I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

[Summer Fun]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

OOOPS You're right !!. I posted the wrong pic. :redface: .
Damn meds kicked in. . I'll correct that later today.

By the way I've owned 3 Bayliners before.
I'm just kidding with ya because I know how easy it is to get you guys going !!.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

I haven't spent any time on a Bayliner to really look into the quality, but I do agree, a well cared for sub par boat, would be better in my book than a neglected well built boat.

 

[45Auto]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

they (Bayliner) are the most affordable

Go to this website and take a look at the marine brands that Brunswick produces:

http://www.brunswick.com/brands/marine-boats/

Brunswick makes Bayliner, Sea Ray, and Mercury/Mercruiser.

Bayliners sell for lots less than Sea Rays, yet they use the same engines and controls. How does the Bayliner division produce their boats so much more cheaply than the Sea Ray division of the same company?

I'm familiar with their bowriders, and one big difference is in the hull construction. The deck of a Bayliner is a piece of plywood with a coat of gray paint on it and some cheap carpet glued over it. Any water that gets on the deck from swimming, etc, will eventually get under and around the carpet and rot the deck. The deck of a Sea Ray is essentially a "hull within a hull". It is also wood, but it is fiberglassed on the top and bottom, glassed to the outer hull, and uses snap-in Berber carpets. Any water that gets on the deck can't get to the wood, and the carpet will last forever. Go to the restoration forum and see how many threads you find on replacing Bayliner decks and stringers compared to threads replacing Sea Ray decks and stringers.

Go to a marine upholstery site and look at vinyl prices. Retail they run from about $20 to about $50 per yard, weights run from about 20 ounces to 30 ounces per yard. Guess which end of the scale Bayliner uses? The dark blue vinyl panels on my '96 Bayliner cracked from the sun in 3 years and had to be replaced. The white panels had just started cracking at 8 years old when I sold it. My '88 Sea Ray is 22 years old and the original upholstery looks brand new. Same for my 7 year old '03 Crownline(comparable to a Sea Ray in quality), it looks like a brand new boat.

You'll see the same type of thing in fittings and accessories.

Every product is built for a specific price point. Nothing wrong with a Bayliner, they let lots of people get into boating at a price they can afford.

Comparing a Bayliner to a higher-end boat is like comparing a wrench set from the dollar store to a set from Snap-On. The cheap wrenches start with lower quality steel, have sloppier tolerances, and skip many of the manufacturing steps that give the high-end tools their strength and longetivity. The cheap ones will work fine for the things most people do. However, if you use them much, you'll regret it when you start stripping bolts and tearing up your knuckles because the cheap wrench slipped.

You just have to decide if the price of the higher quality product is worth it to you.

Care and maintenanace obviously make a huge difference in any older vehicle, whether it's a boat, car, or a plane.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

All kidding aside !!. Bayliner is a nice affordable boat for the newbies.

Now if you want great fix & finish buy a upscale boat.
My tug has REAL wood in the cabin & cockpit area.

 

[Purecarnagge]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

So picking up a 1996 or later Bayliner is probabally going to hold up as well as any other entry level boat as long as its been taken care of with regular upkeep done???

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

with regular upkeep done

Yes.Thats what keeps our old girls still on the water. .

 

[Ryan50]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

I now have my second Bayliner. Our first was an 83 Capri with Volvo AQ125A and 270 drive. It gave us 15 years of reliable service before it was sold. I recently purchased a 91 2050 with a few issues as bit of a project. It was always covered and the hull and interior are in great shape-no rot and vinyl is just starting to crack a little on the top of the bucket seats. I am working out some engine and outdrive bugs, but the maiden voyage last weekend went great. It is sharp looking, will give me quite a few years of service, and all for very little money.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

Did you fall and bump your head ??.

Put your turd up to a Sea Ray and we'll SEE who makes more money on selling the boat FIRST !!.
As you're loving the Baysinker pride & joy !!.

Nice comparison.....

Bayliner and Sea Ray are built by the same manufacturer.......

