Looking to buy a bayliner

[JoLin]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

The paranoia in this thread with regards to Bayliner, as well as salt water moorage is .

The biggest problem IMO is that it's been raw water cooled all these years. Unless it's been flushed with fresh water without exception after every trip there may be a rust issue inside the engine.

I know this'll probably offend you, and I'm sorry for that, but these are exactly the kinds of comments I'm referring to when I speak of "paranoia" concerning salt water on this board. Yes, it is a good idea to flush a boat motor after use in salt, if you can manage it. If you don't have a flushing attachment for the motor, it's a great idea to add one. It's on my short list of "to-do's", also.

It is not a death sentence if you do not. Corrosion issues will most likely be limited to the manifolds and risers. Those should be replaced on a regular basis anyway. It takes a LONG, LONG time for a block to rust out. It's FAR more likely that the motor will die from mechanical wear or failure, than that it will become an unusable lump of rust.

 

[ruizsantana]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

Well, you are correct, I wouldn't slip an I/O water in saltwater AGAIN (please note I have done so). You have done it and will keep doing it. I respect your opinion, but the person who started this thread needs to hear these things in case he doesn't know them. And you are correct, the fact that I won't do this again doesn't mean other won't, but it is just as correct that the fact that you will also doesn't mean others should. And I'm sorry if this offends, but unless you've wet slipped in climates like Florida, you have no idea what that's like. There's saltwater environments and then there's SALTWATER environments. I grew up in marinas down in PR and trust me, hardly anyone likes to slip an I/O down there.

It was a long time ago, but when I bought my first boat for use in saltwater, I WISH someone had taken the time to explain to me the advantages that come with outboards or inboards when slipping in the salt. I ended up having to dry stack which I hated (not the type of boating I wanted to do). BTW, I am now done with outdrives ALTOGETHER, even in freshwater, since I got tired of shelling out $600-$700 for outdrive service on a constant basis, but I don't go around telling everyone that outdrives aren't for them.

As to all production boats out there being of equal quality, that may be a nice PC thing to say, but I am sorry, that is way off the mark. I have owned several brands and the quality differences are substantial. If you're going offshore, you better pay attention to this. This is another lesson that I learned the hard way, by owning a cruiser that got significant gelcoat cracks all over the topsides, whose rubrail screws would have to be retightened every other week, etc... I've had many friends with leaky hull/deck joints, helped one of them repair theirs, and some brands seem to pop up as repeat offenders... I've been on cruisers where I can push the top of the windshield back and forth with my hand... I've visited several of the factories so I can tell you some manufacturers that are putting plates behind their cleats and some that are just using "big" washers that are actually kind of thin (yes I did also own a boat with a traveling cleat)... Don't even get me started... If you think all boats are equal, show me a Formula with a leaky hull to deck joint (maybe you can, I've never seen one).

Here's the bottom line:

If you think a 22' Bayliner with raw water cooled I/Os is the best option for someone who wants to wet slip in the salt and go out a couple of miles offshore and maybe take the family along, then that's great, but for those of us that don't think so, we want to give this person some advice, because otherwise he wouldn't be here asking for it. Most of us, when asked what boat one should get for such use, let's just say that there's many other options that come to mind right away that would be more appropriate... And not necessarily more expensive.

To the originator of the thread, good luck with your search, remember there's many boats out there so don't commit until you see a lot of them, sea trial them in some chop to make sure you're comfortable with the ride, get a good surveyor but ALSO inspect the boat thoroughly yourself (I've had surveyors miss pretty important things), pay attention to engine access for routine maintenance, and give the boat a thorough spraydown with a power hose at the deck joint and hatches, windshield etc. to make sure they're not leaky. Make sure you look at the inside of the hull/deck joint and at all the stringers and tabbing (if there's wood stringers, make sure the surveyor checks them for rot).

Good luck!

 

[Philster]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner



Yeah, the salt down in Florida is much worse than the salt in the Atlantic Ocean near New Jersey.

Make your point, but don't start telling me about how much more brutal Florida's water is.

Spare us.

