Bayliner 192 owners. Opinion needed.

[kenny7964]

Hi guys, looking for some advice on a Bayliner 192. I currently own a 1996 Wellcraft 21 excel cuddly fitted with a Volvo Penta 4.3. I have had this for 11 years now and the boat is great but it is getting on a bit so I have been looking for something a bit newer.

I live in Scotland and there are not many boats to choose from but I have found 2 Bayliner 192s for sale, both are 2008. they are both the same age and condition and they both have every thing I am looking for in a boat. The only concern I have is both are fitted with the 3ltr mercruiser. Whilst this is reported to be a great engine every one I have spoken to say don't do it. You will not be able to live with the drop in power.

I have searched the internet and read many stories. Every one written by current 3ltr owner says they are great engines loads of power and very good on gas. However there are as many that say this boat is to big for this small an engine and it will be under powered. I am not a speed freak but we do ski and pull inflatables at times but mostly
Has anyone here come from a 4.3 engine to a 3ltr in this boat? Did you regret the drop in power. Also how good are Bayliner 192 to live with.

 

[roscoe]

Well, you Wellcraft has approximately 180 hp.
The 192 has 135 hp., weighs about 400 pounds less (2500# dry weight).

The same size Bayliner fish and ski style boat comes with 190 hp or 220 hp.

I have not had a 192, but use to boat with a 20' and dropped down to an 18.
I have had similar experience with with going to a lower hp boat.

I would not recommend a boat of that size and weight with a 3 liter.

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard Kenny - what part of Scotland are you in? I married into a decidedly Scottish family

I have the 1950 Capri Classic - '02 vintage. It weighs in about 2000# dry. I've got the 3.0 in it and it really does run like a champ. 5 people on board (no one too heavy, but all adults) and running WOT it'll beat 40MPH by the GPS. We cruise at around 30MPH pretty comfortably.

I regularly pull a skier, kneeboard and tube with at least 3 on board (again all adults).

I would think that adding the extra 500# to the boat weight - and I would wonder about the dynamics of having so much of it up front with the cuddy - that it would slug the boat up some. That extra weight would be like me taking a second crew on board.

 

[kenny7964]

Hi guys, thank you for your response.

Southkogs,

I have been a member here for some time now but I have not been very active. I have been lucky that I haven't had any real issues with the boat.

I live just outside Edinburgh. Which is not the best place for boating. I have a a long tow to the best waters. Loch Lomond is our usual boating water but we have been exploring the west coast of Scotland which is just stunning.

Your performance figures look quite reasonable for the type of boating we are now doing. What sort of mpg are you getting? The 4.3 Volvo is giving me about 4 mpg.

Kenny

 

[jkust]

Doesn't sound like you really have any options. As it turns out, the 4.3 you will notice on boat test .com yields as good or better fuel efficiency as a 3.0 in some applications as it works a lot less to push the boat. If I had a choice with bountiful boats where the 4.3 really is not much more than a similar used boat with a 3.0, sure I'd go bigger. The 3.0 makes a distinctive sound and you can pick them out easily as they go by. There's plenty of them on our lake and the people are all still smiling.

 

[southkogs]

I have been a member here for some time now but I have not been very active.

Yikes! I'm a dolt ... I should've seen that. Sorry. :facepalm:

I live just outside Edinburgh. Which is not the best place for boating. I have a a long tow to the best waters. Loch Lomond is our usual boating water but we have been exploring the west coast of Scotland which is just stunning.

I know she's got some family in the general area of Edinburgh. We've not made it over, but it's on the bucket list. Her dad has been there and the family is still connected to the contingent over here, so at some point we'll get there I'm sure.

Your performance figures look quite reasonable for the type of boating we are now doing. What sort of mpg are you getting? The 4.3 Volvo is giving me about 4 mpg.

I'm going to hazard a 4GPH general guess. I'd have to track it though. We trailer to a lake that is very close by and typically only go out for a few hours at a time. We rarely burn more than a half tank of gas in a single trip. I certainly don't find it to be a heavy drinker.

The 3.0 makes a distinctive sound ...

You ain't kiddin'. I still laugh at the sound difference between the 3.0 and my old OMC. This one sounds like a helicopter engine.

