Help to decide what options I should choose to add to my new boat purchase...
 

OK, I know it is easy to say 'take it' when you are not the one
having to cough up the dough so keep in mind that these expenditures
are considered quite significant for my budget and I am not sure I can
afford all of them... Having said that...

I have been looking for a used boat (but newer in the 1998 to 2003
range) but got fed up with the search and ended up purchasing a brand
new 2006 Bayliner 175 (nothing spectacular, just a basic bowrider
17.5' made for the entry level market). Although this boat is
manufactured with the intent of creating a dent in the newer used boat
market, I still had to spend a little more dollars than originally
planned.

Now, I am told that I should consider the following options. I am not
sure that I can afford all of them (at least not right at this moment)
so I would like to know which you would purchase first, and second...or
not at all. Typical scenario : the boat is stored in the garage during
the winter months (Nov to March) and the boat is moored (and rarely
taken out of the water) from April to September. Ran almost
exclusively in sal****er and used almost every weekends.

OPTION A : Current warranty on the Mercruiser Alpha 1 3.0L 135hp is 2
years. For approx. $950 canadian ($800 US), I can extend this warranty
from 2 to 6 years (4 additional years)

OPTION B : install a fresh water cooling system. Estimate : $1200
canadian. Is this something I could do in a couple of years if I am
not swimming in cash at the moment?

OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I
understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again.
Something I could do later or not?

Sure I'd like to have all of this done if I could. But given that I
already stretch my budget to go after the brand new boat, I may have to
make choices with the possible option of doing some of these things
next summer or the summer after next if I get feedback that these are
=AB must do =BB.
Looking forward to the boating community feedback on these hard
choices... Cheers! Andre

Trailer the boat and flush it after each use. I/O's are a lousy choice for
a boat that is going to be moored in salt water. A 17.5 is easy to launch
and load. Then you can skip all this stuff. Plus you'll save on the slip.

"Melandre" wrote in message
oups.com...
OK, I know it is easy to say 'take it' when you are not the one
having to cough up the dough so keep in mind that these expenditures
are considered quite significant for my budget and I am not sure I can
afford all of them... Having said that...

I have been looking for a used boat (but newer in the 1998 to 2003
range) but got fed up with the search and ended up purchasing a brand
new 2006 Bayliner 175 (nothing spectacular, just a basic bowrider
17.5' made for the entry level market). Although this boat is
manufactured with the intent of creating a dent in the newer used boat
market, I still had to spend a little more dollars than originally
planned.

Now, I am told that I should consider the following options. I am not
sure that I can afford all of them (at least not right at this moment)
so I would like to know which you would purchase first, and second...or
not at all. Typical scenario : the boat is stored in the garage during
the winter months (Nov to March) and the boat is moored (and rarely
taken out of the water) from April to September. Ran almost
exclusively in sal****er and used almost every weekends.

OPTION A : Current warranty on the Mercruiser Alpha 1 3.0L 135hp is 2
years. For approx. $950 canadian ($800 US), I can extend this warranty
from 2 to 6 years (4 additional years)

OPTION B : install a fresh water cooling system. Estimate : $1200
canadian. Is this something I could do in a couple of years if I am
not swimming in cash at the moment?

OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I
understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again.
Something I could do later or not?

Sure I'd like to have all of this done if I could. But given that I
already stretch my budget to go after the brand new boat, I may have to
make choices with the possible option of doing some of these things
next summer or the summer after next if I get feedback that these are
« must do ».
Looking forward to the boating community feedback on these hard
choices... Cheers! Andre

JamesgangNC wrote:
Trailer the boat and flush it after each use. I/O's are a lousy choice for
a boat that is going to be moored in salt water. A 17.5 is easy to launch
and load. Then you can skip all this stuff. Plus you'll save on the slip.

"Melandre" wrote in message
oups.com...
OK, I know it is easy to say 'take it' when you are not the one
having to cough up the dough so keep in mind that these expenditures
are considered quite significant for my budget and I am not sure I can
afford all of them... Having said that...

I have been looking for a used boat (but newer in the 1998 to 2003
range) but got fed up with the search and ended up purchasing a brand
new 2006 Bayliner 175 (nothing spectacular, just a basic bowrider
17.5' made for the entry level market). Although this boat is
manufactured with the intent of creating a dent in the newer used boat
market, I still had to spend a little more dollars than originally
planned.

Now, I am told that I should consider the following options. I am not
sure that I can afford all of them (at least not right at this moment)
so I would like to know which you would purchase first, and second...or
not at all. Typical scenario : the boat is stored in the garage during
the winter months (Nov to March) and the boat is moored (and rarely
taken out of the water) from April to September. Ran almost
exclusively in sal****er and used almost every weekends.

