1985 Bayliner 2750 Ciera Sunbridge Resto

[eggs712]

Been a while since I posted on this site, but I've been happily boating and fishing in the meantime. I've always wanted a trailerable weekender/cabin cruiser, and have been looking at local ads for one for years now. I found this boat from a friend working on the sellers' place who just wanted it gone. The other project boats in this category near me all lack trailers with much too high asking prices. I have this boat bought, I just have to replace all the tires and check out the hubs, bearings, electric brakes, and lights to even haul her home.

 

[eggs712]

She is rough, but has been stored in a covered slip on Canyon Lake for all her life. Once the original owner passed away, his son took the boat home for repairs where she has sat for 5 years. Thankfully, the boat has been stored bow up on a hill with the drain plug out. The wood seems good upon my initial inspection, but I won't know for sure until I start drilling test holes. The only hull damage I've found after crawling under the whole thing is some beach rash on the keel and some dock rash that wasn't repaired well. Zero spider-cracking anywhere.

A couple of questions: I believe the missing cabin windows were initially plexiglass/acrylic, should I stick with acrylic or think about polycarbonate or another material as a replacement?

Second, in the picture of my dash, you cam faintly see a red printed outline of a boat with what look to once have been lights. I can't find any info on this even after contacting Bayliner customer support and scouring the internet. Any idea on what the dash originally looked like?

 

[briangcc]

Back in the day, Bayliner (along with other manufacturers) put a printed navigation aid on the dash/side of the boat for your reference. That's what you're looking at - how to navigate buoys and so forth.

Your call if you want to replace or repurpose that area for other electronics.

 

[Wildey]

a similar (partial) example ....

 

[eggs712]

Ah, thank yall very much for that info! I'll repurpose that space for my electronics then. Cabela's had a killer sale on fish finders for Father's Day and I had the club points built up, so I have a Garmin Echomap 94sv that will likely sit for a couple of years in the box

 

[Mad Props]

I think this is my goal a few years down the road... I'm gonna get my time out of my resto... But after going to some of the local lakes and deeper waters, I've really been getting an itch to find a bigger boat like this... Something my wife and two kids could spend a weekend on and trailer to and from...

Really curious to see how this one pans out.

 

[Wildey]

Really curious to see how this one pans out.

I'll be popping some corn as well, be sure to keep posting your progress !
Thanks

 

[eggs712]

I'm glad to have a few followers already, yall will have to nag me if I ever go too long without posting, lol.

Progress will be admittedly slow for now, as I work out of town, but the only way I can splurge on my hobbies is with out of town wages.

Anyway, I've been researching like crazy, and am wondering if anyone has tried to fabricate their own cabin hatch that looks nice. I've found one example so far:

It isn't exactly refined, but I like the concept. Anyone else ever try something like this or have ideas of their own?

I'll get a full day next Friday to work on the boat, and I'll at least temporarily seal off all the broken windows and the cabin hatch. The focus will be on the trailer, but sealing off further weather damage seems productive/proactive.

 

[Thirsty Endgrain]

Just installed a 94sv myself, it's a very nice unit! Following along...

 

[eggs712]

I've visited the boat only a couple of times since my first post but I've made minor progress. The side of the trailer with wheels that blew out from rot is up on jack stands for now. I had hoped to replace all the tires in one day, but I discovered an enormous(20" long) chunk of an old tire wedged between the axle and the brake drum; I had to drop the axle and leaf spring to get it out. New tires should be installed in a couple of weekends or so.

Also, there's a soft spot in the cabin floor in front of the head. From my research, Bayliner made the shower only drainable via a sump pump, so I'm certain that whole area is very rotten.

 

[eggs712]

For documentation purposes on this exact boat (and porn for the rest of yall), I took a lot more pics. If anyone ever needs a pic of a tape measure held to any parts on this boat, feel free to PM me.

