tmise

Am looking to retire in another 3 1/2 years and am looking for a cruiser that can be used for fishing lake stripers and to sleep on after a long day on the lake. Also would like to cruise the atlantic intracoastal waterway someday. Love the youtube videos on these boats and are in my price range of less than $30K. But I keep reading a lot of flack about Bayliner. Am looking at possibly a 2006 model. Any thoughts

t500hps

I had a 1994 model. They aren't great built boats but if you're a fair weather boater they will do just fine. I've had better built boats but most recently bought a Sea Hunt for the same reasons as the Bayliner. For sunny days when the winds aren't strong they will float and move just like all the others (with proper maintenance).

ken62k

Your not going to get much help on this forum for Bayliner boats. Go to the Bayliners Owners Club forum and you'll get a lot of really good help.

Koocanusa Sam

If you’re not only in sunny weather locations the 2859 is a better boat.

thataway

I would say not a good boat for any of your uses...I am not a big fan of Bayllner, or the express type of cruiser--and yes, I owned a Bayliner Ciera at one point (fill in boat while building a larger boat)--OK for that type of use...But as a retirement home...boat. Fishing not very good. I/O which can be problematic. Underpowered, (Think "everyone get in the cabin, get weight forward so we can get on a plane")... fuel hog. Going to cost a lot to maintain. I really don't like I / O in salt water, which you will have along the ICW.

Do you have a one ton truck to tow it with? (diesel best), and you will have to have permits--almost 10' beam...

HTJ

I'm one of the weird types that enjoys working on the boat as much as running it or fishing but a 10+ year old I/O powered Bayliner as a "retirement" boat? Hellz to the no. Those are wine and cheese boats that go well with Ripple and Velveeta.

Spend the next 3.5 years pinching nickels and look for a 2950 Proline or like sized Grady WA.

chrisbtr

Just dont avoid them because of forum posts. Ive personally never owned one. But years back my uncle and I took a two week trip on the intercoastal in a 18 ft bayliner and it was great. Yes 18 ft. This part will sound crazy but we actually crossed from ft pierce to bimini in that boat at the end of the trip. Glass on the way over but came back in 10 ft rollers. The little bayliner did awesome. He went all over the place in that boat and never had problems. Make sure to check the boat out for yourself and dont immediately dismiss the brand. It might be one of the best boats you ever have. It was for my uncle.

BrokeLoser

Like you, I heard lots of negative talk about the Bayliner brand and I was hesitant to give it a try....I’ve had four big water boats...two Stripers a skippy and now my Bayliner 2556. My 2556 is by far my favorite of the four. A good friend of mine has a 1990 25’ skippy flybridge which is the comparable model to the 2556. I much prefer my boat over his. Mine has a 12” wider beam....flush engine deck cover...higher cabin ceiling...7.4L Bravo 2 vs. his underpowered 5.7L,....all for half what he paid.
My guess is Bayliner got their poor reputation from their low end, smaller, mass produced production models such as the Capri...and I’m sure that Evinrude Ficht didn’t help them much either.
The bottom line is no other manufacturer has more low end, low dollar production models out in the marketplace...naturally, you’ll hear more about Bayliner than any other based solely on the numbers alone....And remember, most have the tendency to spread negativity while not taking the time to say positive things.

HTJ

You're entirely right, let me contribute something objective and with less personal bias

The Ciera, and other like hulls have a bunch of weight up high and corresponding windage from all of the structure - the result here is a hull that can be tender in all but the most placid conditions, moves a lot on the hook and with a single IO can be challenging in close quarters when it's breezy. Couple this with a hull form that is anything but a wave crusher and you have a rig that is not overly comfortable in anything but flat water.

And speaking of that single IO, typically a 7.4/330, you end up with a rig that is very modestly powered with a very narrow range of performance from just on plane at maybe 22 MPH to a WOT speed of maybe 29-30 and putting the hurt on some dead dinosaurs along the way. The 2006ish vintage boats the OP is considering will likely come with a long list of need it now maintenance items as well - risers, manifolds, bellows etc etc etc. These are big ticket (relatively) items if you are paying a dealer or yard to do the work.