 

[Scott06]

I had a 17 ft bowrider (2200lbs dry) with a 3.0 for 21 years( was 5 yrs old when I got it). Reliability, fuel economy, and maintenance expense on a 3.0 are hard to beat, from that aspect I loved it. Engine is bullet proof, because if you load the boat down or do tube, skiing, or wakeboarding it will be pullling 4000-5000 rpm. I'd take my kids and their friends tubing and be WOT or close to it for an hour straight every day.

So it really depends on your intended usage. If you want to go for a ride, a 3.0 will be perfectly fine, if watersports are your thing it will be adequate but uninspiring. Either way it will be reliable and inexpensive to run, especially if you can turn a wrench.

Personally I'd go for a bigger engine in a boat that size because of how I use my boat- 6-8 people and towing a skier.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Hello Sir. My former wifes Grand Parents were from Edinburgh on the one side and the paternal grand parents were fro Troon and I was blessed to visit some years back and was also blessed to be invited to play Royal Troon where the Open was held many times. The Grand Pa caddied there in the early 1900's. a penny a round he told me. What beautiful countryside, just stunning. I have no experience with I/O's however I can unequivocally say that as my hair got greyer the need for speed and power got less and less. I am an outboard guy and again the older the kids around here got the less and less I pulled people on a rope. Not many tubers even today with gas prices around $1.15 or more a litre. Now maybe as the smaller ones get old enough and I am still able towing will happen again hopefully. I drove a 67' Stingray as a 20 something with well over 350HP, as I aged and realized there wasn't anywhere to use that horsepower on the Vette legally and safely and those high HP cars were eventually replaced with luxury and comfort for me. You I am sure will find the same thing happen as the family gets older as well do you. I am sure based on the responses the 3 lt will be just fine. There was a time in the later 80's and early 90's Bayliners took a quality plunge but have come back very strong.

I am sure you will make the right decision but it seems there isn't much to choose from. I have always been amazed by the lack of smaller pleasure craft available in the UK which is surrounded by water. I know I haven't been much help but wanted to speak to someone from Scotland. It is amazing from someone like I that didn't grow up with instantaneous world wide communications. I remember the days when we were glued to the phone waiting for the over seas operator to connect my Dad's call to my Nani in Italy.

Good boating Laddie. Man do I ever miss Nana's Scottish steak (ground beef) and kidney pies.

 

[kenny7964]

Thanks guys, as much as will miss her my poor old boat is just getting on a bit and looking it's age. If I keep her I need to get the seat covers replaced, the carpets replaced and the gel coat resealed. I have been offered more than half what I paid for it 11 years ago so I think I will be going for it.
I run with a 19" prop and can push 46 mph on the gps or 50 with a 21" prop on but it is mostly only my wife and I touring new waters so 40ish mpg is more than enough.

Southkogs, if you make it over send me a PM and I'll take you for a splash.

Cheers guys.

 

[QBhoy]

Hey Kenny
Good to see another Loch Lomond user on here.
My friend ran a 192 for many years (almost from when they were new). Prosser brought a few in when new.
His had the 4.3 in it and seemed to be ideally suited to it. I would have thought the 3.0, although adequate, would be slightly coarse in that boat.
One thing to watch for though....
If it is indeed one of the batch that came into the country, it is likely to have the big square hood or camping canopy on it. Looks take a bit of getting used to, but very functional once inside it....anyway, the point is...his used to be a bugger for catching a side wind and listing the boat something awful. The trim tabs had to be used pretty much every time the boat was used with the hood up.
Make sure it has trim tabs and in my opinion, the 4.3 is a much nicer engine and doesn't hurt the ears the way the wee 4 cylinder screaming 3.0 does....especially with the hood/canopy up (which it will be in Scotland). You may find the noise of the 3.0 means any type of communication with fellow crew members is a non starter...after all, it's all about the enjoyable experience !
With regards to fuel economy, I'd imagine the 4.3 will be comparable to the 3.0 at cruising speed, if not better, given the obvious lesser rpms and load required to achieve it.
Perhaps I'll look out for you on the Loch. I'm guessing it will be blue and white, as most seem to be here ?
Allan

 

[fishin98]

A lot of good info given here...To help you make a more informed decision.Try looking into the Baylinerownersclub.com. Chances are that you will receive more informed opinions from actual 192 owners. They club has many members from the UK!

 

[southkogs]

Southkogs, if you make it over send me a PM and I'll take you for a splash.

Count on it!

Would love the local perspective on the area anyway.