Re: Thinking about a 25-30' Cabin cruiser Bayliner Victoria? Wellcraft 230? ETC.
when I began looking for a boat back around 1996, quite a few people told me stay away from Bayliners. l found out not one of those people ever owned or been on a Bayliner.
I saw quite a few Welcrafts, but did not care much for the style or cabin layouts. Looked at a ton of SeaRays, way too expensive and compared to the Bayliners poorl;y appointed as well as less quality.
I actually saw an abused 1988 25' President, super rare and absolutely the finest looking and appointed boat ever, but at 8,000 for a handyman I had to pass.
Eventually I went to look at a 25' Ciera and loved everything about it......except the price at $7500 HOWEVER the same marina had a 1980 25' Bayliner Saratoga. I was not a sunbridge model so no aft cabin but it slept 2 adults and 2 kids inside and 3 adults under the camper canvas top. Unlike a few other posters here who said their 350 powered boats were a bit underpowered, this one only has a 305 Volvo (Chevy) that was never short on power.
A friend had a 25' 1981 SeaRay with a 350 MercCruiser in it that was IDENTICAL in outside appearance to my Saratoga. 2 major differences. His broke down all the time mine never ever had a problem. His cabin had a single burner range top, mine has dual burners and the layout was far better than his and the sink was also bigger. The major way my boat excelled comared to his is the searay did not come close in base appointmenst. I had hidden storage for 2 fishing rods, a live well, rod holders for trolling, easier access and clearance to the engine, storage drawers under both the captains chair and passenger seat that also reclined to be either a bed or place to tan. The passenger seat also had a very large storage space above the drawer. In front of the passenger seat on the seat pedestal is a hatch to a large storage compartment. Under that hatch is another hatch in the floor witha huge amount of additional storage. The captains seat area is similar but has an additional storage drawer.
I can go on and on about this boat, but I will just say it was such a great boat that I bought a 1983 27' Victoria SunBridge, then a 88 24' Ciera and the last boat is a 1988
25' Ciera. Each has different features to suit my mood and are kept in different places I like to boat. I did NOT sell any and love them all. you can have the welcrafts or Searays that are way over rated, or other boats. Give me a Bayliner anyday!
I use my boats a lot and go on long trips as well as spending weekends aboard . I boat from March or April til December.
FWIW I am a certifed Auto Mechanic, owed a fiberglass manufacturing business and my shop also specialized in repairing and restoring Corvettes, building custom Corvettes and manufacturing replacement match die moulded fiberglas parts, so I have more than a basic knowledge of fiberglas and engines. In addition I have been a Marine Surveyor for over 10 years now.
Ever since I bought the first 25' I have met many unqualified people who have put down Bayliners. Their opinion was based on what other unqualified people told them. I have won most over after bringing tham onboard my boats to see 1st hand the differences between my boats and the ones they 'THOUGHT' were better.
All boats have some flaws and the older ones from the 60's and 70's have more than those built in the 80's and 90's, but compared to the others Bayliner is hands down a better boat.
I hope any potential boat buyer compares all the boats they look at with an open mind and see for themselves whatever brand suits their needs best.
