making my cabin cruiser more efficient

Discussion in 'Powerboats' started by PT Man, Aug 5, 2002.

  1. mitch
    Joined: Jul 2002
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    mitch Junior Member

    I also own a 1989 Bayliner 2855 Cierra Sun Bridge boat. It also has the 7.4lt Volvo Penta with a OMC Cobra drive. My boat weighs about 7500 lbs. I do love the overal design and the style. I was told by a mechanic that I trust to acelarate slowly in order not to spin the hub in the prop. My prop is a 3 blade stainles. 14and a half inch x 14and a half inc pitch. I can cruise at 29 mph with a fuel burn of 16gph . I did trim my drive all the way in and my tabbs down at about a 7 degrees. I do have trim tabb indicators installed.
     
  2. Willallison
    Joined: Oct 2001
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    Willallison Senior Member

    Well if ever there was a false statement made, I'm afraid I've just read it.
    The Brunswick corporaton own both Searay and Bayliner (as well as Mercury, Sealine, Maxum and a whole host of other brands). Each of their brandnames is aimed at a particular market segment. Bayliner is (and always has been) the entry level brand - the boats are aimed at getting people (in particular 1st time boaters) on the water at the lowest possible price. It's true that quality control has improved immeasurably over the past few years - but Bayliner is still aimed at this particular market segment. Searay, on the other hand, lies towards the other end of the mass-produced production cruiser spectrum. They are aimed at capturing those buyers prepared to pay a little more for a higher level of finish and build quality. You only have to climb aboard a comparable pair of boats at any boat show and the difference is immediately apparent..... the way in which carpet edging is finished, the insides of cupboards and the sturdiness of fittings are all indicative of the quality difference between the two brands.
    There is nothing wrong with a Bayliner, just as there's nothing wrong with a Toyota. But it ain't no Mercedes. The Brunswick Corp. are hardly likely to build two similar brands - one of a higher quality than another - and then effectively lie to all its customers by advertising them as the opposite.......
     
  3. FRANKIEFRANKIE
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    FRANKIEFRANKIE Junior Member

    Boat Strength

    That is what they count on the public being so nieve. Being one and running in the circles with others.

    I know that Fountain turns his boats over a straightens them.
    I know Active Thunder straightens his.

    Very few companies straighten their boats or their molds. It is cheaper to put in more power for the production boat which is what you are talking about. It would really be nice to have an informed public. Remember you are talking about Corporations which is bottom line.
     
  4. Willallison
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    Willallison Senior Member

    I'm not suggesting that Searay - or any other mass-production builder - operates to the same exacting standards as someone like Fountain (nor is the same level of build required given the performance differences). Many a custom builder would exceed the build quality of most that Brunswick produces and there are also plenty of production builders who produce better built boats. I'm merely pointing out that you are wrong in suggesting that Bayliners are built to a higher quality than Searays.
     
  5. Willallison
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    Willallison Senior Member

    One further thing on this point, which goes back to one of my earlier comments.
    Let's assume that you are correct and Bayliners are indeed a superior product. It stands to reason that they would be more expensive to produce. Yet Bayliner sell them for significantly less than a similar sized Searay and sell many, many more of them too. Now why would Brunswick (as the greedy corporate crooks that you regard them as) sell a superior product for less money than they can get for something which costs them less to produce, when they could just as easily reverse the market positions of the two brands. It simply doesn't make sense.
    We at leat agree one one thing - it would be nice to have an informed public - any naivety displayed here I don't believe to have been mine.....
     
  6. Jeff
    Joined: Jun 2001
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    Jeff Moderator

    Good - I'm glad Will posted because I had the same reaction having always found SeaRays to be at least one full notch above Bayliners in production quality. Then again it has been five years or more since I've been on a Bayliner so it's certainly possible something has changed in all that time, but I would still be surprised.
     