Starboard side:
















(Starboard cabin):



Head:







For fu, here's some head-scratching mods by the PO:

 

[kcassells]

Total project boat total gut. This is how it all begins if you are up to it.

 

[eggs712]

Total project boat total gut. This is how it all begins if you are up to it.

Yup, this is my second full resto, just bigger this time. I only paid for the value of the trailer in case I decide to use this boat for parts.

 

[Drivewayboater2]

I’m following along. Looks like you have your work cut out for you. I’ve got a1990 2652 that is in year 4 of resto. Told the admiral it would be 3 yearsCovid slowed the process greatly. Seems like every step was another oh boy gotta fix this. I love the layout of the boat. Good luck.

 

[eggs712]

I’m following along. Looks like you have your work cut out for you. I’ve got a1990 2652 that is in year 4 of resto. Told the admiral it would be 3 yearsCovid slowed the process greatly. Seems like every step was another oh boy gotta fix this. I love the layout of the boat. Good luck.

I'd love to see a thread of your boat if you've taken any pics along the way!

I like the layout too; having an aft cabin is also a great feature too. I plan on leaving the back open for fishing. Hopefully in a few years I'll be able to safely fish a few miles offshore.

 

[eggs712]

I went home this weekend solely to work on the boat. I put all new tires on the trailer, got the trailers lights working, and added some clearance markers as well (forgot to snap a pic of those).


Next, I replaced this broken plexiglass piece for the cabin door:

I replaced with it HDPE, but I'm not sure how long it'll last. It also doesn't look great, but it'll help keep out critters for now.


Due to the heat, I also found out that my bimini is in decent shape, although missing the clear vinyl drop-down pieces for a full enclosure.


Lastly, I made a 30A extension cord to see what worked with shore power, and I was pleasantly surprised that the refrigerator, despite sitting for years, still works. The hot water heater caused my generator to rev-up when I hit its breaker switch, but no way to know if it actually works. I can't test any DC power until I buy a new starting battery, and much later house batteries.

The only issue to resolve before towing her home is making sure the electric trailer brakes work! I drive a half-ton truck, so I'm a bit timid about driving very far with this much weight.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Yeah, a half ton truck may be a little light. That boat is gonna be really heavy. Hopefully it’s mostly flat where you need to tow her. I hope you keep posting, I really like seeing the resto’s on these cabin cruiser boats. I would love to take on that challenge if I ever get to a point I’m consistently on bigger water. Following along…..

 

[eggs712]

This is a little forward for my project, but how well does aluminum hold as dash material in a saltwater environment?

I can get some free 10" × 1/8" anodized aluminum pieces (drops) from work next week and may use that. Also, does paint stick well to anodized?

 

[eggs712]

I'll go on with the anodized aluminum for replacing at least the rectangular, screwed on plastic dash pieces. From what I've read, the proper prep for painting anodized is to clean with dish soap, follow with an etching primer, then paint. If anyone has experience with this to help me prevent a mistake, it will be greatly appreciated.

Next, due to the crazy costs of a good deck hatch, I plan on fabricating my fore-detch window/emergency hatch replacement myself. I will use aluminum for the base, and 1/4" laminated, tinted safety glass (~$100 from a website I found) instead of the factory plexiglass. I plan on getting precise measurements when I'm home next weekend so that I can make this part in the hotel parking lot, lol.

Finally, my little truck managed to get the boat home last weekend. I took it slow, but my truck did just fine. However, I definitely felt this big girl behind me, especially driving through the Texas hill country, and need to think about buying a diesel truck in a few years when I'm done with the restoration.

 

[Mad Props]

yea, your on the right track with painting aluminum... I don't know if dish soap really does much other than get rid of any grease or oil, but I usually just use acetone for that..

The key is the primer... self etching primer is decent, but for the most durability and adhesion, you want to use a zinc chromate primer... not the easiest thing to find but amazon has it and I think napa also sells it in a rattle can...