1990 Bayliner Capri 2050 5.0 V8 200hp

discofisco

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Joined
Feb 4, 2022
Messages
3
Greetings!
I just purchased a 1990 Bayliner Capri 2050 with the 5.0 V8 making 200hp. It’s been fully restored by the previous owner - included some pics below. I have not yet been on the water with it - I have had this boat surveyed and compression tested and it’s “like new.” Price was good enough where the risk of a winter purchase with no sea trial was worth it.

I have been researching this boat/engine combination and can’t seem to find much information at all. I know the 200hp merc 305 is an older, popular powerplant - so perhaps I am missing a key resource. I have all the original manuals and can’t seem to find any information on (for example) stock propeller specs.

What are the overall reactions to this boat/engine? Reliable? Sufficient power for this application? I have 25 years of boating experience and I have owned several boats before, but not an I/O from this era. I’m aware of the Bayliner stigma here.

First post here… so be gentle.
Thank you all.8707F1C1-D4DC-4277-A77A-DA96748D3CCF.jpeg975AA0F4-FEA1-4494-BFFE-587A84C70F0F.png0389FC56-0D6A-4051-B80D-FCBE9A22EFD8.jpegF6EEE8AF-610E-4FC5-B57F-A7AC5883F4E8.jpeg8707F1C1-D4DC-4277-A77A-DA96748D3CCF.jpeg975AA0F4-FEA1-4494-BFFE-587A84C70F0F.png0389FC56-0D6A-4051-B80D-FCBE9A22EFD8.jpegF6EEE8AF-610E-4FC5-B57F-A7AC5883F4E8.jpeg
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,917
Greetings!
I just purchased a 1990 Bayliner Capri 2050 with the 5.0 V8 making 200hp. It’s been fully restored by the previous owner - included some pics below. I have not yet been on the water with it - I have had this boat surveyed and compression tested and it’s “like new.” Price was good enough where the risk of a winter purchase with no sea trial was worth it.

I have been researching this boat/engine combination and can’t seem to find much information at all. I know the 200hp merc 305 is an older, popular powerplant - so perhaps I am missing a key resource. I have all the original manuals and can’t seem to find any information on (for example) stock propeller specs.

What are the overall reactions to this boat/engine? Reliable? Sufficient power for this application? I have 25 years of boating experience and I have owned several boats before, but not an I/O from this era. I’m aware of the Bayliner stigma here.

First post here… so be gentle.
Thank you all.View attachment 355603View attachment 355604View attachment 355605View attachment 355606View attachment 355603View attachment 355604View attachment 355605View attachment 355606
Mercruiser 5.0 with an alpha one drive is an ideal power plant for typical bowrider of that size. Parts and service are plentiful and cheap, assuming it was reasonably well maintained, with a little annual maintenance will provide many more years of service to you.

I think someone did floors and stringers on this boat assuming that was done correctly and your survey didn't miss anything looks good from the keyboard...

Issues you may run into are around water pump impeller maint, shift cable assy, bellows, and fuel system maint incl carb rebuild. If you are handy no big deal, otherwise find a good local mechanic who wont rip you off.

Make sure annual winterization, oil change, drive lube changes are done, if you have receipts for bellows water pump etc recently good, otherwise have them checked out.

While the newer vortec 5.os have 220 ho vs 200 you should have plenty of power. Prop on this new was probably a 19" (maybe 21") black max type 3 blade AL. Not sure what is on there If I were starting from scratch would start with a 19" three blade or 18" 4 blade (Michigan vortex 4 BL)if you were more watersports focused and go from there.
 

Rick Stephens

Admiral
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
6,118
Just as an FYI - prop type and spec is determined by the boat manufacturer, not the power system manufacturer. Mercruiser will sell the complete power package with propeller and gearing per boat manufacturer's wishes.
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,348
Id say you are not finding anything in a search, because its not 200hp. It has a little more than that. Around 220hp would be the number for an early 90's carb 5.0. some were 230 even, from memory.
 

discofisco

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Joined
Feb 4, 2022
Messages
3
Thank you all for the responses! Water pump, impeller, full tune up was performed (with receipts) prior to winterization last year. Very excited to get out this year. Crossing my fingers that there are no bad surprises come spring. First on the list is getting rid of the stock cassette player…. Wish me luck.
 

discofisco

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Joined
Feb 4, 2022
Messages
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Id say you are not finding anything in a search, because its not 200hp. It has a little more than that. Around 220hp would be the number for an early 90's carb 5.0. some were 230 even, from memory.
It is actually a 200hp.
 

