1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

[mrnobody]

I just got this boat from a friend in South Carolina for $500. i am new to boating and am wondering if this is a good boat. i can say that it pulls like a dream behind my 1988 nissan. I can hardly feel it back there.<br />are there any tips i need to know about the motor or the boat.<br /><br />Thanks All

 

[rwise]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

mrnobody<br />I bought my first boat this year and reading the old posts on this board, well I learned a lot! Read on.<br /><br />Richard

 

[mrnobody]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

thanks i have been reading this bb for about a month. what i have learned is that people here don't like bayliner. here in utah it is a very good name. i was supprised to see all the bashing on a bayliner.<br /><br />i just feel that i might have made a mistake<br />in purchasing and picking up this boat i went 2000 miles one way to get this boat<br /><br />between purchase price and delivery i have about $800 invested in it and don't even know how to start it!

 

[rogerwa]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

The positive thing is that you have only invested $800. If both the boat and the motor are crap, you still have the trailer you could sell for a couple hundred..<br /><br />Did you see the motor run or operate? If so, at least you have some compression, fuel and spark? The Force engines are relics from the chrysler days. Your motor HP is rated differently than other motors and will not produce as much as an 85Hp from another mfg. Force engines are easy to work on however, due to the lack of bells and whistles. I have a 50Hp Force that has always started. It takes a bit of maintenance and is a bit finnicky, but it always gets me home.<br /><br />The thing you will probably hear from other posters is your concern should be around the structural integrity of the hull. The visual condition is one thing. Seat and flooring can be replaced fairly easily. Rotted stringers and transom are another.<br /><br />Is it a good boat/motor combo? It all depends on how your friend took care of it. Stellar care will yield a good reliable old boat. Poor care and neglect will yield junk.. No matter who makes it..

 

[JB]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

Howdy Mrnobody. I'm sorry that you didn't ask before you bought the boat, but at $500 you would have a hard time not getting your money worth.<br /><br />A word about Bayliner bashing. J.D. Power rates the Bayliner (much improved over the past ten years, by the way) as the WORST boat on the market. Many of us on this board have or have had Bayliners and a few love them. The best that can be said for them is that you get a lot for your money, along with a high risk of heartache and endless troubles. <br /><br />It is not our intention to arbitrarily bash a popular product but to help the novice boater make good decisions, thus we must "tell it like it is".<br /><br />For $500, if it floats, you got your money worth.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[mrnobody]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

Hey thanks J.B.<br />i appriciate your kind words of wisdom. i figured i was gettin a ok deal it low books at $1500 it does float and i will be spending the winter replacing the floor in the back of the boat around the rear stowage compartment. seems that it wasn't kept covered. looking at the transom i found that it is just fine. no rot, dry and strong(no wobble) the motor was not removed during transport from greenville to here.<br />the motor does run, but i dont know how good.<br />this is my first boat. just somthing to learn about boating and repair of boats.<br />i guess i will get very proficent at repairing boats as well as cars.<br />i figured that i can always fall back on my automotive experience.lol

 

[manowar]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

get your compression checked some new plugs I would even install new carbuerator gaskets and check voltage off battery check for worn or frayed wiring fuel lines air lines if the water pump was only in fresh water should be okay if run in salt water Id replace it check your bottom end lube and grease everything that needs grease

 

[12Footer]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

Congrats on the new boat,MrNo! They can actually be a bunch of fun to restore,and it sounds like you got one heckova deal!<br />Did I understand you to say,you have never had a boat before? <br />If not, some basics to save you some money.<br />Don't try to start it out of the water, or off the earmuffs. The impeller will be damaged in less than 30 seconds.<br /><br />Buy a grease gun and an impact driver,some outboard gear lube,and a drain pan.<br />Remove the vent/fill screws for the lower unit, and drain it.<br />It should be a greenish or black oil. Run your finger thru the lube to feel for chunks of metal. If the lower unit has water in it,or grey,streaky lube,it is leaking, and should be repaired before taking it out.<br />If you find water in it, don't think you got a bad deal. This is one of the most overlooked causes of lower unit failure there is. And it isn't uncommon.<br />I hope she is green or black,but if not,it isn't a biggy.Just don't run it like that.<br />If the boat has sat for over 6months, drain the fuel from the bowls, and clean out the gas tanks before attempting to start, and do a compression test, as has allready been sugested.

 

[mrnobody]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

Thank you 12F i appriciate your comment actually i have been waiting for it!<br /><br />i work 6 days a week in a well established auto shop here in ogden. my self i have a little under 20 years experence in engine repair small (lawnmowers,motorcycles and chainsaws) and large (everything from a vw beetle to dumptrucks) i have some tools too LOL tomorrow (sunday) is my first day to open up the motor, do a compression check, examine the lower unit.<br />i figure ill have a post about what i found.<br /><br />QUESTION 12F <br />when doing a compression check (throttle open) do i want the motor in water or the earmuffs on or am i ok to do it w/o?<br /><br />Only one day off, So much to do so little daylite!<br />#2 what is a stringer?<br /><br />Learning Quickly<br />Louis

 

[12Footer]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

You won't need the muffs for a compession test (i guess it couldn't hurt to have them on,but i never did).<br />Remove all the plugs,and ground-out the plug wires (to prevent damage to the CD pack).<br />insert the gauge to where it is airtight.<br />turn the engine over a few cycles on each, and record the reading. Pete and repeat on the other two.<br />One other tip.If this engine hasn't been turned-over for a few months, give it a 1 second burst of WD40 in each plug hole before turning it over (To keep from breaking a ring). 2 cycle engines build-up carbon in the ring lands,and old fuel in the jugs will paint the cylinder walls with varnish. When you suddenly crank the engine over,the piston could spring into motion,leaving the rings painted the the cylinder walls. This is very very rare, but can happen.<br /><br />A stringer? Why, that's a thing with a buncha pretty bass on it <br />It's the ones that run front to back,as opposed to side to side,which are called bulkheads.<br /><br />High numbers to ya.<br />

 

[MIKE F]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

Hello mrnobody,<br />You certainly are jumping all over with your posts. You might be better off IMHO keeping everything on one thread. <br />I too agree that for an initial investment of $500 you can't go wrong.

 

[mrnobody]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

thanks people <br /><br />i got 90#1 93#2 90#3<br /><br />i have been turning it over by hsnd for a month<br /><br />well they dont have a subject called vessil repair so i am trying

 

[12Footer]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

Like MikeF said, it is best to post one boat problem,and keep it all in one thread.That way, it is less confusing and spread-out.<br />At any rate, it looks like a nice project,that will pay-off in the spring (I hope).

 

[Navigator]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

mrnobody,<br /><br />Two more things that you may also want to do from the get go is.<br /><br />1. Replace the rubber diaphram in the fuel pump. If its weak, it will cause you to have all sorts of "I can never replicate it" type problems. Its a cheap part that takes all of 5 minutes to replace.<br /><br />2. Pull the thermostat from the engine and test it to make sure it opens. Its located on the top cylinder in the back and has 4 screws holding the cover on. Drop it in a pot of water on your stove and with a candy thermometer, check the temp at which it opens. A thermostat that sticks will lead to heat problems.<br /><br />Just wanted to throw a few more things at you. <br /><br />Enjoy.<br />Nav

 

[mrnobody]

Re: 1986 16' Bayliner Capri with a Force 85 hp motor

thanks navigator.12 footer,rwise,roger,j.b,man o war, and mike