1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

[maxum247]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

These are some pictures of my Maxum 20 footer which I beleive is made by Bayliner. I had that same seating setup. My boat has a wooden transom only in the center part of the stern, either side of the transom is 1/4" fiberglass only. I beleive the seat boxes serve a few purposes, one being to stiffin the transom to keep twisting and flexing of the transom from occuring while under power. One seat serves as a cooler and the other seat serves as a battery box. I removed my seats as they were rotten and discovered that the plywood in the transom was only in the middle section of the transom and there was no wood on either side, the boxes were glassed to the sides of the hull and transom with about a 1/4" thickness of fiberglass and was a lot of work to grind and chesiel out. The construction of the seats in my boat were built simple but are not the easiest to refiberglass back into place if going with the original layout. Keep in mind that my deck has been raised 4 inches so that I have more width across my deck area, so you can't see exactly what is involed in replacing the seat boxes.
I'm unclear wether you have this type of seats in your boat already or are thinking about building some like them, but if you already have them and there in good shape I'd leave them or try to repair otherwise.
If you decide not to put in this type of seating make certain to plywood the whole transom area with layers of plywood laminated together with epoxy glue and fiberglass the plywood in heavily to the sides of the hull and transom with heavy fiberglass cloth so that twist on the transom won't be a factor and the plywood will be protected from the weather and water and will be strong as possible.

max!

 

[DrCox]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

Ahh Maxum!

I cannot thank you enough for those pics of yours! What you are showing there is exaclty what I want to do with the back of the capri. As I said earlier the boat is currently configured for the Force I/O L drive.
From what I can depict from other boats the transom runs straight across the back wth no contours. Post fabrication I want mine to look like the picture I posted above. As a matter of fact the Capris that have the Force outboard stock have the exact same setup as yours has.
The guy I am getting the boat from (now tomorrow) said he took good care of it until his motor blew. He took it all out and parted off the old block, outdrive, etc to raise cash to re-configure and fit an outboard to it. I am hoping that it is in better shape than the rotted mess I am expecting. At least one thing is for sure; he is not getting a red cent from me and understands I am using this as a project boat. I see no reason for him to be decieptful about the transaction as he is gaining no money from the transaction.

Again thanks for those pics, I wil use them for sure!

--DrCox

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

I did gain alot of room by taking out the seats. Probably a foot or so of deck space. The battery will still mount back there on the deck and probably a fuel tank eventually instead of the built in tank that I have now under the deck, but I am concerned that the transom has been weakened by removing the seats. I will probably build in some support for the transom area and fiberglass the transom area in heavier to help keep the twisting action of the transom down with the 125 that I have on there. My transom is lumpy and bumpy at best so plywood would be hard to get in there as some area's of the transom aren't level. My tramsom steps in and out as much as 1 1/2" inches, so glassing with heavy layers of fiberglass and boxing in to some degree will probably be my only choice to make it safe to use and keep things together with the 125 hp unless I were to build the seats back.

Max!

 

[zach103]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

i say go with the seats that you showed in the picutre.. i have the same setup with the outboard like that but i have a bench seat. its nice cuz i can easily get to everything back there.. but i lose that space to walk around

 

[Mark42]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

Hey! When are we going to get those L Drive Transom photos!!!!!

 

[DrCox]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

Hey! When are we going to get those L Drive Transom photos!!!!!

Wohoo (and sigh) I picked up the...hulk today. Here are some transom pics. Its weird...I must admit. Now I understand why I could not just drop a new inboard/outdrive into the hole. Its crazy. Has 2 drain plugs as well. One that you see thats on the transom, the other one is on the staboard side on the upper lip.

Also, look for my New post on the actual restore beginning tomorrow.

From Behind:

From underneath, Note dual drain plugs

Looking astern from inside:

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

DrCox, it will be easier to keep up with and follow you project if you can keep everything together in one thread.

max!

 

[DrCox]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

DrCox, it will be easier to keep up with and follow you project if you can keep everything together in one thread.

max!

If thats the case I need to get a moderator to move my latest post and meld it with this one if possible.

I am beat, getting some sleep, long day coming up. Night!

-DrCox

 

[Mark42]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

Those L Drives sure did have a different shape to the transom. I suggest looking into a fixed jack plate like this to mount the outboard on the transom, and reinforcing the transom where needed....

Or get a power unit that might allow you to tilt the motor up and over the existing transom so no cutting for a splashwell is needed....

or use one of these offset style motor brackets, but you might have to re-do the entire transom to be flush in the back like a regular outboard powered boat. Maybe not. But you still won't have to build a splashwell. This baby cost about $2200.

In fact, the more I think about it, a good solution might be to make your own offset bracket like the one above out of double layer 3/4 ply and 6 or so layers of 1708 biax glass and epoxy. You could design it to fit right into the unusual offset of the factory L-Drive, creating a fully smooth bottom. Seal/fill/glass over all the holes in the old L-Drive setup, then bolt the new bracket in place. Plus you get a swim platform out of the whole deal.

Just a thought.

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

Creative thinking Mark42 I didn't even see that, I like the idea of useing the existing cut out to incorporate the motor tub into!

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

Creative thinking Mark42! Wonder how a tub would work in the original L-Drive cut out, you may be onto something for the L-Drive owner who loves there boat and would like to move away from there original L-Drive setup without having to refabricate the transom itself.

 

[Mark42]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

Just came in from working on the hard top. Ran out of 16 oz drink cups to mix epoxy in!

Anyway, I was thinking about the offset motor bracket. If you fully inspect the floor, stringers and transom, and they are in good shape, it would save a lot of work, and probably look a lot better to make a custom fitting motor bracket. The best part is like mentioned earlier, that the L Drive recess can be filled by the bracket. I did a lot of research on motor brackets a few years back when looking into converting I/O to outboard as a project. Everything I read about offset motor brackets was a positive. They are always hollow, AIR FILLED with 6 or 8" round inspection ports on top and drains in bottom. They add more floatation to handle the outboards weight. Moving the outboard 2 feet back always improves the boats handling and balance. So it not a bad modification.

I would think that keeping the factory smooth lines of the transom, and mate a full width outboard bracket about 24-30" deep would make a great swim platform or casting deck. The existing railings and ladder from the factory swim ladder can be re-used on the new bracket. (the stainless on the factory ladders and rails is very nice quality).

All the offset motor brackets I found for sale were bold on, so that would make attaching the new platform fairly easy, and no cutting, glass, gelcoat work on the Bayliner itsself, just glass, gel or paint on the platform.

Plus the original L Drive space inside the boat is reclaimed. Maybe a full width bench seat across the rear would be nice with storage, batteries, bilge pumps, etc.

Could be a pretty cool project.

 

[DrCox]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

I am having a really hard time visualizing what you are all talking about leaving the factory transom and putting some sort of outboard bracket in.

The only place I see flush is the very back of the boat it seems like it is hollow though. The only part that is re-enforced like a transom should be is the Horizontal area whee the old I/O poked through.

If someone can draw something in MS paint or something that would be cool. Doesnt have to be a work of art, just a box showing where it would go.

Thanks!

DrCox

 

[DrCox]

Re: 1988 Bayliner Capri, Possible Restore

***Lets close this thread, I would like to concentrate on new post if possible, Header now reflects that I am in project***

Thanks!

here is the link:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=275871


--DrCox