Bayliner = The walmart of boats

[ktmrider]

Why do a lot of people feel that this brand is like the walmart of boats?

Why is that?

 

[gcboat]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

When Bayliner first started their production line of boats their original attempt was to break into the newly founded fiberglass industry - as so many others were doing. The attempt was to produce a boat that was affordable, safe and user friendly. In their haste somewhere along the way the whole damn thing went to hell. From all that I've read there was finger pointing from the top down. Nothing solved. In 1988 Brunswick Corp. bought the rights and the name to produce this line of boats. They made some very, and not so very, drastic changes to pretty much everything about the boat.
Trying not to make this a soapbox speech but their quality has improved dramatically. I think the misnomer of calling it the Walmart of boats comes from the fact that they made so many of them - and made so many of them shoddy at first. Just do a Google search on how many boat manufactures are still around today. You'll be surprised that Bayliner is one of the few left. I guess in retrospect they do have a good thing going - now. It all reverts back to smart management. Remember when some of those Korean cars came to the states? What a joke - right? Now look at them, cornered a good chunk of the market. For a select group of people that is maybe all they can afford or all they need to drive. Not everybody can have a Porsche in the garage, not everybody can afford a million dollar yacht either.
I think that you'll find that the fit and finish of the newer Bayliner's will be right up there with pretty much anything. Of course there are always exceptions. But for the money, a Bayliner today is as good a vessel that your money will buy. No, I don't work for Bayliner. Just enjoy mine.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

I'm pretty happy with my 18' Capri (1990) right now. It isn't perfect but its a nice boat. To enter a debate about only buying/running the very best boats, and what really determines that, would be ridiculous and endless.
A common point that everyone seems to agree on tho', regardless of their brand choices, is to ensure you get a boat (and motor) that has been well maintained and looked after. That will probably define your future boating experience more than targeting specific brands.

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

GC boat nailed it !

I had a 19 foot Webbcraft that was nothing but a money pit about 10 years ago then sold it to get married,.....Why did I ever do that? (married that is) The boat was nice but expensive to keep in running conditon.

Im now divorced and wanted to buy a new boat and had a hardon for SEARAY for a long time. Well I couldnt see spending more money on the Sea Ray of the same size and style of my new BAYLINER 185. In comparison they are damn near the same boat. hell they are both BRUNSWICK any way. My brothers friend has a SEA RAY and was supprised that my bayliner had a lot of the same exact featurs and some better accomadations then his boat that he spent about 15K more for.

I used to hear the bad stuff back when I had my Webbcraft but I still went with the new bayliner. I was quite supprised how nice the 07 185 handled and performed that I to am happy with bayliner and will help debunk the bad rap bayliner got over the years.

Bayliner will start to improve its reputation with the new series of boats that are out now and comming out in the next few years. I think the company is now building some really nice boats and I am sold on them and i have only had my new boat for less then 2 months.

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

A little research shows that TAHO is now making some of the cheepest boats on themarket so I vote to move BAYLINER out of the cheep market anbd put TAHO in as the WALL*MART brand boat LOL.....

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

After having a 1985 Bayliner 1600 Cuddy for a boating season, I have to agree and disagree with that "walmart" assessment for the following reasons:

- Agree: the wide painted navy blue stripe on the side of the gunnels is there because paint is cheaper than gel coat. There is no gel under the paint. I can shine a shop light right through the hand layup cloth where I was polishing out a scuff mark in the paint. Imagine my surprise to see yellow opaque resin instead of gel coat under the 8" wide stripe.

- Agree/Disagree: The use of press board for the cuddy cabin doors and helm bulkhead is a poor, yet cheap choice. Covered with a Formica type laminate on both sides, it is holding up like new, yet is very heavy. I am removing the tri folding 3/4" press board doors to the cuddy because I don't see the need for that weight for privacy. 1/4" dark smoke plexy will do the job at a fraction of the weight. And I can reuse the same STAINLESS STEEL hinges. Stainless steel is expensive, and Bayliner used it on most of the hardware on this boat.

- Disagree: there are no exposed wood stringers that I have found. Everything is well sealed. But, at only 16', this boat only has 2 stringers, so how hard is it to totally encapsulate these two small stringers? Job well done.

- Disagree: Plywood floors sealed with glass and gel. Some places are thin, but where it counts, about withing 20 inches of the transom, its all thick and heavy.

- Disagree: Entire keel is connected through bulkheads with (what looks to be) PVC pipe. Each bulkhead has a hatch forward of it to open to check for water (I assume that is what those hatches are for).

- Disagree: The boat handles the rough water REALLY, REALLY well. I mean it really was a great ride. Way exceeded my expectations. (my expectations my have been biased by anti-bayliner postings on this forum).

- Personal prefference: It has carpet. I have grown to hate carpet in boats.

 

[calmwaters]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

This is the first season for my '92 2252 bayliner classic cruiser. I love my new to me boat It runs and rides wonderfully, the layout is great and everything is in top condition. The only problem I have seen with quality was the floor hatch for the ski locker, got soft but was an easy fix. I would say that a well taken care of bayliner is much better than a poorly maintained ________ . Perhaps for some maintaining your boat isnt important but to me its everything, after all I may never want to sell her.

Harold

 

[glwanabe]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

I agree wit that statement, but it is also a case of turn around and look in the mirror fool.

I started searching real hard several days back looking at 17' and 18' bowriders. Bayliners caught my eye for their new boat prices, and features. The other guys may each have some, one or two things, that are better, or in some cases a better package as a whole, but they can't touch Bayliner at it's pricepoint.

