So, you are planning to purchase a boat. Have you thought about what features you want and what the boat will be used for? If weekend fishing trips are your poison, you will be better off with a dinghy. However, if you have other leisure activities, why not consider a cabin cruiser? It’s cheaper than a yacht and a great boat for beginners.
You have probably been practicing your boating skills on your friend’s boat for quite some time now. Starting with a small boat makes much more sense, but if you have been boating for quite some time and have a boating license, we fully support your decision to buy a bigger motor boat. Since this is a huge and expensive purchase, you must buy the right boat first.
Our Recommendation: The Bayliner Series
Starting from $30,000 and going all the way to $116,000, the Bayliner Series offers you a nice selection of boats ranging from 20ft to 23ft. There are a total of 6 boats in this Series, including:
- VR5 Cuddy
- VR5 Cuddy Outboard
- VR6 Cuddy
- VR6 Cuddy Outboard
- 742R
- Ciera 8
The Bayliner Series
Before talking about specs, let’s take a look at what type of boats the Bayliner Series offers:
First up is the Bowrider Line. It includes recreational, high-speed boats popular for their spacious storage options, making them perfect for fishing.
Then there’s the Center Console Line, which has its operating system in the middle of the boat. This allows fishing enthusiasts to utilize the entire boat from all sides to do what they love.
At last, we have the Deck Boat Line. This is the best option if you plan to use the boat for cruising and enjoying the sunset. It has a wider hull than other Bayliner boats, and the boat can accommodate around 16 people.
Bayliner 742R
Bayliner 742R is one of the top cabin cruisers in the Series. It has configurable seating, a copilot seat doubling as a chaise lounge, and a folding sun lounge. It also has a cockpit where you can socialize with other people on the boat.
The boat has a cabin done in gel, and the interior is spacious enough for you to spend a night or two on the water.
Here are a few key features of the boat:
- Length: 24ft
- Hull Length: 6.64 M
- Approximate Weight Including Standard Engine: 1,850 KG
- Deadrise: 22°
- CE Design Category: C
- Fuel Capacity: 196 L
- Maximum Weight of People the Boat Can Handle: 600 KG
- Draft: 0.91 M
- Steering: Mercury Auto Trim System
Performance
A Bayliner boat has different engines, including 2-liter diesel and 6.2 liters V8 350 Magnum. It enters the middle ground with an economical V6 MerCruiser 4.3 liter, giving 220hp.
You will find plenty of reviews online on the boat, which will help you decide whether this boat is worth purchasing or not. When you approach a dealer, take the boat for a test cruise. This will allow you to find out how well you can handle it.
If you are looking for quality floating docks or do-it-yourself docks for boats, visit the Nor Col EZ Dock website. They offer different types of plastic docks in Manitoba for residential, commercial, and industrial use. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.
