Hey all... I am looking to buy a used FAMILY boat, (You know cruising,
pull a tube, maybe a skier, scuba dive with, camp, etc.) Just an all
around cuddy cabin style. I have been told to steer clear of Bayliner
by enough individuals to know that there must be something to that
rumor.

I am looking at a 1992 Seaswirl 220. Does anyone have anything to say
about these boats? god/ bad / otherwise? Any input would be nice.
Also, is there a site where I could get the manufacturers specs on
boats? I can find the specs on newer boats, but not on older ones.

Oh yeah.. And just what IS the deal with the NADA guide. It seems to
be totally off of reality. I see boats selling for thousands of
dollars more than the NADA lists them for.

Thanks in advance!
BC

Hey all... I am looking to buy a used FAMILY boat, (You know cruising,
pull a tube, maybe a skier, scuba dive with, camp, etc.) Just an all
around cuddy cabin style. I have been told to steer clear of Bayliner
by enough individuals to know that there must be something to that
rumor.

With a used boat, all bets are off when it comes to brand names. Especially
when considering boats 14 years old and more.
Once you have identified a group of boats in your price range, you will want to
look carefully at each one as though there were no such thing as a brand name
on a boat.
Over the years, the maintenance and upkeep the boat has received (or lack of
same) *can* become the largest single factor determining the vessel's present
condition. That's what you are buying- the present condition- not the
reputation it had when it was new.

Bayliner builds some of the least expensive boats around, and there are a few
corners cut to achieve the savings. Even so, for the type of light duty use you
are describing a decenty kept Bayliner might prove adequate to the task. What
are the *worst* (not average) conditions you will encounter when using your
boat? Once you start encountering conditions where the minor build differences
are going to present a safety hazard, you probably need to consider a bigger,
heavier, boat regardless of brand name.

I'm not recommending Bayliner, just trying to lend a little perspective to the
bashing.
50% of the people who will tell you that
you need to avoid Bayliner when looking for a boat couldn't offer you advice on
any other aspect of the boat buying process and in many cases have never owned
a boat of any type. There's no reason to run away from a Bayliner that passes a
thorough survey.

Don't consider buying any used boat without a survey.

On simple runabouts, you're essentially buying an engine and drive train and a
very basic hull regardless of brand name. Many "competing" boats use identical
engines and outdrives. In many cases, replacing the engine with a new one would
cost more $$$ than a ten year old used boat is selling for. Don't overlook a
thorough mechanical inspection on any finalists.



I am looking at a 1992 Seaswirl 220. Does anyone have anything to say
about these boats? god/ bad / otherwise? Any input would be nice.
Also, is there a site where I could get the manufacturers specs on
boats? I can find the specs on newer boats, but not on older ones.

Oh yeah.. And just what IS the deal with the NADA guide. It seems to
be totally off of reality. I see boats selling for thousands of
dollars more than the NADA lists them for.

The NADA guidebook is a "buyer's book."
You need to add the optional equipment to the boats listed in the NADA (and
most everything is considered optional) to get close to reality. Many buyers
and lenders don't go through that exercise, and they will look at the bare-boat
base price and say "Oh, but the boat only books for $XXXX!" Makes it easy to
justify a low offer, low loan on a boat.

Boat prices are regional, and the NADA book represents national averages. In
some areas, prices are just going to be higher than NADA.

And, of course you probably aren't really seeing boats "selling" for thousands
more than the NADA, unless you have an inside
track on actual selling prices. You can see boats advertised for certain
figures, but the second week the ad hits all you have really established is
what the boat is *not* selling for. :-)

Thanks in advance!
BC