OPTION A : Current warranty on the Mercruiser Alpha 1 3.0L 135hp is 2
years. For approx. $950 canadian ($800 US), I can extend this warranty
from 2 to 6 years (4 additional years)

OPTION B : install a fresh water cooling system. Estimate : $1200
canadian. Is this something I could do in a couple of years if I am
not swimming in cash at the moment?

OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I
understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again.
Something I could do later or not?

Sure I'd like to have all of this done if I could. But given that I
already stretch my budget to go after the brand new boat, I may have to
make choices with the possible option of doing some of these things
next summer or the summer after next if I get feedback that these are
« must do ».
Looking forward to the boating community feedback on these hard
choices... Cheers! Andre


If you do leave it in the sal****er, you will need the anti-fouling
right away. ( that's next spring at this point)
A lot of people apply their own.
As far as the extended warrenty...that's rolling the dice.

OlBlueEyes wrote:


OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I
understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again.
Something I could do later or not?


Also called "bottom paint". The idea is to prevent the buildup of algae
etc., and to add an extra layer of sealing to protect against leaks. It
may hurt resale, and will definitely take a couple of MPH off your top
speed.

Nothing will hurt resale more, or affect your top speed *and* fuel
economy, than some nasty growth on the hull. Bottom paint is a must for
a sal****er moored boat.

I agree with the other poster. Keep it on a trailer if you can. You
plan on using it every weekend in the summer but you probably won't and
dropping a boat this size in the water is quick and easy. You could
also forgo the fresh water cooling since you will have the opportunity
to flush it with freshwater at the end of the day.

To back up another suggestion - look into a boat with an OB motor -
preferably a four stroke. You will gain space inside the boat and
service/problems will likely be reduced over time.

Dan

Melandre wrote:
OK, I know it is easy to say 'take it' when you are not the one
having to cough up the dough so keep in mind that these expenditures
are considered quite significant for my budget and I am not sure I can
afford all of them... Having said that...

I have been looking for a used boat (but newer in the 1998 to 2003
range) but got fed up with the search and ended up purchasing a brand
new 2006 Bayliner 175 (nothing spectacular, just a basic bowrider
17.5' made for the entry level market). Although this boat is
manufactured with the intent of creating a dent in the newer used boat
market, I still had to spend a little more dollars than originally
planned.

Now, I am told that I should consider the following options. I am not
sure that I can afford all of them (at least not right at this moment)
so I would like to know which you would purchase first, and second...or
not at all. Typical scenario : the boat is stored in the garage during
the winter months (Nov to March) and the boat is moored (and rarely
taken out of the water) from April to September. Ran almost
exclusively in sal****er and used almost every weekends.

OPTION A : Current warranty on the Mercruiser Alpha 1 3.0L 135hp is 2
years. For approx. $950 canadian ($800 US), I can extend this warranty
from 2 to 6 years (4 additional years)

OPTION B : install a fresh water cooling system. Estimate : $1200
canadian. Is this something I could do in a couple of years if I am
not swimming in cash at the moment?

OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I
understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again.
Something I could do later or not?

Sure I'd like to have all of this done if I could. But given that I
already stretch my budget to go after the brand new boat, I may have to
make choices with the possible option of doing some of these things
next summer or the summer after next if I get feedback that these are
=AB must do =BB.
Looking forward to the boating community feedback on these hard
choices... Cheers! Andre

I'm not a fan of extended warranties: BUT....if you can get an
additional 4 years of comprehensive coverage for a total of $800, you'd
be nuts not to go for it. Which is precisely why I'm somewhat skeptical
about the warranty provider or the coverage- the company is betting
that they will pay out less than $200 a year in repair claims after the
boat gets to be 3 years old. Actually a lot less, as the dealer will be
making a couple of hundred bucks commission out of your $800 if you
take this option. Make sure it's a FACTORY product, not something put
together by FLY-HIGH underwriters operating out of a boilerroom "claims
center" someplace. Seen that goofy TV ad for credit card/frequent flier
miles with an office full of people trained to say, "NO" to everything?
I think they modeled that on after-market warranty companies. If it is
a factory warranty, read the darn thing really, really carefully. It
sounds too good to be true, so look at it with a high powered light and
a magnifying glass.

Fresh water cooling? Absolutely. And up front. Are you financing the
boat?
See if you can roll it into the payments if need be.

Bottom paint? You bet. That shouldn't be though of as an "option" on
any boat moored in salt water.