 

[ruizsantana]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

Yeah, the salt down in Florida is much worse than the salt in the Atlantic Ocean near New Jersey.

Make your point, but don't start telling me about how much more brutal Florida's water is.

Spare us.

It's no big secret. Along the coastal areas in the NE salinity is much lower than say, southern Florida. Chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WOA05_sea-surf_SAL_AYool.png

And then, there's marine growth which is out of control in tropical waters.

 

[Philster]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

I've seen that chart and noticed that my waters aren't much different.

I didn't see the reference to "PR" right away.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

Aren't boats in Jersey out of the water for about 1/2 of the year, too? I mean, you pull them out in winter, for a few months at least, whereas in FL they're just in the water the entire year.

 

[Philster]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

The original point still stands: You can leave your I/O in the water, as long as you prepare for it and budget for it.

The more exposure anything gets to sun/wind/water/salt/etc means it requires more everything and might not last as long.

If boating is miserable for you if you have to trailer a boat or rack store it, but your risers and outdrive last longer, then you might decide that you'd rather enjoy boating and replacing things more often while you enjoy the convenience of a wet slip.

If you can't bear the costs of maintenance of an I/O in the water, then rack the boat or trailer it. It's up to the owner.

 

[ruizsantana]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

The original point still stands: You can leave your I/O in the water, as long as you prepare for it and budget for it.

The more exposure anything gets to sun/wind/water/salt/etc means it requires more everything and might not last as long.

If boating is miserable for you if you have to trailer a boat or rack store it, but your risers and outdrive last longer, then you might decide that you'd rather enjoy boating and replacing things more often while you enjoy the convenience of a wet slip.

If you can't bear the costs of maintenance of an I/O in the water, then rack the boat or trailer it. It's up to the owner.

OK, but there's another original point that still stands: I/O's aren't the only option out there... And there are other options that offer some advantages over I/O's for those of us who know a wet slip is what we want to do.

 

[Fish-a-Palooza]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

I know this'll probably offend you, and I'm sorry for that, but these are exactly the kinds of comments I'm referring to when I speak of "paranoia" concerning salt water on this board. Yes, it is a good idea to flush a boat motor after use in salt, if you can manage it. If you don't have a flushing attachment for the motor, it's a great idea to add one. It's on my short list of "to-do's", also.

It is not a death sentence if you do not. Corrosion issues will most likely be limited to the manifolds and risers. Those should be replaced on a regular basis anyway. It takes a LONG, LONG time for a block to rust out. It's FAR more likely that the motor will die from mechanical wear or failure, than that it will become an unusable lump of rust.

I am not offended . Let me add/clarify to what I originally said.

The biggest problem IMO is that it's been raw water cooled all these years. Unless it's been flushed with fresh water without exception after every trip there may be a corrosion (changed from "rust") issue inside the engine (added) particularly the water jackets around the pistons.

A 9 year old raw salt water engine that is never or rarely flushed is getting to prime problem time and should be inspected by pulling the heads. I was just looking at an engine that had been salt raw water cooled for about that same amount of time and the block was unusable because the water jackets had corroded to the point where they had elongated/widened past the sealing ring on the head gasket.

So, if salt water can ruin an outdrive in hours according to one post, 9 years of salt water sitting inside an engine might do some damage. Worth considering prior to the purchase of any boat with that history IMO.

 

[Philster]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

OK, but there's another original point that still stands: I/O's aren't the only option out there... And there are other options that offer some advantages over I/O's for those of us who know a wet slip is what we want to do.

Certain boats that fit one's needs don't come with outboards.

 

[Philster]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

OK, but there's another original point that still stands: I/O's aren't the only option out there... And there are other options that offer some advantages over I/O's for those of us who know a wet slip is what we want to do.

You know, your condescending attitude is a problem. I have wet slipped boats all my life, sometimes from March until December. My friends, family and thousands upon thousands of people wet slip everything under the sun. From the Chessie to New England... and the guys who take on additional cost and effort have I/Os that do last.

We get to wrench on our boats off-season. Yes, we save a few months per year on exposure, but we also risk cracked blocks and other cold-related problems.

