I want to buy a bayliner bowrider, is this a good boat?

Question

I want to buy a 2001 bayliner capri 185. My friend is selling it and he says it is in great condition. I would like to purchase it from him as it would be my first bowrider. I live on a medium sized lake and would use it for watersports and just cruising around. The boat has 190hp and is going for 11. 5 grand. IS bayliner a good company? Is this a good boat even if its 6 years old. Is it a good first boat? Will it last? Is the quaility going to be good? Is this good for watersports? Is this a good price? Please Answer

Answer 1

A lot of people will say Bayliners are not good boats - they are either saying what they have heard, or they owned an early to late 80's model (which were pretty bad) newer bayliners are great boats for the money, and a perfect 1st boat for anyone.  Bayliner is owned by Brunswick, who also make names like Maxum, Boston Whaler and  Sea Ray.  

Today's boats will hold up and look and run great for years with proper care and maitenence.  The 4.3 litre 190hp is the perfect engine for that boat, the next step up (5.0 V-8) is too much, you just don't need it.  It will be a great boat for water sports, but at the same time remember it is not only the engine but the skiers ability that determines if a boat has enough power - you will be able to have 5 of your friends on board and still should easily pull a skier, or a few tubers.

As far as will it last - yes... just make sure you take good care of it.  The floors are most likely marine plywood, but they are covered in fiberglass - so you should not have any rotting issues.  

I sold these for many years and can tell you they are really just as good as Sea Ray and Maxums, just not as fancy and without the bells and whistles...

Answer 2

Yes bayliners are good boats for the money. I had one and I loved it.

Answer 3

Yes its a good boat and would be great for what your looking for.

Answer 4

I would never buy a Bayliner, sorry, but it's not only my opinion, but pretty much every other boater that I know of. I have no idea why these guys are recommending Bayliner.  If you do some searching, just the other day someone asked a similar Q about Bayliner and everyone bashed them.  They are notoriously "cheap" as far as their hull design and tuff factor.  I would also never pay over 11 grand for only an 18.5' boat, unless it was only a few years old.

Answer 5

The boat has 190hp:   This is not enough HP with a full boat of people to get a skiier out of the water easily

and is going for 11. 5 grand. :  I sold my 2004 Bayliner 205 with 5.7 liter 250 HP for $13,000.  This was 3 years old at the time I sold it.

bayliner a good company?:  Bayliner sells what you can afford if you can't afford much.  They use wood instead of composites.  They stamp out hundreds of boats a day instead of one a day at high end boat companies.  The finishes are not detailed.  They use cheaper clear coats over hull versus higher end boats.  You get what you pay for.  

Is this a good boat even if its 6 years old?:  Have the engine thouroughly looked over.  that is the most important thing at this point.  Make him show you his maintanence records.  Was it winterized by his brother-in-law or an authorized dealer?

Is it a good first boat?  Yes.  You can get out all your bad boating and learning on this junk and then go buy a real boat that you will really enjoy in a few years.  Will it last? Yes.  Will it still look new...NO.

Is the quaility going to be good? Uh....no.

Is this good for watersports? Tubing.  That is about it.  Wakeboardign requires slow and steady and this boat won't do that.  You will fight the throttle all the way to your first divorce or fight with your girlfriend.  Skiing behind it is also just as frustrating.  

Is this a good price?  I'd say it is over priced a few thousand.

Answer 6

Price seems a little high.  With a bimini top and cover NADA says it goes for just over 10K.  I would haggle starting with 9k if I were you.  Make sure your friend can prove all the maintenance with records.  Bayliner isn't top of the line, but makes a good entry level boat.