Bob Holder
New Member
Just bought a 1996 bayliner 2655 any tips or advice would be appreciated
Bayliner 2655
- Thread starter Bob Holder
- Start date
Elessar
Well-Known Member
Don’t listen to pompous berks who put bayliners down. I’ve had 2 and had great fun in both of them. Great boats and great value.
Hull/deck joint is a weakness. It can leak. If there is evidence of leaks or evidence of sealant on the rub rail get it fixed. Ask if you need to know how. Know a guy on the Isle of Wight who did mine and he’s trustworthy. It’s possible DIY but it’s a big, two person job.
There is (or there used to be at least) a good American bayliner forum which can help with specifics.
What engine do you have?
Bob Holder
New Member
Bob Holder
New Member
Mercruiser 5.7 v8
russ
Well-Known Member
I also owned a 265 as my first boat. Had it for 6 years and used on the river and coast. Not really ideal for the river as they don’t track very well but you get use to it.
Just be sure to change bellows every 2nd year and the usual engine service.
EugeneR
Well-Known Member
2655 has a narrow beam to go on a road trailer, so I would consider it for coastal F5 or less only.
Bayliners from that period are great boats. They are "plastic" (in a good way) which means you can have cats, dogs and kids with crayons, without worrying. Everything can be fixed easily. They are cheap to maintain and gets you to the same places, with as much enjoyment, as more expensive brands.
Enjoy!
Bayliners from that period are great boats. They are "plastic" (in a good way) which means you can have cats, dogs and kids with crayons, without worrying. Everything can be fixed easily. They are cheap to maintain and gets you to the same places, with as much enjoyment, as more expensive brands.
Enjoy!
BruceK
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum. Only thing I know about the 2655 is there is one up in my waters and everytime I see her the owner is helming with a massive grin and clearly enjoying himself. Hope yours brings you as much delight.
markc
Well-Known Member
Welcome! My first boat in 1997 was a Bayliner 2755, very similar to yours. I had loads of fun on it. Initially quite difficult with close quarters manoeuvring , especially with the covers on and some wind, so take some time to practice somewhere quiet to gain confidence.
CLB
Well-Known Member
There is more than one 2655 model. At least one of them is wide beam. Another is basically the revamped 2455 after it briefly became the 2651. The year of the boat would help narrow it down. Whatever model it is, it will be a great first boat. Might be a bit underpowered, depending upon model and engine fitted, and will, of course, have that V8 thirst unless it's been re-engined with diesel. Use it and have fun. I had one for years and went further and longer than many other boats in my marina, including 40 odd foot flybridges. Bayliners are far more capable than people give them credit for, and will go on long after the crew have given up.
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
My son had one, which he bought from another forumite. He met us in Guernsey having taken it across the channel by himself. It was re engined with a diesel, which made it financially viable to run. A great boat, cheap to buy and cheap to run and maintain.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
I think that's no more than bias - have you actually owned one?
My narrow beam bayliner's definition of coastal included trips to france, the channel islands and trips from southampton to London and I twice had her out in a force 8.
Also mine had NO* visible plastic on the inside either. Unlike many euro production boats. Even the insides of lockers were carpet lined. (*edit the heads were neatly and properly GRP lined - none other than that)
They are only just trailable, at 9'6" wide they are only legal as they count as "load" and you are allowed (i think from memory) 9" load overhang either side of the trailer. You'd be mad to consider it a trailer boat - in the US maybe behind a monster truck - it's not really narrow, probably about right for a boat of that length and it's a proper boat. And as others have said it might be wider than 9'6".
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Elessar
Well-Known Member
they sound great, are reliable and are easy to fix if they go wrong.
Petrol is a bit of a pain - it's expensive at the waterside and you are not allowed to carry more than 10l in your car to buy it in the supermarket. I had 10 metal jerry cans but can't advise you use them
Asda for example has a 24hr no attended service so they don't know what you are filling.Go slow (6 knots or less) or fast (18 knots or more) - the speed in the middle will cost you a lot in fuel.