  7. Jeff
    Joined: Jun 2001
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    Jeff Moderator

    On the other hand, things are shaking up a bit at Bayliner as Brunswick launched the new Meridian brand for motoryachts over 30' and Bayliner is reduced to yachts under 30' now... possibly it is just a case of the entry-level name being associated with quality of yesterday, but...
     
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  8. Willallison
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    Willallison Senior Member

    News on these events tends to run a few months late for me here in Oz, Jeff - has it actually been announced that Bayliner will restricted to sub 30ft?
    Not too surprising really. In moving into ever larger boats, Bayliner was forced to move upmarket, crowding the other brands - like Searay - which Brunswick owns. Though I'm still a little confused - if all they've done is to split the model range either side of 30ft and called the bigger boats by a new name, then they haven't really addressed this problem. I suspect that there may be a few more changes to come. Perhaps Searay will build only Express cruiser type big boats, leaving the motoryachts to Meridian?
    And then there's Maxum too......
     
  9. Jeff
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    Jeff Moderator

    I haven't heard if there will be any changes to the SeaRay lineup. It appears that Maxum and Bayliner will be small sportboats, deckboats, and overnighters for the short term future at least. I honestly don't follow Bayliner closely enough to be able to say what exact roles existing vs. future sales, dealer networks, name reputation and branding, etc. had on the decision. And I'm not sure whether it was a proactive move (eliminating overlap, utilizing existing production facilties with a better branding) or a retroactive move (responding to long term sales pattens and seeing if a new brand would allow them to capture an even larger share of the market.) But it was probably a good decision.

     
  10. FRANKIEFRANKIE
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    FRANKIEFRANKIE Junior Member

    IT WORKS

    PRECIEVED VALUE. ADVERTISING WORKS.
     
  11. BJB
    Joined: Jun 2006
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    BJB Son of a Captain

    I also have a 2858 Bayliner (1985). I made a very simple and effective change to what is already a great boat*. I pulled the 5.7 litre engine (with a two-bolt main!!) and dropped in a stroked and bored small block Chevy 383 (4-bolt main). With an Eidlebrock Hi-Rise Intake and a set of ported aluminum GLM exhaust manifolds (modified for fresh water cooling) I am achieving 350 hp with a minimal fuel increase. I basically changed a Volvo engine to a Mercruiser (alt brackets, hand-made aluminum exhaust from 4" to 3") and kept the Volvo 280 leg.

    A different prop is needed as it currently has a 15" prop with a 17" pitch which throws the boat out of the hole but I think a 21" pitch would give it better overall performance. Let me know if anyone wants any further details or have any ideas on pitching the prop properly, it took a lot of trial and error to achieve the performance we were looking for (along with signifigant weight reduction vs hp)

    I have also been looking for the original specifications for this boat and if anyone can help me with that it would be greatly appreciated.

    John

    *Yes, I said Bayliner made a great boat. Period. Its 20-year old finish has been complimented by surveyors, mechanics, woodworkers - and even sailors have commented on the many intelligent design ideas in this craft. Ohmigawd ; ]

    Aside from price, it has outlasted and outshines many Sea Rays and Chris Crafts from the same era and contains woodwork of a style that you simply don't see anymore. So gentlemen, allow me to enjoy my vessel without your little digs and I will continue my practice of assisting the floundering Commanders, Zeta's and Uniflites that I have towed into safe waters. My thanks ; ]
     
  12. longliner45
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    longliner45 Senior Member

    back to ptmans question,,,vinal coat(bottom paint) will give a a knot or two of speed..maybe more ..dont know the layout of your boat .some pics would be helpfull,I am not a bayliner fan nor searay,but they both have qualitys I like ,and when I purchase a boat I look at superstructor and lines not the cabinets ,,before I puchase any boat I insist that it is pulled for inspection,,if I dont buy ,,I pay for the pull ,,and vice versa,longliner
     
  13. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

     
  14. charmc
    Joined: Jan 2007
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    charmc Senior Member

     

  15. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    Oh yeah-- ha ha -I just looked .

    Duh I feel really silly now, but thanks for telling me gently.
     
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