In article ,
wrote:

Bob, with all due respect, you're sounding almost as religious and
fanatical as the anti-Bayliner faction.


I think I see your point, but I don't agree with it. Wayne, if you've
been reading my posts, I don't mind people not liking the brand,
I've never made any inference, or assertion saying how wonerful
Bayliners are. I've simply used personal experience to counter the same
unsubstanciated "all bayliners are crap" comments that the same few
people keep tossing out without any solicitation, or provocation. It's
rude, it belittles fellow boaters in this group, and I'm sick of it.

So how does that make me a zealot? Because I won't go contrary to my
actual experiences and and agree with those who make outragously broad
claims that all Bayliners are inferior, based on little or no experiece?


The facts are that you're
happy with you're Bayliner and it serves you're purposes and the type
of boating you like to do. That's wonderful. I've never owned one
but there is clearly a place for them in the market. It's also a
general truism however that most Bayliners have no business offshore,
especially in salt water. They weren't made for it, and it's not
really debatable except among fanatics or the uninformed.


Why Wayne, is this statement a truism? Why is the 2160 Trophy I've
owned with a deep vee hull and closed cooled system, not suitable for
salt water? While nobody points this out for lets say a Wellcraft with
a mercruiser raw water cooling system? I've never put a Bayliner in
salt water, so I'm not disputing what you say, just looking for the
information supporting the statement.

But that's my problem, Wayne. Too many people spout these negative
"truisms" without any substanciation, and almost exclusively at
Bayliner.

If someone said "I think Bayliners are bad for salt water use because
they do not use stainless steel fittings" I could not only accept the
statement, but learn something from it. But when some old windbag
answers a legitimate question to someone who asks "I just bought a new
bayliner, what other equipment sdo I need" with "A new boat.", than it
does a disservice to bayliner owners as well as the rec.boats community
as a whole. This type of behavior is unfair, it is irresponsible, and
it is bad taste.


Bob Dimond

On Sun, 05 Oct 2003 14:04:13 -0400, BOB
wrote:

If someone said "I think Bayliners are bad for salt water use because
they do not use stainless steel fittings"

You've put your finger rignt on it. The fittings and trim that
Bayliner uses on their smaller boats look like the surface of the
moon after a few years around salt water. This is not conjecture;
there's lots of them around to take a look at.

Regarding the ability to go off shore, I'd talk to some surveyors and
your insurance company first. It's one thing to go out, quite another
to come back.