I know this will sound foolish, but hear me out please

[Bradmxz]

So I have a 2013 Bayliner 175. My wife bought it for me for my birthday 5 or 6 years ago. It's a beautiful boat, but it has always been hiccupy. So I'm sitting here with an idea, albeit a very foolish one maybe.

See I never wanted an I/o boat, but how could I say no when it was bought as a gift. I am actually thinking about cutting it apart and converting to a center console outboard. Major, major project I know. But I believe it is doable. I mean it's a very good handling boat. A repower and face lift is a big task mainly because the transom isn't made to handle an outboard. Let me know what you think. Am I insane? Haha

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Going off of google search pics. If it was a flat rear then maybe, but not with the recessed outdrive and built in swim platform. That would be some serious structural modifications. Stuff that comes to mind.

Transom - You would have to either extend the center out to the pods, or cut the pods flush with the transom. The latter would probably be easier. Then replace the center transom with a full width one.

Handling - Since you mention liking how it handles now, converting to a outboard is going to change that a lot.

Swim platform - You're pretty much going to lose it. You would at best end up with two small areas on either side of the motor, just big enough to climb back in from the water.

Center console - Do you mean like and actual center mounted console/cockpit like a Boston Whaler? That's going to mean rerouting steering, wiring, throttle, replacing floor, seating, windshields, cutting out the dashes and remaking that part of the cap.

Money - Honestly, for the money you'll be putting into something like this, just look for a used Boston Whaler or other center console. It'll probably be cheaper, and you won't have a cut up project boat in your garage for the next 5 years.

 

[Bradmxz]

All valid concerns. The swim platform i would completely remove. The transom would need some serious reinforcement for sure. If the handling changes that would be a real bummer. Do you think it would be worse or better? The center console part is really a pipe dream, but the center locker would make running cables and wiring very easy in all reality. Cutting out the dashes and windshield would really be the major part of that. I don't think it would take 5 years though, I built a 20x24 remote cottage by myself in a summer with a loft and a 12/12 pitch roof. It wasn't easy, but it sure was a lot more work than I think this would be.

 

[roscoe]

Cheaper, easier, faster, to buy they boat you wish you had and sell the old one.

Just have to convince the wife that , you, um, you've outgrown this one.

 

[tpenfield]

Center console boats are a dime-a-dozen, it seems. You might take a financial hit doing a sell & buy, but it will be costly and time consuming to modify your current boat as you have described.

If it was just the engine swap, then probably fine. But you are planning on doing both engine and boat layout. Not worth it vs. a sell/buy option. IMO

 

[redneck joe]

If you redesign a boat into something it was not desined to be it will not handle the same as it does now so if you are banking on that, don't


Here let me help we can start a letter campaign.......



My Dearest Mrs Bradmxz,

Although we have never met you appear to be such an An Amazing Wife and brad is a Very Fourtunate Man that you allowed him to marry a person or superior quality such as yourself.

Regarding his current dilemma that is laying heavy on his heart, one can never truly know his boat needs until he spends Many Glorious Days on the water getting to know the boats capabilities and most importantly, his own feelings and needs. He is listening and learning and growing as a husband. As a wife i know you value husbands to listen, learn and grow.

Towards that end he has reached out to us, the Council of Boaters, and we are honored that he has and the pros, semi pros and us general crusty old men that have been down this watery road - most of us without an Amazing Wife such as yourself - would like entreat you to support him in his journey of growth. You will also be able to show him that from a long term financial perspective finding the correct boat (for this particular time in his growth journey) is also the correct decision as well as - in the Councils opinion - this will prevent about a year of keeping him from his growth journey on the water. As mentioned previously the journey requires Many Glorious Days on the water.

With that I will take leave from you for now. I truly value the time you spend considering this wonderful opportunity to bring Very Fourtunate Man to all he can be with you, An Amazing Wife.


Always In Your Service
redneck joe


Council, please adjust the aforementioned letter to your info and sumbit....

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Do you think it would be worse or better?

Worse. That's a big change in weight distribution and you're moving the point where the engine pushes higher.

I built a 20x24 remote cottage by myself in a summer with a loft and a 12/12 pitch roof. It wasn't easy, but it sure was a lot more work than I think this would be.

Nice. I'm doing my kitchen thanks to a water leak. It's really screwed up my plans.

 

[Bradmxz]

Center console boats are a dime-a-dozen, it seems. You might take a financial hit doing a sell & buy, but it will be costly and time consuming to modify your current boat as you have described.

