Bayliner Element F18: Fishing Boat Review

Boatbuilding giant Bayliner created the Element side-console all-rounder to get more people into boating. The immediate reaction was great, but why not build a fishing version? That call hasn’t fallen of deaf ears ,as this Element F18 centre console fishing and family rig attests.

OVERVIEW
- Keeping it simple with a basic centre console
One of the big challenges facing new boatbuyers is the amount of choice. From engines to equipment, boats vary widely and it can all be rather overwhelming. As boating is divergent, there are rafts of new craft for every bent, budget, purpose and prospective buyer. Of course, each brand is better than the next.

One of the world’s biggest boatbuilders, Bayliner decided to simply the boat-buying process for inquiring newbies wanting to get afloat. It’s answer in the post-GFC slump was a basic fibreglass craft called, fittingly, The Element.

Back in 2013, we tested the Bayliner Element with our young family over three days. You can read our thoughts in this Bayliner Element review.

A big part of the pitch of the Element was the safety and stability from the M-shaped hull — a gullwing-type design that’s really nothing new — with high freeboard, predictable handling and inherent safety for new boaters. The Element packages were keenly priced turn-key rigs with relatively few options.

Being such a stable side console boat with outboard power meant The Element had the foundations of a petty decent fishing platform. It didn’t take long for the market to ask if there’s a fishing version. After all, some 70-80 per cent of boat buyers want to wet a line.

Five years later and we are aboard the new Bayliner Element F18, a fishing and family centre console based on that same keep-it-simple-silly (KISS) principle.  We mooched about the Gold Coast Broadwater and its myriad channels and sand banks with intentions of luring a flathead, taking a swim, picking up some lunch and pretty much doing all those elementary boating things in a trailerboat.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- A complete drive-away rig with a pretty keen price
In keeping with the drive for simplicity and accessibility, the Element F18 package we tested with Aussie spec had no options other than an upgrade from the base 90hp Mercury FourStroke to a 115hp FourStroke model.

The base price was $52,690 with the 90hp FourStroke and, as tested with the 115hp, $54,990. At the time of writing there was a special (running to the end of April 2017) for a Bayliner Element F18 with Mercury 115hp FourStroke for $49,990 drive away. In the sub-$50k arena, trailerboat sales have been quite strong in recent years.

The good-value package includes a single-axle trailer. We’d consider adding the hydraulic steering option, the water sports arch if you want a crossover boat for towing the kids, and the swim platforms to improve water access.

For fishing, there are factory options — from a 24V Motorguide trolling motor (the boat is prewired for it) to Lowrance fishfinders, forward live well for pitch baiting, a bow fishing seat, and covers.

But the F18 remains a very simple boat with less to choose from. If you find yourself fishing more and more, just add to the boat yourself with aftermarket electronics. Such things are pretty easy to install. Meantime, a few flicks sticks and some lures and we were away.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
- A centre console with a solid foundation
This 18-footer has a basic centre console layout with a wide-beam. The M-Hull Design is like a gullwing and creates terrific stability and lift. The beam forward maximises volume on what feels like a big skiff.

The hull is self-draining, with large non-skid fibreglass fore and aft casting platforms that double as lounging areas. At the transom, there are flip-up seats for the kids.

There’s a huge amount of storage space below these casting platforms, under the mother-in-law seat ahead of the centre console, and in a live well mid-transom. The boat also has a centre forward locker for carrying the anchor.

Vertical rod racks alongside the centre console carry a half a dozen flick sticks, while under gunwale rod storage takes four more outfits. Tackle stowed, there’s just a huge amount of deck space and uncluttered simplicity.

You can cast lures, tow water toys, seat kids, stowing the day’s gear and move about with safety and security. The M-Hull is platform rock solid underfoot, even when standing on the edge of the casting platforms.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- The M-Hull and Mercury
The special M-shaped instead of V-shaped hull is easily driven and efficient. What it lacks in deadrise and wave-cutting ability it makes up for with its inherent stability on flat water. Not everyone wants to head offshore.

