Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cabin

dragos28

dragos28

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Jun 20, 2013
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70
Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Good Luck with your purchase, post pics of the boat if you end up getting it!!
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

85 or 86 was probably the last decent Bayliner until the middle to late 90s. Volvo is a huge plus over an OMC Cobra. Its still an old boat so rot is still an issue so you still have to look for it.
 
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condor74

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jun 19, 2013
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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Well I picked up a boat yesterday. I bought the 1985 Bayliner. The test drive was quite terrifying as the lake that the boat was being stored at is known for very high winds in the afternoons and yesterday was no exception. If any of you have spent any time at lake Isabella in California you know what I am talking about. Also the lake is about 60% of water capacity due to local drought. We had backed the boat in to the water and had to hold it with ropes to keep it from being blown into rocks along the shore. Also there is trees sticking out of the lake everywhere so it is not the safest lake. Enough about the lake.

We started the boat and took off going over huge waves that were not caused by the wake of other boats. The boat ran well and seemed solid. Once we out aways and away from the outcroppings I drove the boat. It ran good granted high speed was not an option as the wind had turn the lake into a series of white caps.

The boat is solid but needs a few little things. The interior is ok but could use a few updates. It will do for now. The trailer is going need a bit of work. The tires and bearings look ok but the lights did not work except for the right side tail light. There is also a vertically mounted roller guide at the back of the trailer that the weld is loose. I will have to have that re welded. I got home very late last night as I was trying to fix the trailer lighting before I left

Here is the good stuff on the boat. It starts and runs easily. The family likes it and we took it to a closer lake today that does not have wind. We pulled my daughter on a tube and made 10 or so laps around the lake. I had my wife drive she pulled me on the tube.

I did have a bone head move when we first got the boat in the water. No I didn't forget the drain plug. I dropped the boat into the water. Un hooked it from the trailer and pushed it back, jumped in and started the engine. Went to put the outdrive down. I pressed the toggle switch and heard the outdrive lift motor make noise, and put it in gear and started moving. Wake from other boats was pushing me around a bit so I kinda rushed it. I aimed for the other side of the dock so I could pick up the family once the boat was parked. All of a sudden I realized I had no steering control. Luckily the water was pleasant and not too deep as I realized I forgot to take the transport brace under the outdrive. So 3 minutes into my first time out with this boat, I am chest deep in water wrestling the pin that holds the brace out. I had tension on it so it didn't want to come out. Long story short I did get it out and was able to jump back in the boat. drop the outdrive and the rest of the day went pretty smooth.

I did take some pictures so I will post them.
 
dragos28

dragos28

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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Were you at Buena Vista lake yesterday?

I think i might have seen you... was it a blue bayliner and your family was next to the "restroom" building...

I went out with my family also for the first time with our boat to Buena Vista, the water was really nice. I bought one of those towable rafts that looks like a jet-ski, my wife couldnt get enough... too bad she forgot to put on sun block, when she got home she was red as a lobster
 
Z

ZEW

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Jul 17, 2013
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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Let see some pics! ;)
 
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condor74

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jun 19, 2013
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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

I was at Buena Vista yesterday. I dont know if it was our family next to yhe restroom yesterday. There was another 80s era blue Bayliner Cuddy cabin out there but they had a wake board tower and an outboard motor. We pulled out of the water at the same time. Yeah conditions were very nice out there. I was actually pretty happy with the top speed of the boat. I had it up to 45 in smooth water but most of the time We were cruising around 30 or less. I will get pictures up when I get off work tonight.

What boat were you in?
 
dragos28

dragos28

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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

1374108471947.jpg

We were next to the guys who had a pontoon...
 
dragos28

dragos28

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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

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dragos28

dragos28

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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

No, it was a different one that was next to us. Either way, it was good day. My wife had a ball riding the tube, she got really sunburned! LOL
I lost her twice, luckily on one of the occasions she was able to stand up in the middle of the lake! She was also wearing a vest...

How did you like the cuddy cabin? did it get really hot in it? Initially I also wanted a CC.. but every one i spoke to said to get an open bow..
 
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condor74

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jun 19, 2013
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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

I am not sure how much I like the cuddy cabin yet.. In this weather it is too hot to go in there. Honestly I am trying to figure a time when I would use the cabin part of it. In the fall when the weather is cooler, it may be nice to go lay down there but honestly I think an open bow would be way more functional.

