Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

[Brockie]

Hi everyone,

I'm an old feller looking to purchase a cruiser or cuddy to explore the coves, bays and islands of Brisbane and the Gold Coast. My experience has previously been with water ski-ing so I would ask your opinions on what to beware of - before I buy.

I have my eye on a 1990 Bayliner 2100 Trophy hardtop with a 3 liter MerCruiser. It's a little long in the tooth but is said to have only 315 hours on the motor and looks very clean for its age. It is also very well equipped for weekends and perhaps even longer afloat.

Is the 3 Litre up to the task? I have read on forums where the 5.7 MerCruiser has been recommended over the 5.0 for a 25 ft Bayliner, and this is only a 3.0 125hp in a 21 ft boat.

Any opinions or recommendations on this hull or motor would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Brockie

 

[ziggy]

Re: Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

but is said to have

then i wouldn't believe it. + 315 hrs is 15 hrs use per year. no use for a boat is worse than normal use. rule 1 in buying a boat. never believe the seller, imho. a compression test would tell you more about condition of the engine. pressure test the drive.

3.0 in a 21' boat. i'd think she'd be a dog. trouble getting on plane. always working the engine hard for any kind of speed.

check real close for wood rot. #1 enemy of a boat. if the woods rotton, it won't make any difference what engine/drive it has. there's nothing solid to bolt it too.

personally, i like the looks of that boat.

consider. no one ever wants less hp in a boat. but many want more. + under powered can also be dangerous in a sticky situation...

 

[jus10reese]

Re: Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

What kind of price are you talkin bout, if it was a great deal, maybe, but I used to have a Bayliner ski boat with the 3.0, and it was slow as ****,,, if youre not into speed, it may be ok, never had any problems with the engine at all, just slow. Bayliner, however, does make a very cheap production boat, poor quality materials, not bashing Bayliners at all, if you take care of em, they will hold up. There are a million of em out there still in use after years, I just wouldnt personally buy another one. but good luck with your search.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

I do like the look of that boat, but look for rot. And I have the 3.0 in a 20 foot boat and it's plenty adequate but will be a bit underpowered in that boat I would think. I wouldn't go so far as to say dangerous by any means and it will get on a plane, etc, but will be running pretty hard and will top out around 28-30 at best I would guess. The bayliners of that era were built fairly light so it might not be as bad as people want to say.

If the boat is in really good shape otherwise and you is a good deal, take it for a spin and see how you like it.Like I said, I do like the lines of the boat, the hardtop looks nice.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

I used to have a 84 19Ft Bayliner with a volvo 125 (34mph/w/3 people), and it was ok, but if a person was moving around in the boat,it would come off plane, unless you had it at WOT.

 

[Brockie]

Thanks for Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

Thanks for Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

Thank you guys. I would of course have had a survey done but your opinions have confirmed my concerns about it being a little underpowered.
I am not a fan of working any engine near WOT for too long as they usually become very thirsty, and I had not even thought of the possible safety side of it. I had also not thought of low hours over many years being a possible trap for the inexperienced.
It is a nice looking boat, and is fitted for what I was looking for but I will wait and watch. They are also asking $22,000 which is why so many used boats are being imported into Australia, mainly from the USA.

Thanks again to everyone who responded.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Thanks for Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

Re: Thanks for Opinions on 1990 Bayliner 2100 MerCruiser I/O

22K ?
In the US, thats a $3 to $4 boat.