Re: Should I buy this Bayliner Capri Cuddy...
I've got a newer version of the same boat (1993). I just picked it up last fall, and I've only got a couple of trips on it, so my experience so far is limited. I wanted a cuddy mainly for the ability to carry a porta-potty. There's not a ton of room, but we do have enough for the potty. I've always had a bit of a "personal endurance" issue, and I like not having to run to shore for certain activities. Our cuddy seems pretty reasonable if we keep the hatch cracked so there's some airflow. The cuddy will interfere with fishing toward the front of the boat, and it complicates docking and anchoring a bit. I do think that I might go for a bow-rider if I wanted to carry more than four or five people.
The new deck could either be good or bad, depending on whether the previous owner did a thorough restoration of all the rotted wood, or just covered up a problem. One of the big problems with these older Bayliners (and older boats in general) is wood rot caused by moisture, particularly in moist climates. The Bayliners in the 80s and at least early 90s didn't do a great job of sealing the undersides of the decks, and they do tend to accumulate water below the deck and rot out (in fairness, most of the typical boats of the era aren't that much better). This can spread to the transom, bulkheads, stringers, etc. You can find a lot of information in the restoration forum on this topic. I would check all the exposed wood that you can find for evidence of wetness or rot, particularly around the engine compartment, engine mounts, floor lockers and the back end of the gas tank. Also check the transom for cracking or any evidence of distortion. You may be able to thump on things to see if it sounds solid as well. Most people will tell you to get the boat surveyed. I'd heartily agree, IF you have a surveyor available in your area. For our area, I would have needed to bring one in from about 600 miles away, and I went ahead and took a chance.
Also, cracked blocks can be a big issue in the northern area. Look carefully for significant water in the oil, evidence of cracks in the block, etc. Also, check the various fluids (trim reservoir, outdrive lube, etc) to the extent possible. I personally prefer to see lightly used oil in the engine rather than new, so I know the new oil is not hiding a problem. I would definitely recommend that you insist on a reasonable sea trial before you buy. I'd put at least a half hour to an hour on the water just to check things out. I would re-check the oil for signs of water afterwards (after things have cooled down).
As to the characterization of the boat as "underpowered", I'd respectfully beg to differ. It really depends on what you're planning to do with it. I've got the 3.0 Mercruiser on mine, which is comparable. With four adults, it gets up on plane almost immediately (maybe 5 seconds or so), and I'm hitting around 40 mph at an altitude of 6000 feet. You won't be doing any competition water skiing with it, but it will pull a single skier or a tube just fine. I would have liked a larger engine (I'm like most people that way), but I do like the economy of the smaller four cylinder.
Overall, the Bayliner is a consumer grade boat. I think for a family that's going to use it on lakes and rivers, the quality is acceptable, particularly at the price. That's my opinion, and OH BOY will you find some others on this forum.
Good luck and good boat hunting.
Carl
