Bayliner 2855 Used Boat Review

There aren’t many diesel-powered cruisers in the used market below $100,000, but it’s possible to have petrol performance without crippling fuel bills if you go compact. The single-engined Bayliner models could be just the ticket.

Most people ‘over-boat’ themselves. Back in the days of when petrol cost less than $1 per litre, that was okay. But now that marina fuel prices are above the $1.50 mark in many locations, a big boat is a luxury many boat buyers can’t afford. Feeding a pair of petrol engines in a 13m cruiser is an expensive exercise, but if you can find the space you need in a single-engined, nine-metre boat, then you’re laughing.

Modern diesels are undoubtedly more economical than petrols, however older diesel engines can be thirsty compared to their modern counterparts. Regardless of efficiency, used diesel cruisers below 30ft are like hen’s teeth. There was a heavy price and weight penalty for buying diesel power in the 1990s, so most small and medium boats were petrol-powered.

Yesterday’s $130,000 new boats today cost less than $100,000 on the used market, and nearly all of them are petrol-powered. You could always buy a petrol-powered boat and convert it to diesel power, but re-powering is an expensive business, carrying with it the danger of over-capitalising.

A possible solution is to think smaller. Look for a compact cruiser with a single petrol engine, rather than a twin installation. There’s still the cost of petrol and higher consumption than a diesel with an equivalent output to factor in, but there’s a considerable outlay advantage in opting for the smaller boat.

The Bayliner range is the classic quart-in-a-pint-pot package and the top of the Bayliner single-engine range is the 8.8m 2855.

OPTIMISING SPACE
Getting aboard the 2855 is easy, thanks to a full-width moulded boarding platform and a starboard-side transom door, which comes complete with spring-loaded latch. There’s also a handy grabrail across the transom.

There are two routes to the foredeck: around the cabin, with security in the form of a low bowrail, or through the opening centre section of the windscreen.

Most used boats are in the LX spec’ level, which includes a Lewmar windlass that can be operated from the deck or the dashboard, a deep chain locker with deadeye, bowroller, and a spotlight with remote control on the dash. The LX package also includes a portside windscreen wiper.

Pressurised hot and cold water, a dual-voltage fridge, cockpit shower, a transom locker, stereo, magazine rack, a 10-amp battery charger and a circuit-breaker board were standard issue on DX and LX boats.

The bi-fold companionway door is made from tinted plastic, so it admits light, even when closed. A sliding hatch above the door pushes away, allowing easy entry to the cabin.

The boys at Bayliner are space geniuses. The cabin holds much more than you’d expect from the outside view of the boat. A full galley runs to port and there’s a double bunk below the cockpit floor. It can comfortably sleep two adults or make a play/sleep refuge for a couple of kids. There is a wardrobe between the alcove and galley.

There is a dinette that seats four opposite the galley and it can convert in minutes to a double bed. Forward of the dinette is a huge vee-berth.

There’s plenty of room to mount a television and some used boats are fitted with air conditioning.

 Access to the 7.4lt, 310hp MerCruiser V8 is via a huge, lift-up panel just forward of the transom. The standard gas struts that hold the panel in place were undersized for the job and many used boats have broken struts or brackets.

The big V8 drives through a Bravo III leg with counter-rotating props, making maneuvering a breeze.

A well-tuned 2855 should comfortably manage 30-plus knots and, while the Bayliner is predominantly aimed at cruising in protected waters, the hull shape handles chop well.

The hull is rated for a capacity of 12 people, but cruising is more comfortable with only six to eight people. The cockpit lounge can seat three and the forward facing aft bench is big enough for two. The cockpit bench has a movable backrest that makes the seat forward or aft facing. The helm seat swivels, making it part of the entertaining area. A removable, centre-pedestal table slots into a socket in the aft section of the cockpit.

WHAT GOES WRONG?
The 2855 Bayliner interior reflects the American fashions of the time and, unless it’s looked after carefully, becomes tattered quite quickly. Interestingly, later Bayliners have significantly upgraded fabrics that seem to be more durable.

The shipwrights and surveyors we spoke to commented on the difficulty of accessing the space between the hull and the inner mouldings, other than for the voids set aside for the head plumbing, the engine room and the bilge pumps. This complaint applies to many volume-produced modern boats.

The boys at Newport Marine in Sydney’s Pittwater have a lot of experience with MerCruisers and say that the powertrain needs careful inspection by prospective buyers.

The manifolds and risers typically last three to five years before leaking and any external leakage is usually mimicked by internal leaking that can damage cylinders three and five and four and six. A compression test that shows a drop of only five to 10psi can indicate cylinder damage.

 If the seawater circulation pump leaks, the resulting corrosion on nearby pulleys can chop out the multi-toothed belts.

The legs need to be checked for rumbling gimbal bearings and universal joint wear will show up as noise on full lock.

The legs are prone to corrosion and the bellows need to be checked for hidden shell build-up.

When examining a used boat, drain a little oil from each leg to check the condition of the oil.

The shift mechanism should work smoothly, without effort or engagement noise.

A test run should include several minutes of wide open throttle operation to check engine operating temperatures.

WHAT YOU WILL PAY
Used 2855s span a huge price range, depending on age and condition. The lowest priced in our recent survey was a $62,000 1989 model, while the most expensive was a $125,000 2002 model, which came with a swag of extras. Most fall in the $80,000 to $100,000 bracket.

The boat pictured costs $79,500 from Andrew Moore Marine in Sydney’s Pittwater. This craft was a 1998 LX model in good condition, but with slightly worn upholstery and carpets. Equipment levels were quite high, with a bimini top, full clears, cockpit carpets, a cabin heater and a gas barbecue. The boat had been recently antifouled and mechanically serviced.

THE BAYLINER BACKGROUND
Bayliner is part of the Brunswick Boat Group and is the acknowledged leader in recreational boating in the USA. Bayliner has been in business continuously for more than 45 years.

Bayliner’s boast is that you get outstanding quality and heaps of space in an easy-to-own, affordable package. The company says that its dedication to the engine and sterndrive package from MerCruiser produces well-balanced boats with minimum bowrise, good handling and fuel efficiency, with a smooth, comfortable ride.

Bayliners are designed for high-volume production, using computer-aided design and expensive tooling. The company says that this technology ensures that Bayliner hulls, decks and component parts fit correctly. The boats we checked out certainly seemed to have withstood the test of time and showed no obvious structural problems.

The Bayliner range was rebadged and upgraded in 2003.

The hulls have remained substantially unchanged over the years, but a blue flash was added in 2003, taking away some of the boxy appearance, which is a characteristic of the Bayliner sportscruiser range.