1988 Bayliner Capri

[Garczar]

Hello,

Count me among the many people that have asked the question of "Should I get this boat?" I am looking at a 1988 Bayliner Capri, 21' with the 5.0 OMC I/O 200hp. The deck seems solid, and there are no immediate red flags popping up (at least to me). The seller is waiting on a new starter, and once he has it, he will let me take it out for a bit on the lake.

My main questions are mainly due to the size of the boat. I am on the shallow end of the lake and am concerned with how low this boat sits in the water. How deep do I need to run my dock? Is this boat worth the $4,000 asking price?

I want to use this boat for a bit of everything. Fishing, sport, and just general fun, but I want something that my family can take out without being too worried for their safety.

Thanks for the time,

Garczar

 

[lowkee]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

I think it needs to be one WELL taken care of boat for $4K. The 5.0 is def nice, though. For $4k, you may want to hire a marine serveyor. There are a ton of buying checklists in this forum, search them up and run through them.

In the end, only you can decide whether a boat is worth buying, as only you know what you are willing to do to make a boat seaworthy and reliable.

 

[J. Frank]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

I too am new to boating and looking at a 1988 1950 Bayliner with the same engine for around 4,000.00. The boat has the original interior and has been well taken care of. I am not sure about the OMC, some have told me to stay away from it. Did you end up buying that boat, have you heard similar news about OMC?

 

[wanttofly]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

Bought my 1990 2150 Capri last year. It has the 5.7 in it. I love the boat and the lines of it (see best Capri ever on this forum), not sure of the lines of yours but I plan on keeping my boat for years to come. I paid 6000 for mine, but that was before the bottom totally fell out of the economy.

 

[av8mech]

1988 Bayliner Capri

I OWN a 1988 bayliner 2150 cf capri bowrider and LOVE it! 4000.00 is a good price for this boat. I bought mine for 3000 2 yrs ago but knew at the time it needed work. I have since put many hours on her of trouble free boating. She will kick along at about 43 mph (not knots).

Mine too has the 5.0 (it is 220 hp by the way 87 & earlier was 200). The ONLY maintenance I have had to do to the engine that is not routine is alternator replacement. That may be due to the addition of 3 amps and a total of six speakers. Lots of draw bounce there. I am currently in the process of replacing EVERY piece of wood in the boat, a rot condition I was aware of when I bought it is going away! If your boat has a solid floor, 4000 is a great deal! From experience: Pay paticularly close attention to the "step down" area at the walk through and the potty room floor. Another spot known for rot on this model is the battery bay floor under the aft starboard seat cushion. Also take a peak at the walls of the forward storage compartments. If allowed, poke around with a screwdriver some. IF you find ANY soft spots and I mean any! 3000 tops and no more! It'll cost you about 2000 to replace the floor if needed. Spin the prop, see if it clicks, if so the shift system is out of adjustment, not a big thing but slightly complicated for some.

I believe this about covers all the well known areas that may need attention on this paticular vessel. Also worthy of mention is the fact that this boat is becoming more desirable as it ages. I know mine sure is gettin' nicer!

If there is anything I can do to help please let me know!

 

[redone4x4]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

i have the 5.0 also, and mine says its rated at 230 hp with a 4 barrel carb. i figure mine once the interior is done, will be worth about 3000 to 3500. engine runs great, just needs interior work. and i redid the trailer too. maybe its different by you, but out here 4000 for that year would have to be damn near new to sell.

 

[av8mech]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

i have the 5.0 also, and mine says its rated at 230 hp with a 4 barrel carb. i figure mine once the interior is done, will be worth about 3000 to 3500. engine runs great, just needs interior work. and i redid the trailer too. maybe its different by you, but out here 4000 for that year would have to be damn near new to sell.

Actually here (Oklahoma) used bowriders presented for sale are usually snatched up VERY quickly! So I'm guessing the market is probably better here. They call this area "green country" we are surrounded by several large lakes.

Just thought...der...why not look in the shop manual? (have it on PDF if n e one needs! It states 230 HP for BOTH 87 AND 88 5.0 models!

Apologies for erronious info!

 

[redone4x4]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

Actually here (Oklahoma) used bowriders presented for sale are usually snatched up VERY quickly! So I'm guessing the market is probably better here. They call this area "green country" we are surrounded by several large lakes.

Just thought...der...why not look in the shop manual? (have it on PDF if n e one needs! It states 230 HP for BOTH 87 AND 88 5.0 models!

Apologies for erronious info!

I'd like to take you up on the shop manual that you have.....I have a Seloc now, is it anything like that?

 

[av8mech]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

Never seen a Seloc so I can't say. It is formatted similar to a chiltons manual. It does get very detailed though. It is 44.4 MB. It does not have the cover page nor the Revision page. No idea who's manual it is. Any thoughts on how I can get it to you?

