I apologize in advance if this is not the right forum. I'm looking at and
thinking of buying a 1998 Bayliner Trophy 1802 Cuddy with a 120 Force motor.
Does anyone have any information on the general quality and reliability of
the boat and motor make/model. Thanks! William

Depends on what you want, and what you want to spend.

Bayliner Trophy boats and Force outboards are not generally considered
among the more elite trademarks.

Thousands of people own and enjoy the same combo.
There are also a ton of "boo birds" ready to tell you how that boat is
a trasher, (without seeing it), based on the name alone.

Be sure to take a very careful look at the specific used boat and motor
in question- all "brand name" bets are off with a used boat. There's no
reason that a Trophy and a Force outboard *must* be suspect, but many
of them were sold to first time boaters who didn't appreciate the
importance of proper maintenance.

A used one that passes a rigorous inspection might prove to be a good
value for appropriate use under proper conditions.

On 21 Feb 2005 21:40:46 -0800, wrote:

Depends on what you want, and what you want to spend.

Bayliner Trophy boats and Force outboards are not generally considered
among the more elite trademarks.

Thousands of people own and enjoy the same combo.
There are also a ton of "boo birds" ready to tell you how that boat is
a trasher, (without seeing it), based on the name alone.

Be sure to take a very careful look at the specific used boat and motor
in question- all "brand name" bets are off with a used boat. There's no
reason that a Trophy and a Force outboard *must* be suspect, but many
of them were sold to first time boaters who didn't appreciate the
importance of proper maintenance.

A used one that passes a rigorous inspection might prove to be a good
value for appropriate use under proper conditions.

Good advice from the Chuckster.

I would only add that you might want to take the boat to a different
dealer and have them check out the engine out - compression, pull the
lower unit and pressure check it, check the impeller, etc. - the
normal over winter checks I have done on my outboards. An hour of
shop time and you'll have a good idea of how the engine is.

The only other advice I can offer on Bayliners is to check the transom
very carefully and if you buy the boat, change the wheel bearings,
races and seals and install a set of bearing buddies or similar.

Good luck.

Later,

Tom

Tom:

Thanks for the good advice. Please forgive my ignorance, but when you said,
"...and if you buy the boat, change the wheel bearings,
races and seals and install a set of bearing buddies or similar" are you
referring to the trailer or to the boat's steering system?

Thanks!

William

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 09:44:11 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

William Bruce wrote:
Tom:

Thanks for the good advice. Please forgive my ignorance, but when you said,
"...and if you buy the boat, change the wheel bearings,
races and seals and install a set of bearing buddies or similar" are you
referring to the trailer or to the boat's steering system?

Uh, the trailer.

Oh Harry, you had one on the hook and you let it slip off. :)

Later,

Tom

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 08:27:53 -0600, "William Bruce"
wrote:

Tom:

Thanks for the good advice. Please forgive my ignorance, but when you said,
"...and if you buy the boat, change the wheel bearings,
races and seals and install a set of bearing buddies or similar" are you
referring to the trailer or to the boat's steering system?

My fault - I was talking about the trailer.

Good luck.

Later,

Tom

" Uh, the trailer.

Uh, thank you.

Thanks Wally. I detected an arrogant air about him. Life is too much fun to
give folks with that kind of attitude any weight. Appreciate your comments.

William


"WaIIy" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 17:33:03 -0600, "William Bruce"
wrote:


" Uh, the trailer.

Uh, thank you.


William, there are a lot of people here that will answer your questions
without the snotty attitude.

We all weren't born with boat knowledege although some like to think so.

Also Sprach William Bruce :
Tom:

Thanks for the good advice. Please forgive my ignorance, but when you said,
"...and if you buy the boat, change the wheel bearings,
races and seals and install a set of bearing buddies or similar" are you
referring to the trailer or to the boat's steering system?

We're referring to the wheels on your "mobile" home.

Dan

--
The bomb will not start a chain-reaction in the water converting it all to
gas and letting the ships on all the oceans drop down to the bottom. It
will not blow out the bottom of the sea and let all the water run down the
hole. It will not destroy gravity. I am not an atomic playboy, as one of
my critics labeled me, exploding these bombs to satisfy my personal whim.

Vice Adm. W.H.P. Blandy, Cmdr Joint Task Force 1, Operation Crossroads, 1946

On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 21:45:57 -0600, "William Bruce"
wrote:

I apologize in advance if this is not the right forum. I'm looking at and
thinking of buying a 1998 Bayliner Trophy 1802 Cuddy with a 120 Force motor.
Does anyone have any information on the general quality and reliability of
the boat and motor make/model. Thanks! William


Ive owned over a dozen Bayliners over the years, including 4 Trophys.
Nice enough, but geared towards enty-level boaters. I currently do not
have any Bayliners in my fleet.