust manifold and heat exchanger.. so no water especially salt ever stays in the exhaust manifold etc. and i can flush it clean big time..everytime. it looks like new, runs like new. keep any boat outside and its soon rusted corroded mess, takes less than few years for weather to maul a boat kept outside. paid $14,000 in july 1989 for it. similar boat new now cost north of $30,000
thanks for sharing your experience