If it was just the engine swap, then probably fine. But you are planning on doing both engine and boat layout. Not worth it vs. a sell/buy option. IMO

The boat has been for sale for almost a month. There have been 2 inquiries, one where a guy asked me to trade for a Segway. They don't sell well in this area, there perhaps 10 of them on the local classifieds. The vast majority is salt water and as such everyone wants an outboard engine. I have it priced the lowest of all boats in the classifieds. I think a sale will be a very big financial hit as I'd have to lower it more, not getting me anywhere close to a replacement boat.

 

[redneck joe]

You missed the buying season as the seller. Big is relative, cry now or cry later. Very, very few people profit from used boats both in just buying and selling and for sure in correctly done mods and restorations. In business terms boating is a cost center, not a profit center. Additionally very, very few people estimate the cost to do what you are thinking of doing.

 

[Bradmxz]

You missed the buying season as the seller. Big is relative, cry now or cry later. Very, very few people profit from used boats both in just buying and selling and for sure in correctly done mods and restorations. In business terms boating is a cost center, not a profit center. Additionally very, very few people estimate the cost to do what you are thinking of doing.

The boat selling season hasn't started yet where I am. We still have temps of 8-9 degrees Celsius. Also I'm not looking to profit, I have the boat listed at $6000 less than was paid for it now in exactly the same condition I might add.

 

[Grub54891]

I gave away two boats in the last two years. One a 1985 Sylvan, aluminum deep V. Other a 1984 Chapparral, Got tired of it. Don't worry I have a couple more so I'm still boating. Both recipients are very happy with them, and they are still local to my area. nice to see them on the water yet. Selling boats is a challenge around here. Re-vamping what you have gets more expensive than what you imagine. As suggested, it's going to change the handling for the worse and even if you decide to sell it in the future people will shy away, I think as it's a modified hull.

 

[aspeck]

It was bought as a 7-8 year old boat. It is now a 12 -13 year old boat. Unless your wife stole the boat for you, it is going to lose a good bit of money! That is to be expected over those years. Good luck with your decision, but investing the amount of time and $ required to make the modifications you want to make seems daunting to me.

 

[redneck joe]

The boat selling season hasn't started yet where I am. We still have temps of 8-9 degrees Celsius. Also I'm not looking to profit, I have the boat listed at $6000 less than was paid for it now in exactly the same condition I might add. .

Since you used Celsius, is that 6k US? If so I would feel that is your root problem. 12 year old, small bayliner should not have sold for much more than that. If you buy high you are in a hole that you won't get out of imo.

Boats depreciate exponentially the older they get. So, take the loss now on the sale today or in 6 years after it has depreciated more plus having expensive, non professional mods done to a small entry level boat. Based on what I know you will lose no matter what you do. But, don't know all details

 

[tpenfield]

The boat & trailer may be worth about $10K . . . have you priced out what the conversion would cost?

Are you good at building stuff and fiberglass work?

Have you figured out what the overall project would cost? Could you buy a similar center console boat and sell you current boat at a big loss for what you would have to invest in modifying the boat?

You might want to consider just doing the I/O to OB switch as a first step, then re-assess at that point. Just going I/O to OB might cost you $25-$30K.

I am planning on doing an I/O to OB swap, but on a much larger boat. The difference is that I really like the layout of the boat. . . . just not the I/O engines.

 

[cyclops222]

D I Y is always a lot more expensive.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

N

D I Y is always a lot more expensive.

Not necessarily. It's usually cheaper, but takes way longer because you aren't devoting the entire work day to it. Just paying for materials is way cheaper than paying a shop for materials, labor rates, and overhead costs.

 

[cyclops222]

D I Y is always a lot more expensive. You really believe DIY has same hull redesign knowledge as a real boat designer ?

 

[tpenfield]

Folks . . . Let's be respectful of each other's opinion. DIY stuff is very situation dependent with lots of variables. Skills of the 'do-er' being a big part of the equation.

 

[racerone]

Removing the deck structure will weaken the hull.-----Early Bayliner boats have also been named " paperliners " by some.------I would not want to own one.-----Much less get into one modified as you describe. ---Buy a center console , should be lots at auctions or needing a repower.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

D I Y is always a lot more expensive. You really believe DIY has same hull redesign knowledge as a real boat designer ?

Of course there are variables that could make a diy project actually cost more. You could use more expensive materials, have more waste, have to redo stuff, use more difficult designs...

But, if we assume those variables are identical (same materials, no redos, no giving up and taking to a shop anyway), then yes. It's much cheaper.