1986 Bayliner Capri 2150 Bowrider - Rear Seating

[DWhitefield]

Hey all,

First, I appreciate you taking time to look at this post.

I've purchased a 1985 Bayliner Capri 2150 Bowrider a few weeks back. I was unable to get it to match any photos of a 1985 I've seen online, and have assumed that it's a 1986 model Bayliner, but the hull was built in 1985. Making it an '85.

A good portion of the floor needs to be replaced and half of the rear bench seating as well. My issue comes where I do not have any of the existing backrest for the rear "bench" seating. I was hoping to find someone who has the same or similar model that I would be able to get some photos and rough dimensions from to recreate it?

I'm open to other suggestions as well, thanks!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Welcome to iboats! Given that you have an '85 Bayliner with a floor that needs replacing, I'm going to be the first to hazard a guess that this boat will need a lot more than a floor and bench seat repair. Bayliners of that vintage were notorious for poor construction and a search of the Restoration forum will reveal many Bayliner projects that started small and quickly turned into a full gut-and-restore, so brace yourself...

Fabbing up a rear seat rest should not be too hard; they often are simply a piece of plywood with foam and vinyl over them. I fear the seat rest will be the least of your worries. But you have come to right place; this is the best site on the internet to help get your boat up and running.

 

[chevymaher]

He is right this is the site to getting a boat fixed. Pictures of what you got would help.

 

[DWhitefield]

He is right this is the site to getting a boat fixed. Pictures of what you got would help.

Thanks for the replys all! Transom and stringers all look good, if those were bad I probably would have scrapped the project. Heres a photo of the rear, there was obviously some water that sat here and rotted the seat but the important stuff all looks good. Agreed this is a small thing but thought I’d get the post out there before I’m in dire need to get the backrest built.

 

[AShipShow]

What does "looks good" mean? How did you test the transom and stringers for rot? The only way to do that is to drill test holes and test the wood (in your case, most likely mush) that comes out...

Theres no such thing as an 85 bayliner that isn't rotten unless its already been completely redone in the last 10 years.

 

[Scott Danforth]

You have a mid 80s bayliner. There isnt a chance at all your transom and stringers are OK. They rotted about a decade before the floor started getting soft

 

[todhunter]

You can clearly see in the picture posted that the bulkhead and stingers are already rotten. You're in the denial phase...and that's ok...I think all of us who are restoring boats on this site have been there.

 

[Reserector_]

I've purchased a 1985 Bayliner Capri 2150 Bowrider a few weeks back. I was unable to get it to match any photos of a 1985 I've seen online, and have assumed that it's a 1986 model Bayliner, but the hull was built in 1985. Making it an '85.

Many companies set their MODEL YEAR change for July of the year. So, for example, if yours was built in July or later during 1985 it was an '86 model.
That may or may not explain why yours looks like the '86 model.

 

[Chris51280]

You can clearly see in the picture posted that the bulkhead and stingers are already rotten. You're in the denial phase...and that's ok...I think all of us who are restoring boats on this site have been there.
View attachment 343051

lol.
if you can punch a screw driver through its clearly gone. the fiberglass is just holding this together with no structural integrity.
well, in technical terms its still a solid. considering the other forms of liquid and gas forms.

 

[chevymaher]

You can clearly see in the picture posted that the bulkhead and stingers are already rotten. You're in the denial phase...and that's ok...I think all of us who are restoring boats on this site have been there.
View attachment 343051

LOL aw come on. Remember they told me to look. I said if I find any it is all coming out. Next day I was a gutting fool. No denial just a oh that sux.

 

[Timr71]

pass the popcorn. I hope you guys didn't scare him away.

 

[Reserector_]

pass the popcorn. I hope you guys didn't scare him away.

Naw! We're like a support group.
"HI, DWhitefield!! Welcome to the group. Tell us how you felt when you first realized that your stringers were the consistency of porridge. Remember...you're not alone. We're all at different stages of this."

 

[GSPLures]

Naw! We're like a support group.
"HI, DWhitefield!! Welcome to the group. Tell us how you felt when you first realized that your stringers were the consistency of porridge. Remember...you're not alone. We're all at different stages of this."

View attachment 343105

^^^^ what he said, I had many sleepless nights over my 73 sea ray. I just walked across my deck for the first time the other day then pulled up a lawn chair cracked a cold one and made boat noises!

 

[AShipShow]

"My name is (everyone on this forum).... and I have a problem..."

 

[TankerDan]

Naw! We're like a support group.
"HI, DWhitefield!! Welcome to the group. Tell us how you felt when you first realized that your stringers were the consistency of porridge. Remember...you're not alone. We're all at different stages of this."

View attachment 343105

Fortunately I had read the forums before my floor got soft. But still had a holy excrement moment when I drilled into wet wood

 

[Scott Danforth]

Step 1 is denial
Step 2 is pondering
Step 3 is acceptance

 

[JASinIL2006]

Step 4 is Itching

 

[Scott Danforth]

Step 4 is Itching

they sell medicated powder for that......... LOL

 

[DWhitefield]

pass the popcorn. I hope you guys didn't scare him away.

Haha, nah just got busy, trying to spend time formulating my plan for the boat. Can't believe I got so many responses from you guys from one picture. Someone else has previously tried to repair the floor, not sure if they did anything to the stringers. They look stock to me. It was curious that there was no foam in the boat. From other restorations posts/videos, it seems guys get the floor off and will find a bunch of soaked foam that causes water to sit against the stringers and rot them out. I see no evidence of foam in mine? I've banged on all the stringers, the transom, the bottom of the boat, not hearing/feeling any mush underneath the fiberglass. Also was able to look inside the transom hole/cut (I don't know what you would call this) and not seeing any separation of the plywood.

 

[GSPLures]

Haha, nah just got busy, trying to spend time formulating my plan for the boat. Can't believe I got so many responses from you guys from one picture. Someone else has previously tried to repair the floor, not sure if they did anything to the stringers. They look stock to me. It was curious that there was no foam in the boat. From other restorations posts/videos, it seems guys get the floor off and will find a bunch of soaked foam that causes water to sit against the stringers and rot them out. I see no evidence of foam in mine? I've banged on all the stringers, the transom, the bottom of the boat, not hearing/feeling any mush underneath the fiberglass. Also was able to look inside the transom hole/cut (I don't know what you would call this) and not seeing any separation of the plywood.

Only way to tell for sure is a core sample. 1/4 drill bit dont go all the way through, drill along the bottom of the stringers and transom. Inspect the shavings and if it looks like dry wood fill holes with PB. If it is wet or complete mush fire up the saws and replace.

The one picture which was pointed out is showing rot in the stringer and bulkhead.