The boat’s high-freeboard and abundant buoyancy means you can load it up and never feel close to the water. That part of the design brief for safe family boating and fishing has been nailed.

With the big Command Thrust gearbox of the 150hp Mercury on the 115hp FourStroke, which can swing a bigger prop for better hole shot and load shifting, the boat is very slippery. We were spinning a 19in stainless steel Enertia prop, which is designed for torque.

The 115hp also has is a 2.1L big-block, with SOHC in-line four-cylinder configuration with EFI. It’s been a hugely popular motor since its introduction in 2014 and, at 165kg, is the lightest 115ho four-stroke around.

The engine has SmartCraft capability (not fitted to the F18) and Smart Start, which stops you from accidentally starting the outboard in gear and/or while it’s running. It’s so quiet that’s a very real possibility.

With 118lt underfloor tank, there’s plenty of range. The shallow 0.30m draft means you can explore very skinny water well aware from the crowds. This boat would be a superb crabbing platform.

The stainless grab rail around the windscreen and stainless wheel add to your sense of command. There’s also some decent room left over for mounting electronics, say a 9in MFD, on the dash.

Otherwise, it’s a simple fibreglass platform, with a lot of bright white glossy gelcoat (sun protection needed), and there’s not a lot to worry about or maintain. What you see is what you get. A Lifetime Limited Transferable Hull Warranty covers all Bayliner boats.

ON THE WATER
- Slippery, stable and spacious
The Element hull has always performed a bit like a hydrofoil. It’s got a lot of lift and just gets up and scoots along. At just 2500rpm, you can hold plane at 9 knots. Advance the throttle and the 2.38: 1 big Command Thrust gearbox and Enertia prop add to the kick.

At 3000rpm, we hit 17 knots, at 3500rpm cruise we were doing up to 20 knots, and 4000rpm gave about 22 knots smooth cruise on flat water. At fast cruise of 5000rpm we saw 29-30 knots, with 6200rpm wide-open throttle returning 38 knots on the best run.

Along with the efficiency comes low operating noise, great vision and easy handling. In tight turns, the M-Hull slides out and there is some cavitation. This means newbies can’t get in a lot of trouble with a snappy turn. The boat stays level, flat and just slides like, well, a big skiff.

With the beam taken so far forward, this is not the smoothest riding boat in rough water. It’s seems quite dry, but there’s a lot of flat fibreglass to come in contact with the water if you launch and return in a hole.

However, offshore boating isn’t what the F18 is all about. In this boat’s sights are the inshore channels, gutters, islands, cays, creeks, rivers, mangroves, beaches, boltholes, secret fishing and crabbing spots, and flat towing reaches. For these, the boat travels pretty well.

VERDICT
- An easy-going low-fuss inshore runabout and fisher
You will pay at least $10-12k more for a fibreglass centre console with serious offshore fishability that will be wasted on those who are quite content gadding about the estuaries with rod or towrope in hand.

The F18 has a lot of space, storage and potential. It’s safe, low-fuss, hose-out, self-draining, and easily driven for cruising the dams, rivers and estuaries right down to the coast. It should hook families who like a bit of fishing and simple fun.

LIKES
>> Simplicity and ease of maintenance
>> Stabile M-Hull
>> Storage and deck space
>> Efficiency and torque of the Mercury 115 Command Thrust

NOT SO MUCH
>> Not the smoothest ride in rough water
>> No shade (wear pro fishing wraps, hats and gear)
>> Not a lot of wow or X Factor

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.62/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.7/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.6/5.0
Value for money: 4.7/5.0
X-factor: 4.5/5.0

Specifications: Bayliner Element F18
Price as Tested: $54,990 with 115hp Mercury FourStroke outboard, single-axle braked trailer, drive away. Special running to the end of April 2017 for $49,990 drive away.
Priced From: The base price was $52,690 with the 90hp FourStroke

Length Overall: 5.57m
Hull Length CE: 5.49m
Beam: 2.29m
Draft: 0.30m
Approximate Dry Weight: 907kg hull only
Max People: 6
Fuel: 118lt
MAX HP: 115
Engine on Test: 115hp Mercury FourStroke