My daughter had a blast on the tube also. She is pretty fearless and kept giving me the faster symbol. I zig zagged back and fourth on the back side of the lake and she seemed to enjoy being on the edge of falling off. lol
 
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pckeen

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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

That's great news - I've been following your boat search with interest. Congrats on finding the boat!
 
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condor74

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jun 19, 2013
Messages
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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Thanks. I have been going over it today fixing minor little things. Looking forward to taking it out again this weekend.
 
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condor74

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Jun 19, 2013
Messages
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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Well I have had the boat for a week now and am learning about her quirks and her strengths. This thread is winding down as I have a boat now and will be starting a new thread about living with an old boat. This one is here now though so I will post the update. Last week at the lake the boat ran fine but seemed to bog a bit when getting into the higher RPMs or as the secondaries on the Rochester quadrajet opened up. It would catch back up and run ok once the bog happened. I just couldn't nail it from a dead stop to quickly.

Also, when I pulled the boat out of the water there was a small about of oil leaking from the back upper cover on the outdrive. I got home and checked this and found a loose bolt/plug at the center of the shifter bellcrank. It was finger tight. I tightened back up and checked the oil on the dip stick to make sure it was still full. It was overfilled and had water in the oil. My first though was this was caused by the loose bolt but I was worried it could be something else. I went ahead and changed the oil which I had planned to do anyway. First I read somewhere wrong and filled it with 90wt gear oil. I found this was wrong and drained it again and installed 3 quarts of marine grade engine oil.

have ordered a manual for the record.

I rewired and replaced a tail light and lots of messed up trailer wiring and took it back to the lake today.

The fuel gauge still said more than 1/4 of a tank so I figured 10 gallons should be enough for the day. I put 10 gallons of premium gasoline in the boat and dropped her in the water.

The old gas was about a year old. First let me say. With new gas, it was a night and day difference. No bog at all. I could nail it from a dead stop and it would jump up and plane out very quickly. We pulled tubes around the lake and took my parents for rides around the lake as well.

About 3 oclock, I dropped my parents and my son back at the dock and took back off with my wife and my oldest daughter. They went home and we started having more fun. We all took turns riding on the tube and just enjoyed the day.

I was pulling my daughter on the tube about 5 oclock and I looked down at the fuel gauge. It said 1/4 tank of fuel so I made mention to my wife that after 1 more lap we should probably pack it in. 10 seconds later it ran out of gas. No warning just big bwaaaaaaaaa and shut off. Luckily it was about 1000 yards from the dock and after contemplating for a bit, I jumped in and started swimming attempting to pull the boat. All this while my wife is taking pictures of me. Long story short. After an hour of me swimming and probably making up about half of that, we got a tow in. We loaded up and went home.

I put a couple of gallons of gas in the boat when I got home and cranked it for a bit and she started right up. I did check the oil in the outdrive and it was still clean. So today we learned that new gas works better than old gas and the fuel gauge is not accurate.

Cheers.
 
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pckeen

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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

That's funny....the swimming bit, not the rest. Glad you got a tow. The good news is that swimming while towing a boat will DEFINITELY contribute to a healthy lifestyle. If it's not bogging down any more - great. If it continues bogging down, you might want to run some sea foam through, and if that doesn't work - carburettor cleaning time.
 
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condor74

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jun 19, 2013
Messages
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Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

No it is running very smooth and clean now. About how many gallons an hour of fuel should I expect this boat to burn?
 
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etracer68

etracer68

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Oct 11, 2009
Messages
906
Re: Do I need this Boat project or should I keep looking. 85 Bayliner 2150 Cuddy Cab

Qjets, have had issues with the accel pumps drieing up, and then not sqirting well, when you give it a quick full hammer. I found that when I have had them, when I stored the boat, I would fill the foat bowl with some Marvel Mystery oil. The stuff would keep the accel pump wet, so it doesnt dry out. I dont like to store carbs dry on anything. I use Marvel Mystery Oil in all my carbs, from small to large motors.

Also fuel gages will read differanly, depending on the how level the boat is. Get to know your gage, and the rule of thumb is, Never go under a 3rd of a tank. 1/3rd there, 1/3rd back, and 1/3rd reserve. I hope you had your PDF on while you where swimming, and pulling your boat. If it were me, I wouldnt have done that. If no one was around you. Then 3 blasts of the horn, and flag someone down.

Glad to here your having fun with your new boat.
 
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