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QBhoy

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It is actually a 200hp.
Man. That’s a first for me. Never known they did this. I see the rpm rating has been de rated from the usual 5.0 that age too. Fair play. Weird that they made this alongside a 4.3 with the same power just about.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
@QBhoy 5 litre engine comes in a number of flavours.

Non-Vortec.(Flywheel HP)
'898' - 198hp, 2bbl carb, old style end rise exhaust manifolds.
'228' - 228hp, 4bbl carb, old style end rise exhaust manifolds.
'200'/'5.0L' - 200hp, 2bbl carb, centre rise manifolds.
'230'/'5.0LX' - 230hp, 4bbl carb, centre rise manifolds.

Vortec (propshaft HP)
'5.0L' - 220hp, 2bbl carb.
'5.0L EFI' - 230hp, Throttle body EFI
'5.0L MPI' - 260hp, MPI.

HTH,

@discofisco Based on your serial numbers (0C677435/0C817655) you have a 1989 2bbl (200hp) engine with a 1.65:1 Alpha drive.... (Whenever you start a new thread, put those serial numbers in the first post ;))

There is no 'standard prop'. The prop on the boat should allow the engine to spin at the manufacturers recommend range at full throttle with a 'normal' load. In your case, at WOT (wide open throttle) the engine should reach between 4200 and 4600rpm. If it's low, change to a prop with less pitch, if too high, more pitch. Each 2" of pitch change will change the revs by around 200rpm. I always shoot for the top end of the range. If you're 100 or so revs high, stay there.

Here's a screenshot of your specs page.

1644555827026.png

Chris.......
 
Last edited:

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,587
for a prop on that boat, start with the prop that is on the boat. from there, you need to determine if you stay with what is there gets the engine to WOT, or you need to go up/down in pitch.

if you can swing a 15" prop, I would go that route. you may need to change the anode to do so

your pitch will be in the 19p range +/- 2
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,348
@QBhoy 5 litre engine comes in a number of flavours.

Non-Vortec.(Flywheel HP)
'898' - 198hp, 2bbl carb, old style end rise exhaust manifolds.
'228' - 228hp, 4bbl carb, old style end rise exhaust manifolds.
'200'/'5.0L' - 200hp, 2bbl carb, centre rise manifolds.
'230'/'5.0LX' - 230hp, 4bbl carb, centre rise manifolds.

Vortec (propshaft HP)
'5.0L' - 220hp, 2bbl carb.
'5.0L EFI' - 230hp, Throttle body EFI
'5.0L MPI' - 260hp, MPI.

HTH,

@discofisco Based on your serial numbers (0C677435/0C817655) you have a 1989 2bbl (200hp) engine with a 1.65:1 Alpha drive.... (Whenever you start a new thread, put those serial numbers in the first post ;))

There is no 'standard prop'. The prop on the boat should allow the engine to spin at the manufacturers recommend range at full throttle with a 'normal' load. In your case, at WOT (wide open throttle) the engine should reach between 4200 and 4600rpm. If it's low, change to a prop with less pitch, if too high, more pitch. Each 2" of pitch change will change the revs by around 200rpm. I always shoot for the top end of the range. If you're 100 or so revs high, stay there.

Here's a screenshot of your specs page.

View attachment 355708

Chris.......
Every day a school day on here chris. I’ve honestly never known one of these here in the U.K. weird they made one with less power than some 4.3’s of the same age. I had a VP 4.3 (aq205) from 89 with 205hp. Think merc made one then with 190ish too. Or maybe more.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
@QBhoy Merc 4.3L engines...

Pre-vortec.
'85-'82 175hp, 2 bbl carb (flywheel hp)
'93-'96 155hp, 2bbl carb (prop hp)
'85-92' 205hp, 4bbl carb (flywheel hp)
'93-'96 175hp, 4bbl carb (prop hp)

Vortec (prop hp)
'4.3LX' - 190hp, 2bbl carb
'4.3LXH' - 205hp, 4bbl carb
'4.3EFI' - 210hp, throttle body EFI
'4.3MPI' - 220hp, MPI

Chris.....
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,348
@QBhoy Merc 4.3L engines...

Pre-vortec.
'85-'82 175hp, 2 bbl carb (flywheel hp)
'93-'96 155hp, 2bbl carb (prop hp)
'85-92' 205hp, 4bbl carb (flywheel hp)
'93-'96 175hp, 4bbl carb (prop hp)

Vortec (prop hp)
'4.3LX' - 190hp, 2bbl carb
'4.3LXH' - 205hp, 4bbl carb
'4.3EFI' - 210hp, throttle body EFI
'4.3MPI' - 220hp, MPI

Chris.....
That’s the one.
 
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