Bayliner1980's
Discussion
Looked at a boat today with a view to purchase, It's not in tip-top condition but the best available for the money.
She is an 80's Bayliner, 25ft. Don't know the exact model.
The sun has taken its toll on the seat covers and woodwork but these are cheap to fix here in the UAE.
It has twin Penta 120 petrol engines on 260 Outdrives with Penta's auto trim system.
All electrics are working fine as are the engines which are recently serviced (and the outdrives).
A sea trial is out of the question due to legal requirements before the boat can enter the water (needs a transponder fitted but to do that needs registration and about a thousand quid deposit).
What I want to know is: do the PH gurus think it is an OK prospect if all fitted-up and will it do all the required messing about in boats stuff like wakeboarding, fishing and pulling silly tubes for sea-water enemas?
Or is it a complete dog and should leave well alone? I should mention here that I'm not averse to getting my hands dirty and I'm well capable of taking those engines apart and putting most of them back together again.
It would be stored at my villa and tractor launched so the size/weight is not really an issue for handling, but is it as far as performance is concerned?
Appreciate your comments....
She is an 80's Bayliner, 25ft. Don't know the exact model.
The sun has taken its toll on the seat covers and woodwork but these are cheap to fix here in the UAE.
It has twin Penta 120 petrol engines on 260 Outdrives with Penta's auto trim system.
All electrics are working fine as are the engines which are recently serviced (and the outdrives).
A sea trial is out of the question due to legal requirements before the boat can enter the water (needs a transponder fitted but to do that needs registration and about a thousand quid deposit).
What I want to know is: do the PH gurus think it is an OK prospect if all fitted-up and will it do all the required messing about in boats stuff like wakeboarding, fishing and pulling silly tubes for sea-water enemas?
Or is it a complete dog and should leave well alone? I should mention here that I'm not averse to getting my hands dirty and I'm well capable of taking those engines apart and putting most of them back together again.
It would be stored at my villa and tractor launched so the size/weight is not really an issue for handling, but is it as far as performance is concerned?
Appreciate your comments....
I think you have convinced yourself that its what you want. It meets all the family needs (can put the kids to sleep in the front below decks for a kip) and could take 8 peeps comfortably on a day out. However, you now need to convince your Mrs that its the right boat for the family.
As you said, she does need some work and with what you have planned is very do-able at next to feck all cost, to make her tip top for the end of summer.
The pics he used to advertise the boat are misrepresenting the current condition of the boat.
So, how did it go last night - did you convince her?
As you said, she does need some work and with what you have planned is very do-able at next to feck all cost, to make her tip top for the end of summer.
The pics he used to advertise the boat are misrepresenting the current condition of the boat.
So, how did it go last night - did you convince her?
Are you sure it's a Bayliner? Doesn't look like one to me not that I'm an expert.
And they won't be 260 drives as there was no such thing. The 270s were the first to have power trim as an option as against tilt only, but what is meant by auto trim?
I'm pretty sure in that picture I can see lifter motors which are a worm driven plunger meaning the drives wouldn't have the power trim option????
Anything earlier than a 280 drive and you will struggle for parts as Matt says.
Volvo engines of that age if correct would have been red not black and should be AQAD131 but I can't tell the age of them as I'm not up on the series differences.
Bet you can't get serial number off anything to check the age.
And they won't be 260 drives as there was no such thing. The 270s were the first to have power trim as an option as against tilt only, but what is meant by auto trim?
I'm pretty sure in that picture I can see lifter motors which are a worm driven plunger meaning the drives wouldn't have the power trim option????
Anything earlier than a 280 drive and you will struggle for parts as Matt says.
Volvo engines of that age if correct would have been red not black and should be AQAD131 but I can't tell the age of them as I'm not up on the series differences.
Bet you can't get serial number off anything to check the age.
MOTORVATOR said:
Are you sure it's a Bayliner? Doesn't look like one to me not that I'm an expert.
And they won't be 260 drives as there was no such thing. The 270s were the first to have power trim as an option as against tilt only, but what is meant by auto trim?
I'm pretty sure in that picture I can see lifter motors which are a worm driven plunger meaning the drives wouldn't have the power trim option????
Anything earlier than a 280 drive and you will struggle for parts as Matt says.
Volvo engines of that age if correct would have been red not black and should be AQAD131 but I can't tell the age of them as I'm not up on the series differences.
Bet you can't get serial number off anything to check the age.