While you're getting the boat rigged, make sure you include a VHF
radio.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Melandre
This is a very nice $10,000 entry level boat and trailer package. Don't go
crazy adding do-dahs. Save your money to put toward the purchase of your
next boat.I would bottom paint and add safety equipment and a VHF radio. The
engine is strong and should last 15 to 20 years with proper care, even
without fresh water cooling. Extended warranties are waste of money in most
cases. Particularly when you are asked to prepay it 2 years in advance.
Dealers will push it because it is their last opportunity to stick their
hands in your pocket.

There are things that you can do, for very little cost, to protect your
investment. There is untreated, unpainted wood in this boat. I have no idea
weather or not it is even marine plywood. Look at the seat backs for
example. The cockpit sole is painted on the topside and carpet is glued to
it. I'm not sure what protection is on the underside of the cockpit floor.
During the winter you could disassemble the seating and enclose the cushions
in plastic, paint the wooden backing on all sides, and restaple things back
together with monel staples. The rubber straps that hold the engine cover
will not last long., and the cover won't stay in place without them. Find
some other way to secure the cover. If you leave your boat in the water,
sunlight, water, and bird droppings are going to make your boat look old
very quickly if you do not protect the cushions and dashboard with a mooring
cover.

I wish you would consider trailering this boat. You would save annual
mooring fees, and the cost of a mooring cover. You wouldn't have to damage
the gel coat by sanding in preparation for bottom paint. You wouldn't have
to bottom paint every year. Don't forget that you need to raise the trailer
off the bunks to sand and paint under them. The beautiful and durable finish
that Mercruiser puts on their sterndrives wont be ruined by antifouling
paint. You will be able to tilt the bow up and drain any standing water from
the boat, reducing the likelihood of rot.

I saw this boat at BJs warehouse club and had a few minutes to examine it
before my wife caught me. "It doesn't have a head" she said with a stern
voice. That was the end of that dream.
At any rate, enjoy the boat. It's probably the best value Bayliner offers.
Good luck,
JIMinFL
wrote in
ooglegroups.com...

Melandre wrote:
OK, I know it is easy to say 'take it' when you are not the one
having to cough up the dough so keep in mind that these expenditures
are considered quite significant for my budget and I am not sure I can
afford all of them... Having said that...

I have been looking for a used boat (but newer in the 1998 to 2003
range) but got fed up with the search and ended up purchasing a brand
new 2006 Bayliner 175 (nothing spectacular, just a basic bowrider
17.5' made for the entry level market). Although this boat is
manufactured with the intent of creating a dent in the newer used boat
market, I still had to spend a little more dollars than originally
planned.

Now, I am told that I should consider the following options. I am not
sure that I can afford all of them (at least not right at this moment)
so I would like to know which you would purchase first, and second...or
not at all. Typical scenario : the boat is stored in the garage during
the winter months (Nov to March) and the boat is moored (and rarely
taken out of the water) from April to September. Ran almost
exclusively in sal****er and used almost every weekends.

OPTION A : Current warranty on the Mercruiser Alpha 1 3.0L 135hp is 2
years. For approx. $950 canadian ($800 US), I can extend this warranty
from 2 to 6 years (4 additional years)

OPTION B : install a fresh water cooling system. Estimate : $1200
canadian. Is this something I could do in a couple of years if I am
not swimming in cash at the moment?

OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I
understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again.
Something I could do later or not?

Sure I'd like to have all of this done if I could. But given that I
already stretch my budget to go after the brand new boat, I may have to
make choices with the possible option of doing some of these things
next summer or the summer after next if I get feedback that these are
« must do ».
Looking forward to the boating community feedback on these hard
choices... Cheers! Andre

I'm not a fan of extended warranties: BUT....if you can get an
additional 4 years of comprehensive coverage for a total of $800, you'd
be nuts not to go for it. Which is precisely why I'm somewhat skeptical
about the warranty provider or the coverage- the company is betting
that they will pay out less than $200 a year in repair claims after the
boat gets to be 3 years old. Actually a lot less, as the dealer will be
making a couple of hundred bucks commission out of your $800 if you
take this option. Make sure it's a FACTORY product, not something put
together by FLY-HIGH underwriters operating out of a boilerroom "claims
center" someplace. Seen that goofy TV ad for credit card/frequent flier
miles with an office full of people trained to say, "NO" to everything?
I think they modeled that on after-market warranty companies. If it is
a factory warranty, read the darn thing really, really carefully. It
sounds too good to be true, so look at it with a high powered light and
a magnifying glass.

Fresh water cooling? Absolutely. And up front. Are you financing the
boat?
See if you can roll it into the payments if need be.

