Looking into getting a Bayliner Capri 1950 Cubby... Is it worth it question..

[Challenger84]

So I have an addiction.
I am always looking at boats for sale.

I ran by a 1988 Bayliner with a 2005- 150hp optimax OB and trailer for under $3k.

I've been texting with the seller back and forth and says the boat does have a soft spot in the floor..
I asked about the transom and stringers as well but obviously the seller says it's "solid"
With the research and information I've gathered here, most likely transom and strings are rotted as well.. cause "boats rot from the bottom up"
I will be doing core samples to determine.

With that said..
Trailer in great condition (dual axle w/ surge breaks), engine runs like a top..
Worst case scenario i will need to restore the boat.. or dump the boat and find a donor boat with a solid hull and bad OB.

Just want your opinions to see if i should pull the trigger on this or not..

How much would a restoration cost if i sourced this out? (I won't be able to do it myself)

 

[Challenger84]

just to add to this.
The interior looks great. Seats and side panals look fairly new.

 

[Tnstratofam]

We bought a 1988 Stratos 2000xls bow rider two years ago with a soft spot in the floor. We paid $2500 for it, and probably shouldn't have given more than $1000. It has a good tandem axle trailer with brakes, and the 350 Chevy engine and OMC Cobra outdrive are in good shape, but I"m probably gonna have close to $3000 dollars in it before I'm done with the transom, stringers, and deck replacement. That's with me doing all the work myself.

Now I had quotes of anywhere from $4500 to $6000 to have a local shop do the work. Now that doesn't include new upholstery. When I"m finished I will have a good solid boat for one tenth the money a new 20ft bowrider would cost, but it will still be a 27 year old boat that I probably wont be able to sell for what I have in it. That wont matter to me because I plan on keeping it for a good 10 plus years so for me it is a good investment.

We love our boat and if you like or love the Bayliner then it might be a good deal at about $500 maybe. You're probably better off to try and find a more desirable/better built boat to start with. Just my 1 and 1/2 cents. I'm certainly no expert.

 

[Challenger84]

We bought a 1988 Stratos 2000xls bow rider two years ago with a soft spot in the floor. We paid $2500 for it, and probably shouldn't have given more than $1000. It has a good tandem axle trailer with brakes, and the 350 Chevy engine and OMC Cobra outdrive are in good shape, but I"m probably gonna have close to $3000 dollars in it before I'm done with the transom, stringers, and deck replacement. That's with me doing all the work myself.

Now I had quotes of anywhere from $4500 to $6000 to have a local shop do the work. Now that doesn't include new upholstery. When I"m finished I will have a good solid boat for one tenth the money a new 20ft bowrider would cost, but it will still be a 27 year old boat that I probably wont be able to sell for what I have in it. That wont matter to me because I plan on keeping it for a good 10 plus years so for me it is a good investment.

We love our boat and if you like or love the Bayliner then it might be a good deal at about $500 maybe. You're probably better off to try and find a more desirable/better built boat to start with. Just my 1 and 1/2 cents. I'm certainly no expert.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

I already have a boat.

I like options lol..
My current boat has been a great boat. Fun and fast! Still planning on keeping it.
I'm looking into maybe a fishing boat that i can get dirty and not have to worry about fish guts on the carpet and seats.
I'm thinking that it might be a good buuy to get the Bayliner, dump the hull take the fairly new OB and trailer and use it for a donor boat that needs an engine..and or trailer

 

[Tnstratofam]

If the outboard is in good working order then it could very well be worth closer to the asking price. Especially if you can part out some of the good pieces like the interior to recoup some of the cost.

 

[Teamster]

A strong 150 Opti sells for 3 grand and up around here,...

 

[jbcurt00]

Not likely the seller will let you core sample anything before you agree to buy it.

At 3K, thats probably about half of what you'll end up spending for someone else to do stringers transom and deck. Once they tear into it, you wont really want to put the original worn interior back in it, so new seats and upholstery panels. Same for electronics and steering. IF you can even find someone to do the work.

At 4-5K, you're spending more then the boat is worth, AFTER you own it. So you are 7-8K in it total. Its hard to find shops that do this much work to a 27yr old Bayliner. There is great risk that you'll back out after they start because you are upside down in the boat.

