Help with Bayliner Purchase

[Peter O]

Can anyone help me with info on the motor attached to a Bayliner I am looking at buying? Is it big enough for the boat? Have you had the same combo? How was it? The ad reads: "1990 BAYLINER CAPRI, Bowrider, 21', 125 US marine L-drive inboard/outboard". I can't find anything on US Marine anywhere. Is this the same as Force? I am still new to this board but have learned lots so far. Thanks

 

[DP]

Re: Help with Bayliner Purchase

That US Marine L drive is a Force 125 outboard but is less efficient than an outboard of the same power. I believe that they only made them for a couple years.

 

[DP]

Re: Help with Bayliner Purchase

Forgot to add this.<br />Don't buy without a test drive so you can make up your own mind concerning the power.

 

[tjthorson]

Re: Help with Bayliner Purchase

This is *really* going to depend on price and condition. I have a 20' with a cuddy, so its a little heavier, and I would consider mine underpowered. I had to add trim tabs so that when fully loaded, the boat would plane.<br /><br />A US Marine is a Chrysler/Force. They are the ONLY manufacturer that rated HP at the engine instead of the prop, so a 125 Force is like a 110-115 of any other brand. You will see that that boat is probably rated for 140-150 HP motor. You will have a hard time switching it out, because an L-Drive is an outboard that is 2 pieces. The engine sits inside like a true I/O, and there is an outdrive. But, its all proprietary, so I don't think you can mate any other engine up to that outdrive. Also, considering its a bayliner, you MUST check for transom rot/ stringer rot/ soft floor. If it has ANY of those problems I would walk away.<br /><br />On the flip side, if it is only a couple thousand and looks in real nice shape, they make a good starter boat to make all your mistakes on so you don't break a real nice boat later on. That's what I am doing now with mine. I am learnign on this one, so no matter what happens, my investment was only $2900 for boat, gear, trailer, engine.

 

[fishthebay]

Re: Help with Bayliner Purchase

Don't purchase. Is that help enough?<br /><br />The Force isn't the best engine and secondly the Bayliner is even worse. <br /><br />Speaking from experience. Have 2 capris moorned next to me at the marina. I see the mechanic there more than the guys go out in the boat.<br /><br />I would recommend a more solid boat and something with a little better design. I would also stay clear of Force.<br /><br />Now I do have a Force that has been pretty good to me, but you have to baby this thing the keep it running.<br /><br />Again, Bayliner isn't the best boat. I understand the pricetag is cheap, but you can find a better boat if you look harder.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Help with Bayliner Purchase

Follow TJThorson's advise on any boat you decide to look into buying. But especially if it is a bayliner. They were very skimpy on the wood coating. Thier efforts to save 2 buks per boat ruined the company. Sad, but true.

 

[kev_79]

Re: Help with Bayliner Purchase

anything I have ran less than a v6 seems to be underpower for 19' plus boats. I run a 115 on an 18' bayliner, and that is just about right for it. The 135-140 I4 engines all seem slow in every aspect, but they are reliable. 125 @ crank= ~115 @ prop, on 21 footer will probably be slow, consider how many people you are going to carry most of the time. Good Luck