It is titled "OMC Sterndrive 1986 to 1992". It is 615 pages....Here is the table of contents:

CONTENTS
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL 1-2
BOATING SAFETY 1-4
SAFETY IN SERVICE 1-11
TROUBLESHOOTING 1-11
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT 1-15
TOOLS 1-17
FASTENERS, MEASUREMENTS AND CONVERSIONS 1-24
SPECIFICATIONS 1-25
ENGINE AND DRIVE MAINTENANCE
FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS
LUBRICATION POINTS
BOAT MAINTENANCE
WINTER STORAGE
FIRING ORDERS
SPRING COMMISSIONING
SPEClFlCATlONS
ENGINE MECHANICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE MECHANICAL
EXPLODED VIEWS
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE MECHANICAL
EXPLODED VIEWS
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE MECHANICAL
EXPLODED VIEWS
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE RECONDITIONING 7-2
FUEL AND COMBUSTION
CARBURETEDFUELSYSTEM
ROCHESTER 2 BBL
ROCHESTER 4 BBL
HOLLEY 2300 2 BBL
HOLLEY 41501416014175 4 BBL
WIRING DIAGRAMS
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
FUEL AND COMBUSTION
FORD ELECTRONIC MULTI-POINT
FUEL INJECTION (MFI)
SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS
(TBI)
GM MULTI-POINT FUEL INJECTION
(MFI)
SPEClFlCATlONS
WIRING SCHEMATICS
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE
(DTC) CHARTS
FUEL FLOW DIAGRAMS
COMPONENT LOCATIONS
UNDERSTANDING AND TROUBLESHOOTING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
STARTER CIRCUIT
IGNITION SYSTEM
BREAKER POINT
IGNITION SYSTEM
ELECTRONIC SPARK TIMING
(EST) SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION
(Dl) SYSTEM
PRESTOLITE INTEGRAL BREAKERLESS
INDUCTIVE DISTRIBUTOR (BID) SYSTEM
SPITFIREIELECTRONIC ENGINE
MANAGEMENT (EMM) SYSTEM
FORD THICK FILM INTEGRATED
IGNITION SYSTEM (TFI-IV)
INSTRUMENTS AND GAUGES
SENDING UNITS AND SWITCHES
WIRING DIAGRAMS
SPECIFICATIONS
COOLING SYSTEM
MAINTENANCE AND TESTING
FLOW DIAGRAMS
STERN DRIVE UNIT - COBRA, KlNG
COBRA, SP, SX, SX COBRA, DP AND
DP DUOPROP MODELS
UPPER GEAR HOUSING
LOWER GEAR HOUSING
(LOWER UNIT)
TRANSOM ASSEMBLY
SPECIFICATIONS
SELECT (POWER) TRIM AND TlLT - 1986-88
COBRA AND KlNG COBRA
POWER TRIM AND TlLT - 1989-98 COBRA,
KlNG COBRA, SP(SX) AND DP
WIRING SCHEMATICS
MANUAL STEERING SYSTEM
POWER STEERING SYSTEM

 

[lowkee]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

http://www.filedropper.com/

You can upload it there (or someplace like there) and just link to it here. If it's a manual not already linked here, you may be making a LOT of peoples' day by uploading that manual,. as if I recall, there aren't many OMC manuals online.

 

[av8mech]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

Here ya go....

OMC Stern Drive 1986 to 1992.pdf

 

[jimmyd6]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

hey can i get that pdf of the manual?

Thanks!

Here ya go....

OMC Stern Drive 1986 to 1992.pdf

 

[NavyETCS]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

Actually here (Oklahoma) used bowriders presented for sale are usually snatched up VERY quickly! So I'm guessing the market is probably better here. They call this area "green country" we are surrounded by several large lakes.

Just thought...der...why not look in the shop manual? (have it on PDF if n e one needs! It states 230 HP for BOTH 87 AND 88 5.0 models!

Apologies for erronious info!

I just bought an 86 2150 Capri Bowrider with the 5.0 Volvo Penta 270 stern drive. Buying it, I knew I would have to replace the flooring. The stringers have rot, the flooring has definite soft spots, but for the price, I could not pass it up, especially here in the Jacksonville area.

I would really like a copy of that shop manual, since the boat I got had no operator manual. I need to replace the sump pump (or at least make sure the switch works, and need to do some serious flooring work.

We took it out on the St Marys River today, and got a little out toward the ocean. When we got the boat trailered, it had a LOT of water that cme out of the drain, even though the aft bilge pockets were dry. The center forward bilge pocket has water in it. I think the drain lines are clogged., so that will have to be fixed.

I do have a question: I maxed her out at only 4000RPM (about 40mph with 2 adults, 3 kids, an 80 pound dog and a cooler of food and sodas). Does that sound right? Other than that, the boat ran great, the engine was strong, and smooth, and we cruised for about 4 hours averaging 3000RPM and used only 1/2 a tank of gas.

 

[mrslyle]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri

Actually here (Oklahoma) used bowriders presented for sale are usually snatched up VERY quickly! So I'm guessing the market is probably better here. They call this area "green country" we are surrounded by several large lakes.

Just thought...der...why not look in the shop manual? (have it on PDF if n e one needs! It states 230 HP for BOTH 87 AND 88 5.0 models!

Apologies for erronious info!

Do you still have the PDF for the 88 5.0 model?