Bayliner 285 Canal and No Power

[jimmertek]

Hi there

We have just managed to get our own mooring on a canal in the UK. The only issue is that we don't have shore power. I am looking at the Bayliner 285 as it provides good value for money for evening trips/weekends/short weeks away. Am I right in thinking that with no shore power we are limited to 12V devices and no hot water etc? I know the microwave will definitely be out of action. There doesn't seem to be a Bayliner with generator for powering devices/hot water which means I might have to consider alternatives? Grateful for any help or suggestions.

Thanks, Jim

 

[ontheplane]

Fit an inverter.

However you'll need to run the engine if you fit a big one, and keep it running after the high drain items have finished so they can re-charge.

If you fit a 3500W one for example, it will be pulling 250amps at peak power, and most alternators only deliver 60A so you'll need 4 batteries in parallel, and to run the engine for about 4-5 times as long as the drain was on for (so if you run a microwave for say 3 min, you'll need to run the engine for 15 or so (a little potter up river say) to restore the power.

 

[bozlite]

Hi there

We have just managed to get our own mooring on a canal in the UK. The only issue is that we don't have shore power. I am looking at the Bayliner 285 as it provides good value for money for evening trips/weekends/short weeks away. Am I right in thinking that with no shore power we are limited to 12V devices and no hot water etc? I know the microwave will definitely be out of action. There doesn't seem to be a Bayliner with generator for powering devices/hot water which means I might have to consider alternatives? Grateful for any help or suggestions.

Thanks, Jim

Welcome to the forum, Jim!

ETA: if you haven't already bought the Bayliner, you might like to think about whether a sports cruiser is really the best boat if you'll be spending a lot of time on the canals. Hard to steer at those speeds, engine very under-worked, and so on. We've got one (which we use on rivers as well) but I doubt we'd choose to get one again.

You'll be fine during the Summer - just remember that on the canals you're not allowed to run your engine (or a generator) between 8.00pm and 8.00am. I think you'll find that 12 volt power can give you most of what you want, and your batteries will be kept in an okayish state if you're out and about on the boat enough (though they would benefit from an occasional full charge from a proper charger). A small solar panel would help keep them topped up while you're away from the boat. Hot water would normally come from the calorifier, and I'm assuming you can cook with gas (or perhaps spirit stove on an American boat). Keeping that sort of boat warm in the Winter is really difficult (we've tried) - unless you've got a diesel heater.

 

[Jurgen]

Generator is the obvious way to go and the largest battery bank you can fit in. Weight won't be an issue as your only going to be doing 6 knts so fit as many batteries as you can which combined with Genny/inverter should see you right.

Also replace all lights with LED bulbs and remove any unnessecary electrics. Boil water for drinks etc on gas hob if you have one or better still moor next to a canal side pub.

At weekends take a cold box full of ice which you can use as a separate drinks fridge. A mate of mine found a company that milled a large fridge shaped box with a fitted lid out of a block of polystyrene foam, the best cold box I've ever seen

 

[rbcoomer]

Hi Jim & welcome!

If you're going to use any significant amount of power when not underway then I'd look at small generators rather than invertors. However, you MUST make sure that it is correctly fitted and that exhaust exits outside of the hull - if in any doubt at all get it professionally installed. Exhaust gases are lethal! The same applies to diesel heaters/water heaters. Good luck with the boat hunt - there are loads about out there so don't rush!

Regards,

Robin

 

[rafiki_]

Jim, sorry if this is an idiot question, but will the Bayliner go through the locks? Around our way the locks at 6'10" wide, so a 285 will not squeeze through. If the locks are wide enough, all you need is a small suitcase generator, preferably a 2 kVA which will give you plenty of power, and will sit on the bathing platform, and connect into the shorepower.

 

[No Regrets]

Stick to more traditional boats for canals.

You'll find they steer a lot better, make less wash and are generally nicer to use in those places.

 

[Sneds]

Have to agree

 

[CX54WEK]

As I said on the CanalWorld Forum there are better boats for the job!!

 

[TerryW2]

Hi,

Unless you are going to use the boat in open water the 285 is the wrong boat. As said before, the steering below planing speeds is dreadful. The shore-power can be converted professionally using step up transformers. My 2452 is equipped like that and has all the gear.

You will hate the boat unless using it in the sea or a huge lake. It was designed for this.

The other issue will be fuel consumption. My 2452 does 2.5NM per GALLON at cruise! and it is smaller and lighter than a 285. You can get fuel consumption charts for the boat:

http://features.boats.com/boat-content/files/2011/08/Bayliner285-performancedata.jpg

http://www.boattest.com/images-gallery/charts/bayliner285chart.jpg

Even at 1000RPM we are only talking 1 NM per GALLON.

Terry

 

[Chris_d]

Have to agree with others completely the wrong boat, you can use a sportscruiser on rivers and canals but the Bayliner is a particuarly
bad example for inland use, no side decks, poor foredeck, unstable at low speed, lack of cleats in the right positions etc.... and everything is mains powered,
most river and canal boats are all self sufficent with 12v everything and gas. If you don't see a more traditional boat you like and still want a
sportcrusier try a Sealine or Princess e.g S23, 285, 310, P 286.

 

[gordmac]

Hi,

Unless you are going to use the boat in open water the 285 is the wrong boat. As said before, the steering below planing speeds is dreadful. The shore-power can be converted professionally using step up transformers. My 2452 is equipped like that and has all the gear.

