Newbie help - Regal 265 vs Bayliner Command Bridge

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davcom1

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Hi all, I've been browsing this forum and have found it very interesting...

I've also been looking at boats - 100s online and viewed a few.

The two favourites are a Regal 265 from 1992 and a Bayliner 2650(?) Command Bridge from 1989.

I would appreciate any advice on the two - here's what I know:

The Regal has had one owner and has been well serviced, out of the water every 6 months. It's in extremely nice condition with a 5.7 Volvo and duo-prop leg and 470 hours. It is being sold by a broker with brand new camper hood, anti-foul, valet and polish along with a professional repair to a gel-coat crack/craze on the bow.

The price is £20k delivered to Plymouth.

The Bayliner (Binliner?) is a 1989 boat and also looks in very nice condition. Its powered by an OMC 7.5l and outdrive. This boat is already in a marina and I can take on the berth. Its full of very nice touches and I like the wood features which give it character. It has been looked after locally by marine engineers who have told me the engine is reliable and has an expensive and uprated distributor. The camper hood is in need of work/replacement.

The price is £18k

Out of all the boats I've looked at, these two are the most impressive. I prefer the functionality of the Bayliner (which is like a Tardis inside) and love the idea of the dual helm but the engine make, size and possible reliability worry me.

The Regal looks virtually as good as new, feels big with a 'proper' separated aft cabin and I would guess the engine will be easier to maintain and a little cheaper to run?

Without wanting to start a massive argument, are Regals better built?

Are the prices indicated fair?

The boat will be used mainly for pottering with my better half and our two dogs. We will also want to take out friends/family for a spin and spend a night aboard every so often.

We will be using the boat around Plymouth Sound plus estuaries and local coast.

Any advice would be more than welcome as I want/need to make the most of budget! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I would go for the Bayliner, at that age all the bad bits of Bayliner will have been sorted ie/ weak fittings will have already been upgraded, depriciation will have already been lost.
You will be getting a £60k boat for less that £20k (when compared to a Benateau 10.8 m)
Fuel costs are insignificant at the end of the year.

I believe Mercruiser are better at Petrol than Volvo.
 
Thanks for the advice Daka. The fact that the boat has been sat in the water (sea) for most of the past four years does concern me a little though - it's only been hauled out to antifoul.
 
Just to prove there are as many opinions as Forumites, I'd go for the Regal. Owned one for a couple of years 10 years ago and found both in pre purchase research and ownership that the build quality and aesthetics were better than Bayliner. When it came to sell, resale value seemed marginally better too which should be a reflection of market forces.

Subjective of course but a significant proportion of boat ownership is just that.

With boats of this age it's then entirely down to condition and maintenance history. Get a survey to help you make an objective decision.

Finally, covers make a huge difference to enjoying ownership (we spent a couple of days last year on our old boat with cups, saucepans, buckets collecting drips whilst on an extended trip), so if you prefer the layout of the Bayliner, as your post implies, invest in a new set of covers and you'll have the best of both worlds.
 
Thanks BecksnDavid. Whilst we do prefer the Bayliner's layout because its open, the fact that the Regal is in almost showroom condition and that we will have a "turn-key" boat means that we are swayed towards it, especially because we are new to boats over 14ft! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
[quote The fact that the boat has been sat in the water (sea) for most of the past four years does concern me

[/ QUOTE ]

My Bayliner was only 3 years old when it got Osmosis, so the chances are yours will have it.
Once discovered on a survey you should be able to get £2-£5 k knocked off the price, I didn't have mine treated as osmosis doesn't really affect anything other than resale value, so you should be able to enjoy an even cheaper boat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
My Bayliner was only 3 years old when it got Osmosis, so the chances are yours will have it.

[/ QUOTE ]

My current Bayliner is over 3 years old, as was my previous one. Neither has had osmosis, so the chances are you were just unlucky.
 
My boat had been left in Fresh water which I believe had caused the problem.
The above boat has been in the water without drying for at least 4 years, that is asking for problems with any make of boat.
I rate the above boat at 85% chance of high moisture and 70 % chance of blister saturation at 10 pence size, 30-50 per sq ft., thats what mine had and still made a fine boat, I like Bayliners and very nearly bought one last year.
 
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