Newbie with some boring questions

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chelston

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I'm thinking of buying a Bayliner 2556 in the next couple of months. Not sure if I'll import or not. (Opinions seem to be split between people who've done it and think its a good idea and people who haven't think its bad). Firstly how easy is it to get and fit diesel replacement for a mercruiser. Secondly is it possible to launch and retrieve on its trailer. Thirdly whats the deal with the electric hob that they seem to come with. Do you have to run the engine to use it.

Anyway this is my first post and will you excuse me if these questions have already been covered.

jools...
 
bayliners arent the heaviest of boats, though adding a diesel will make it heavier.Still, I think you ll need a 4*4 to launch and recover, and I mean a real one, not a sissy one /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif USA trailers are generally not legal on UK roads (think no car insurance either if you have an accident), though it would be ok for keeping in the marina boat park.
What petrol engine might it have? Unless you are very unusual, you are likely to do 40-70 hours a year of real engine use, so fuel wont be so bad. And remember diesel is about to almost double in price anyway.
Try a search on launch and recover. I know I ve posted some lengthy thoughts before; if you cant find it PM me. In short, you need a decent steep slip, a big enough car,a bit of planing before hand, and some practice. Omit some or all of these, and its going to get alot harder, and alot more stressful. Alot more stressful.
Id guess an electric hob is for shorepower connection. Bear in mind if its USA, the electrics will probably need changing, and the boat will need CE inspecting, neither of which is likely to be cheap. BrokerBen knows all about CE, so PM him, if he doesnt pop up.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thirdly whats the deal with the electric hob that they seem to come with. Do you have to run the engine to use it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Welcome!

Careful with the electrics...

Hobs - as a rule - run on 240v electric (like at home) so you need to plug your boat into the "mains" at the marina. Problem with some US boats is that the "home" current in the States is 110v so if you plug your boat into the UK mains supply it will toast your hob, battery charger, water heater and anything else that runs off the mains...with a good potential for a small fire.

If you are buying the boat in the UK this should have all been sorted out by the importing dealer...most likely they will have fitted a 240>110v converter to the boat's mains inlet.

In short to run the hob you need to be in a marina or near 240v mains.

I imported a Sunseeker Superhawk 34 from the US and saved about 40% off the UK price (a lot of £££ on a hundred grand boat!), with all taxes and transport paid...and would definitely do it again. However, I knew that I was going to have to replace some of the 110v systems. My "gamble" of buying in the US was based on the fact that after an engine survey from the local Yanmar dealer and a hull survey there was little else that could be wrong with the boat...and the difference between what I paid and the UK "street price" was so huge I could fix it and still pay less than I would have in the UK.

My other advantage was, because she's a Sunseeker, she was already CE marked.

Stef
 
Forget about legally towing a 2556, it's too heavy and too wide. The biggest new Bayliner you can tow in this country is a 265 as it it 8'6" wide. I used to have an 1990 2755 and towed that with a Discovery but it was too much to slip launch without a tractor or crane.

The hob will be a pair of 110v rings which will need to be connected to shorepower via a step down transformer. The hob will also burn methylated spirits and I found that this was by far the preffered way of using it.

I can't comment on importing Bayliners, I have looked at doing it but not taken the plunge. After all every Bayliner is imported aren't they, whether new or used.

Stick with the petrol engine, the cost of fuel won't be far different in the near future and any diesel version of around 200hp will be underpowered.

You will also find that the VHF operates on different frequencies.
 
jkay, that document 'towing laws' states max width 2.3m which is 7'6", so that's where I get my 8'6" from. Or have I made a mistake?
 
Hi Quo

Its on the bottom of page 37

"Loads may project no more than 305mm each side of the

trailer to a maximum width of 2900mm"

Cheers Joe
 
Thanks for the replies.

To be honest I'd rather have a Bayliner Trophy with outboards but wifey wants the whole weekend deal

I thought about a diesel because of the ease of refuelling. I live next to Plymouth sound and I have yet to find where everybody else fills up their petrol boats.

Sounds like the hob will come out though. The whole point is that I can cook away from the marina. Think I will fit one of those new flat camping rings with the gas cartriges. There so easy to use.

Not really bothered about the US trailer, Its just to winter on and to be launched once a year.
 
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