Bayliner 3788: Good or bad????

[Guest]

Hi there, A friend of mine is looking at a Baliner 3788 motorcruiser. i as wondering if anyone has any comments good or bad about these boats. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Crap !!

 

[Guest]

I think there is nothing wrong with Bayliner, you just get what you pay for. Light production line build quality, cheap components etc., but they are not expensive. You just have to weigh up what you want verses what you can afford. I would agree with Haydns message above if they were sold at Fairline prices - they're not, so you pays your money and takes your choice!!

 

[Guest]

Don\'t beat around the bush Haydn, tell him what you think

Wouldn't you be better off with a nice Princess 35?. I think H knows where there's a good 'un for sale

 

[Guest]

If he can get it at the right price, tell him to buy it. There's one in the next slip to our boat(in Florida)which is at least 10 years old and still looks and runs well. Good liveaboard boat, too. As Mark C says, you gets what you pays for and it ain't bad value for money. I'm not familiar with the Princess ( or was it Fairline 35), but I'll bet the Bayliner has a lot more home comforts already built in and is more spacious.

 

[Guest]

Friends of mine have had a 28' Bayliner for 8 or 9 years and although expensive on fuel (petrol) and not the best sea boat, it has excellent accommodation with more living space than many larger boats. As everyone has said so far you pays your money and takes your choice. I have always admired them for what they fit in and how easy they make it to stay on board.

 

[Guest]

My sailboat is a Bayliner.

Oops, sorry, wrong forum.......

Sue

 

[Guest]

Re: Don\'t beat around the bush Haydn, tell him what you think

Princess 35, or for a bit more space a Fairline 36 sedan.

When it comes to resale you will have no problem, versus Bayliner has a very mixed reputation in Europe, (As you may have already noted.) so best stick with something that there are no arguments over.

Many people refer to Bayliners as "Binliners"

Now if I was buying in N America, a Bayliner or other american make would be higher on my list than a Princess or Fairline.

How about a Sealine 360? Lots of boat for the money, UK build, far less controversial than a Bayliner, Loads about.

 

[Guest]

Donie, Further to my earlier message, Doug has a good point re resale. I looked at a 1991 Fairline 43 last Autumn - it is the only one in the US, so I wouldn't buy it no matter how much I liked it. I did like it, but it was short on home comforts and space compared to a smaller eg 3788, US boat. I think it's still for sale!!

 

[Guest]

You get what you pay for - cheap but rather nasty

 

[Guest]

Try www.boc-web.org

You will find valid opinions from people who have owned the the 3788. most responses on this site will come from people who have never even seen one let alone been aboard or cruised in one.

 

[magster65]

I know this is an older post but people still read the older posts when they 'google it'.
We bought a 2002 3788 for about 6 months ago. It's got twin 5.9 (270 hp) Cummins, a 7000kw diesel kohler genset, radar, gps of course, an espar furnace... and many other great options but that's the 'big' stuff. I've had 5 Sea Rays so when it came time for a new boat, I wanted another. It wasn't to be. In this size of cruiser we didn't see one boat with as nice of layout. The cabin is huge and all on one level with lots of windows... so it's a very social area. Bayliner chose to keep the staterooms small and make the cabin larger... great idea. It's where we are most of our time. With just the family (5) or out with my crazy pals this boat is fantastic! As for the build quality; I buy and sell boats, probably 30-something different ones by now over the course of 30 years on the water. I have hands on experience. The bad name Bayliner acquired was from poorly made runabouts from days long ago. Times changed, they evolved. People that call them no good are incorrect. Bayliner sold more boats than nearly every other major manufacturer combined. This is not by chance.
To get the 3788 I sold a beautiful black 2007 290 Sea Ray Sundancer. That Sea Ray was a better quality boat but the older ones... not so much. I have no regrets at all.
From my perspective; I don't need to drive the most expensive truck... I bought a Dodge Ram with a hemi cuz' bang for the buck it's a beautiful thing! Same with being on the water... I don't need the most expensive boat either. I bought a 3788 with an awesome layout and Cummins power cuz' bang for the buck, it's hard to beat!
Cheers,
John