Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

[agallant80]

Re: Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

I picked up my 2013 bayluner 255cs thus weekend. Thanks for all of the input.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

I just bought a stingray but am totally new to boating.

However, the consensus on the stingray owners forum is that for new cabin cruisers the bayliner 245 is a much better buy. Newer style, better layout, much better value. Some are even suggesting it bests the sea ray in the same size in fit and finish.

????? I read the Stingray forum every day and have yet to ever read that.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

I picked up my 2013 bayluner 255cs thus weekend. Thanks for all of the input.

Congratulations on the boat!

 

[180shabah]

Re: Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

Congrats on the new boat!!!!

When is splash day??

 

[S8861]

Re: Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

????? I read the Stingray forum every day and have yet to ever read that.

http://www.stingrayboats.com/owners...ber=344339&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

Since you have access.


Ok, so concensus is a bit strong, but several mentions of the bayliner being a tough one to beat on a forum membership that has reasons to like stingray vs. bayliner. My opinion is that stingray owners are smart buyers that know a decent value, regardless of the nameplate.

Congratulations OP on the new boat.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

http://www.stingrayboats.com/owners...ber=344339&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

Since you have access.


Ok, so concensus is a bit strong, but several mentions of the bayliner being a tough one to beat on a forum membership that has reasons to like stingray vs. bayliner. My opinion is that stingray owners are smart buyers that know a decent value, regardless of the nameplate.

Congratulations OP on the new boat.

I agree they are currently tough to beat. My buddy was in the market for a 23 foot open bow deck boat and looked at the new Stingrays but ended up in a Bayliner 235. Its a sweet boat. Feels solid and is laid out nicely. They used it pretty much every weekend till the kids started school, then every other weekend.

He was kind of concerned about reputation and I reminded him we have a buddy with a Malibu and it spends no time on the water, and any well maintained and cared for boat on the water is better than a higher reputation boat that does not get used anyday!

 

[agallant80]

Re: Bayliner 255 or Stingray 250CS

Here are my thoughts now that I have looked at both and have owned both.

Stingray: Great boat, fit and finish is as nice as you are going to get in the price range. Fast and good on fuel. Does not like any chop, I got knocked around quite a bit when a wake came by or the lake got rough and this was a 21 foot boat. Never had an issue with it. owners site is great since not only owners but stingray staff are on the site. Great support, you can order parts through the site (fill out the order form bring it to the dealer). It is a great idea because the dealer can't jack up the prices on parts

Bayliner: Can't really say much here because I have owend the boat for 1.5 days. Looking at the 250CR(stingray) and the 255CS(bayliner) The bayliner has way more features and has a better layout of the cockipt and cabin. I do notice that the matierals used are not quite as nice as the stingray. I see alot more marine plywood down below than I would like. I think the bayliner looks pritter but the trade off is some of the build quality has suffered. The boat its self is solid and is about 2000Lbs more than the stingray.

All and all I think the stingray was a lake boat that they threw a cabin on and the bayliner was a bay/intercoastal pocket cruiser. The stingray cabin cruiser seamed like an after thought with the idea of how can we build this thing with what we already have.

Just my $.02