[Rushabh]

Hello all,

I have never been on a boat smaller than a car ferry before. I have always wanted a boat because I had a great time on a jet ski once and I'm also passionate about swimming.

So anyway, I started looking for a boat and found a 18' 1990 Bayliner Capri Cuddy which seems to be in great condition. But there is a lot of things that are confusing for me and Wikipedia wasn't much help. These questions are specific to the Bayliner boat and are meant to assist me in making an informed buying decision. Thank you in advance for answering my questions:

1) I have seen ads for 19' Bayliner Capri Cuddy but this one is a 18', according to the seller. Does such boat exist or did the owner commit a typo and actually meant 19' ?

2) I learned a bit about inboard/outboard engines on Wikipedia but it is not clear whether this Bayliner has an I/O. Do all Bayliner Capris have I/O or are they strictly outboard-only or did Bayliner make some I/O and some outboard-only? According to the pictures of the boat I'm looking at, it seems like the boat has an outboard motor.

3) The boat's motor is broken and so, assuming the boat is outboard-only, I would need to get another one. What would be the recommended motor for this boat and how much would it set me back if bought new and used?

4) Related to question #3 above - should I buy a used motor or a new motor?

5) What should I look for when inspecting the boat? Would a free inspection by a Vehicle Safety Check Examiners (http://safetyseal.net/GetVSC) be helpful in finding any defects with the boat?

6) Is the 1990 Bayliner Capri a good boat for a newbie like me (eg. is it idiot-proof) compared to other boats?

Any other advice would be very helpful. Thank you!

[gcboat]

In general Bayliners are a really decent starter boat. My statement is reflective on the previous owner's maintenance and / or the lack thereof.
A boat is just another piece of machinery that requires frequent care, possibly more so than a car.
1) Possibly a typo but some of their models will be listed either way, no big deal.

2) Now the engine thingy. If you have what is known as the "L" drive which is an outboard powerhead mated to a gimbaled lower unit ( outdrive ) leave it alone !!!!!! There are no parts available for them and nobody left to work on them. Pictures would be wonderful.

3) Before that question is addressed we need to know what is on there first.

4) See #3

5) That check will only address issues of safety. Things such as life jackets, flares, etc. It will not be an in depth survey of the vessel or related machinery. To have that done you will need to find a qualified marine surveyor. Their prices vary but I'm shooting at somewhere between $300.00 to $500.00 for your boat. A small price to pay for that service.

6) No boat is idiot proof. See opening paragraph.

Good luck with your purchase. Again, be aware of your drive component.

[Bigprairie1]

I have a '90 Capri and its a decent starter boat. I have no complaints and it hasn't given me any problems. It was well maintained and correctly stored so it still has a solid floor, etc.
As for the lengths issues, Capris (according to my original manual) came in 1700/1800/1900 Versions (17'/18'/19') when they were outboards. When they were I/O's they were called 1850/1950/2050's.
Make sure the floor is solid and see if you can determine some history on the boat..original owner or? Where/how was it stored. Use your eyes and ears and intuition on this. Is the guy a slob with everything else? If so he probably didn't maintain the boat.
As GC said, if it is an 'L-drive', walk away.
Good Luck.
BP

[gcboat]

Thank you Bigprairie1,

I stand corrected on the length issue.