One thing you don't want to do is jump in here and imply that you are ''all that'' because you boat in Florida. When all you intelligent Floridians (or Floridian friends) are laid up with cracked blocks, then we'll see who knows what.

I respect everyone here -- even guys on tame, fresh water lakes. The North East is harsh. Winters are tough. Florida has more growth. It's give and take.

Yeah, outboards are less maintenance and more likely to be easier/friendlier than an I/0. Guess what... so are Honda Civics versus Corvettes. If someone wants to spend extra money because he wants a Corvette, he might not be happy driving a Civic for free! I am not calling an outboard a Civic, what I am saying is that if I want all the expense and shortened lifespan of an I/O, then that is my decision.

Cruiser after cruiser... it's I/O up here. And I believe the OP said he was keeping it a couple of years. Date an I/O.... Marry an outboard. I have one older than me in my shed (a Chrysler outboard, not a wife!)

Humor to lighten the mood.

Relax.

 

[ruizsantana]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

You know, your condescending attitude is a problem. I have wet slipped boats all my life, sometimes from March until December. My friends, family and thousands upon thousands of people wet slip everything under the sun. From the Chessie to New England... and the guys who take on additional cost and effort have I/Os that do last.

We get to wrench on our boats off-season. Yes, we save a few months per year on exposure, but we also risk cracked blocks and other cold-related problems.

One thing you don't want to do is jump in here and imply that you are ''all that'' because you boat in Florida. When all you intelligent Floridians (or Floridian friends) are laid up with cracked blocks, then we'll see who knows what.

I respect everyone here -- even guys on tame, fresh water lakes. The North East is harsh. Winters are tough. Florida has more growth. It's give and take.

Yeah, outboards are less maintenance and more likely to be easier/friendlier than an I/0. Guess what... so are Honda Civics versus Corvettes. If someone wants to spend extra money because he wants a Corvette, he might not be happy driving a Civic for free! I am not calling an outboard a Civic, what I am saying is that if I want all the expense and shortened lifespan of an I/O, then that is my decision.

Cruiser after cruiser... it's I/O up here. And I believe the OP said he was keeping it a couple of years. Date an I/O.... Marry an outboard. I have one older than me in my shed (a Chrysler outboard, not a wife!)

Humor to lighten the mood.

Relax.

Well I'm sorry if I sound condescending. I'm not the one who started suggesting people with different opinions were just "paranoids", or "junk scientists". If I hadn't been indirectly called out like that, maybe I wouldn't sound "condescending" to you. All I am doing is stating an opinion, that I was hoping would help the originator of the thread.

And BTW, I know winterizing issues well. I live in Minnesota now and have been a boater in Minnesota for three years, Mississippi & St Croix rivers. And yes I do my own winterizing.

Oh and also, since we are now just posting about our personal preferences: I HATE outboards. I'd never own one. They look ugly, and I like swim platforms. ;-) So I dated I/O's and married an inboard.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

For the new posters contributing to this thread, it would be good to note that while differences of opinion are frequent, personal attacks are rare and not well tolerated. Sometimes it takes awhile to get a feel for the rhythm of a particular board, and that's probably the case here.

To the O.P., I hope you'll take the opinions that were voiced in this thread, and gain something from them. There were many good points made.

Have a great day, everybody!

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

Well put John or shall I say Mr. Ambassador!

 

[evinruder13]

Re: Looking to buy a bayliner

For the new posters contributing to this thread, it would be good to note that while differences of opinion are frequent, personal attacks are rare and not well tolerated. Sometimes it takes awhile to get a feel for the rhythm of a particular board, and that's probably the case here.

To the O.P., I hope you'll take the opinions that were voiced in this thread, and gain something from them. There were many good points made.

Have a great day, everybody!

i see alot of these boards are kinda the same.i go on fishing boards and some guys are catch and release and some guys are'nt.some guys bash people for posting bug pics and some guys are nuetral,the main thing we forget is everybody has an opinion.and the person who asked the ? about the bayliner.theres pro's and cons for everything,and its up to the person to make the right decision that fit his pocket or his style of boat HE wants.just m.h.o.but i really enjoy reading these arguments very entertaing