Help to decide what options I should choose to add to my new boat purchase...

I have been looking for a used boat (but newer in the 1998 to 2003 range) but got fed up with the search and ended up purchasing a brand new 2006 Bayliner 175 (nothing spectacular, just a basic bowrider 17.5' made for the entry level market). Although this boat is manufactured with the intent of creating a dent in the newer used boat market, I still had to spend a little more dollars than originally planned.

Now, I am told that I should consider the following options. I am not sure that I can afford all of them (at least not right at this moment) so I would like to know which you would purchase first, and second...or not at all. Typical scenario : the boat is stored in the garage during the winter months (Nov to March) and the boat is moored (and rarely taken out of the water) from April to September. Ran almost exclusively in saltwater and used almost every weekends.

OPTION A : Current warranty on the Mercruiser Alpha 1 3.0L 135hp is 2 years. For approx. $950 canadian ($800 US), I can extend this warranty from 2 to 6 years (4 additional years)

OPTION B : install a fresh water cooling system. Estimate : $1200 canadian. Is this something I could do in a couple of years if I am not swimming in cash at the moment?

OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again. Something I could do later or not?

Sure I'd like to have all of this done if I could. But given that I already stretch my budget to go after the brand new boat, I may have to make choices with the possible option of doing some of these things next summer or the summer after next if I get feedback that these are =AB must do =BB. Looking forward to the boating community feedback on these hard choices... Cheers! Andre

There are things that you can do, for very little cost, to protect your investment. There is untreated, unpainted wood in this boat. I have no idea weather or not it is even marine plywood. Look at the seat backs for example. The cockpit sole is painted on the topside and carpet is glued to it. I'm not sure what protection is on the underside of the cockpit floor. During the winter you could disassemble the seating and enclose the cushions in plastic, paint the wooden backing on all sides, and restaple things back together with monel staples. The rubber straps that hold the engine cover will not last long., and the cover won't stay in place without them. Find some other way to secure the cover. If you leave your boat in the water, sunlight, water, and bird droppings are going to make your boat look old very quickly if you do not protect the cushions and dashboard with a mooring cover.

I wish you would consider trailering this boat. You would save annual mooring fees, and the cost of a mooring cover. You wouldn't have to damage the gel coat by sanding in preparation for bottom paint. You wouldn't have to bottom paint every year. Don't forget that you need to raise the trailer off the bunks to sand and paint under them. The beautiful and durable finish that Mercruiser puts on their sterndrives wont be ruined by antifouling paint. You will be able to tilt the bow up and drain any standing water from the boat, reducing the likelihood of rot.

I saw this boat at BJs warehouse club and had a few minutes to examine it before my wife caught me. "It doesn't have a head" she said with a stern voice. That was the end of that dream. At any rate, enjoy the boat. It's probably the best value Bayliner offers. Good luck, JIMinFL gould.chuck@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1127961637.293715.242150@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

I'm not a fan of extended warranties: BUT....if you can get an additional 4 years of comprehensive coverage for a total of $800, you'd be nuts not to go for it. Which is precisely why I'm somewhat skeptical about the warranty provider or the coverage- the company is betting that they will pay out less than $200 a year in repair claims after the boat gets to be 3 years old. Actually a lot less, as the dealer will be making a couple of hundred bucks commission out of your $800 if you take this option. Make sure it's a FACTORY product, not something put together by FLY-HIGH underwriters operating out of a boilerroom "claims center" someplace. Seen that goofy TV ad for credit card/frequent flier miles with an office full of people trained to say, "NO" to everything? I think they modeled that on after-market warranty companies. If it is a factory warranty, read the darn thing really, really carefully. It sounds too good to be true, so look at it with a high powered light and a magnifying glass.

Fresh water cooling? Absolutely. And up front. Are you financing the boat? See if you can roll it into the payments if need be.

Bottom paint? You bet. That shouldn't be though of as an "option" on any boat moored in salt water.

While you're getting the boat rigged, make sure you include a VHF radio. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

"Melandre" <melandre@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1127948596.667911.109750@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... OK, I know it is easy to say 'take it' when you are not the one having to cough up the dough so keep in mind that these expenditures are considered quite significant for my budget and I am not sure I can afford all of them... Having said that...

I have been looking for a used boat (but newer in the 1998 to 2003 range) but got fed up with the search and ended up purchasing a brand new 2006 Bayliner 175 (nothing spectacular, just a basic bowrider 17.5' made for the entry level market). Although this boat is manufactured with the intent of creating a dent in the newer used boat market, I still had to spend a little more dollars than originally planned.

Now, I am told that I should consider the following options. I am not sure that I can afford all of them (at least not right at this moment) so I would like to know which you would purchase first, and second...or not at all. Typical scenario : the boat is stored in the garage during the winter months (Nov to March) and the boat is moored (and rarely taken out of the water) from April to September. Ran almost exclusively in saltwater and used almost every weekends.

OPTION A : Current warranty on the Mercruiser Alpha 1 3.0L 135hp is 2 years. For approx. $950 canadian ($800 US), I can extend this warranty from 2 to 6 years (4 additional years)

OPTION B : install a fresh water cooling system. Estimate : $1200 canadian. Is this something I could do in a couple of years if I am not swimming in cash at the moment?

OPTION C : have an antifoul coating job done (I am not even sure I understand what this is). Estimate : around $900 canadian. Again. Something I could do later or not?

Sure I'd like to have all of this done if I could. But given that I already stretch my budget to go after the brand new boat, I may have to make choices with the possible option of doing some of these things next summer or the summer after next if I get feedback that these are « must do ». Looking forward to the boating community feedback on these hard choices... Cheers! Andre

I agree with the other poster. Keep it on a trailer if you can. You plan on using it every weekend in the summer but you probably won't and dropping a boat this size in the water is quick and easy. You could also forgo the fresh water cooling since you will have the opportunity to flush it with freshwater at the end of the day.

To back up another suggestion - look into a boat with an OB motor - preferably a four stroke. You will gain space inside the boat and service/problems will likely be reduced over time.

Dan

Fresh water cooling? Absolutely. And up front. Are you financing the boat? See if you can roll it into the payments if need be.

Bottom paint? You bet. That shouldn't be though of as an "option" on any boat moored in salt water.

While you're getting the boat rigged, make sure you include a VHF radio. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.