Bayliner Ciera 3055 Sunbridge

At Berowra Waters, an offshoot of the Hawkesbury River, you can catch a car ferry across the channel flanked by quaint boatsheds. On the western side is a marina that is known for several things. Hungry hordes flock to the fish-and-chippery, others launch their boats at the ramp, while yet more arrive for a holiday afloat.

In case you don't know it, Berowra Waters is also home to Bayliner boats. They line the marina like rows of limos outside a celebrity do. There are Bayliner Ciera 26 and 28-footers by the dozen (see box, overleaf) and an increasing number of 30-footers.

The owners generally come from Sydney's outer west and rural suburbs. Berowra Waters is not their ultimate destination, however. Their boats are a means to an end.

Used as weekenders, the Bayliners await their owners on a Friday night or Saturday morning. The boaties grab some stores, cast the lines, and head wherever the mood takes them. Usually, they spend the night aboard and return home on Sunday afternoon.

Of all these Bayliner weekenders, the Euro-styled 30-footer reigns supreme. I say this because bigger is better when it comes to floating holiday homes. Having said that, the Ciera 3055 Sunbridge remains a snap to drive.

By invitation I arrived at Berowra Water, crossed on the car ferry, eyed off the hoki fillets awaiting deep frying in the fish shop, and traipsed down the gangways in search of the Ciera 30-footer, whereupon I cast the lines and set off on my own little adventure.

Now I didn't have the weekend aboard, but I did have plenty of time to assess this all-American holiday home. Bayliner, the most prolific production boatbuilder in the world, has consciously embarked on a lifestyle-orientated promotional campaign for its 2002 models.

FUN FOR LIFE
In the brochure, which I read on the car ferry, I noted that Bayliner paints pictures such as "cruising all weekend long wherever the mood takes you; fishing from the deck as the smell of sizzling steaks fills the air; shutting off the engines and letting the peace of a summer evening wash over you."

Indeed, such things are entirely possible on the Ciera 3055 (though I'd swap the steaks for a fresh flathead fillet or two). Termed a sunbridge, the 30-footer has sportscruiser styling, a surprising amount of get up and go, and handling as nimble as some 20-footers.

While I spent a long time behind the wheel, pulling the Ciera 3055 into graceful turns, hurtling down the river en route to an imaginary anchorage, I didn't venture beyond Berowra Waters, which leaves open the question about this boat's open-water cruising ability.

It is my guess that by virtue of the Ciera 3055's not insubstantial waterline length, it will have little trouble bridging big bay chop. Twin motors will provide additional security for those occasions when you want to cruise the coast to a nearby port.

As for build quality, Bayliner promotes its "utilised construction," a method that has been designed to maximise hull strength and rigidity while maintaining light weight. It comprises treated timber longitudinals and transverse frames in a hand-laid fibreglass hull. The boats are backed by a five-year (limited, transferable) structural hull warranty.

On top of this, Bayliner Cieras are fitted out with componentry carrying brand names such as Danforth, Bomar, Mercury and JVC. Stain-resistant fabrics, ergonomically-designed decks, and stainless hardware add to the finish.

FULL BEAM AHEAD
Hull shapes of the Bayliner's Ciera models are typical of most American production yards - full-beam ahead for maximum volume down below. The Ciera 3055 also has a so-called sequential lift hull for off-the-mark performance.

It boasts an 11ft (3.36m) beam and more than 6ft 6in (1.95m) of headroom in the saloon. The boat is well appointed, with a fully-equipped galley, separate head and shower, and sleeping for six people (plus two more in the cockpit). The feeling below decks is cheerful thanks to light-coloured timber laminates.

On the engineering side, you get a shorepower connection, 132lt water tank linked to a 20lt water heater, optional air-conditioning and petrol or diesel generator. The boat is big enough to carry a rubber ducky on the moulded boarding platform, so you can launch an assault on a waterfront eatery.

The clip-in cockpit carpet must be removed and a rather large floor hatch lifted to access the engines. But at least there is sufficient room around them to perform daily maintenance.

The Ciera 3055 was fitted with twin 350 MAG MPI MerCruiser petrol motors. The top-of-the-line options put out 300hp a side and produce sportsboat performance. The boat can also be ordered here with 250hp V-eights.

VERANDAH LIVING
As one might expect from a major production boatbuilder, the decks of the Ciera 3055 are very nicely moulded. The boat has more than a suggestion of contemporary Euro-styling. Local dealers say many wives warm to the Ciera 3055 because it has the biggest saloon windows in its class. The long eagle-eye windows let in plenty of light, as opposed to the little portholes seen on the sides of other 30-footers.

The overhanging boarding platform comes with a concealed swim ladder, fender locker and full-height transom gate. There is a rear benchseat and an aft-facing, U-shaped lounge surrounding a removable lunch table in the cockpit. This seating converts to a sunpad or bungalow-style sleep-out.

The 3055 has a moulding under one of the cockpit seats designed to hold an Igloo carry-on cooler, which is provided. Personally, I'd prefer a cockpit fridge. The cooler isn't the easiest thing to access, particularly with guests sitting on the lounge above it.

