David Lockwood•13 Jun 2013

REVIEW

Bayliner Element

Name: Bayliner Element
Brand: Bayliner

Exclusive first-Australian test and three-day evaluation

KEY POINTS

- Affordable boating at $24,990 drive away

- No-brainer handling from M-hull with exceptional stability

- Deep freeboard for safe family boating

- Abundant seating and concealed dry storage

- Low-running costs from 60hp Mercury four-stroke

- Low maintenance, no-fuss, fun and comfortable day-boating rig

OVERVIEW

The world’s biggest marine multinational, Brunswick Corporation decided to create a new boat with mass appeal. That it has done before, but the idea was to break down the notion that in this economic climate a boat is: (a) too expensive to buy; (b) too expensive to run; (c) in some way unsafe with small kids; (d) uncomfortable and not fun; and (e) a chore to maintain.

The Element is its answer to reigniting the global new-boat market. The 16-footer hails from the Bayliner stable, not that you’ll see that badge splashed about. The Element nameplate takes pride of place on the hull sides, as a kind of reminder about the design ethos and essential back-to-basics character of this rather impressive new-concept boat.

As for the all-important sticker price, the Element retails for under $25,000 turnkey with four-stroke 60hp Mercury outboard, single-axle braked trailer, a few key options, safety gear and registrations. Suffice to say, the boat drew a crowd when it debuted at the 2013 Melbourne Boat Show, where American Bayliner heavies were on hand, before being wheeled out at other national boat shows including Sydney in August.

Given the exchange rate, with Aussie dollar at US94¢ at the time of writing and in free fall, would-be buyers mightn’t find the Element at quite the same price following the boat shows. As it is, the $24,990 package price including optional cooler and canopy represents a $5000 discount to the base entry-level Bayliner bowrider rig usually sold here. That’s something newbies are likely to consider.

THREE-DAY FAMILY TEST

Having enjoyed Bayliner’s entry-level boats on special occasions with our family before, we jumped at the chance to be the first Australian journalists to assess the Element on local waters. It helped that we had three days with our boat tied-up alongside as the mothership. And that the family included willing wife Katherine with boating licence, excited daughter Summer (6) and even-more-thrilled son Sandy (2), all of whom were rearing to go days before.

Demographically, our family is exactly the kind of clan that the Element has in its sights. So off we went, on a cross-town drive, to pick-up the boat on its single-axle braked and galvanised Karavan trailer. Weighing about 1100kg on road, the rig isn’t a handful to tow and shouldn’t demand a new family car. A Camry will do it. No problems. With a 2.134m beam, it is rather wide for its length. A good thing on the water, at least. A bit tricky at times on the even wider trailer in Sydney traffic.

We survived Sydney’s truck-ridden Victoria Road to make it back to school, retrieve our daughter at lunchtime, head to the ramp and launch the Element. The boat reversed easily and slid of the skids after a bit of a helping hand with a jump on the car brakes. The trailer’s fully submersible LED lights and greased bearing buddies lessen the hassles.

The Mercury 60hp four-stroke outboard, with BigFoot heavy-duty gearcase for more low-down grunt, started without so much as a puff of smoke. Katherine was at the helm, the kids assumed their seats, and off they went into the wilds of Sydney Harbour. I returned home to secure the trailer then drive to launch the big boat. Some logistics involved, but at least we weren't leaving the trailer and car unattended at the ramp for three days.

Needless to say, it was a welcome sight to see the family still floating on the Element on a choice mooring in Middle Harbour. The kids had been snacking, the phone was playing music, whereupon it became clear we’d order our Element with the optional sound system and phone jack please. It would be good to be able to charge the phone and gain some personal storage for it at the helm as well.

But by its very nature, this is a simple boat based on the KISS principle. By and large, it’s a bowrider with a lot in common with a jet boat. If you thought of it as an outboard-powered jetboat you wouldn’t be far wrong. That’s our evaluation before reading similar views in American press.

GREAT LAYOUT

Essentially, you get bow seating with grab handles, twin single seats opposite the helm, and a separate aft sun lounge that is truly big enough for a couple of adults to lie abeam. At some stage during our three days I rolled in a blanket with my daughter and kicked back here.

