Bayliner Capri going to buy?

[tommyboy050]

I have looked at a 1988 Bayliner Capri with a 1993 Merc 135 at a local boat marina (inland). When I asked if the boat was for sale, he kinda said yes and said that boat and motor would be $3500. I asked how much for just the boat, this place mainly sells motor/parts and storage, he said "I will give you the boat for $500 (w/ trailer). I then looked at the boat with different wondering eyes ($500, why). He told me that he had alot of money in the motor, this place repairs boats to, and he would take the motor off w/ control and sell the boat. Well, end result, he offered a deal since I told him it was kinda over our budget right now. He offered the boat for $3500 complete (motor,trailer, controls and boat), whole thing and he would throw in shrink wrapping and storage for the winter and I could pay for it ($600 down) over the winter. This kinda made up my mind to buy it because it is the style I been looking for just not sure if it is a good deal (THE BOAT itself).
I understand I am paying mostly for the motor but any advice woult be nice.
The boat does need interior work but over all the boat seems solid except for some scratches and needs a buff job. Any advice?? Thanks

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

Welocme to iBoats!

You need to go out for a ride to know how well the motor runs and if the prop is sized correctly. Post some pictures and let us know how the floor feels, if the transom is solid and how the keel looks.

Good luck!

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

Welocme to iBoats!

You need to go out for a ride to know how well the motor runs and if the prop is sized correctly. Post some pictures and let us know how the floor feels, if the transom is solid and how the keel looks.

Good luck!

I know nothing about boats so when I said it was solid, I am going by looking at it, feeling it, stomping on the floors etc. I do believe the motor is fine because he sells and repairs new/used ones and while I was there he was buying a motor off a boat that was all apart on the boat and he was able to tell the owner everything about it and I hung around to listen and ask questions, I felt confident with him. I am an certified ASE auto mechanic so I know about motors but not boat motors. A motor is a motor but I do realize that boat motors have a difference. Either way I trust him that the motor is in really good shape, the controller looked new and was a very nice one and the motor looks really clean. I just know nothing about boats, so don't know what to check or look for. I was told to really check out the keel (where the motor attaches?), (taking a boaters course in the next month) so will learn. The boat is a 19' Bayliner Capri Cuddy and the tag said 125 motor but there is a 135 Merc on it, so I would think it has the power. He is going to start it for me when I go down there today. Don't have pics yet for I don't own the boat yet. Just don't know what to look for in a boat, at all. Thanks.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

I know nothing about boats so when I said it was solid, I am going by looking at it, feeling it, stomping on the floors etc. I do believe the motor is fine because he sells and repairs new/used ones and while I was there he was buying a motor off a boat that was all apart on the boat and he was able to tell the owner everything about it and I hung around to listen and ask questions, I felt confident with him. I am an certified ASE auto mechanic so I know about motors but not boat motors. A motor is a motor but I do realize that boat motors have a difference. Either way I trust him that the motor is in really good shape, the controller looked new and was a very nice one and the motor looks really clean. I just know nothing about boats, so don't know what to check or look for. I was told to really check out the keel (where the motor attaches?), (taking a boaters course in the next month) so will learn. The boat is a 19' Bayliner Capri Cuddy and the tag said 125 motor but there is a 135 Merc on it, so I would think it has the power. He is going to start it for me when I go down there today. Don't have pics yet for I don't own the boat yet. Just don't know what to look for in a boat, at all. Thanks.

And is $3500 a good price to pay or ??

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

Make sure all the elctrical items (light bulbs, courtesy lights, nav and anchor lights, speedo, tach, radio, etc.) are working and wired through the fuses. Add water into the bilge and test the pump. Transom is where the engine attaches (less important to know what it is called, just what it should feel like).

Since you are not familiar with boating, you should rely on the marina to take you onto the water. Have them get on plane and trim properly. Get a feel for how long it takes to get on plane (1 second or 10 seconds). Have them increase to WOT (wide open throttle) and write down the engine rpm and speed. The mechanic should know the max rating for the engine, so don't let it exceed that.

When you're back, ask to see the printed prop size (located right around the mounting nut).

Get serial number for the engine.

the HIN (hull idetification hunber) located on the back of the boat molded into the transom (uppr right corner).

Post picutres and the information you get from your test ride.

Enjoy!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

I don't think it's a screaming deal but it is a very fair price IF IF IF there is NO rot. Your biggest concern on any older fiberglass boat is rot in the wooden components of the hull. You want a solid deck and transom. ANY soft spots in the deck are usually indicative of more serious issues with the stringers below.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

Not going to be able to test it since the place is not near a lake. He was going to start it for me and I will ask him info on motor. I am very good at wiring so really not concern about that although it does seem he did some work there to install the new engine controller. After reading the posts here, I wonder about transom rott and such, don't know how to look for it besides a couple people telling me to yank, pull, push all over it to make sure it's solid. I would like to get this boat but don't want a money pit either. I know I will have to spend money on interior and going to try to do it myself, something new for me to learn, heck, don't even know how to take it apart but that never stopped me from doing anything. I know nothing about getting it on plane or anything like that. Can't check the hull since can't take up the floor but the storage plate between the driver and passenger seats, when lifted, there is a piece of wood on both sides molded into the fiber glass, seems solid but can't see the other side of it. Like I said, I know nothing about boats. Thanks

