Been searching for a boat since last summer and one of the models that would work for us are Bayliners, so decided I had better go where the expert knowledge is. We boat out of the Panhandle in Florida, from my son-in-laws dock on Blackwater Bay. 24 miles to the pass at Pensacola for Gulf fishing and also fish the bays. We fish at anchor, so need stability at anchor. A rocking boat at the dock is sign it won't work for us. I checked out a 37 foot Marinette and never go away from the dock. The 4 boats I mentioned later in this post all were OK. My daughter and her husband, and my wife all like to fish. With their three sons I have eight great grand children, ages 3 to 13. Besides fishing will use the boat for family trips, (don't go if seas more than 2 feet), and such things as watching the Blue Angles air show, fireworks display, and cruise up the river to watch the Fri. night Bands on the Blackwater concert. My son-in-law presently has a 28foot Cuttyhunk for shrimping and also a pontoon boat. I have had 4 boats in the last 12 years, a 31 foot 1968 Chriscraft, a 29 Aquasport tournamentmaster, both had yanmar diesels, a 2750 Hydrasport with twin 200hp johnsons, and the last boat a 34 foot Californian LRC with the twin natural Cats. In hind sight probably should have kept this, but it was too slow, 16-17 knots, and the engine parts and the obsolete TD 502s because more than I wanted to mess with. I guess I am a slow learner but think I have it figured out now.
Looking for a boat to do all of the above uses, with lower helm , air conditioned comfort, nice fly bridge that will seat a few, some cockpit area for fishing, and, a firm requirement, Cummins Diesels. No more Yanmars, Volvos, or Cats .Need to have good engine, generator access, as well as access to fuel tanks, filters, etc. The 34 Californian with Cummins for 20 knot cruise would have worked., but not with the 210hp cats. There are a couple of Bayliners that might work as far as accommodations . Don't know about such things as underdeck accessibility to engines, hardware, tanks, etc.The 3388, the 3488, and the 3788 seem to have possibilities from what I can read. The latter two had the Cummins as optional engines, or so Parker and McKnew in their books indicated. Hence, decided to go to the experts. Budget 65,000 dollars. There are a couple on Yachtworld of interest but on the East coast and to get them here in the Gulf would be another $10,000. If I can find one in the Gulf Area, or the Tom-Big-Bee area we can bring it home on the water. But don't want to bring it down the Atlantic, around Florida to get it home.
Now for the experts. Some Bayliners had cored hulls. Don't believe I want one of those. It is my understanding the 3388, 3488, and the 3788 didnot have cored hulls. Also in my readings Bayliners don't have the best reputation, but I have read where the larger boats, such as the ones mentioned are good boats, well built, and the company took more care with them. How is engine accessibility? What if I have to remove a fuel tank? We did that on the Californian. Are the Bayliners I mentioned fairly stable at the dock. Not too much rocking when you step down onto them?? Your comments, observations welcomed. Thanks, Ray (fighterpilot, Vietnam era)
Looking for a boat to do all of the above uses, with lower helm , air conditioned comfort, nice fly bridge that will seat a few, some cockpit area for fishing, and, a firm requirement, Cummins Diesels. No more Yanmars, Volvos, or Cats .Need to have good engine, generator access, as well as access to fuel tanks, filters, etc. The 34 Californian with Cummins for 20 knot cruise would have worked., but not with the 210hp cats. There are a couple of Bayliners that might work as far as accommodations . Don't know about such things as underdeck accessibility to engines, hardware, tanks, etc.The 3388, the 3488, and the 3788 seem to have possibilities from what I can read. The latter two had the Cummins as optional engines, or so Parker and McKnew in their books indicated. Hence, decided to go to the experts. Budget 65,000 dollars. There are a couple on Yachtworld of interest but on the East coast and to get them here in the Gulf would be another $10,000. If I can find one in the Gulf Area, or the Tom-Big-Bee area we can bring it home on the water. But don't want to bring it down the Atlantic, around Florida to get it home.
Now for the experts. Some Bayliners had cored hulls. Don't believe I want one of those. It is my understanding the 3388, 3488, and the 3788 didnot have cored hulls. Also in my readings Bayliners don't have the best reputation, but I have read where the larger boats, such as the ones mentioned are good boats, well built, and the company took more care with them. How is engine accessibility? What if I have to remove a fuel tank? We did that on the Californian. Are the Bayliners I mentioned fairly stable at the dock. Not too much rocking when you step down onto them?? Your comments, observations welcomed. Thanks, Ray (fighterpilot, Vietnam era)
Comment