The central infill cushion on the aft sun lounge conceals a portable Igloo whose handles are held in place by moulded deck cutouts. With this icebox and centre lounge infill removed, with the addition of some simple spigots and a cutting board with rod holders at the transom, you’d have a pretty handy aft fishing station. This is something you could create affordably using after-market kit like that from Sant Marine. The forward lounge doubles as a casting platform, too.

There are drink holders and plastic grab rails here and there, while a catacomb of storage exists under all the seating, whose upholstery is very well executed. The centre seat swab in the bow lifts to reveal a hatch and hold in which to carry the anchor. It’s unlined so we’d add rubber matting to cushion rattles. Another underseat hold is long enough for stowing (deflated) water toys and fishing rods.

PEOPLE MOVER

At one point, we picked up another family and toured the upper reaches of Middle Harbour; all four happy adults and four kids under seven years of age. The boat has a six-person capacity, but with the small fry we were well under the suggested legal load. There was just never an issue with safety.

We found a beach, went to shore, noting the handy non-skid deck treads, and had lunch. The Element is great people mover with abundant seating and, thanks to the sub-seat storage, it retains clear passage and deck thoroughfare even with a full complement.

Another time, we headed out between The Heads, where a solid sea and swell were running. “I’m scared,” declared our two-year-old as we crossed the waves and he hugged mum. There was an odd chuff or spray and few bangs in keeping with a flat-bottomed boat, but the Element remained seaworthy all the same.

Meantime, some things became abundantly clear along the way. The special M-shaped instead of V-shaped hull is very efficient with the 60hp Mercury. What it lacks in deadrise and wave-cutting prowess it makes up for with incredible stability.

The boat’s high-freeboard and abundant buoyancy due to the hull shape means you can load it up and never feel close to the water. In fact, the wife commented that during the whole time she was driving she never once felt worried about our children’s well being. That part of the design brief has been nailed.

ELEMENTARY INDEED

After three-days of skipping about, we used less than a half of the useable 45 litres of fuel in the concealed sub-seat portside tank. We didn’t get around to washing the boat, but its big internal moulded liner means this will be a breeze. And with just one multifunction engine gauge on the dash it’s all very simple. Hose out, flush the engine, tug on a cover and you’re done.

As for the fun factor, you can order the boat with coloured hull, graphics upgrade and bow infill as part of the Sports Package that boasts a neat-looking tow tower with board racks. But a bridle off the transom eyelets and a tube might be just as well received. Either way, the BigFoot gearcase should help with towing. In tight turns, the boat slides around like a skiff or, hey, jet boat and washes off some speed.

But in general family usage, it’s wonderfully predictable giving typical cruise speeds of 18-20 knots and mid-to-high 20 knots top-end speeds. Yet as my wife says, it's not so much about numbers and data as just unabashed, unbridled enjoyment.

After three days, the wife declared it comfortable, reassuring, with excellent handling and great sight lines. Our daughter and son approved and were so attached to the Element it became their dining pad in preference to our big boat. And upon returning the Element to the dealership in peak hour, it ranks as a fuss-free boating solution for this dad.

Bayliner has tickets on the Element enticing the great unwashed back to boating. It’s got a lot to embrace. See what you get elsewhere for the money and ask your family what’s their preference.

Straightforward, uncomplicated… elementary.

Specifications

Price as tested: $24,990 with 60hp Mercury outboard, single-axle braked trailer, canopy and portable icebox

Length overall: 4.93m (16ft 2in)

Beam: 2.13m (7ft 5in)

Approximate dry weight: 712kg with standard engine

Std. engine: 60hp Mercury four-stroke

Trailer: Karavan single-axle with disc brakes and skids (+300kg)

Towing weight: About 1050-1100kg loaded

Fuel capacity: 45 litres

Maximum person capacity: Six

Supplied by:

Avante Marine

Silverwater - Sydney

T: (02) 9737 0727

F: (02) 9737 0235

210 - 212 Silverwater Road

Silverwater NSW 2128

www.avantemarine.com.au

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Bayliner Element

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