Bayliner 245 engines

[Bathbuoy]

Can’t help you on the Regal question, other than to say, they are thought of as a better quality boat than the Bayliner.
Your best way forward is to get a sea trial in any prospective purchase. Any decent broker/owner should not be averse
to a short trip. There is no substitute to testing the boat yourself as your view is the one that counts.
All these planing hull boats will to some extent struggle with choppy seas. They are not designed for that use.
They are targeted at calm bays and water sport use, with the bonus of toilet/cooking facilities.
The fact that they have beds onboard doesn’t guarantee you will manage to get any sleep onboard!

Thanks East Cardinal, could you suggest something in the 25k-35k, 2000-2010, 20ft-30ft range that would be better, that I could take a look at?

 

[East Cardinal]

Choice of boat is very much a personal thing. Really depends on the use you will put the boat to.
Is sea keeping more important than accommodation or onboard facilities. Cruising area and likely
weather. Sleeping onboard etc etc etc.

But given your brief I would look at the Jeanneau Merry Fisher and similar types. This will give better
shelter from weather and also a more useful cockpit area. One of the things that I disliked on the Bayliner 245 was the access to the foredeck, which was by way of steps and out through an opening section in the windscreen. Almost impossible
ar any speed or in choppy weather. Berthing was also made difficult due to this access problem
These generic types can be powered by a range of engines and propulsion. Outboad/inboard/sterndrive/

My personal choice of boat to use in Solent area would be a RIB. But these boats are not usually geared up to
stay onboard. My solution is to stay in B&B / hotel close to marina. RIBS are a lot more fun to drive than the
20 to 30ft cruisers we have been discussing here.
If RIBs don’t appeal I would look at semi or full displacement boats, (Seaward 25) much more sea kindly but obviously will
be slower for a given engine power.

There will be others with a much greater knowledge of these boats than me, but remember any boat you buy is a
compromise on all the things you want out of it. You need to decide your priority for use and then check the boat
will achieve that.

Generally most people will overestimate their annual usage, and 100 hours would be quite a lot for leisure boat.
Which means I would concentrate on having the features I liked most in any boat I bought. Be that accommodation
power, seakeeping quality, cost of ownership etc etc.

 

[East Cardinal]

Another thought. Boston Whaler and similar boats. Not sure about price or availability of these.
My advice if you are not definitely sure of your boat choice, is to try and get a sea trip on some
different types. Buying something that turns out not to suit your usage is not fun.

 

[russ]

Sealine S23. Worth a look as most are diesel.

 

[East Cardinal]

I would agree with Sealine s23 or maybe a bigger Sealine. Well made boat of this class.
Sealine boats made in Kidderminster but now out of business.

 

[DavidJ]

Have another look at the S23 or S230. Great boat. Don’t worry that Sealine have been taken over because all boats are basically a hull with all the bits bought in. People like Seabridge marine have access to all the bits (or alternatives) that will fit Sealine boats going back decades.

 

[East Cardinal]

Botnia Targa, £30k on boatshed

 

[Bathbuoy]

Thanks again, I have the S23 on my list as it is similar to the Bayliner 245 and Regal 2465. I just prefer the layout above and below stairs of the other two. However if the S23 was any better in slighly livelier weather I would rate that higher than the fact that the stairs are in the way of the sink!

I guess I am looking for something that is a similar layout to any of these but based on your comments, with a hull that copes with rougher water better. We can choose to only go out on better days, but thats not to say that at some point the weather might catch us out.

My main wants are open cockpit (if I am outside, I want to be able to be outside) but with covers if wet. Comfortable deck seating (mainly just the two of us, but occassionally grown up children and partners). Galley, separate head, overnight accomodation but also with separate seating area, again if wet. Don't really want anything bigger than we need, so probably around 26ft-28ft max.

 

[East Cardinal]

OK so it is pretty obvious you want to get a Bayliner 245 or similar.
Can I suggest that after you have checked accommodation etc that you look at a few other things
to make sure you are comfortable with the boat. These are just a few:

1. Access to the foredeck. This is through the windscreen. Canopy up / down.
2. Raising and lowering canopy is a job for harbour, not when you are under way.
So you need to choose before setting off.
3. Getting on and off in harbour.( Really only from the stern platform)
4. Berthing astern................needs a bit of thought! Also the boat is very sensitive to crosswinds whilst berthing.
5. Poor weather. You could be on your own steering with everybody else down below.
6. Steps down to cabin can be tricky in rough weather
7. Take good care of the sterndrive leg. Ideally don't leave down in seawater if there is a choice.

Good luck in your search.
EC

 

[EugeneR]

The 245 of that period was a great boat. I would buy that above the Regal, which I looked at as well. I felt the S23 gave less accomodation and back then was much more expensive. I had a number of 285's and prefer fuel injected petrol, except going cross channel where diesel's safer range was preferred.

I would conside a 245 on a trailer as second boat, to tow places e.g. the med for use over summer.