Good stuff, that's what I needed!And they won't be 260 drives as there was no such thing. The 270s were the first to have power trim as an option as against tilt only, but what is meant by auto trim?
I'm pretty sure in that picture I can see lifter motors which are a worm driven plunger meaning the drives wouldn't have the power trim option????
Anything earlier than a 280 drive and you will struggle for parts as Matt says.
Volvo engines of that age if correct would have been red not black and should be AQAD131 but I can't tell the age of them as I'm not up on the series differences.
Bet you can't get serial number off anything to check the age.
I can't find a Bayliner like it so will be looking closer on the 2nd viewing.
Advertised as 260 stern drives, will check these too. Loads of service receipts to check.
Auto trim has this control pad at the helm...
Right forget trim, those controls are just for the worm drive lifters. Should have a light next to then that tells you when the drive is lifted and goes out when the drive is down. The only auto bit is that the worm drive has a micro switch to stop it at the length of travel.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...
My guess is you are looking at either 270 or 280 drives without the trim option. This has quite an effect on what performance you will expect.
Also I would hazard that you are looking more 70s than 80s.
Track the engines down here.
http://www.volvopenta.com/VOLVOPENTA/UK/EN-GB/MARI...
More photos and I'll try to help further.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...
My guess is you are looking at either 270 or 280 drives without the trim option. This has quite an effect on what performance you will expect.
Also I would hazard that you are looking more 70s than 80s.
Track the engines down here.
http://www.volvopenta.com/VOLVOPENTA/UK/EN-GB/MARI...
More photos and I'll try to help further.
I have vague recollections of a potential problem with some models of Volvo Penta stern drives back in the late 1970’s, early 1980’s. With the boat out the water it might not be apparent and age might have bought it on.
IIRC the gear change uses a cable which passes through the hull below the waterline. 99% gave no problem, but occasionally one was poorly fitted, duff seal, etc. After over 30 years I can’t remember the details of which models were affected.
The cable came through the fixed plate on the stern, which is where it leaked.
The result was that one or two owners left the boat unattended on a mooring for days; the seal failed and slowly leaked enough for the boat to sink at its moorings.
If you go for this boat and this model has that cable arrangement then change those seals carefully as a precautionary measure.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Back then Volvo Penta had the good practice of attaching tiny labels to all wires in the wiring loom printed in English so you know where they connect to.
The downside is they translated poorly. Many wires are labelled “God’s Body”. These are Earth wires.
IIRC the gear change uses a cable which passes through the hull below the waterline. 99% gave no problem, but occasionally one was poorly fitted, duff seal, etc. After over 30 years I can’t remember the details of which models were affected.
The cable came through the fixed plate on the stern, which is where it leaked.
The result was that one or two owners left the boat unattended on a mooring for days; the seal failed and slowly leaked enough for the boat to sink at its moorings.
If you go for this boat and this model has that cable arrangement then change those seals carefully as a precautionary measure.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Back then Volvo Penta had the good practice of attaching tiny labels to all wires in the wiring loom printed in English so you know where they connect to.
The downside is they translated poorly. Many wires are labelled “God’s Body”. These are Earth wires.
MOTORVATOR said:
Right forget trim, those controls are just for the worm drive lifters. Should have a light next to then that tells you when the drive is lifted and goes out when the drive is down. The only auto bit is that the worm drive has a micro switch to stop it at the length of travel.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...
My guess is you are looking at either 270 or 280 drives without the trim option. This has quite an effect on what performance you will expect.
Also I would hazard that you are looking more 70s than 80s.
Track the engines down here.
http://www.volvopenta.com/VOLVOPENTA/UK/EN-GB/MARI...
More photos and I'll try to help further.
The two switches to the top left (one just out of shot has a light buthe other in shot is missing) I'm told are for the lifters. The panel has pictures of how the boat is affected when pushed ie listing or lifting the bow. I'll get more info on this on Thursday evening. I guess it has some sort of instruction manual.http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...
My guess is you are looking at either 270 or 280 drives without the trim option. This has quite an effect on what performance you will expect.
Also I would hazard that you are looking more 70s than 80s.
Track the engines down here.
http://www.volvopenta.com/VOLVOPENTA/UK/EN-GB/MARI...
More photos and I'll try to help further.
Looking at Bayliner models it does fit in with your guess at 70's rather than 80's! More digging required.
I'll see if I can get loads of pictures of the drives and motors close-up...
