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UpstateCock2007 
South Carolina Fan
Lancaster, SC
Member since Mar 2009
4897 posts
| Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:19 am)
I have read tons of different articles, blogs, comparisons, etc on the two boats, but I wanted to get the take of the board on it. I am about to buy a bowrider here in the next week or so, and I have narrowed it down to two.
1994 Sea Ray 200 - 396 Hours, 4.3L Mercruiser.
2001 Bayliner Capri 17.5 - Approx 500 Hours - 3.0L Mercruiser.
Both boats are cosmetically in great shape with solid flooring, upholstery looks good, and the engine sounds great on both. I took a friend of mine who worked at Charleston Yacht Club through college to see if he noticed anything that jumped out as a warning sign. Basically, I have heard that Sea Ray is a better boat, but is it worth buying a boat that is 7 years older for the name? The boats are essentially the same exact price. I know the guy selling the Sea Ray pretty well, so that makes me want to lean a little more in that direction. Does anyone have any input or experience with either of these? TIA.
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DonChowder 
LSU Fan
Crockpot
Member since Dec 2012
1480 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:36 am to UpstateCock2007)
Sea Ray all the way. Much better hull on that one.
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Hammertime
LSU Fan
Hiding in your back seat
Member since Jan 2012
8875 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:43 am to UpstateCock2007)
I probably wouldn't take a new Bayliner over that Searay. In fact, I would probably just pull the Bayliner motor and put it on something else. Not saying that specific Searay is amazing, I just hate Bayliner/Trophy. Because everyone I have seen is a POS. Everyone I have worked on is a POS. They are almost priced at the same point as good boats now.
I worked at a boat broker place for maybe a year or two, and we didn't want to buy them.
I heard rumblings that a pool table company bought them and a bunch of other manufacturers like Searay and Whaler. Dunno if that is true, just hearsay.
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TexasTiger
LSU Fan
Katy TX
Member since Sep 2003
4123 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:43 am to UpstateCock2007)
I would be scared of both for different reasons.
The age of the Sea Ray
And the quality of the bayliner in general.
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BayouBndt 
USA Fan
Shreveport
Member since Dec 2007
2996 posts
 Online
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:44 am to UpstateCock2007)
I have a 97 sea ray and love it.
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bbvdd 
Alabama Fan
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
6565 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:48 am to UpstateCock2007)
Bayliners suck. I mean really suck. When I say that they suck, I mean it. They suck. They are disposable boats and really not meant to be resold. I would take a kayak over a Bayliner even if I were 50 miles out in the gulf.
On the searay, you really need to check out the transom for any softness and check for blisters on the hull.
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just1dawg 
Mississippi St. Fan
Enzed
Member since Dec 2011
334 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:56 am to BayouBndt)
I have access to a 1993 Bayliner, 18 ft with a 120hp Force outboard (my cousin's boat). It's not fancy but it seems like a nice enough boat to me. It's on Lake Pickwick, just barely in Alabama.
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bbvdd
Alabama Fan
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
6565 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 11:01 am to just1dawg)
quote:
120hp Force outboard
That might possibly be the absolute worse outboard ever devised.
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Hammertime
LSU Fan
Hiding in your back seat
Member since Jan 2012
8875 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 11:12 am to bbvdd)
Use the force Luke
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b-rab2
LSU Fan
Lafayette
Member since Dec 2005
8351 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 11:55 am to UpstateCock2007)
I dont know if you plan on doing any water sports with either one, but those will have a very hard time pulling a skier.. fyi
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Chris4x4gill2
Alabama Fan
North Alabama
Member since Nov 2008
1495 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 12:38 pm to UpstateCock2007)
Bayliner is owned by Sea Ray now and is their bottom level pleasure boat line.
The Sea Ray brand itself is quality built.
Out of the two I would choose the Sea Ray. A 17.5 is a very small boat and underpowered at that, you will outgrow it very quickly (like around the 2nd trip).
What is the price point?
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Hermit Crab 
Gonzaga Fan
Under the Sea
Member since Nov 2008
3913 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 12:43 pm to Hammertime)
quote:
I heard rumblings that a pool table company bought them and a bunch of other manufacturers like Searay and Whaler. Dunno if that is true, just hearsay.
I think brunswick owns a bunch of companies including hatteras.
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lsu mike
LSU Fan
Gonzales
Member since Sep 2006
3240 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 12:44 pm to Chris4x4gill2)
Stay far away from bayliner. Had some friends who were cruising and tubing in the diversion and damn boat sank. Had an outboard on it and transom broke apart.
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UpstateCock2007
South Carolina Fan
Lancaster, SC
Member since Mar 2009
4897 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 12:57 pm to Chris4x4gill2)
Thanks for all of the responses. That was the general consensus I was getting from everything that I read so far.
I waterski some, but don't wakeboard or anything. Mainly wanted a boat to cruise around the lake with my buddies during the summer.
The guy wants $6500 for the Sea Ray, and the other guy wants $6900 for the Bayliner. Both are willing to negotiate, and I had set a $7500 limit on it since its my first boat purchase and all.
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Chris4x4gill2
Alabama Fan
North Alabama
Member since Nov 2008
1495 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:11 pm to UpstateCock2007)
Sea Ray is a pretty good deal. I see several mid 90's 200's in the 8K area.
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UpstateCock2007
South Carolina Fan
Lancaster, SC
Member since Mar 2009
4897 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:11 pm to bbvdd)
Can you explain to me what a "blister on the hull" is? We checked the transom and things looked good when I went and saw it the first time.
Again, been around boats, but never owned one. Y'all are helping a lot.
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Hammertime
LSU Fan
Hiding in your back seat
Member since Jan 2012
8875 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:34 pm to UpstateCock2007)
I am gonna take a guess and say water behind the gel coat, which means, I guess it is rotting behind there.
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Interweb Cowboy
Alabama Fan
Member since Dec 2010
1090 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:44 pm to Hammertime)
Of the two options listed, Sea Ray.
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UpstateCock2007
South Carolina Fan
Lancaster, SC
Member since Mar 2009
4897 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:54 pm to Hammertime)
Makes sense. Thanks... I will keep an eye out on that.
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Chris4x4gill2
Alabama Fan
North Alabama
Member since Nov 2008
1495 posts
| re: Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner (Posted on 3/7/13 at 2:07 pm to UpstateCock2007)
Blisering in the gel coat is usually only a cosmetic problem. moisture gets in between the top clear gel coat and the fiberglass underneath. It is very common on boats made in the 90's.
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