Bayliner 160 Capri Bowrider

The smallest boat from the world's biggest boatbuilder upholds the view that size doesn't matter. The 160 Capri Bowrider from Bayliner has attributes aimed at catching aspiring boaties. Think of it as a no-fuss way onto the water.

You get fun at an affordable price - even despite the exchange rate - a top speed which almost touches the magical 80kmh (50mph on the old scale), room for family outings, low maintenance, small fuel bills, and snappy parking.

What's more, the compact Capri is an easy tow for a four-cylinder family car and will slot into a big-city garage with a minimum of fuss. Like a waterborne cafe-racer, the big little boat can get you out boating without breaking the bank.

A boat-to-go for Sunday drives, the entry-level craft comes shrink-wrapped in plastic in America. But while American boatyards sell the 160 Capri like candy, with just a modest 50hp outboard, the local importer attaches a 90hp Mercury with 21-inch alloy prop for plainly more fun.

With the 90hp on the transom, you can tow a waterskier or wakeboarder, carry a family of five - the boat's full complement - upriver for a picnic and cruise at the kind of useful clip that will let you explore new waterways.

QUALITY TOUCHES
As I set about undoing the ropes which tied the 160 Capri to Berowra Waters Marina, the home of Bayliner in Australia, I couldn't help but notice schoolkids boarding tinnies for the run back home.

A boat is the only means of accessing some of the riverside houses in this delightful Sydney backwater. I started the engine and, admittedly, the Capri sounded a tad boisterous compared with other bowriders with inboard engines.

Yet here was a commuter or family cruiser that was a lot more refined than tinnies pulling out. And without exception it is certainly a lot more comfortable and pleasant to drive.

The high armour-plate glass windscreen - not perspex - offers a clear view while seated on Bayliner's so-called Commander Seating. This age is given to the moulded helm seats which are raised for exceptional vision. Even with the canopy attached you can cruise and take in the views without looking through either canvas or the leading edge of the windscreen.

Immediately, the little boat displayed agility about the tightly-packed marina. The sports wheel and sequential lift hull, which is a variable deadrise, combine nicely. With a flattish run aft, the boat doesn't wallow in its wake but jumps clear and planes level.

And it is no slouch. Indeed, you can have a lot of fun behind the wheel skating through the turns or, with the outboard trimmed in deeper, banking sharply.

A neutral trim position is probably perfect for skiing. Rack and pinion steering seems light enough that it won't load-up and burden the helmsperson. The 160 Capri is a boat the whole family can drive.

TAKE A LOAD ON CAPRI
For 2001, Bayliner has introduced a new full-beam ahead policy. At 2.19m wide, the 160 Capri Bowrider is like a 'jellybean'. It is fatter than the company's 17ft bowrider and, well, it is even as broad as some 18-footers.

In some ways, the full-beam ahead hull design is reminiscent of the latest jetboats. (Full-beam ahead means the widest part of the boat has been moved forward to create more room to play).

Spin-offs include improvements to stability and higher freeboard in the bow. In fact, the boat can carry two adults up front on padded seats with backrests, handholds and drinkholders nearby, without running too bow down.

Upholstery is good-quality, pre-stretched marine vinyl stapled to the seat bases, and there's storage underneath. The below seat holds are not lined, however, and I could find no sign of a dedicated locker for the anchor.

But non-skid steps on the bow, coamings and the transom give sure-footed boarding from shore or jetty. And it's most likely that this boat will be pulled up at either spot in between cruising or towing the kids about.

A walk-through three-piece windscreen lets you move from bow to stern at will. Stability also comes from the fact the boat had a moderate 16° deadrise. Coupled with the wide beam, it doesn't seem to lurch as you move about on the water.

The mouldings are fair, as you would expect from Bayliner, and the boat is backed by a five-year structural warranty. Hand-laid fibreglass, glassed-in bulkheads, and lifetime guaranteed rot-free plywood form the basis of the 600kg package. On trailer the Bayliner 160 Capri rig weighs around 800kg dry. As I said, it's an easy tow for a small four.

WIDE-BEAM LAYOUT
At the helm the predominantly white dash reflects in the windscreen, but obviously some thought has gone into the boat's ergonomics. The sports wheel and throttle fall comfortably to hand and it doesn't take long before you feel as though the seat has been moulded about you.

The small beige insert in the dash carried just two multifunction gauges and a switchpanel. In keeping with the simplified dashes of modern boats, the multifunction gauges reduce cost, maintenance, clutter and confusion.

Everything but a little GPS for fishing and a marine radio is built-in.

Also built into the dash are drinkholders and a storage box or lockable glovebox in front of the passenger. This could double as an icebox but for the fact the drain hole empties above the passenger's legs. Bung it up and drain the ice at the end of the day, or carry an Esky onboard.

Storage nets are strung along the 100% polypropylene carpet-lined interior. The nets are a neat way to store lifejackets, paddles and so on, without building permanent sidepockets which eat-up cockpit room.

The three-person aft lounge is flanked by more of those signature drinkholders. The lounge has a particularly comfortable sculptured backrest. I sat at the stern taking notes and felt I had to almost drag myself away.

The aft lounge clips clear to reveal an above-deck polypropylene fueltank (just 68lt capacity) in the port corner, a battery isolating switch and the battery itself to starboard. These things are reasonably accessible for routine maintenance. There's even room to store a wakeboard behind the lounge.

Back aft, non-skid transom steps either side of the outboard, a fold-down swim ladder and a cleverly positioned grabhandle make for easy entry to the water for swimmers and skiers.

Deck hardware comprises nav lights, mooring cleats and grabrails. These are all through-bolted and fashioned from marine-grade stainless steel. A skipole and bow canvas cover are listed as options. Otherwise the boat is pretty much ready to roll.

My one criticism is that access to the bilge and bilge pump is poor. While you get a 500gal/hr pump as standard, even with the lounge pulled out I had difficulty reaching into the bilge. What if the pump gets jammed, you drop your keys, your wallet ends up down there?

And perhaps Bayliner could have done more with the underfloor space. After all, there isn't even a ski locker between the helm seats. Then again beggars can't be choosers.

As Bayliner says, the 160 Capri is a most affordable outboard bowrider sports runabout - easy to acquire, maintain and operate. It's the kind of boat they sell through supermarkets in America as virtually an impulse buy.

AFFORDABLE FUN-RUNNER
In essence the boat is designed and equipped for a broad range of water sports and family activities. The wide beam thing is certainly worth embracing on a boat such as this which will spend most of its time running around calm water like Berowra. And with a bit of care and a garage in which to keep your 160 Capri, it should provide many years of fun.

The company quotes a cruise speed of 48kmh (30mph) with a 90hp outboard consuming just 19ltr/hr and 70kmh (43.5mph) full noise using 42lt/hr. Therefore, at cruising revs, you'll get three hours between fills at a cost of around $57 per outing. Maximum cruising range, supposedly at low speeds, is said to be more than 150 kilometres.

The compact Capri 160 sells for $27,900 including 90hp outboard, galvanised Escort trailer, covers, safety gear and registrations. In the current climate, considering the greenback and oil prices are so strong, this represents good-value boating.

At the end of the day, the little boat offered a big amount of enjoyment for not a lot of bucks. And it proves small can indeed be beautiful. Indeed, there are a lot of worse ways to get afloat than in the smallest boat from the world's biggest boatbuilder.