Bottom paint? You bet. That shouldn't be though of as an "option" on
any boat moored in salt water.

While you're getting the boat rigged, make sure you include a VHF
radio.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Thank you all for the great feedback. A bit of explanation regarding
why we don't trailer the boat very much. We have a small cabin that
is boat-access only (we went to the cabin almost every weekend this
summer with my old boat). Our house is 1/2 hour from the marina and
the marina is a 20 minute ride from the cabin. So quite often we
simply go for short period (an afternoon or even weekdays leaving
after work for an evening dinner at the cabin). There are obviously
some challenges to mooring this type of smaller boat but it is SO MUCH
more convenient for us given our particular situation.

I am getting my new boat tomorrow (friday) and it won't be moored
before April 1, 2006 (therefore kept in my garage and flushed after
each use). I will probably use it 4 -5 times in October, 2 -3 times
in November and I am not sure if it will be used at all in Dec-Jan and
Feb.

Given this schedule of use, is it absolutely critical to do the
freshwater cooling and bottom painting now? My wallet could certainly
use the break for 1/2 year!

I am still undecided regarding the extended warranty. The coverage
seems pretty good. The warranty is called the Bayliner Extended
Protection plan: "Protect your investment and enjoy years of
worry-free boating with the most comprehensive mechanical breakdown
coverage available in the marine industry".


It includes engine, transmission, drive shaft housing, intermediate
housing, stern drive lower unit, V-drive, Colling system, steering,
fuel system, electrical, power trim and controls. $25 deductible and
cover "all the labor charges associated with a covered mechanical
breakdown".

Andre, Vancouver, BC

If you are going to keep the boat in the water then you need to bottom
paint. As others have pointed out being up north will help you some in the
winter because the water is cold.

You will get various opinions on the closed cooling system. The biggest
wear item on an inboard engine is the exhaust system. Most of the exhaust
components are cast iron and rely on just being thick to keep them from
rusting through. In salt water they corrode faster and have to be replaced
more often. Many closed cooling systems do not include the exhaust
components anyway so if you go that route make sure the exhaust manifold is
also cooled by the closed portion of the system. No closed system will
include the exhaust riser. It just has to be replaced more often in salt
water. But we're still talking about average life expectancy of 5 years or
so for these exhaust components in salt water. And as others have also
pointed out that 4 cylinder engine will last a long long time even in salt
water with a raw water cooling system. A closed cooling system also reduces
corrosion in other parts such as the water pump, thermostat, etc. But if I
were in your situation I would not bother with it for the expense. Your
boat is a entry level boat and you will not get it back on resale.

Another issue is that i/o drives are not a very good choice for sitting in
salt water. But that's wat you have so you'll have to live with it.
Complete inboards or outboards that are capable of tilting out of the water
are the best propulsion methods for a boat that lives in salt water all it's
life.

Lastly bayliners are entry level boats. As such they tend to have more
aluminum than stainless steel and less attention paid to using materials
that will stand up to the harsh salt environment of the ocean. Keep things
waxed and keep mooring cover on the boat whe it is moored. That will help
you keep it looking nice for as long as possible.

"Melandre" wrote in message
...
Thank you all for the great feedback. A bit of explanation regarding
why we don't trailer the boat very much. We have a small cabin that
is boat-access only (we went to the cabin almost every weekend this
summer with my old boat). Our house is 1/2 hour from the marina and
the marina is a 20 minute ride from the cabin. So quite often we
simply go for short period (an afternoon or even weekdays leaving
after work for an evening dinner at the cabin). There are obviously
some challenges to mooring this type of smaller boat but it is SO MUCH
more convenient for us given our particular situation.

I am getting my new boat tomorrow (friday) and it won't be moored
before April 1, 2006 (therefore kept in my garage and flushed after
each use). I will probably use it 4 -5 times in October, 2 -3 times
in November and I am not sure if it will be used at all in Dec-Jan and
Feb.

Given this schedule of use, is it absolutely critical to do the
freshwater cooling and bottom painting now? My wallet could certainly
use the break for 1/2 year!

I am still undecided regarding the extended warranty. The coverage
seems pretty good. The warranty is called the Bayliner Extended
Protection plan: "Protect your investment and enjoy years of
worry-free boating with the most comprehensive mechanical breakdown
coverage available in the marine industry".


It includes engine, transmission, drive shaft housing, intermediate
housing, stern drive lower unit, V-drive, Colling system, steering,
fuel system, electrical, power trim and controls. $25 deductible and
cover "all the labor charges associated with a covered mechanical
breakdown".

Andre, Vancouver, BC