What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

[blubayliner]

I am considering a upgrade to a newer runabout or perhaps a cuddy. I use it in the Puget Sound, I have been shopping around a lot and read some posts.. but in your experiences (assuming multiple responses); Is there a model, engine/outdrive combo that should be avoided at all costs?

Any suggestions on reliability, durability and family friendly?

 

[Bondo]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Ayuh,.............
Anything that says OMC on it,... Anywhere.....

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

...or Chrysler(L drive).

 

[Don S]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Merc 470 style engines. (Known by many diffirent model numbers)

 

[blubayliner]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Any suggestions on reliability, durability and family friendly? [/quote]


Turning the question around, what has the broadest and most reliable application in engine/ outdrive combination? And how do I add or reply without "reply+quote"? I really appreciate this forum!

blu

 

[Don S]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Turning the question around, what has the broadest and most reliable application in engine/ outdrive combination?

Late 80's and newer Mercruiser or Volvo using the Chevy 3.0L 4 cyl, V6 or V8 engines.

And how do I add or reply without "reply+quote"?

Just scroll down past the last post and use the instant reply secton.

 

[superpop]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

I have a Wellcraft that I like but they no longer make a runabout mostly fishing boats now. I would swear by the Volvo Drive system though. I have a freind with a Chaparrel and it is a nice boat as well, very well made.

 

[blubayliner]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

8) Wow, I love this place... (iboats) you guys are great.. and I appreciate the specifics on some models.. I don't like the newer bayliners.. I think they are too low profile.. but the picture of the newest line, especially the Bayliner Classic Open Bow looks like the Runabout. We like to go to the lakes near home and then an annual trek to Guemes Island for camping (Cypress), cruising (Spencer Spit, Orcas, Deception Pass ect) and of course dungeoness crab (100 this year). (I have 4 kids)... I am open to some more specific recommendations on makes and models..

Would a 4 cyclinder be too small/ underpowered?
Are many of these 6 Cyl mercruisers the 300 Six that Ford makes?

Only have about $4000 to spend..

blu (but hoping to change that)

 

[woodrat]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

I have a 19' fiberglass runabout that has the 2.5 liter chevy four cylinder. with the wrong prop, I was still able to cruise at 20 kts and top out at 23 kts on flat water. Most of the six cylinder mercs that I have run into are chevy sixes. $4000 should get you a nice boat for those uses.

Mine is an old bellboy, and rides nice and smooth in rough water, has crossed the columbia river bar smoothly numerous times. In the toughness department, I hit an unknown submerged object about a month ago at about 16 kts that broke the outdrive right off the back and did not damage the transom at all.

 

[blubayliner]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

I hit an unknown submerged object about a month ago at about 16 kts that broke the outdrive right off the back and did not damage the transom at all.


Amazing! How did you manage? That must have been an adventure in its own right... Did you repair it and still use it?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

bewarey of the 1996-2001 mercruiser V6. there was and application on some boats that used a different exhaust system, and is very hard to service and replace. don't get me wrong they are great engines. the application was not supported by mercruiser.

 

[blubayliner]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

bewarey of the 1996-2001 mercruiser V6. there was and application on some boats that used a different exhaust system, and is very hard to service and replace. don't get me wrong they are great engines. the application was not supported by mercruiser.

Thanks, but that probably won't be a huge problem... those boats are out of my price range.. and if they are affordable I am suspicious of why they are so cheap. I really like the older Glasply for a hull.. it appears to be very well designed for some rougher water and yet versatile enough for our purposes.

 

[woodrat]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

"I hit an unknown submerged object about a month ago at about 16 kts that broke the outdrive right off the back and did not damage the transom at all."

Amazing! How did you manage? That must have been an adventure in its own right... Did you repair it and still use it?

Well, I "managed" because I had a working VHF and GPS and was nearby to a major coast guard station. They came out and monitored me while I continued underway with the kicker, but it quickly became evident that I was taking on too much water to make it back without help, so they towed me up onto a plane, and most of the water ran back out the hole. They dragged me back to the boat ramp and two coasties jumped aboard and bailed with buckets while I ran to get the trailer. Then they helped me drag it up on the trailer and get it secured. Hats off to them for saving my boat! If I was further out to sea, it would have been a different matter, and I would have had to reach down in the bilge under the engine and plug that hole with something. The outdrive leg was just hanging there by the bellows and the hydraulic lines.

I have it partly disassembled and am awaiting a new gimbal ring that I bought on ebay, and then I will pull the engine out and replace the whole transom assembly. Then I need to find a new lower unit and prop. But it will go back in the water again. It's a nice comfy boat for rougher waters, and big enough to fish four poles off of. It will get a much bigger bilge pump, a backup bilge pump and dual batteries next time, though! I'm also going to take the opportunity to put more fuel tanks in so I can get out farther next year.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Beware of any boat that is made my the same name as your screen name...sorry...couldn't resist.

 

[woodrat]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

LOL !

Actually the boat wasn't the problem. It really was just a fluke I think. the chart and the depth sounder both said over 40' of water where it happened. I'm guessing it was a deadhead log, since there was no outward indication of anything just under the surface. I have the waypoint recorded where it happened, and sometime this fall i will (very carefully and at low speed!) revisit the site and see if there was something more permanent that I hit, but I think it was just one of those freak accidents.

I was actually really pleased that the boat wasn't more seriously damaged. I was recounting the incident to my brother, and was bemoaning my bad luck fishing at buoy ten (where last year we discovered a crack in my aluminum boat which cut my season short) and he said, " What are you talking about? Your boat is safely back on the trailer, you are alive and mostly dry, and you have two fish in the box! Sounds like pretty good luck to me!"

 

[blubayliner]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Beware of any boat that is made my the same name as your screen name...sorry...couldn't resist.

At least I'm not in California...

What do you think of Reinell or Glasply or Maxum (sp?)??

 

[Bondo]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Don't know much about Reinell or Glasply,...........

Maxum's are Another Entry-level boat,........Pretty much like a Bilgeliner.......

 

[blubayliner]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Ok.. so I am back.. just to see if you guys are still looking for new posts. I have been shopping frantically and considering moving to the rebuilding forum.. seems that the wood inside my port stringer may be bad... I pulled the lage bolts and stabbed around in the holes with a screwdriver.. seemed sorta soft..

So I have found a lot of different boats for sale.. one in particular is an '87 Sea Ray Seville. It looks in great condition.. has 175hp... and is 300 miles away from me.. So, what does anyone know of these.. I haven't seen a lot of them.. they are more ski oriented that I like, but runabouts in good shape are hard to find.

Awaiting your great wisdom.. !!

Blue

Also, I will probably be parting out my bayliner..
Steering
Controls
Engine is strong
Outdrive
Trailer
Trim Tabs (unless I move them to the new boat)

Where's a good place to list these things and what are fair prices?

 

[love1u0]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

I had a 1987 17' Sea Ray Seville. I had it for 3 years or so....and it was a great boat. It had the Alpa 1 with the 3.0 Merc. I believe it was rated at 135hp and it worked fine for me, day trips with 4 people was ok.

It was very easy to maintain.

I really wanted to keep it, but I wanted a bigger boat even more.

Are you looking at the 19' model?

 

[love1u0]

Re: What to Absolutly Avoid in making a change...

Beware of any boat that is made my the same name as your screen name...sorry...couldn't resist.

I worked at Bayliner in the late 90's. There philosophy was to get the boats out the door as fast as you could...seen some ugly stuff go out the door:%