Like others have posted.....Bayliner gets a bad rap because they are inexpensive....so they wind up in the hands of people who can't maintain them properly.....Are they "less frills".....Sure....but their hull is good, their engines are the exact same that are in MOST boats....

For the record...go ahead and add another happy Bayliner owner to the tally.....Mine is a 96 - and it is in ALOT better shape than most 14yr old boats I have seen.....

Bayliner is a PERFECT boat to get started with...and a perfect boat for a family......The engine will run all day - There aren't as many gadgets to go wrong.....the maintainence is minimal.....and you aren't gonna be so worried about your 40k boat that you can't enjoy the water. (I have friends like that....no fun!!)

Oh....and a boat is bought to have fun in......if the first thing you are thinking about when buying it is how much you might be able to sell it for in a few years.....well....you probably aren't much fun.....

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

Most of the poor reputation that Bayliner is saddled with comes from three factors:

1. I think it's fair to say that they did make some poor quality boats in the mid-1980s and into the early 90s. Just like an early 1980s Chrysler, given the right maintenance and repairs, these boats could still have decent lives, but I think it's also fair to say that they were simply NOT up to the standard of many other boats of that age and hence their reputation suffered.

2. Bayliners for at least the past 25 years have been aimed at the entry level market. Lower price means lower features and the savings have to come from somewhere.

3. Because they were made for a low price bracket, they sold a lot of them. And with more people owning them, there are going to be more problems.

This situation can produce a false impression. I'll draw an analogy here. Many people would say a Macintosh computer has fewer problems than a PC, but is this really true? Or is it thought to be true because PCs outsell Macs about 500 to 1 so therefore everyone knows someone with a PC who has had problems? It's the preception based on the bias of numbers.

I think there are decent Bayliners out there, even from the 1980s and 90s. The crux of the issue is that one needs to know how to look for trouble spots. This produces a conflict because it's often the inexperienced or first time owner who is looking at these boats and he or she may not know how to spot those frequent trouble spots such as rotten transoms, water ingress, etc.

Grouse

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

Bayliner and Sea Ray are built by the same manufacturer.

Really !!. Is that why the Sea Ray money is carrying the bayliner brand threw these hard times ??.

 

[Purecarnagge]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

the reason I'm so interested in this thread is because of this.

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1997-Bayliner-2050-SS-Special-Edition-97147189

Its right in my price range, although I think I would try to negotiate it down a bit.

Summary of link

Classower
Category:Bowrider
Year:1997
Make:Bayliner
Model:2050 SS Special Edition
Length:20 ft 5 in
Location:Centerville, IA
LOA:20.4166666666667
Beam:8 ft
Engine Model:5.7L
Horsepower:260
Propulsion Type:Single Outboard
Hull Material:Fiberglass Reinforced
Fuel Type:Gas

SELLER DESCRIPTION
1997 Bayliner 2050 SS Special Edition This 1997 Bayliner is the Special Edition 2050 SS Model. It has the 5.7 L Mercruiser 260 HP engine and the Alpha 1, Generation II stern drive. The boat has been extra well cared for and has no upholstery or carpet tears or issues. The engine and stern drive have both just had new oil and lube and complete checkovers. The boat includes AM-FM-CD stereo system, bimini top, boarding ladder, and storage and road cover. Also included is the Escort trailer with excellent tires and surge brakes. The boat has the SS interior which has two high back bucket seats and a full width rear couch with extra wide sun deck and rear swim deck. This rig will pull multiple skiers or tubes and still put the whole family with friends in the boat to observe. Excellent family boat.

 

[JZammetti]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

My first boat is a 2005 Bayliner BR185, purchased used. When I bought mine I did no research, I knew nothing about owning it. All I was told was to enjoy it and keep it maintained. This is my third season and my Emily Girl has not let me down. However I do spend money on preventitive maintenance like winterization, check ups, replacing iffy parts and so on. Like others said before me, if you maintain a boat it doesn't matter the name it will treat you well. I've seen Crownlines, Sea Rays, Trophy's and so on at my local marina not maintained and thought wow, I'd never own one of them. If Bayliners are junk as people said then I got lucky.

