Bayliner 2452

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steveparker

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Hi, I'm considering getting one of these 25 ft Bayliners (pretty identical to the one shown here: http://www.canadaboatshopper.com/index/listings/page982.htm ), but not quite as old. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience of them and what I can reasonably expect to do with one in terms of trips. Also what sort of sea/weather conditions they can handle etc. Grateful for any info or advice at all, really.

Cheers,

Steve.
 
Hi, I have had no experience of that make of boat, I had a similar size boat, a Chris Craft Crowne 26. With regard to trips and weather conditions, the boat should have a classification with regard to its design purpose. However, I would strongly suggest that the conditions you use the boat in, should be strictly relative to your seamanship and skills, invariably, in my limited experience, the boat can stand more than the crew.
 
You will also, very quickly, become tired of slamming into any sort of a head sea and your crew will lose interest. As Tidnock says the boat will take more than you can.

As you can see from my avatar I have a Bayliner 275 and we use it for regular cross channel trips (Dover - Boulogne/Calais) and use it in the inland waterways of France as well as along the south coast to the Solent and up the Thames estuary.

However these trips are always done in good weather (max force 2/3), that way we all enjoy the outing and no-one loses their lunch on the way home. We are always prepared to overnight if necessary if the weather goes to rats despite the forecast.

What sort of engine is it fitted with, petrol or diesel ? How well has it been maintained ? What is your intended cruising area ? What level of experience do you have ? Have you taken any RYA courses ?

All this is relevant to the use you can expect of the boat.

I hope you enjoy the experience.

Tom
 
Many thanks the replies. I'm not actually intending to take it out in any particularly rough conditions, it's just good to know what a boat can handle. Apart from anything else, I've got two young kids who would definitely not handle it. In terms of qualifications, I did the RYA competent crew, day skipper and coastal skipper years ago, as my old man was a RYA instructor. But this particular boat is entirely new to me as I've mainly had experience of yachts, and know very little about motor boats. It's a lot faster than I'm used to, for one thing. So I certainly won't be pushing it until I know what I'm doing.

Thanks again,

Steve.
 
Are you familiar with Bayliners?

Well the Bayliner as a make is similar to Ford or GM, ie mass market, stack em high and sell em cheap. They are also, I believe the number one boat in the world in terms of outright sales and brand recognition.

Hull quality, despite what some will tell you is pretty good, post 1995 (i think, better check yourself) hull fibreglass utilises Vynilester resin instead of Polyester and is much more resistant to Osmosis.

Where the costs have been shaved are in areas such as fixtures and fittings, toys and gadgets. The cabinetry will not be genuine cherrywood or teak and not be fitted as well as in other higher end makes.

However Bayliners are pretty honest, reliable boats and represent good value for money.

The other good thing is because they are quite basic, you can customise it to your own taste without throwing away ££££££££s worth of functional but not the best fittings.

As far as seakeeping goes, it really is intended for short coastal trips within sight of land. Force 3 is probably the safe limit, force 4 will be getting a little interesting, force 5 and above and you may well be thinking seriously about when you last had them service your lifejacket.
 
I've had 2 Bayliners, a 2556 and a 2858.

Tinkicker's summary is excellent.

I would add however, they they do have one big weakness. The hull deck joint is not glassed over and can come loose. Its only held together by the rub rail screws, and it's one of the ways they keep production costs down. Check for evidence of leaks or sealant applied to the rub rail, and if it hasn't leaked, expect it to in the future.

You need to take the rub rail off, sikaflex the joint and bolt it all back together again. A two person job for a whole day, or reckon on £1200 or so.

That aside I had great fun in both of mine. The 2858 went out in horrendous conditions, twice in a F8 though that's not to be recommended. Mine was the baby fly and it would take waves over the fly and was a great boat. And I went to France and the channel islands in the boat with confidence, the boat will take you once you have the experience/capability.

Great value, even with the rubrail cost factored in. Recommended, but remember all of tinkickers points when deciding.
 
Who says a Bayliner wont make it in the rough?

Just another excuse really :)

Whitelighterrunning.jpg


whitelighter_launched2.jpg
 
Thanks for the further info, folks. I'm starting to get the picture, I think. Some basic coastal stuff with the family is really what I'm looking at at this point, with the occasional fair-weather jaunt to Ireland or the Isle of Man, so it sounds like it would be okay for that. With two little kids along I won't be risking anything weatherwise anyway. The boat I'm looking at has had quite a few modifications and upgrades already, equipment-wise, so that's a plus.

Whitelighter, nice pics! Problem is I'm now thinking about what all that planing impact is doing to the hull-deck joint as mentioned by Elessar above! I can just hear all those bolts working loose... Eek!
 
285

steveparker

whightliners pics are a current model 285 - a different breed from the boat you are looking at - IMHO
 
steveparker said:
I can just hear all those bolts working loose... Eek!
Click to expand...

Don't worry they won't fall apart. What happens is this (seen pre repair) and this is at a join in the strip so the worst bit. So it happens gradually. Look UNDER the strip carfully and look for evidence of leaks.

DT2007-09-0215-21-09BADSCFVO4874.jpg


Point is on my current Sealine for example the rubbing strip can fall off completely and the boat is still waterproof. That is NOT the case with a Bayliner. I still would recommend Bayliners if you are aware of all of the above - great value, great fun. I certainly had far more fun out of mine than many of the people looking down their noses from their "superior" boats.
 
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"fair-weather jaunt to Ireland or the Isle of Man, so it sounds like it would be okay for that. With two little kids along I won't be risking anything weatherwise anyway."

Just a personal thing,but I would be very wary about crossing any stretch of water like that with very young children aboard,any experienced adult may be able to fend for themselves if things go wrong,trying to look out for someone else plus two little uns may simply not be possible.
 
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I had a 2452 for two seasons and sold it because it just didn't work for the kids because it's a planning hull.

The boat will take tons of punishment but it gets very uncomfortable. I once nearly went overboard while drifting and fishing !

Both young kids nearly got knocked out with the movement of the boat on occasion.

I'm not knocking the Bayliner, it was great value and great fun but just doesn't suit young kids in choppy waters and I wish I had started with a semi-D hull.

Crossing the Irish sea in a 2452 ? You'd need your head examined.

Best of luck.
 
The practical aspect of this series Bayliner (IMO) is the hardtop over the helm (wheel shelter). They were not particuarly deep in the deadrise, to assist stability, so head sea would be a little hard riding. Good layout and well established value (resale).


Steve you may consider joining an established cruise in company, when involving the whole family. Not only do you have support from other boaters, but the kids may find some new friends, which makes for a good holiday.
 
Thanks for the further replies. Lots of good advice, so cheers for all of it. I'm not planning to do anything at this stage other than get the feel of the thing. If it doesn't work with the kids, then we'll have to rethink. Anyway, with a new Yanmar 220hp engine and a heck of a lot of upgrades and extras thrown in it seemed like too good a bargain to miss, even if we do end up reselling it and getting something more stable.

Cheers,

Steve.
 
Steve, I think it always makes sense to buy the best quality boat you can afford. I would rather have the extra margin of safety, particularly with small children. A good day out in a F2 can easily turn into a bad day in an f4. I would set your budget and then get a range of options in that price range which provide the best combination of safety, performance and comfort with the priority on safety. If you are really planning open water trips to Ireland, then my points are even more important to consider.
 
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