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Boat Comparison Question: Sea Ray v. Bayliner
Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:19 am
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.
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.
7
Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:36 am to UpstateCock2007
Sea Ray all the way. Much better hull on that one.
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.
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.
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.
The age of the Sea Ray
And the quality of the bayliner in general.
Posted on 3/7/13 at 10:44 am to UpstateCock2007
I have a 97 sea ray and love it.
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.
On the searay, you really need to check out the transom for any softness and check for blisters on the hull.
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.
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.
Posted on 3/7/13 at 11:12 am to bbvdd
Use the force Luke
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
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Again, been around boats, but never owned one. Y'all are helping a lot.
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.
Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:44 pm to Hammertime
Of the two options listed, Sea Ray.
Posted on 3/7/13 at 1:54 pm to Hammertime
Makes sense. Thanks... I will keep an eye out on that.
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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