 

[kailec00]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

I know a lot of people that own Bayliners. They have not had any issues with them and love em. There are all ways going to be people that do not like a certain brand or type of boat and they will let you know about it. As long as you are not expecting to buy a Bayliner and then have the comforts of a 60 or 70 K boat, you will be fine. I feel that everyone should buy the boat they like and be proud of it, never understood why someone would want to put down another persons boat.
I run one of the brands that everyone bashes and they feel they need to tell me all about what is wrong with it, when most of the people have never owned one themselves or they are comparing it to their top of line boat. Get what you want, take care of it, and be proud that you have it.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

Really !!. Is that why the Sea Ray money is carrying the bayliner brand threw these hard times ??.

There are FAR more Sea Rays at my boat club sitting rotting away. There is only one Bayliner, and it is shrink wrapped, the owner just has no time to use it.



Just stirring the pot. I put more into the owner of the boat, than the boat itself. I have seen rotted hulks of any and every type of boat out there.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

Really !!. Is that why the Sea Ray money is carrying the bayliner brand threw these hard times ??.

if you want to see what brands are owned by brunswick, go here... Its not to far off to say 'all of them'!

http://www.brunswick.com/brands/marine-boats/index.php

As far as searay carrying bayliner, I'm fairly sure its the other way around. In tough economic times, the higher end lines of ANY product are the ones that suffer. The cheaper the product, the better it will come through a recession. Obviously only brunswick knows the exact numbers, so its all speculation. The general fact about higher end vs lower end in a recession is proven though..

 

[Beefer]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but just because Bayliner and SeaRay (and Boston Whaler and Hatteras and Cabo... etc) are subsidiaries of a major conglomerate (Brunswick), does not mean they are built by the same company. That's like saying 'My Brunswick bowling ball is a Hatteras!'. Different manufacturing plants, processes, philosophies and strategies. Bayliner and Sea Ray are not the same, they are built in different factories, by different people.

As for the original post, I own a Bayliner, ('94), and it's been a decent little boat. Other than the carpeted wood floors turning to mulch, I really can't complain, especially for what I paid for it. The good thing about SeaRays and Bayliners, there are so many of them out there that parts are easy to find. Even the odd-ball parts.

The reputation is horrendous... the actual boat ain't that bad.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

sorry but the bayliner looks like a bad 1980's dream-disco anyone?

You are nuts, the bayliner in those two pictures is 10thousand times sexier then the square window nasty look.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

You are nuts, the bayliner in those two pictures is 10thousand times sexier then the square window nasty look.

Curious...have you actually ever looked through one of those sloped windshields on a sunny day, especially after they get just slightly dirty?

I know...I owned a Bayliner with that window. I had to ALWAYS stand up when I was driving the darned thing.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

Looks are 100% subjective. I prefer older boats, looks wise, than newer.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: I keep on hearing how Bayliner boats have a bad reputation, how bad is it?

I know several people that have owned and currently own Bayliner boats. I dont care who the manufactorer is, I think carpet in a boat is about as stupid as putting carpet on my pool deck. Absolutely rediculous. Bayliner does it, and in the 80s at least, I know of several people that had to repair or replace their floors. They also used inferior engines in those dark years. Nowadays, its a fiberglass boat with the same mechanicals as every other boat on the market. It is cheaper than a Sea Ray, so naturally it has a lower resale value. HOWEVER I am not sure if you break that into a percentage that it is actually true. I mean if you pay $60k for a bowrider through Sea Ray and you get $30k 2 years later, how is that better than paying $30k for a Bayliner, then getting $15k 2 years later?? Both lost 50%. (these are not actual figures, I just used the for the effect and to make a point).

All in all, if you cant afford a Sea Ray, and a lot of us are in that boat(sorry for the pun), Bayliner is a decent option.

Maintanance is the key to longevity. I maintain the crap out of my entry level 01 Tahoe Q7, and until this year have had to do nothing but general maintanance. This year we had a headgasket go, but it appears to have been a factory defect, but that has nothing to do with Tahoe, that is a Mercruiser thing.