Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

[sph130]

So I bought my first boat. Only way I was able to convince the wife was the low low price. If its too good to be true it probably is, but a week later I can't find anything wrong (knocking on wood as I type).

1988 18' Bayliner Bowrider with the 2.3L Ford Cobra OMC i/o. It had been garaged for 2 years but I was there when we started it and it started right up. All controls, guages work, horn, blower, and trim works. The nav lights were just burned out but we checked the sockets and the had juice. The floors were replaced - I saw the pictures - about 8 years ago with marine plywood and new carpeting. The seats were recovered. The only interior work other than a cleaning is that the side cushions are weathered and ripped. They need to be pulled out and reupholstered which doesn't look hard to do.

He had the service manual, said he just replaced the points. The fluids looked good (don't think he changed them for the sale because he had a really really tough time of getting one of the plugs out to check the OMC drive oil) Bilge pump was replaced and it looks like he rebuilt the bildge area as well.

Came with a galv escort trailer that made the trip home beautifully. No rust nothing it was solid.

So with all this said what do I need to look out for?

I only paid $950 for the whole thing.

There was about 5 gallons of 2 year old gas in there. He said to take it out.. i tried syphoning but the tube wouldn't get past what I presume is a filter or spill proof valve. Im tempted to just add the 15 more gallons of new gas to it?

This is my first boat ever - I feel like I got a great deal. What do you all think?

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

I think you made a great deal also. There are gas additives that will help clean everything in the engine and I would probably add 15 gal of premium and let er rip.

 

[sph130]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

So I just wanted to give anyone interested an update.
I don't know why people say Bayliners are bad.. the one I got is a beauty and still running strong after being well cared for by the previous owner. And its 21 years old!

So I took the boat out two time. the first time i just added 5 gallons regular octane gas. Did nothing to the engine. It had problems stalling going from neutral into forward when only engaging the prop. If you rev'ed it in nuetral it was fine. After reading some I ready that the 2.3 OMC Cobra has a interupt that shuts down 2 pistons to engage the gear. So if it has trouble running at real low rpms it would stall. After running for a bit (about an hour) it was fine. you could put it in nuetral disengage and then go engage again fine.
However we had to wait in line to get it back on the trailer. When it came our time to use the ramp it kept stalling out unless you pumped it way past 1/4 throttle. Finally got it on the trailer all well and good.

Got it home read some on the threads. I just looked at the engine and saw that the air intake (flame arrestor on the carb) was very dirty. I cleaned that out with a wire brush and air. I then pulled about 5 gallons of the gas out of the tank. (reaching the limit of my know how at the moment i stopped further tinkering..)

Took it out again this time I topped it with 92 octane and added some fuel additive for stanilizing and treating ethonol gas. (don't know what helped or not) any ways.. started right up and never stalled the whole time out there..
got good rpms. 5500 at WOT planes quickly turns fluidly.

I think I got a great steal at 950 wit the galv. trailer. Ill get a tune up before next season, change the oils out etc. But I figure I probably only have a few more weekends so ill enjoy it and then work on it in the off season.

I have been trying to find some great photo how to's for upholstering the side cushions and seats but have not found any. Any help there, i can't even see where the upholstered side boards are screwed in? Don't know how they got those boards attached without screwing into the upholstery. I want to do that in the winter.

Also whats good for marine audio - i don't want to pay more than I paid for the boat but i don't want something cheap cheap either.


Love this forum. Love my Bayliner!
Basstrackers, bayliners and a party barge...

 

[werthert]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

That's awesome! Just keep maintaining her and she'll prob run great for years to come. IMO Bayliners are like any other boat, when they're maintained they run great and when they're not they don't. Actually, I'm GLAD they have a bad rep because it keeps the prices low for people like me to afford them. With Bayliners, you can find gems at great prices. Great deal and happy boating!

 

[gandude]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

When I got our boat, the stereo was missing. I bought an el-cheepo head unit at WalMart, it was $69. We bought this as a temporary radio, but it has worked out well and we really like it. It's has the advantage of taking SD-cards w/MP3 music, so you can program your tunes at home for a day of boating on cheap 2GB SD's. It also has USB for a jump drive w/mp3's. I installed the unit with a waterproof marine flip cover so it would'nt get wet. This is the radio link below. Cheap $20 per pair 5.25 and 6.5 completed the install. They were on sale at Kragen.

http://roadmasterusa.com/product.php?p=VRCD400SDU

Good luck,

 

[jkust]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

Need to see a pic.

 

[sph130]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

Here are some pics attached (in two posts)

 

[sph130]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

Two more..
And today the depth sounder will get installed (temporarily to test)
also I am installed a cd player/speaker combo i got. Not too expensive. seemed to be the best pyle package reviewed. I realize its an off brand. Not having high hopes.. but again I don't want to "sink" a whole lot of money into the boat seeing as i got it for under a grand.

Going out on Sunday hopefully with new tunes and some ressemblance of how deep the lake really is that i go in.

 

[sph130]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

Oh and by the way I have gotten all the "slime" off the hull now using and acid wash. That is some nasty stuff but just paint on the gel and rinse off the slime - its that easy. Hull looks beautiful again. Just need to clean and wax/buff the gelcoat blue color to get the haze out.

Sean

 

[azlakes]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

So with all this said what do I need to look out for?

IThis is my first boat ever - I feel like I got a great deal. What do you all think?

Look for leaks thru the bello seals and keep the bearings and shafts greased if applicable. also winterize it proper if in sub freezing temps. sounds like you have made a great find.

congrats...

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

Just a FYI, the winch strap should go below the front roller. Just noticed in your pic it is on the top. Nice boat btw, wished I could find a deal like that around here.

 

[sph130]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

That makes sense Suzuki - i noticed it bounce a little thought something was weird.

I installed the cd player today - it was a cheap pyle but it works and has the sd card, usb etc.. and it came with 4 speakers. I only installed two where the old ones were. I still have to change out the speaker wire and install the last two speakers. Don't know where to put them - you should have seen the deck i took out. It was a tape deck with 2 speakers. Original US Marine. Probably a cool thing to have on your boat in 1988.

Anyways an suggestions on placement of the last 2 speakers. Im gonna have to cut the openening in somewhere - may leave it for a winter project.

Sean

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

Congrats on your boat - looks like you got a heck of a deal. We've been very pleased with our Bayliner.

Since it looks like you might be new to iboats I thought I'd share a tip. Anytime you have a question (radio install, upholstery, etc.) ask it in the appropriate forum and start a new thread for each question. You'll have more luck w/proper responses that way instead of asking a variety of questions in the same thread.

Enjoy the boat!

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Did I make a good purchase? And What should I look for?

interior- to remove the side panels, you have to spread open the "folds" of the vinyl (usually where the colors meet), and you will find phillips screws screwed thru the vinyl and boards. they are hidden by the vinyl afterwards.

radio- i got a splash guard for mine as well. as for the other 2 speakers, i am going to get 2 6x9s and mount them in boxes, then put the boxes under the port and starboard dashboards, so they fire sound out to the stern. they only came with the 2 rears, so theres not really a good spot for it anyways. or, instead of cutting an opening somewhere, if you want to use 6" speakers, you can make a mounting board for them and carpet it, then put that in between the side panels. i had thought about that before the 6x9 idea.