As Markc says, like any single engined planing boat, they are tricky to handle at close quarters. I used mine on the Thames a lot and that gives you a lot of mooring practice with all the locks.
If yours has a bowthruster that doesn't apply, it will be easy. You can always fit one of these if you struggle but they are expensive and I never did - if you fit a little flag right on the bow you can anticipate where the boat is going to blow and correct it before it happens.
CLB
Well-Known Member
That's the wide beam version. There is also an 8ft 5in beam model called a 2655.
CLB
Well-Known Member
Here are two, quite different, narrow beam 2655s
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/153520670233
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/283509044728
Elessar
Well-Known Member
There used to be a wider one too. Confusing names.
ari
Well-Known Member
I'm curious as to why you think a narrower beam is a limiting factor for seakeeping?
spannerman
Well-Known Member
My first cruiser too, it had a 230hp V8 which was a bit under powered when loaded, so I rebuilt the engine wth flat top pistons and a wilder cam, also gas flowed the heads and fitted an Edelbrock inlet manifold and carb then it went much better. Would do 36 knots with a High Five prop. I bought it in the Uk 4 yrs old for 10K, fitted a hotwater system and shore power and. Wallas heater, I had many great trips here in Norway and then sold it after 8 yrs for 30 K ! That was a free boat.
EugeneR
Well-Known Member
There was only one 2655 in 1996 and it was 2.57m beam. Same as the year before and after. The 2855, for comparison, was 2.92m.
Don't take me wrong - I agree it's a great first or even second boat. The ability to put it on a trailer means you can take it to the med e.g. Croatia and enjoy a holiday there! Personally, I would not mind a 245 on a trailer i.e. no mooring costs, as a second boat.
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EugeneR
Well-Known Member
Yes, I had two. Feel free to review my early posts on here - I remain a Bayliner fan. I used the term plastic loosely - not just GRP but plastic and other man-made materials. The entry door was plastic, the heads door was wrapped in wood-effect plastic, the bedroom door (285) was wood-effect plastic, etc. Yes, there was stick-on carpet and what we called "monkey fur" as well. The thing was, you could actually use the boat without worrying about damaging it. You could replace anything and make it new again, easily. It was a boat that you could enjoy without worrying about cost.
The OP's 1996 model is a narrow beam, unlike yours. According to Bayliner, it was intentionally designed to be trailable - in the US at least.
The narrow beam means it rolls more and becomes uncomfortable in beam-on seas.
This is also reflected in the fact that the narrow beam achieved RCD category C, as opposed to category B for the others.
QBhoy
Well-Known Member
These things are well known for being a stepping stone into the cruiser category. Although you should be careful in some condolitikns and it will never fair as well as a U.K. built boat. It will be half the price.
The engine is a great unit. As mentioned earlier. Anything but dead slow at about 1000-1200 rpm or up on plane and no more will see a hefty thirst in fuel. Most guys up here fit the big 16x16” prop to give her a better chance at planing when heavy with fuel. The fuel tank is really far to the stern and can affect things when carrying loads.
If you are in the sea...the main thing that lets these GM raw water cooled down are the manifolds and risers. They are a serviceable part and should be kept an eye on or changed every 4 years if in the salt. This can be extended by making sure you flush with anti freeze before winter storage. Fill the block too. Prevents cold corrosion internally in winter.
The engine is a great unit. As mentioned earlier. Anything but dead slow at about 1000-1200 rpm or up on plane and no more will see a hefty thirst in fuel. Most guys up here fit the big 16x16” prop to give her a better chance at planing when heavy with fuel. The fuel tank is really far to the stern and can affect things when carrying loads.
If you are in the sea...the main thing that lets these GM raw water cooled down are the manifolds and risers. They are a serviceable part and should be kept an eye on or changed every 4 years if in the salt. This can be extended by making sure you flush with anti freeze before winter storage. Fill the block too. Prevents cold corrosion internally in winter.
