Bayliner or Maxum???

[gchapman]

Right I need your help....My friend and I are about to buy a bowrider and want to know whats the better power plant.

We have narrowed it down to two boats: Maxum 19ft 3.0 Mercruiser and Bayliner 20ft with 4.3 Mercruiser.

Both boats are 1999 Bowriders and simular condition, but we want to know what one out of the two will empty our pockets more, mainly in terms of fuel useage. - also what about the power diffrence between them?

We want to use the boat for wakeboarding/towing toys and general runabout.

weve heard a few storys about the 3.0 using more fuel as it has less power, so will be revved more than 4.3 - is it true?

any advice would be much appreciated.

cheers guys and gals

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Bayliner or Maxum???

Post up in the boat questions, non repair forum for more answers.
Welcome to iboats.

 

[Rob454]

Re: Bayliner or Maxum???

Maxum and bayliner are the same company. Basically the maxum is a gussied up bayliner.
As for fuel usage youre gonna be abotu the same. personally i say go for the bigger motor. youll regret buying the smaller motor when you have 5-6 people and a cooler and ez up and youre trying to get somewhere and you cant get past 25 MPH.
Rob

 

[Beaverfan]

Re: Bayliner or Maxum???

I bought a 2001 18.5 ft Bayliner Capri 185LS this summer. It comes with the 4.3L V6.

I am very happy with the boat and the V6. It has a tower for wakeboarding and I have been out alot. The boat has plenty of power. I have pulled a 230 pound rider with 5 other adults and a cooler in the boat and had no problem what so ever. Top speed on the boat is about 47 miles an hour. Running top speed does suck gas but that is my decision to run fast. At 25 miles an hour the fuel consumption is pretty decent. On the 4th of July weekend we played hard for 3 days in a lake and I did not need to re-fuel.

A friend of mine has a similar boat with the 4 cyl. engine and I have to tell you that it really does not have the power that you probably want. But everybody has their personal preference.

As far as the Bayliner goes. It has about 250 hours on it now and I have had zero problems except gouging the prop and that was my fault.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[RatFish]

Re: Bayliner or Maxum???

Take the Bayliner 4.3L. The Maxum 3.0 will not cut it. A 5.0L would be better for watersports.

I have a 2004 Bayliner 205 (20') with a 5.0L, a 14 1/2 x 17P stanless steel prop and do plenty of watersports. No regrets.