The deck layout is the antichrist of fishing with no rodholders, fishbox or baitwell to be found, and little to no room to fish anyways.

These boats have a purpose and serve it very well - rec boaters that go out 3 or 4 times per year booze cruising with friends, never more than a mile or 3 from their slip. But for the OP's use....not the ride I would recommend. Was a recent thread on here of a fellow buying a really clean 28 Pursuit with 200 Yams for 25K or so - an infinitely more comfortable and capable rig.

Here..

Advice: Pursuit 2870WA value (about to sign)

tmise

Yes I have a 7.4 Liter Vortec dually, but not interested in having to get permits. Will go with a smaller beam just for that reason, thanks

tmise

Thanks for the info. I will check out the 2556 with the 7.4 liter. Would this make a good boat for trolling and drifting for freshwater stripers?

BrokeLoser

While I use my boat almost exclusively in saltwater I have used it at Lake Mead and Lake Havasu many of times doing just that...Like I said, I really love everything about this boat...plenty of cabin/sleeping space, plenty of fishing deck..etc. The 9.5’ beam makes the boat seem so much bigger....I can fish four large adults at the stern comfortably. This boat is very versatile....great cruiser and great fish slayer. I wouldn’t dare consider a boat this big and heavy with anything less than the 7.4L as it would be way underpowered....and bear in mind the 9.5’ beam makes it a “wide load” in most states as it is over 8.5’.

Edit: the only thing I don’t like about the boat is it has no windlass and really no way to add one due to the shallow rode storage.

tmise

I just checked out the 2556, 2858 and 2859 out on youtube and this is exactly what I'm looking for. Nice open stern for fishing, roomy cabin, love the flying bridge and a 454 MPI for plenty of power. Would be a great boat for cruising the intracoastal waterway I'd imagine also. This type of boat is what I will be looking for, thanks!

tmise

Thanks again, I really like this type of boat it's exactly what I'm looking for. I would be keeping the boat at the marina I use now in TN. As far as towing it with the wide beam what sort of problems does that bring about? Only place I would tow it to would be Wilmington NC in order to cruise the intracoastal waterway to key west and back. I know permits were mentioned but don't know anything about that, do like the wide beam though.

Koocanusa Sam

You will limit yourself and the usefulness or your boat with that decision. Permits are not a big deal. Contact Mercury permits and set up an account. For the little you will be needing a permit they are not too bad.

Koocanusa Sam

Never had a 2556, but had one 2858 and several of my favourite the 2859. Hated the command bridge, but I usually cruise alone. Cannot fish a command bridge yourself very well, and you need an expensive enclosure as well. The 2859 is a niche boat that has a tremendous following on the west coast. Bayliner quality in these boats is not too bad, but there really isn’t another manufacturer that offers this layout within a low price point. If it will serve you, it will serve you very well.

Joe

Oddly, Bayliner no longer builds any cabin or express cruisers.

HTJ

Maybe not so odd after all - I think most of their target demographic has realized you can still drink Zimas on a center console in the evening and then run offshore the next day or go bay fishing or what have you, and then park the boat beside the house for free. And in a day and age of $500 monthly slips, $3+ marina gasoline and $100/hr mechanics owning an "entry level" cruiser has become a disproportionately expensive hobby. There are beau coop examples of cruiser hulls on the market at any time and for pennies on the dollar compared to more traditional/conventional/versatile platforms.

Joe

I just thought its odd because hardly anyone builds a walk around or cruiser any more. I don't think there were any at this years boat show. That's traditionally been Bayliner's market. Now they just build what looks like deck boats and Boston Whaler knockoffs.

Blurryace

You may want to consider the discovery series as well. The 246/266 (same boat) seems to describe alot of what you're looking for. Open stern, roomy cabin, and easy to trailer. Saw a few 2007-2009 models on-line selling around the 30k range. Just throwing it out there. I've always liked that boat. I used to own the 195 discovery and it was a great boat for us. Good luck with your search.