I'm a new owner of a 2017 VR5. It was ordered with every option except the swim tower and the table. We didn't get the swim tower because of the bimini top being bigger on the non swim tower bimini, and the table we figured we could get later (or perhaps a different style that is a little smaller).
VR5
4.5L - 200HP
options: stainless steel package, interior lighting upgrade, exterior lighting upgrade, bow filler cushion + bow wind blocker, windshield side wings, bimini top, covers, teak mat flooring & swim deck, auto bilge pump, digital depth gauge, bow speakers.
The boat made it out onto Lake Pend Oreille last weekend for the day (and is moored there as well). I was able to spend the day with the boat and get to know it (did not really get any photos - it was a busy day, but I'll try and follow up with some photos the next time I see the boat). My previous boat was a 1992 Crestliner 196 (aluminum & outboard) that got trashed in a storm.
So far I love the boat. It handles nicely and rides over the chop soooo much better than the old Crestliner did. I decided to go fiberglass and stern drive to get a better ride (add weight, change to fiberglass). This is my first stern drive, so it is quite a change for me - I am sure there will be some more getting used to that I haven't encountered yet. The boat is comfortable, and things just "work" (I make reference to my old Crestliner which was really showing its age and stuff sometimes didn't work very well). I chose a Bayliner when I decided I wanted to get a different boat because (1) used boats that were not that old were in the $20k range, and the Bayliner was only a little more and (2) I didn't want something too fancy because I have a cabin which means I'll be hauling lumber, bags of cement, a refrigerator, etc etc etc. Doing all of that with a Sea Ray or something really premium seemed silly and a waste of money. My cabin is primarily boat-in only so the boat isn't a watersports thing, but rather a water taxi/pickup truck as its primary task with other stuff secondary.
Which leads me to one thought - while the boat is more an "entry level" class than a "premium" class, it doesn't feel that way at all. Once you get things like the SeaDek flooring, and many of the options they offer, it really does look and feel like a more premium boat.
I did feel bad beaching the boat on the rocky shore of Lake Pend Oreille (the lake was down too far still to get on my boat trolley at the cabin). I was gentle (paddled in the last 50 feet) but still... That is where the aluminum boats have their advantage. I never felt bad about taking the Crestliner up off-season to do work while the water was down - it was a truck. This is one point where I will struggle - off season work and beaching. I know you always see pictures of fiberglass boats beached, but those are sunny and sandy beaches - everyone smiling and having a good day. I'm at Pend Oreille with it raining and windy, everyone miserable, and not a hint of sand. Anywhere.
The stereo was nice, but I failed to get the bluetooth to work and did not bring a usb-lightning cable. I later found a YouTube video about the Jensen stereo operation, so the bluetooth issue is solved. But somehow in all of the manuals I never saw the information I sought. Overall I was not impressed with the manuals I received. The Mercury powerplant manuals seemed reasonable (I'm sure it will come in handy when I need them).
A couple of questions:
1. The depth gauge really never seemed to work. It spent most of the day flashing and other times would be reading ridiculous depths like 50 feet while I was sitting over a thousand feet of water. Is there some information on the gauge I'm missing?
2. I am 6'0" and have a long torso, but that windshield is really low. I hated looking over the windshield and getting all of that cold wind in my face. I get that it is not going to be like the Crestliner style fishing boat, but geez. Has anyone been able to do something about this (adjustable seat, new windshield)?
Love the boat for sure!
VR5
4.5L - 200HP
options: stainless steel package, interior lighting upgrade, exterior lighting upgrade, bow filler cushion + bow wind blocker, windshield side wings, bimini top, covers, teak mat flooring & swim deck, auto bilge pump, digital depth gauge, bow speakers.
The boat made it out onto Lake Pend Oreille last weekend for the day (and is moored there as well). I was able to spend the day with the boat and get to know it (did not really get any photos - it was a busy day, but I'll try and follow up with some photos the next time I see the boat). My previous boat was a 1992 Crestliner 196 (aluminum & outboard) that got trashed in a storm.
So far I love the boat. It handles nicely and rides over the chop soooo much better than the old Crestliner did. I decided to go fiberglass and stern drive to get a better ride (add weight, change to fiberglass). This is my first stern drive, so it is quite a change for me - I am sure there will be some more getting used to that I haven't encountered yet. The boat is comfortable, and things just "work" (I make reference to my old Crestliner which was really showing its age and stuff sometimes didn't work very well). I chose a Bayliner when I decided I wanted to get a different boat because (1) used boats that were not that old were in the $20k range, and the Bayliner was only a little more and (2) I didn't want something too fancy because I have a cabin which means I'll be hauling lumber, bags of cement, a refrigerator, etc etc etc. Doing all of that with a Sea Ray or something really premium seemed silly and a waste of money. My cabin is primarily boat-in only so the boat isn't a watersports thing, but rather a water taxi/pickup truck as its primary task with other stuff secondary.
Which leads me to one thought - while the boat is more an "entry level" class than a "premium" class, it doesn't feel that way at all. Once you get things like the SeaDek flooring, and many of the options they offer, it really does look and feel like a more premium boat.
I did feel bad beaching the boat on the rocky shore of Lake Pend Oreille (the lake was down too far still to get on my boat trolley at the cabin). I was gentle (paddled in the last 50 feet) but still... That is where the aluminum boats have their advantage. I never felt bad about taking the Crestliner up off-season to do work while the water was down - it was a truck. This is one point where I will struggle - off season work and beaching. I know you always see pictures of fiberglass boats beached, but those are sunny and sandy beaches - everyone smiling and having a good day. I'm at Pend Oreille with it raining and windy, everyone miserable, and not a hint of sand. Anywhere.
The stereo was nice, but I failed to get the bluetooth to work and did not bring a usb-lightning cable. I later found a YouTube video about the Jensen stereo operation, so the bluetooth issue is solved. But somehow in all of the manuals I never saw the information I sought. Overall I was not impressed with the manuals I received. The Mercury powerplant manuals seemed reasonable (I'm sure it will come in handy when I need them).
A couple of questions:
1. The depth gauge really never seemed to work. It spent most of the day flashing and other times would be reading ridiculous depths like 50 feet while I was sitting over a thousand feet of water. Is there some information on the gauge I'm missing?
2. I am 6'0" and have a long torso, but that windshield is really low. I hated looking over the windshield and getting all of that cold wind in my face. I get that it is not going to be like the Crestliner style fishing boat, but geez. Has anyone been able to do something about this (adjustable seat, new windshield)?
Love the boat for sure!
Comment