You will hate the boat unless using it in the sea or a huge lake. It was designed for this.

The other issue will be fuel consumption. My 2452 does 2.5NM per GALLON at cruise! and it is smaller and lighter than a 285. You can get fuel consumption charts for the boat:

http://features.boats.com/boat-content/files/2011/08/Bayliner285-performancedata.jpg

http://www.boattest.com/images-gallery/charts/bayliner285chart.jpg

Even at 1000RPM we are only talking 1 NM per GALLON.

Terry

Us rather than proper gallons?

 

[Chris_d]

Hi,

Unless you are going to use the boat in open water the 285 is the wrong boat. As said before, the steering below planing speeds is dreadful. The shore-power can be converted professionally using step up transformers. My 2452 is equipped like that and has all the gear.

You will hate the boat unless using it in the sea or a huge lake. It was designed for this.

The other issue will be fuel consumption. My 2452 does 2.5NM per GALLON at cruise! and it is smaller and lighter than a 285. You can get fuel consumption charts for the boat:

http://features.boats.com/boat-content/files/2011/08/Bayliner285-performancedata.jpg

http://www.boattest.com/images-gallery/charts/bayliner285chart.jpg

Even at 1000RPM we are only talking 1 NM per GALLON.

Terry

You haven't read the chart properly its 4.5mpg at 1000rpm, which is fairly normal for inland boats.

 

[tonyone01]

Hello Jimmertek I agree with Chris-D on his suggestion to look at other options to the bayliner and it just so happens we have just put our well loved Princess 286 up for sale It has 12v, gas, inverter and heating. Up until recently we used her on the river Avon & Severn before moving to the sea. PM me if you want more details.

 

[EugeneR]

The OP is right in that the Bayliner 285 offers, by very far, more value compared to more British makes, especially as a "weekend home" with sleeping for six. Especially if you want something less than 10 years old with modern looks. The 285, in fact, was the most popular model and survived 2 or 3 wider model lineup changes. Most of your weekend or holiday time is spent inside or in the cockpit, not on the side decks. Even then, while some might look down on going through the windscreen door, it works. Bayliner steers using the same outdrive and system others use - it is perfectly stable and good to drive at low speed. Any play, simply adjust it - there is nothing special or different to it.

Personally, I recommend a 2kw silent inverter generator on the swim platform plus LEDs, alcohol cooking. This will allow the 1.2kw water heater to work. But, consider a solar panel to keep the batteries topped up, so as to keep the emergency pumps useful and lights available for when you arrive. Inverter will be useless for ongoing heating or hot water, it needs too much battery capacity.

Now, if it is only to be used on canals and never to sea or large lake, and especially if the width issue in locks are true, then I agree, such a sportscruiser may not be the best - and there may well be beter value canal boats. With better value, also consider maintenance of the larger than necessary engine etc.

No, not trying to sell mine. Just an honest, experienced opinion from both a Bayliner 285 and larger boat owner who spent a lot of time going slow on a river.

 

[TerryW2]

I hope the prospective buyer will be afforded the opportunity to experience the thrill of maneuvering his 285 in close quarters before he buys. I have the 2452 and it honestly took me 2 years before I had any confidence in chugging around the marine and docking. There is a fin that can be attached to the outdrive which is supposed to help. Don't get me wrong here, I would give my starboard arm for a 285 but don't under-estimate how painful they are at low speeds. Here is one of many forum threads on the Bayliner Owners Club website. . .

http://baylinerownersclub.org/index...at-handling-stern-leeway-while-docking#492205

 

[tinkicker0]

Personally I'd be a bit concerned at the draught, its gonna be around 3 ft to the bottom of the skeg with that Bayliner, even my little 20 footer is 3ft. The OP needs to KNOW the depth of the canal intimately and remember the water is at the advertised depth only in the middle. Much shallower at the edge.

Then there's the shopping trolleys, the varying water depth according to weather and lock usage ect.

When I first got mine, I was going to put it on a canal marina close by but had second thoughts due to the above.

Canal depths used to be found on the British Waterways website boater's guides, but since BW no longer exists............

 

[EugeneR]

I hope the prospective buyer will be afforded the opportunity to experience the thrill of maneuvering his 285 in close quarters before he buys. I have the 2452 and it honestly took me 2 years before I had any confidence in chugging around the marine and docking. There is a fin that can be attached to the outdrive which is supposed to help. Don't get me wrong here, I would give my starboard arm for a 285 but don't under-estimate how painful they are at low speeds.

Most if not all single engine outdrive boats will take practice to master - it's not a 285 or Bayliner issue. If it's really a problem, fit a bow-thruster.

Still, not the best boat for canal-only use it seems.

 

[Cashbuyer]

Assume it is a broad canal? The Midlands canals have a max width of 7ft beam.

 

[CX54WEK]

Most if not all single engine outdrive boats will take practice to master - it's not a 285 or Bayliner issue. If it's really a problem, fit a bow-thruster.

Still, not the best boat for canal-only use it seems.

Agreed but some are still better than others.

Practice long enough and you can berth anything but it doesnt make it the most ideal boat for a given waterway.

We struggle with water depth where we moor. Pretty much every time we have bent the props it has been on our home waterway. Our boat isnt ideal for the waterway we moor on but as we tend to spend a lot of time away from that waterway we can manage. Horses for courses. If the OP only intends to cruise on the canal then there are far better boats better suited to the job.