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Random Quote: imagination is more important than knowledge
the hinges for the deck hatches are stainless but all of the door hinges are plastic on the plexiglass doors. all the door knobs are plastic. the head fixtures are plastic. the door stops are plastic. they all break ive replaced them a million times. other things that piss me off are that the steering gets sloppy quick. the throttles are crappy. boats have the lowest amt of power possible. a lot of what you think is metal is chrome over plastic.
even on the "nice" boats a 1.2mil 58 meridian, the counter top is fake, the wood is fake, everything is fake fake fake.
my opinion is what it is, just as yours is what it is. everyone has a bias of some kind otherwise we would all think alike and how boring would the world be in that situation? i have worked for the dealer and seen and touched more bayliners than most. i have also worked for other people on other boats. sailboats, trawlers, motoryachts, everything. its all valid for discussion.
__________________ Top Gun 1992 Donzi 22 Classic 454 King Cobra
If it can be said that a Maxum is a fancy Bayliner, then it too can be said that a Sea Ray is a fancy Maxum.
Tcerrato, I motor about in a '04 Maxum 2400 SC3, which I purchased this year, with 72Hr's. It is by no means a fancy boat - lacks adornments compared to more expensive boats, but it serves it's intended purpose well; that of a pleasure boat/party boat/ski boat/tubing boat. I can put 7 bodies on deck, toss all their stuff in the cuddy to keep the deck clear, have it on plan by 2600/2700 RPM (350 Mag + B3) in short order, and take it across the Chesepeake Bay. Fit and finish is accepable, space utilization is above average I think - mostly well thought out, access to the I/O is reasonable, access to the battery completely sucks, quality of the vinyl is good, decent - if not the best - quality hardware is used where it matters most. For where I boat it seems to ride just fine. If I'm getting too bounced in choppy water I just slow down to where it's comfortable since I'm not in a particular rush to get anywhere. And oh, it'll top out around 50.
If you find a nice one I wouldn't hesitate.
Dan
Bayliners and the Former Maxum Brand are part of the US Marine Group Division of Brunswick. Sea Ray is not part of this group and a totally sperate entity all together. They do not share any of the R&D. Merdians did get moved to the Sea Ray plant in Florida. This will only help the Meridian Brand by brining in Sea Ray R&D.
The only problems I have ever had on my Maxum were Mercruiser problems, which would be the same on any boat with a Merc. On my Sea Ray I had problems that were clearly Sea Ray design problems (e.g., the in-dash cooler collapsed because it was held up by a small strip of plywood).
And, by the way, the Maxum express cruisers most certainly do not use identical parts and layouts to Bayliner. Layout speaks for itself. As to parts and materials, when you compare a few of each it is easy to see that materials like cabin headliners, carpets, cabinets, tables, etc., are much nicer in Maxums. While I believe that some Maxums and Bayliners shared a common bottom mold, all of the design above that (including the port holes cut into it) was different.
At any rate, the best thing to do is to carefully compare boats, not brands.
I could have easily bought a Sea Ray but I just didn't like them as much as the Maxum and I have never regretted my decision.
Also, when comparing boats, pay attention to stuff like materials and you will notice that they vary from year to year. Manufacturers are constanly changing little things when they need to make more profit. As an example, I noticed at the 2009 AC boat show that Sea Ray started using obviously lower quality fabrics on their express cruisers. That is an easy way for a manufacturer to cut costs in tough times without changing a boat's design. The nice thing about 2002-2004 is that boat manufacturers were doing a good business and had no need to cut corners on the little stuff.
If you are in Gloucester, think about how you are going to use the boat. If its for cocktail cruising in the harbor and an occasional trip out, it is fine. However if you intend on using out of the harbor on anything other than a perfect day you and your wife are going to wish you had that Parker. You will destroy that boat in no time in the typical 1-3's on a nice day. That being said even a SeaRay in the range will get the snot beat out of it.
I am up the coast from you- the waves are big and the water is cold that is why you don't see many SeaRay's / Maxums/ pretty boats in this area.
This was pretty much my experience with our first boat a 2300sc, a 99 IIRCC.
Nice boat but not for the run from Beverly to Gloucester and back when the wind kicked up in the afternoon. Fine in the river or on calmer days though.
I think we get a better ride with our 01 Pro Line 19 Sport.
the hinges for the deck hatches are stainless but all of the door hinges are plastic on the plexiglass doors. all the door knobs are plastic. the head fixtures are plastic. the door stops are plastic. they all break ive replaced them a million times. other things that piss me off are that the steering gets sloppy quick. the throttles are crappy. boats have the lowest amt of power possible. a lot of what you think is metal is chrome over plastic.
even on the "nice" boats a 1.2mil 58 meridian, the counter top is fake, the wood is fake, everything is fake fake fake.
my opinion is what it is, just as yours is what it is. everyone has a bias of some kind otherwise we would all think alike and how boring would the world be in that situation? i have worked for the dealer and seen and touched more bayliners than most. i have also worked for other people on other boats. sailboats, trawlers, motoryachts, everything. its all valid for discussion.
Certainly you are entitled to your opinion, but many of your "facts" are wrong. On my Maxum:
All hinges are stainless
All knobs are metal
The vacuflush head is a vacuflush head (it doesn't change just because its in a Maxum).
The facuet in the head is plastic, the one in the galley is metal
Yes, the plastic door stops do break (you are right about that one)
Steering is the same as my Sea Ray.
The Merc 3000 throttle did have issues but that's Merc, not Maxum, and the same throttle was used on Sea Rays.
My 320 hp is more than I need (and sips gas)
The counter is real Corian.
Cabinets are wood laminate, just like they are in similar Sea rays.
In addition, unlike similar Sea Rays:
People over five feet tall can actually sleep comfortably on my boat.
I have a nearly 10 foot beam.
The backing material on my outdoor seating is not plywood and therefore cannot rot.
And I have tons of room in the engine bay and can easily access the various engine components for service.
the hinges for the deck hatches are stainless but all of the door hinges are plastic on the plexiglass doors. all the door knobs are plastic. the head fixtures are plastic. the door stops are plastic. they all break ive replaced them a million times. other things that piss me off are that the steering gets sloppy quick. the throttles are crappy. boats have the lowest amt of power possible. a lot of what you think is metal is chrome over plastic.
even on the "nice" boats a 1.2mil 58 meridian, the counter top is fake, the wood is fake, everything is fake fake fake.
my opinion is what it is, just as yours is what it is. everyone has a bias of some kind otherwise we would all think alike and how boring would the world be in that situation? i have worked for the dealer and seen and touched more bayliners than most. i have also worked for other people on other boats. sailboats, trawlers, motoryachts, everything. its all valid for discussion.
Cmon Miike; plastic door hinges? You really did get fired; right?
I may not be an expert on Maxum boats but I have owned a 2400SCR for the last five years.
I have two plastic hinges on the compartment in the head but all the others are stainless. The hardware, doorknobs, hinges etc. are made by the same companies that make them for other boats.
My Maxum has the same Mercruiser engine and outdrive that they put in to Searays.
The stringers are 13 years old and solid as a rock.
I am six feet tall and have plenty of room to stand in the cabin or stretch out on either berth.
The 16 degree deadrise makes slow speed manuvering interesting but I can stay on plane under 2,000 RPM's. That comes in handy when in the four foot choppy waves you often times get on Lake Erie. A little bumpy at times but never had a problem. It's the six footers that get hairy. A compromise I was willing to make and after all, aren't all boats a compromise?
Get what appeals to you and the Admiral and go out and have some fun with the family.