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

How do you check the stringers?? The floor seems pretty solid but I will really check it out when I go back today, specially pull, yank and push on the transom. thanks

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

Basically, how to you check a boat?? excluding the engine for being a mechanic I think I can pretty much rely on my auto skills for that. thanks

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

You can't really check the stringers. If there's a ski locker or something in the floor you may be able stick your head down there and check things out. Mainly just check the deck thoroughly for soft spots. You may be able to get a view of the transom wood from inside the boat but maybe not. Stand on the motor and jump up and down a bit. There should be NO flex in the transom. If the interior is in nice condition, chances are good it's a solid boat. If the interior is really weathered, then chances are it's been left uncovered out in the elements for a period of time and that's bad.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

Welcome to iboats!

This vintage Bayliner is notorious for rotten soles (a.k.a. decks), transoms (the part where the motor is attached), and stringers. The first step is to check the entire sole for soft spots.. If the sole is intact and original, the ods are extremely high that the stringers are okay too. You can see part of the stringers in the ski locker (they run fore and aft on each side of the locker). You can get a reasonably good idea about the transom by trying to rock the motor up and down, and side to side. There should be no flex in the transom.

That boat originally came with a Force 125. The motor on there now is more powerful (even more than the 10 HP rating difference) and also heavier. This will place more strain on the transom, so it is vital that the transom be in good shape.

Speaking of the motor, you are technically overpowered, which can cause some legal difficulties. At the very least, you will never be given a USPS/USCG Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check decal- being overpowered is an automatic failure.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

I went and bought the boat tonight, I cleaned it out and they are shrink wrapping in with the next couple days if not sooner. When I was cleaning it out I did not notice any rot and the boat seems solid "I hope". I bounced on the motor a few times and did not notice any movement at all. The transom does seem like it has stress cracks, nothing thru or anything, just looks like stress crackes. I know what stress cracks are because I put a 427 with a 671 super charged motor in my 64 Chevy II. Had to completely modify the suspension with rack and pinion and tubular frame. Because of the amout of power and torque I was getting stress cracks thoughout the car body but it held up due to the frame work done to it. Is this normal to have stress cracks in the transom, a couple local people said to expect this in the transom. Also, being over powered (nothing I could do, motor came with the boat), does this mean I cannot register it and use it?? What does this AVSC decal mean? And what kind of legal issues? Anyway, I would not think this dealer would sell this if I was going to have a problem using it, I hope. I could not budge the motor at all, so hopefully that is good news, although I did not try side to side.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

In all probability, there will be no consequence to being overpowered. It has nothing to do with registration or anything regarding the gov't. Worst case scenario is possible liability issues in the event of an accident. The stress cracks are most likely just in the gel coat (if everything seems solid) but keep an eye on it. Congrats on your purchase.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

I will keep an eye on the stress cracks. Maybe I can coat the back of the transom with a clear coat of Rustoleum? I have spent the night reading alot of these post and some scare me and some do not. Over all I get that my 1988 Bayliner was not built very well, unless? it was built in an area that was not effected to much by the merger with Brunswick. When I look under the center cover between the driver and passenger seat, I do see 2 pieced of bare would that go side to side that are incased in the boards that go from front to back. The boards that go front to back seem to be encased in fiberglass completely, is that the runners? and the other that goes side to side is what? Sorry to sound so stupid but I know nothing about boats, nothing!! Like I know I should have said Stern to bow, I think? thanks. Hope I made a good buy and not a money pit or worse. I did pay $3500 for the boat, 135 merc and trailer. Only thing that seems to need work is the side panels and back seat back rests.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

one word of caution...

years ago, a buddy of mine bought a boat in the fall with a pymt. plan and winter storage...
Marina went bankrupt in Feb... never saw his boat again....I think he got a portion of his money back after a lot of red tape. The creditors took the boat as it was still in the marina's inventory.

he figured out years later that the marina owner knew he was going down the drain.... sold several boats many times over to different purchasers to give himself a "severance package"

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

I work in the same area, same parking lot acutally. They have been there for as long as I know and they don't sell boats, they sell motors, parts and excessories and have a big mechanic shop. I don't really believe that will happen, that was the furthest thing from my mind.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Bayliner Capri going to buy?

As far as legal issues is concerned, if you were involved in a collision, a lawyer for the opposition could argue negligent operation on your part. Not likely a big concern, but I have a distrust of most lawyers. I doubt the Coast Guard would summarily terminate your voyage for a manifestly unsafe condition for 10 HP over capacity.

A VSC decal shows that you have had your boat inspected for all required safety equipment and registration documentation, and that it is in compliance. This can sometimes avoid being boarded by law enforcement (or at least make the experience more pleasant) but it certainly isn't a "get out of jail free" card.