Same goes for paying marine techs to work on motors that are over a certain age, the risk of spending more then its worth is highly likely.

All that ^^^ is why most here do the work themselves.

Spending a little along the way and providing free labor makes economic sense compared to buying a new 20-75K boat.

Check around your area, trailers and motors that run great are worth something, 3K? IDK, maybe.

Above all else, boat, motor and trailer 'value' depends on 3 things: condition, condition, condition. And even then varies by the local market and what a buyer will pay.

To me, going into winter, in WV, a given boat will be worth $XXXX. In other markets it may be higher or lower..

 

[NYBo]

Chances are, the boat needs extensive work. It is also overpowered, if that matters to you (max HP for that boat is 125, I believe). If the trailer and motor are good, and you are the adventurous type, buy it, trash the hull, and find a solid hull that has no motor or good trailer for a cheap price. Otherwise, I would stay away.

 

[Challenger84]

I really appreciate everybody chiming in.
I agree i will not be allowed to take any core samples.
If the Trailer and OB checks out i just might pull the trigger and give him an offer less than asking price.
If i am able to purchase the boat i'll start the search for the Rot problem and if it really is just the one soft spot i would be able to fix it myself.
If it's bad and needs a full restore.. i'll dump the boat or give it away as is.

Wish me Luck guys!
plans are to take a look at it this Sunday.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Good luck. If you take any pics post them so we can boat shop vicariously through you..

 

[JimS123]

First of all , what in the heck is a cubby? Second of all, a "soft floor" means that the hull has cancer and it probably should be put out of its misery. If you can get it for a couplabucks and you like to work a lot to make a few bucks, buy it and part it out.

 

[NYBo]

BTW, it's a 1900. 1950 in that year was the I/O version.

 

[tpenfield]

First of all , what in the heck is a cubby? .

That is where you stick your hat and gloves when you come into the house after snow blowing your driveway.

 

[Challenger84]

First of all , what in the heck is a cubby? Second of all, a "soft floor" means that the hull has cancer and it probably should be put out of its misery. If you can get it for a couplabucks and you like to work a lot to make a few bucks, buy it and part it out.

"Cubby" aka "Cuddy Cabin"

Im not looking to make a couple bucks and part it out.. I am looking for advice.

In the market for a fishing boat i can get fish guts all over and not worry about it.

Thanks for chiming in.

Happy Friday everyone!

 

[JimS123]

"Cubby" aka "Cuddy Cabin"

Im not looking to make a couple bucks and part it out.. I am looking for advice.

In the market for a fishing boat i can get fish guts all over and not worry about it.

Thanks for chiming in.

Happy Friday everyone!

Ok, I just never heard that they were aka cubby.

My advice is to pass. As a comparison, my buddy bought a similar boat with just a "soft spot". It rapidly turned into a bigger spot and the helm chair fell off. The repair shop quoted a few hundred to fix the floor, and then they opened it up and he ended up paying $3900 to repair it because a soft spot usually is total cancer. So now he's stuck with a $6900 boat that isn't worth $2000.

I don't "worry" about fish guts either. My deck is guts proof and i clean it up without delay. I would worry about a rotten core though, especially if its over powered.

If your objective is fishing, go aluminum outboard with a nautolex deck.

 

[ondarvr]

Bayliners like that don't make very good fishing boats, you could get something for less that would be a better project. The motor and trailer have "some" value, the boat itself is a costly liability.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Cuddy aka cuddy cabin... cubby is just wrong....

it's a rotten hull..... if you can get it for half the value of the motor go for it.

 

[Challenger84]

I agree, the hull is not the ideal platform​ and not worth time and $$ into fixing
I'll see what I can get the trailer and motor for and look for CC that needs a OB.
If the price is right, I'll have a new (to me) OB an trailer

Thank you everyone for chiming in.

 

[redneck joe]

Sometimes a soft spot is
Just a soft spot.




Stwnd on the motor and look for flex

 

[ondarvr]

Sometimes a soft spot is
Just a soft spot.

That is the hope of every old Bayliner owner, typically it's a fantasy.