Nobody has a boat in the 17' class that I would pay more, new money for, instead of just moving up to the 18' bayliner.

Another aspect that I really like about these boats is the ability to work on them. I equate them to Fender musical instruments or Harleys. You can find parts to fix these boats, or because of how they are made you can fabricate some structural parts as needed, stringers, floordecking..ect, If you take care of it, you should not have to worry about.

I've pretty much decided that I will get a used newer model 185 bowrider. It is a hair bigger but gves you a lot more boat, fuel tank size, better windshiels aesthetics, sometimes a bigger engine.


I have given thought to the idea of being able to get into a 17" for real cheap and have a little hot rod project on my hands. Plus, less money spent to aquire means more money to customize. The stock windshield works but it does not flow as nicely as most every other boats on the market. It would also look nice if it was tinted. Then there is puttting real hardwood trim down, just for visual class. Or, just say screw it and put a hardwood floor down and epoxy encapsulate it. Get rid of that carpet that is doing nothing but hold moisture on your floor. I could get real stupid with ideas, but you get the point.


Lastly, there is always gonna be somebody who has a nicer rig, always! Take a look at Hinkley yacts, or even the new stuff Chris craft is doing, absolutely ggorgeous, and there are others doing some very upscale work.

Chris craft bowrider,

http://www.chriscraftboats.com/launch_22_video.aspx

Chris craft expertise in boat work

http://www.chriscraftboats.com/corsair_36_oview.aspx

Hinckley boats website

http://www.hinckleyyachts.com/

So call Bayliners the Walmart boat. I've got a Wife and three kids, 21yr, 15yr, 10yr. Walmart has helped me to keep clothes, shoes, and food supplied to them all.

Guess I should introduce myself, I'm new here. Hope to talk with you soon. Jeff

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

Ive suppriesed quite a lot of people that have seen my new 07 185.

As I stated above the TAHO's are the bang for the bucks. Bayliner may be priced right but they have made seriouse changes in these new boats. Give it a few years this topic will not even come up. Bayliner used a lot of highend stuff on the new lineup where others cheeze out.

I agree with the sealed plywood floor and the full glassed in stringers. The stuff is like a mile thick on my 185 and fully sealed deck all glassed in, in and around the bilge as it looks like its all one piece. They do a fine job on these new models!

MARK42 think you really dissagree with the statement. Only 1 thing that you really dont like isnt too bad, Hell they gotta do something cheep to save money but as you say the door is holing up like new. Tells me thats good workmanship for a boat thats 22 years old!

GL the Criss Crafts are in a world of thier own. I personally didnt like the styling on that 1st link...To old looking to me.

Cant compaire C Craft to Bayliner those are differant kind of boat builders!

 

[glwanabe]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

bayliner 185,

Your right you can't compare these boats to anything but the direct market competition. So If these boats are walmaarts then so are all those other boats.

Besides that I think it kinda silly in the first place. Like a bunch of schoolkids,
mines better than yours, no it's not, yes it is, no it's not....whatever!

I've reached a point in my life that I just don't care of name calling and putting somebody else down for choices in these kinds of toys. I hear all the same crap with regards to musical instument choices, and what you prefer to play. That being wether you like Fender instruments or think there junk.

Don't even get me started about motorcycling, and wether you ride a metric or an sae bike.

This same crap happens at all levels. You could show up in a 33' Riva Riverama, and yet somebody witha bigger toy will put you down for having a little boat. Please.

Dude, totally happy that you are enjoying your boat. Continue to do so for a long time.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

bayliner 185,

Your right you can't compare these boats to anything but the direct market competition. So If these boats are walmaarts then so are all those other boats.

Besides that I think it kinda silly in the first place. Like a bunch of schoolkids,
mines better than yours, no it's not, yes it is, no it's not....whatever!

I've reached a point in my life that I just don't care of name calling and putting somebody else down for choices in these kinds of toys. I hear all the same crap with regards to musical instument choices, and what you prefer to play. That being wether you like Fender instruments or think there junk.

Don't even get me started about motorcycling, and wether you ride a metric or an sae bike.

This same crap happens at all levels. You could show up in a 33' Riva Riverama, and yet somebody witha bigger toy will put you down for having a little boat. Please.

Dude, totally happy that you are enjoying your boat. Continue to do so for a long time.

Yep, I hear ya'. I have a lot more respect for someone just getting out there even with a cheap/cheerful starter boat rather than someone holding out for nothing but the SuperMax Ultra 5000 boat. Boating & boating enjoyment is not supposed to be a comparison....unless you are compensating for 'something'.

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Bayliner = The walmart of boats

glwanabe

Your exactly right!!

I was a major member of an Audio Visual forum and it got out of hand with name calling and all that BS that I gave up that site and dont waste my tiem with those so called expert audiophile dopes.

Boats are all fun no matte rhow big or new or old, and we should be all glad we have one and can enjoy them as much as we do. I dont care if somone has a bigger boat or a more expensive boat then I do. I just hate to hear I have a cheep crapy boat, it does kinda make you feel like ***** and we shouldnt be doing that to our fellow boaters!

Just be happy even if you bought your boat at wallmart, you problably got a good deal LOL

I understand the argument, not really an argument here is actually to disscuss the overall quality of BAYLINER as to it being concidered a CHEEP boat or has it moved to a higher level then previous years.

I think it goes without saying the the BAYLINER benchmark has gone to a higher standard but then again all good things hopfully do evolve and only become greater!