1988 Baretta Bow Rider 16ft

[mortman]

First time to this forum, so I thought I would give it a try.

I am the proud owner of 1988 16 ft Baretta Bow Rider, that came with a Volvo Penta 275 Stern drive and AQ131A four cylinder engine.

I 've taken the boat out a few times this past summer to get my feet wet on boating;for this is my first boat. I'm in the process of trying restore seats, carpets and some of the teak wood amenities.

I am looking for any information on this boat that I can find. Brochures or boat manuals. I have manuals on the Volvo motor and stern drive. Just need manuals or brochures on the boat itself.

Anyone have any suggestions on where I should be looking.

Thanks

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: 1988 Baretta Bow Rider 16ft

Sorry that I can't help with your Baretta question...but, a big 'Welcome Aboard'!

 

[q5ka]

Re: 1988 Baretta Bow Rider 16ft

The company was out of Arkansas and is out of business. The boats are ok (as I have one) but they seem to have been on the lower end of quality. My is Mercruiser so bit different in power/sterndrive and cant help you there. The floor has a tendency to be rotted as they skimped on sealing the edges of floor and the stringers are made out of plywood. My floor was standard 5 ply floor while stringers were 7 ply. Also the stringers did not go from transom to front but was just pieces scabbed together to make space for fuel tank and such. The advantages are the hull is probably all fiberglass and no core/filler. The cap is pretty heavily built but I feel the hull could have been thicker. They dont have manuals from Baretta and there is very little info on but iboats has this info... http://www.iboats.com/Baretta_Boats__1988/bp/34br1032s0y
Enjoy the boat.

 

[mortman]

Re: 1988 Baretta Bow Rider 16ft

Dan
Just wanted to to extend a thank you for your input; Yes I have noticed some of the structural design while running wiring for radio and GPS and replacing the engine compartment air blower motor. One other project I have is to replace the swim platform, not sure of the difficulty at this time. I might try the library to find older issues of boating magazines that might of had some ads on Mel-Hart Boats.

Have a good one

Norb / mortman

 

[mortman]

Re: 1988 Baretta Bow Rider 16ft

Thank you for throwing out the Welcome mat; later I will be looking for help with proper etiquette when transmitting on marine radio channels .

mortman

 

[sickwilly]

Re: 1988 Baretta Bow Rider 16ft

My families first two boats were Baretta's. I can't help you with any information because I was a kid and teenager. The second one, the one we had when I was a teenager, was the most fun boat I ever had. I did not have a drivers license yet, but could boat all day with it. Those were the days.

I hope yours brings you as much joy!