Sea Ray / Bayliner Hulls

SteveRuss

SteveRuss

Member
Jan 25, 2011
191
Amityville, New York
Boat Info
2000 280 Sunsport
Engines
Twin 5.7L EFI w/Bravo I Drives
Someone on another forum mentioned that Sea Ray shared hulls on a few models (early 2000 260 DA was one) with Bayliner. I knew that Bayliner and Maxxum shared hulls and components but was not aware that Sea Ray ever has. Anyone know for sure?
 
Not a comment of good or bad - but they are not the same hulls. Bayliner has a wider beam in that size - so unless you can stretch the boat wider - it is impossible. In general all of the hulls are completely different from the design, deadrise... Yes they use Mercury Engines and not Volvo in general on their gas powered motors. Not getting into a discussion of which is better or on quality. Maxum did share many hulls with Bayliner during that time of production.
 
SteveRuss said:
Someone on another forum mentioned that Sea Ray shared hulls on a few models (early 2000 260 DA was one) with Bayliner. I knew that Bayliner and Maxxum shared hulls and components but was not aware that Sea Ray ever has. Anyone know for sure?
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good. i was afraid i'd be mistaken for a Sea Ray...



:grin:
 
RJ aka BayHoler is a Sea Ray wannabe. :smt043


Hi Joe.
 
had 'em. If I wanted 'em i'd buy 'em. Almost did actually before we bought the 'Hole - a late 80's 340 EC. Nice boat but we like the mid cabin in the 'Hole and it was $9k less with way less hours.

Hey Wayne.
 
That's what I thought. The guy from the other forum was as you guessed it, a Bayliner owner. There are many folks out there that think Brunswick is run like GM where they rebrand all the same cars to make them unique to that brand.
 
SteveRuss said:
That's what I thought. The guy from the other forum was as you guessed it, a Bayliner owner. There are many folks out there that think Brunswick is run like GM where they rebrand all the same cars to make them unique to that brand.
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This topic has surfaced here multiple times and always ends up in a heated debate. It has become more confusing to some since Brunswick closed the plant that manufactured Bayliner cruisers (I believe it was in Washington) several years ago and started manufacturing those Bayliner cruisers on a seperate line but under the same roof at the Sea Ray Plant in Knoxville. The opinions about the two surround hull sharing, hull thickness, quality, power plants and about everything else you could imangine. I suggest if you want to know the answers for sure, you should visit the plant as I did and have these questions answered by the people that actually build the boats. It is very interesting and will tell you more about these boats than any boating magazine. Although there are definitely differences in the two brands, you will get a new appreciation for how much quality is put in to both by the workers there.
 
Bayliner just realized last year they were putting their radar arches on backwards for the last decade.
 
Hey somebody had to throw in a joke. The molds on the hulls are obviously different. The top caps are different - they are not the same hulls. It doesn't take an engineer to figure that out. This "debate" usually comes up in the winter. The components are different - the suppliers are different...
 
They weren't trying to use it as a radar arch. Cooooool man!!
:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043
dodge daytona.jpg
 
I had the pleasure of a factory tour at the Knoxville plant in October. I had no idea Bayliner was made at this factory! Our tour guide showed us each step in the manufacturing process. The Bayliners come down one side of the factory and Sea Ray on the other side. The resin and materials may be the same but that is about all. They utilized different molds for the hull and top cap. The Sea Rays had what appeared to be thicker hulls and larger stringers.

Keep in mind all the Bayliners were the larger models or the Trophy line of fishing boats. All the Sea Rays were from 24 to 37 ft if memory serves me correctly. The process is very similar but it was obvious Sea Ray receives more attention to detail and tighter quality control. For instance every single Sea Ray is floated in a test tank, checked for leaks and any sign of a list. The engines are tested and then out the back door and into the river where they are ran by a technician testing for performance and quality issues. (what a job this must be). After that phase they go back in for final detailing and shrink wrap.

Only one in five Bayliners are tested in this exhaustive manner. Many issues are left for the dealer or new owner to discover and resolve.
 
Prior to this Sea Ray I owned 2 Bayliner’s . The 1[SUP]st[/SUP] one a1985 bayliner Avantie 25.5 with a Volvo Penta 260. The 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] one was a1986 32.5 Conquest with twin 260 Volvo Pentas.
I heard all of the disclaimers and how bad the Bayliner’s were.I liked the layout of both of the boats, they both rode good. As a matter of fact the Conquest had a real smooth entry hall it never hit the waves hard and it was a dry boat.
When they were sold both passed the survey with no problems.(I take good care of my boats so that helps.) The big surprise was finding out that the earlier 80’s to 91 31 Sea Ray’s were flunking survey due to bad stringers up here on the Great lakes. I liked the Sundancer design for its size it has a nice layout. I was looking at one of them to buy.
I’m working on my Sea Ray to, redoing and repairing interior,exterior, bad side wood where the open storage is on the outside. As I said before I take real good care of my boats and I’m probably more particular than need be.
Not slamming any boats just talking about my experience with both.
 
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A freind of mine just bought a 2012 Bayliner and he is new to boating. He called and asked why his boat had a glass bottom and I told him that's so he could see last years model. :smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043
 
That's going get the Baysinker boys in the rabbited mode. :grin:
 
Although I love the looks and style of nearly all Sea Rays, I think I could own any boat and get a good service life. Boats don't wear out, they die of neglect and abuse!! Care is everything and those who leave them uncovered in the sun and elements deserve to watch them sink!! I owned my 86 Sea Ray for 19 seasons and on trade in day it was as good as the day I brought it home. This was not due entirely to the brand but mostly to the care.
 
Last Dollar said:
Although I love the looks and style of nearly all Sea Rays, I think I could own any boat and get a good service life. Boats don't wear out, they die of neglect and abuse!! Care is everything and those who leave them uncovered in the sun and elements deserve to watch them sink!! I owned my 86 Sea Ray for 19 seasons and on trade in day it was as good as the day I brought it home. This was not due entirely to the brand but mostly to the care.
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I'm gonna vote you up on this for dumbest comment of the day.
 
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