My Bayliner Conquest 3250 is now on its 25th Season. Has not sank, is not
falling apart, is as solid as a rock and runs like a top! Perhaps they made
a better boat back then, I don't know. Its always been cared for and she
just keeps on giving year after year. Thankfully I do get dock hands to
help me when I gas er' up. See for yourself at: www.1800doit.com



"RGrew176" wrote in message
...
From:

HEYYYYY, it's time to break out the old "Bayliner Observations."
Let's see... (blows off dust, coughs...)

Now, NONE of these represent my personal or subjective opinions. These
are objective, factual, empirical observations I've made over 40-plus
years of boating experience. OK?

1. I've been boating for over 40 years, and know many boat mechanics
personally. Independent mechanics, not dealership mechanics. Guys that
work on every boat made, all day, every day. Without exception, they
say Bayliners are "cheaply made."

2. I remember looking at a 21' Trophy cuddy cabin in a Bayliner
showroom. I pressed the tip of my forefinger against the side, and the
outer layer of fiberglass moved in and out about 1/4 an inch. Try this
with a good boat, like a Mako or Grady or my 1993 Robalo - thump it
with the heel of your hand; it feels like concrete slab. I'm serious:
that's not an exaggeration.

3. BOATING magazine reviewed a Bayliner runabout a few years back.
They described its construction as "flimsy."

4. EVERY time I see some dickhead thumping across the lake with his
fenders bouncing wildly around the hull, he's in a Bayliner. Why is
this? There must be a reason.

5. I live at a large recreational lake (about 30,000 acres), and know
most of the local marina owners and operators, and often take a break
and watch their customers come and go. Usually, when somebody pulls
up to the gas pumps, the gas boys jump up and help them tie off, step
onto the dock, pump their gas, etc. But many, many times I've seen
the guy in a Bayliner (usually the guy in #4 above) pull up, and the
gas boys just sit there talking, like he was invisible.

6. I know many, many major boat dealers, especially along the Texas
coast, who refuse to take Bayliners as tradeins. Interestingly, they
all give the same reasons:
1. We don't want them on our lot. We can't have a bunch of
cheap old Bayliners sitting
there next to these "nice" boats. It just makes the whole
place look cheap.
2. Customers have trouble with them, then blame us for
"selling them a bad boat."
3. They cost too much to get sale-ready. Somebody brings in a
used Bayliner, and you have
to replace just about everything on it.

I also know a number of used boat dealers who will buy just about any
boat made, to sit on their lots for resale: EXCEPT a Bayliner. "We
just can't sell'em," they all say. "Who's gonna walk in here, walk
past all these nice boats and spend eight thousand dollars on some
beat-up, old P.O.S. Bayliner?"

7. When I go down to the Texas coast, I usually launch around the
public docks, where thousands of Trophy-class boats are docked: 18-25
foot center consoles and cuddies. Yet, I will not see ONE SINGLE
TROPHY, even though big Bayliner dealerships are nearby. I asked some
local fishing guides if any of them used Trophys, and they said,
laughing out loud, "No way. When somebody shells out $500 for a
professional fishing trip, they don't want to go out in a Bayliner."

8. Even though it's marketed as a rough-and-tough offshore, bluewater
fishing boat, Sal****er Sportsman described a Bayliner Trophy as
"excellent for sheltered or inshore waters."

Now, I fully expect Skipper to rise from the grave...

Ron M.







All the "facts" from the king of the Bayliner Bashers.