You also get a sink in the cockpit and, as part of the factory-fitted Advantage Pack that comes with all boats imported to Australia, there are cockpit carpets, a four-speaker CD player and marine stereo, transom shower, full covers, spotlight and push-button windlass. Add a rail-mounted barbecue and you could host weekend nosh-ups for a party of, say, a half-dozen or more.

The Advantage Pack ensures this Ciera 3055 comes with a compass, digital depth sounder, VHF radio and tilt steering. Trim tabs are supplied, and the helm has full instrumentation set in a moulded dash panel. Of course, this American-made boat is packed with drinkholders.

To drive this boat, you step up to the so-called sunbridge. From the swish targa arch there is a bimini top for shade. The co-pilot has a single (reversible) seat set behind the windscreen. Couples can cruise together thanks to a double helmseat.

Access to the foredeck is possible around the targa arch and along the sidedecks - there are rails strategically mounted to help you on your way - but the more obvious route is through the opening wrap-around windscreen, accessed via moulded steps in the dash.

HUNKERING DOWN
The flagship Ciera 3055 has come a long way since I first tested it some three or more years ago. While the carpet is still that furry beige stuff, which does show signs of wear, the ambience is much improved.

Light timber veneers are used to good effect in the galley and better textured fabrics cover the lounges, while the big saloon lights add to the bright and airy feel.

The head is a nicely moulded liner that will be easy to clean and is free of any dangerous edges waiting to be bumped into. Located in a handy spot to port near the companionway, the head is fitted with a manual loo and holding tank, moulded sink and a handheld hot/cold shower.

The aft guests' cabin features a big double berth and, due to the hull's volume, it isn't at all poky. A hanging locker is built in and privacy is afforded by the fact that the master cabin is forward.

Foot-weary, I thoroughly tested the offset double berth in the bow. Verdict? It is big enough to provide weekend accommodation for a hamburger-loving American couple. There is provision for a small television in a cabinet, a privacy curtain and soft-touch liners.

The main living area between the two cabins has a U-shaped lounge and dinette that can convert to an impromptu double berth. The lounge faces the portside galley, which is a neat bit of work. You get a sink with hot and cold water, two-burner hob, microwave (courtesy of the Advantage Pack), fridge and a useful amount of bench and cupboard space.

TRAFFIC PROOF
Actually, what you get on the Ciera 3055 is everything you need to get away. But forget this being a slow exodus. The boat is a fast getaway machine with top-of-the-line 300hp motors. Top speed was an awesome 48mph at 4800rpm on the US speedo.

But what was just as thrilling about my time aboard was the way this 30-footer turned. It sits up quite high on the water, riding on its presumably flattish aft sections, but it turns more like a deep-vee boat.

At optimum cruise speeds, you can jack it into the bend and accelerate back out as you might in a sportsboat. Of course, with the family aboard, you will take things easier. That said, a secluded anchorage will never be far away.

Park a Ciera 3055 at your local marina - something made easy thanks to the Bravo 3 legs - and you will have a weekender that can be accessed without having to endure bumper-to-bumper holiday traffic. As Bayliner says, you can go wherever the mood takes you. Providing, that is, you haven't got to catch the last car ferry home.

Highs
Social deck layout with lots of seating, Euro-styling that looks good at the marina, new interior joinery that is more contemporary.
Twin engines and genset options for serious cruising.
Big beds and a roomy head.

Lows
Carpet on these boats seems to wear, television and VCR would be nice, so, too, a cockpit fridge.
Wide-bodied hull might wallow in wild water, though the volume is terrific down below.

WEEKENDERS AWAY - Bayliner Ciera 2655 & 2855
If there's strength in numbers then the strong showing of Ciera 2655 and 2855 cruisers at Berowra Waters Marina paints a compelling case for jumping aboard. These much-loved floating mobile homes do everything the 3055 does, only you get less room and just one motor.

Obviously, Bayliner has hit on a winning formula with these compact cruisers. It is not hard to be swayed by the 26 and 28. I mean, they have dedicated heads with showers, galleys and sleeping quarters at opposing ends of the boat.

The 2855 is the pick of the two. While the 2655 will cater for a weekend away, the 2855 will do it with a lot more comfort. The items it boasts over the 2655 include a 20lt hot water heater for the shower, marine head with holding tank (as opposed to a portaloo), and more storage space below.

Of course, the ride of the 28-footer is superior by virtue of the fact it has more waterline length. It still rates as a potential coastal cruiser and is sporty with a 300hp MerCruiser, compared with the 250hp model on the 2655.

Tankage is another telling factor. The 2855 carries 386lt of fuel and 125lt of water as opposed to the 2655's 318lt of fuel and small 76lt water tank. And then there's the extra entertaining and deck space...

Still, if budget constraints don't allow you to lean the way of the Ciera 2855, you can still rest easy on the 2655. The boat sleeps four and is a superior weekender to some fibro shack at the other end of a long line of holidaymakers fighting for freedom on a crowded highway.