Thanks for your help guys, brilliant PH as ever!
Edit to add....
Edited by oilydan on Wednesday 27th April 10:28
280s at a guess although they all look similar from the outside.
No trim on the outdrives, just lifters as I said.
This will affect performance so it won't compare with a similar powered newer boat.
It's been fitted with the QL trim tab system though which is the 2 bars you see each side of the outdrives. These work like traditional trim tabs but are just a plate that goes down into the water below the hull line and pushes the nose down when under power. That's what the panel is for, nothing to do with engines / outdrives.
As Fester says the gear change cable comes through a hose which should be above water level and attaches in the back of the outdrive under that back panel you see. Hose leaks and you shouldn't sink as a good bilge pump will keep up with it generally.
As Simpo politely said it's a bit of a dog but if you are getting it for nothing money then maybe worth some time and effort, just don't expect all your money back unless the boat market is different over there.
No trim on the outdrives, just lifters as I said.
This will affect performance so it won't compare with a similar powered newer boat.
It's been fitted with the QL trim tab system though which is the 2 bars you see each side of the outdrives. These work like traditional trim tabs but are just a plate that goes down into the water below the hull line and pushes the nose down when under power. That's what the panel is for, nothing to do with engines / outdrives.
As Fester says the gear change cable comes through a hose which should be above water level and attaches in the back of the outdrive under that back panel you see. Hose leaks and you shouldn't sink as a good bilge pump will keep up with it generally.
As Simpo politely said it's a bit of a dog but if you are getting it for nothing money then maybe worth some time and effort, just don't expect all your money back unless the boat market is different over there.
Its about GBP4.5K which is about as cheap as a motorboat gets here.
For example, an open bayliner speedboat (1990's) with 8 seats (4 fore and 4 aft) with a 125hp Mercury is about GBP10K.
How well should this one go? Surely it will get up on the plane and should accellerate fast enough for a skier?
For example, an open bayliner speedboat (1990's) with 8 seats (4 fore and 4 aft) with a 125hp Mercury is about GBP10K.
How well should this one go? Surely it will get up on the plane and should accellerate fast enough for a skier?
oilydan said:
Its about GBP4.5K which is about as cheap as a motorboat gets here.
For example, an open bayliner speedboat (1990's) with 8 seats (4 fore and 4 aft) with a 125hp Mercury is about GBP10K.
How well should this one go? Surely it will get up on the plane and should accellerate fast enough for a skier?
Ok well there's a couple of things to understand in that comparison.For example, an open bayliner speedboat (1990's) with 8 seats (4 fore and 4 aft) with a 125hp Mercury is about GBP10K.
How well should this one go? Surely it will get up on the plane and should accellerate fast enough for a skier?
This boat will have supposedly 120 hp engines that realistically will be down on power by the look of them. Think 1800cc Volvo and that's what they are just upped in power and marinised. That 120hp is measured at the crankshaft whereas the outboard version will be measured at the propshaft so you have two lots of gearbox loss to account for.
Yes it should pull a skier but the wake from a twin engined boat is not that nice to ski and you migt find the initial tale off slow to pull you out of the water.
The 1990 open boat is guaranteed to be lighter and with the benefit of power trim on the engine will be considerably more useable for skiing than this one.
Two engines and two gearboxes that will need work at a guess but there is a benefit in the security of two engines over one in terms of breakdowns.
Replace the exhaust headers and maybe some parts on those legs and you have spent the same money as buying the outboard you mentioned and you haven't even started to replace bilge pumps or anything else.
And when you've finished throwing money at it you will still have a boat that's worth £4.5k in my opinion.
If you were looking at something like a Sunseeker with those legs and engines then yes spend the money and you have a valuable boat but on that one my inclination is to say no.
Is the trailer in good condition? Wheels look like nice, are they alloys?
Dan I assume you have looked on Dubizzle,
http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/boats/motorbo...gte=&is_search=1&age__lte=&price__gte=25000&places__id__in=Enter+Location%28s%29+Here&places__id__in=&condition__gte=&usage__lte=&keywords=&is_basic_search_widget=0&pricelte=50000
Dan I assume you have looked on Dubizzle,
http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/boats/motorbo...gte=&is_search=1&age__lte=&price__gte=25000&places__id__in=Enter+Location%28s%29+Here&places__id__in=&condition__gte=&usage__lte=&keywords=&is_basic_search_widget=0&pricelte=50000
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