Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

[hnosh]

I am intersted in buying a Bayliner 3488 Command Bridge with two diesel engines with less then 100 hours on the engines. This will be my first boat.<br /><br />I have read a whole bunch of horrorstories about Bayliners (does Prayliner mean anything to anybody)<br /><br />SO here are the questions:<br />1. Are Bayliners reliable?<br />2. It is a Cummins engine. Are these any good<br />3. If not Bayliner, what woudl you suggest.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

I think Bayliner has a bad rap. Personally I think they are fine. To me the guts of the boat is the engine and most boats either come with Mercruisers or Volvos these days and that includes Bayliners. Bayliners are an affordable boat and lower entry affordable models don’t come with many of the standard features that you world see on a more expensive boat like a Sea Ray. Instead of using Teak wood trim you are more likely going to find a composite or plastics on a Bayliner. Lower entry models may come with a set of gauges that do not include a speedo, trim indicator or depth finder. I was told buy a friend that Bayliners are so cheap you could hold a flash light on one side of the hull and see it shine right through. We put it to the test on my father’s boat and it’s not true. My father has an 89’ Ciera 2655 and he hasn’t really had any problems and it take s a beating at Lake of the Ozarks. He has the Ford 460 King Cobra with the Cobra outdrive which is now longer made as it is OMC. Volvo has bought the rights and builds similar units (OMC guys correct me if I’m wrong).<br /><br />1. Are Bayliners reliable?<br />Again, look at the power train. Mercruisers and Volvo have built good reputations on reliability. <br /><br />2. It is a Cummins engine. Are these any good<br />Cummins I feel is a good engine. I have many friends with them in their Dodge trucks and they seem to be a good workhorse. <br /><br />3. If not Bayliner, what woudl you suggest.<br />Rinker makes affordable boats similar to Bayliner.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Check out this very recent thread on Bayliner's.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=013723#000000

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

The 3488 is a solid, comfortable boat with a great layout and despite what some of the thoroughly uninformed would say, it is a well-crafted model with excellent fit and finish. And before any of the Bayliner-haters shoots off their yaps, go look at one...then comment.<br /><br />Cummins is the "power of choice' in all the so-called mainstream boats, and they are in even more boats now that they have been absorbed by Mercruiser for marine power.<br /><br />Suggestions for alternates? If you are asking about a 34 foot command bridge cruiser, bang-to-buck ratio, nothing even remotely comes close.<br /><br />By the way, the so-called "horror stories" are 99.9% urban legends.

 

[trog100]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

two cummins diesel engines aint a cheapo short-term option they cost more to buy than gas engines but with the price of gas keep going up they are the way to go..<br /><br />the boat/engine combination u mention is a good one.. nice boat with a pair of nice economical engines.. cummins by the way have been making commercial diesel engines for donkeys years..<br /><br />trog

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Originally posted by trog100:<br /> two cummins diesel engines aint a cheapo short-term option they cost more to buy than gas engines but with the price of gas keep going up they are the way to go..<br /><br />trog

On this side of the world the diesel people are NOT happy right now. I'm seeing $2.19/gallon gasoline alongside $3.60/gallon diesel all over these days.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Bilgeliner,....Prayliner,..... Bayliner,......<br /><br /><br />Isn't a 35' boat Alittle Large for a 1st time boat buyer,..????

 

[stevens]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Guess he won the Lottery, or has saved up for buying a proper boat...

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Just for everyone's info, this is the model of boat in question:<br /><br /> 34 Bayliner CB

 

[stevens]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Mighty big for a first boat, but it looks good. Let's hope he knows how to drive it safely.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Once upon a time, Bayliner made an excellent boat. Then somebody at the factory went out and bought a Chopper gun. They haven't been the same since.

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Could this possibly be a........<br />

<br /><br />

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Willy, Bayliners haven't been laid up with a chopper gun since the late 80s. My boat is all hand-laid glass, as is the 34 the original poster is asking about.<br /><br />But wait.....does this mean that all the Boston Whalers that were laid up with chopped glass from the early 70s into at least the 90s are somehow substandard?

 

[trog100]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Craz1cars..<br /><br />"On this side of the world the diesel people are NOT happy right now. I'm seeing $2.19/gallon gasoline alongside $3.60/gallon diesel all over these days."<br /><br />yes i can see why they wouldnt be.. not much point in buying an engine that goes 50% further on a gallon of fuel if the fuel for it costs twice as much... he he<br /><br />i think at the moment US fuel prices are all over the shop.. short term ups and downs.. but the way i read the world today.. fuel prices especially US ones are gonna keep going up..<br /><br />i think what u are seeing at the moment is the result of "confusion" and price gouging.. long term things should even out with a general uptrend in prices.. and there is no real reason why diesel fuel should cost much more than gas.. we pay a little more for diesel over here for road use.. but for boats there is no duty/tax on it and there is a super good reason for boat diesel engines..<br /><br />we are due to lose this cheapo diesel concession due to EU rules soon.. but even then diesel should still work out cheaper to use than petrol/gas..<br /><br />i still recon that bayliner command bridge is one hell of a boat thow.. if i had a little more money and wanted a decent size/spec boat its the one i would go for..<br /><br />trog

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

How is the resale value compared to other similar boats?

 

[JB]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

Bayliners are not as good as some say and not as bad as others say.<br /><br />Cummins Diesels are very good, reliable engines.<br /><br />Were I looking at a first boat I would look for a beginner's boat, not a 34' cruiser.<br /><br />Were I looking for a cruiser I would look for a Parker, Grady White of even a Boston Whaler. . . .boats that will be worth as much in 20 years as they are now.

 

[Dave NCarolina]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

I love my Bayliner. Im selling my Formula because I like my Bayliner better.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

JB, with respect to your experience...<br /><br />Why would you recommend a fishing machine, when he wants a command bridge cruiser? How does that work?

 

[trog100]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

a guy came into the marina where i keep my boat a few weeks back with 200 grand cruiser and thats UK pounds not dollars..<br /><br />i liked the look of the boat but wasnt familiar with the make.. so i looked it up on the net.. i came across a forsale ad for this very boat.. the boat was only 9 months old..<br /><br />i assumed the guy was the second owner and had just bought it.. nope he was the first owner and does this with all his boats.. he liked the boat but simply said if someone comes up with a good enough offer i will sell it and buy another new boat to play with.. not all folks want to keep their boat for twenty years.. he he..<br /><br />this guy ask me about fishing in the marina.. he had a few old maggots mostly turning into crysalis and little a float and baby size hook.. i said with those u might catch a few small perch or so.. ten minutes later the cheeky bugger pulled out a twenty pound carp.. he he he<br /><br />this guy also said that big cruisers are okay but sometimes u can go places and have more fun with a smaller boat.. <br /><br />i recon some folks are just lucky.. at least thats my excuse.. <br /><br />trog

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Bayliner - Are they as bad as everybody says

My thoughts exactly, Big rig for a first time boat. fred