Anybody here know about boats?

I'm about to buy a boat, but my neighbor says I shouldn't. Does anyone have an opinion on the "Bayliner" brand? My neighbor is calling it the "KIA of SUVs", and that they're built cheap.
I'm looking at a 1997 Bayliner Capri, 18½ feet with an inboard/outboard with a 4.3L V6 engine. Paying $9200 for it. This boat has about 100 total hours on it, and it in absolutely beautiful condition (no scratches, engine is spotless, trailer is even gorgeous).
Since I don't know that much about boats I thought I'd ask for your opinions. :smile:

Thanks,
Kyle

Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but I've heard good things about the Bayliners. Sounds like a really good deal on that 18 footer. I say to go ahead with it. :thumbsup:

Bayliner is a fine boat. Check out http://www.iboats.com/boatprices.html to get some price comparisons.

Bayliner is a fine boat. Check out http://www.iboats.com/boatprices.html to get some price comparisons.
I agree. Bayliner and Sea Ray are a few of my favorite boats. They are top notch. WellCraft is pretty good as well.

my aunt had a bayliner and it served them well until they sold it after several years of frequent(almost daily) use

My neighbor is calling it the "KIA of SUVs", and that they're built cheap.


Tell your neighbor to go pick on another brand to make fun of, Kia has improved. It isn't the butt of jokes anymore. :mad:

I am sure there is a boat forum somewhere out in the internet, just look and see what their forums have to say on it.
here is one that I found.. :smile:

Bayliner Owners Club (http://pub12.ezboard.com/bbocweb)

....except for that kia STI that was posted yesterday...

My brother has a bayliner there great boat he has had no problem with it I would buy it for sure

yep sure do,,they have a sharp front and a blunt end!!

....except for that kia STI that was posted yesterday...

:lol:touche :lol: Okay exception noted.

Thanks everyone for the piece of mind. I'll get it.

Speaking of boats, does one have to be certified or license to operate one. I know, duh I guess you do, but where would one go to get the license? Searching for that boat forum peaked my interest in them. I wonder how hard it is to learn how to drive one. hmmm further research needed.

i got mine at a 2 day class at a marina.

drove one when i was 9 for short period, no license. very easy, but get ur license

Ohhh Mr Scientist? Perhaps you could answer?

You need a special license for 450ft yachts. :p

I have a boat license, but I have a feeling it is no longer valid.

when i went and got my license i thought they were gonna be teaching us how to drive like fishing boats and pontoon boats and stuff but practically the whole time they were teaching us how to drive a 50 foot yacht. like i really need to know how to parallel park a 50 foot yacht next to a dock?

It depends on state legislation. BUT I would highly recommend taking either the power squadron or coast guard course. As far as Bayliners there are some issues with the older ones(obviously) but they are top notch boats I would go for it.

I think Bayliners are okay. Not exactly top of the line and very common, but solid boats. As long as it's got the I/O I think the boat described would be a safe bet. Bayliner used to use some pretty cheap outboards on their smaller boats. I think Chrysler made them, and they sucked.

I can't say this for sure, but I think in most places boating is one of the last vehicles that you don't need a license to operate. If you don't already know your way around a boat a class is a good idea, and lots of insurance companies like their insured to have some sort of certification, but I don't think most places require it.

Some Bayliners are better than others. In recent years, there have been some common changes in boat construction that have not been good at all.
SeaRay has a terrible reputation recently for shoddy construction. SeaRay has good design, but are poorly made. However, they cost less so you get what you pay for.

i know michigan requires it cause my cabin is in upper michigan. thats why i had to get a license

In MN you have to have a boating safety class if you are under I think 16. If you have a liscence you are covered here anyways. Being I live in MN there are bayliners everywhere and I haven't really heard anything bad about them new or old. I would go for it, but would still try and haggle the price down just like anything else.

SeaRay has a terrible reputation recently for shoddy construction. SeaRay has good design, but are poorly made.

Really? I always thought Sea Ray was a pretty solid builder. They sure make 'em pretty...

Ohhh Mr Scientist? Perhaps you could answer?

:rofl:



As for licenses - I live in Michigan and they don't require one if you have a drivers license already. Perhaps for the large boats, but not for pleasure craft.

Ohhh Mr Scientist? Perhaps you could answer?
You beat me to it, you asshole :mad:

I'm about to buy a boat, but my neighbor says I shouldn't. Does anyone have an opinion on the "Bayliner" brand? My neighbor is calling it the "KIA of SUVs", and that they're built cheap.
I'm looking at a 1997 Bayliner Capri, 18½ feet with an inboard/outboard with a 4.3L V6 engine. Paying $9200 for it. This boat has about 100 total hours on it, and it in absolutely beautiful condition (no scratches, engine is spotless, trailer is even gorgeous).
Since I don't know that much about boats I thought I'd ask for your opinions. :smile:

Thanks,
Kyle


Bayliner is ok. SeaRay is a nice boat as well.

18ft. Depends on what you will you the boat for?? The main purpose or what activity will you be conducting the most? Then, I would go from there.

Cruiser?
Fishing?
Water Skiing?
Long trips?
All out speeding?
All of the above?

Flat bottom, V-bottom, split hull bottom, extra arch, deeper cuts, small or large transem, HP, Ocean,lake, or bay??

Donzi, post, burtrum, glassbar, Fountain, Scarab, polar, stamas, honda, cabo, regulator, century, trophy, pathfinder, boston whaler, seachaser, carolina skiff, jackson-true, yellowfin, pursuit, henriques, rybovich, dolphin-superskiff, islandrunner, steiger, carolina, mirage, pro-line, panga, davis, stolpher, viking, maxum, ect.ect.ect.

TOOOO MANY to list.

Most states do not require a license, except that of a drivers license.

The only time a boat license is required are as follows:

Jetski- Law passed in 94/95 i believe. Saftey course.
Acepting money from clientel. Captains license.
Captains license breaks down into many areas depending if you will be inland, offshore, merchant,rig.

Age 16 and under, must pass saftey course and uscg approved classes for driving a water craft/motor vechicle for saftey. Same thing as another saftey course, I do not know the exact name of the course/classes. Simple common knowledge and anyone can pass the course.

They are trying to pass additional laws requiring everyone who operates a water craft of any sorts, will have to go through additional training and background checks, ect, ect....

What fun.....

Really? I always thought Sea Ray was a pretty solid builder. They sure make 'em pretty...
This is the best site I have found for boats. It has lots of informative articles on maintenance and what to look for in boats:
http://www.marinesurvey.com/yacht/

The problem with the popular boating magazines is that they never criticise any boat in any meaningful way. Far too much attention is paid to the appearance of the boat rather than structural integrity.

As this site indicates, many boats are built with structural and material deficiencies that cause wood rot, cracked/blistered/delaminating fibreglass, broken hulls etc.

Boats these days are like the rust bucket cars of the early 70's. They do not last without lots of expensive maintenance and repairs.

Remember the two happiest days in a boater's life are:
1. The day he buys a boat.
2. The day he sells it (or collects on the insurance claim!!)

:rofl:



As for licenses - I live in Michigan and they don't require one if you have a drivers license already. Perhaps for the large boats, but not for pleasure craft.


yeah...i forgot to mention that...i got it when i was 14..so thats why i had to get it.

what exactly is a glassbar boat? Are they any good?

what exactly is a glassbar boat? Are they any good?

This is like a joke post right? RIGHT!! Cause I hope you didn't join a car forum to bring up a 3 year old thread about BOATS cause that would be utterly ridiculous.

2.2 calls lockdown..