Bayliner 245 engines

B

Bathbuoy

Member
Joined
7 Sep 2020
Messages
25
Visit site
Hi

First post to the forum, looking for advice on a Bayliner 245, which I know is not the most popular in some parts.

With different engines available on these from a D3 160hp diesel to a 350 MAG MPI 300hp petrol, can anyone suggest the best engine to pair the boat with?

I would prefer economy over power but am looking for the best economy/power sweetspot.

Thanks in Advance.
 
What is best depends what you intend to do with the boat and where you intend to keep it.
Lack of availability of petrol at the waterside can in some locations be a significant barrier .

Before buying our first boat we very quickly established it would be diesel.
.
 
MartynG said:
What is best depends what you intend to do with the boat and where you intend to keep it.
Lack of availability of petrol at the waterside can in some locations be a significant barrier .

Before buying our first boat we very quickly established it would be diesel.
.
Click to expand...

Thanks Martyn, it would just be the wife and I based in Christchurch, not in a rush to get anwhere, just day trips and the odd overnight stay around the solent. We would expect to use it a reasonable amount though.
 
The key is in the cost...

Whats the prices for all variants? and what is your budget?

I wouldn't have less than a 250hp. By the time you have got all your 'stuff' onboard and a family / friends, you would need that!

That should narrow your options!
 
Owned a 245 with KAD 32 diesel. Terrible boat, terrible engine.
If you have set your heart on a Bayliner 245, definitely get the petrol engine.
 
I owned a 5.7 engined Bayliner 265. Quiet and smooth engine. Cheap to service.
Petrol was only a problem on the Thames as not many marinas provided it. Solent was ok if you don’t go too far.
 
sweet spot with a petrol inboat mobo is the day you sell it
the availability of petrol is dire if you intend to actually use it the travel in the UK
if you ask around on this forum the amount of petrol you need to carry around to feed the beast is impressive
and an 'interesting educational video' of someone filling up just popped up on this forum :oops:
 
The Bayliner 265 although only a couple of feet longer offers a lot more internal space over the 245.
The problems with these boats is the planing hull. A nice enough ride in very calm waters but any chop at all
and they are uncomfortable.
The KAD 32 Diesel engine was underpowered and used both a supercharcher and turbocharger to make
it perform.
The petrol V8s have much more power and make the boat nicer to drive. It will get on the plane quicker.
Servicing costs for the petrol engine will be lower than the diesel probably offsetting any fuel price savings.
The large freeboard of these boats, which gives the internal space, makes them hard to manoeuvre in harbour.
Flat bottom and high sides puts you st the mercy of the wind.
If you are keen on the type go for the bigger 265 or 285 with the petrol engine rather than the 245.
The only advantage of the 245 over the larger boats is it can be towed on a trailer with a 4x4 at under 3.5t.
Obviously the boat you choose will need to fit with your intended use but I would definitely sea test
a Bayliner before purchase to make sure it will go where you intend to cruise.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far.

We have had a quick look at the 265 but it is bigger than the two of us need, and I actually prefer the layout of the 245, without the bed area permanently in the V. Also prefer the layout above and below of the 245 to the Sealine S23, Maxums, Regals and the budget is up to around £30k. We would also prefer a newer (2003-2008ish) 245 to anything too much older.
 
East Cardinal said:
Owned a 245 with KAD 32 diesel. Terrible boat, terrible engine.
If you have set your heart on a Bayliner 245, definitely get the petrol engine.
Click to expand...

I would say the exact opposite. With an eye on economy, as per the OP, the KAD32 is a great engine in this size boat.
 
Apologies I know nothing about engines (car or boat)! Are the KAD 32 diesel (170hp) and the 350 MAG MPI petrol (300hp) as different in power as the numbers 170 and 300 suggest, or does something with a diesel engine give it something extra?
 
I would agree with East Cardinal that the hull design is better suited to calm waters. Ours would slam hard if you didn’t slow down whilst crossing another boats wake or heavy chop.
 
Bathbuoy said:
Apologies I know nothing about engines (car or boat)! Are the KAD 32 diesel (170hp) and the 350 MAG MPI petrol (300hp) as different in power as the numbers 170 and 300 suggest, or does something with a diesel engine give it something extra?
Click to expand...
I doubt it

I had a Sealine S23 with a single kad32 and it went okay .
Once it got going it went like a rocket with two people on board and enough clothes and provisions for a week. 25 knots was fast enough for me - I never tested it to its top speed .
These are not speed boats as such as they have accommodation so the design is a compromise - the Bayliner is similar in that respect.

I suspect the 300hp petrol boat will provide superior performance.

We have friends who had a petrol engined boat . Holidays with them became a quest for petrol while we didn't even refuel.
 
Bathbuoy,
All the replies you have although appearing to contradict one another are all relevant.
Your use of the boat, the weather you are prepared to sail in and the availability of petrol
will determine the best engine for you.
Petrol and white diesel are pretty much the same price.
The diesels will return better mpg but cost more in maintenance than petrol power.
Hours sailed per year will determine which is better, but I doubt any significant savings
overall for the diesel unless you do over 200 hours per year.Availability of petrol is
key. However if there is petrol at your home base and you are sailing locally it shouldn’t be a problem.
 
LBRodders said:
Sounds like poor planning on part of the crew rather than an inadequacy of the boat/engine!
Click to expand...


Poor planning ....To some extent yes .
But range of the boat and distance required to walk to petrol stations lugging jerry cans was an issue . Ultimately a relatively modest sea passage we planned and completed in our diesel engined boat could not be completed in the petrol boat without significant measures being put in place to convey petrol to the boat .
 
Bathbuoy said:
Apologies I know nothing about engines (car or boat)! Are the KAD 32 diesel (170hp) and the 350 MAG MPI petrol (300hp) as different in power as the numbers 170 and 300 suggest, or does something with a diesel engine give it something extra?
Click to expand...

Diesels produce more torque in the mid-rev range, so a 170hp diesel will be better at getting you on the plane than a 170hp petrol.

On the other hand, 300hp is 300hp ... it will have a better top speed than the 170hp diesel, but top speed is not really the limiting factor on boats like these. The limiting factor is that your teeth will fall out if you drive too quickly in wavy weather.
 
Thank you again everybody, I really appreciate your input. With regard to taking a boat out in chop, I wouldn't plan on going out in anything excessive, but should the weather change would a Regal 2465 handle things any better than the Bayliner 245?
 
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!
 
Be aware that the Regal has steep sloping sides forward which makes for a low rail. Where as the Bayliner has a flatter forward deck and a higher side rail. This allows for larger windows and better cabin head height. More room, more light.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top