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From a seller of another nice looking whaler from the 80s that would need a repower. I’m not familiar with “oil canning”. If I had that Big Otter/paid protestor money I’d just get that 17’ outrage and put a new motor on it and be out the door for ~$30k but that’s just not my reality. Shopping around/be patient/move quick is the name of the game.
Another option ticks a lot of boxes but no sea trial is available due to expired tabs. I wouldn’t buy a car wo a test drive. Ugh.
Zoom in to see spider web cracks in the usual locations.
No issues with the fuel tank or with water ingress. Boat sits at factory identified waterline which was used to establish line for bottom paint.
These hulls can develop delaminating between the foam and outer hull layers which you can feel when you step down. This can ask cause “oil canning” along the outside of the gunnels. This boat has a bit of both but nothing of concern from my perspective and never any issues for us.
Can’t use a 2s in my local lake and if I’m going to go big (relatively speaking) I’m not going to limit myself. And perhaps Bayliners have come a long way since the 80s but I am not looking at them. You’re right though; there are plenty of other options that I’m considering.Lotta good CC hulls out there from other manufacturers such as Parker, Seaswirl, Triumph, Grady White, Robalo, Scout, Tidewater, etc, the Bayliner Trophy line are decent hulls as well. And I wouldn't be afraid of an older engine that passes inspection and compression tests from an experienced boat mechanic, endless salt water miles were put on them prior to the latest breed of OB's.
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Bayliner Trophy 1703 Center Console - boats - by owner - marine sale - craigslist
Great boat for fishing and crabbing. Runs great. Just serviced motor and replaced sticky steering cable. Complete with Trailer and mooring cover. Injected 2001 125 HP Mercury outboard. Lowrance...wenatchee.craigslist.org
This boat is so clean and nice; the guy is selling it for the same reason I'm not looking at it.Lotta good CC hulls out there from other manufacturers such as Parker, Seaswirl, Triumph, Grady White, Robalo, Scout, Tidewater, etc, the Bayliner Trophy line are decent hulls as well. And I wouldn't be afraid of an older engine that passes inspection and compression tests from an experienced boat mechanic, endless salt water miles were put on them prior to the latest breed of OB's.
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Bayliner Trophy 1703 Center Console - boats - by owner - marine sale - craigslist
Great boat for fishing and crabbing. Runs great. Just serviced motor and replaced sticky steering cable. Complete with Trailer and mooring cover. Injected 2001 125 HP Mercury outboard. Lowrance...wenatchee.craigslist.org
Definitely one of the nicer Bayliners I've seen. It's just not a make I tend to trust. After doing multiple fiberglass project boats, and looking at a lot of others, the Bayliner build quality just tends to not be particularly impressive. They apparently did have a few that were better than their usual builds and this could definitely be one, but I'd be getting a survey done to check any wood coring on the transom, stringers, etc.This boat is so clean and nice; the guy is selling it for the same reason I'm not looking at it.
Back in the day I took a job up in Kenai Fjords and when I got up there I found out that our two research vessels were a 15' soft-hulled Zodiac and a vintage 28' Bayliner. I was pretty bummed about both of them until I found out that the previous owner of the Bayliner had gutted her and put something like 3x the glass in the hull to make her more seaworthy.Definitely one of the nicer Bayliners I've seen. It's just not a make I tend to trust. After doing multiple fiberglass project boats, and looking at a lot of others, the Bayliner build quality just tends to not be particularly impressive. They apparently did have a few that were better than their usual builds and this could definitely be one, but I'd be getting a survey done to check any wood coring on the transom, stringers, etc.




no wonder you want a Whaler, you spent your 'best' years on one..Back in the day I took a job up in Kenai Fjords and when I got up there I found out that our two research vessels were a 15' soft-hulled Zodiac and a vintage 28' Bayliner. I was pretty bummed about both of them until I found out that the previous owner of the Bayliner had gutted her and put something like 3x the glass in the hull to make her more seaworthy.
I had a lot more confidence in the seaworthiness of the Zodiac but it was a fairly miserable research vessel for the waters and conditions we were supposed to operate in.
Still... lots of good times on those boats.
R/V Andromeda off Fox Island spit, Resurrection Bay.
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On R/V Andromeda with my crew in the Gulf of AK following AT109, AT111, and AT125
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On R/V Puffin somewhere in between Cape Resurrection and Rugged Island following AS and AY pods.
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edit: I just did the math and I took these photos half of my life ago. Geez.
Since I'm in the "digitized slide" era, here's a bonus photo of R/V Rosi, the Montauk I operated for the USFS for five summers, at Watmough Bay Lopez Island.
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I had a Montauk growing up, spent five seasons on a Montauk for the USFS, and ran this mid-70s 19' Revenge during my time at the CWR.no wonder you want a Whaler, you spent your 'best' years on one..![]()

Yeah a marine surveyor's going to be a critical step before any purchase, esp. for an older boat. I was talking with a seller and was getting a bit excited but he went cold as soon as I brought up getting the boat surveyed. And well TBH the surveyor never got back to me either. Anyone have any recommendations for boat surveyors in the PNW?Have you considered hiring a marine surveyor to check a potential boat buy? A previous poster mentioned wood components (eg. transom and stringers), that are encapsulated in fibreglass resin. I would also add encapsulated foam. Both can rot from water that finds its way through a fibreglass hull, because it’s porous. Google “fibreglass hull porous”.
I followed a couple of illustrated forum threads by folks encountering this type of damage, and having to make very extensive repairs…. beginning with removing every part of their boats, right down to bare hulls. Lots of money and time.
If you go with an aluminum hull, a friend of mine replaced the seats with ones with shock absorbers, to protect his spine. He told me aluminum boats pound on the waves more than glass hulls do, because they’re lighter.
Just a couple of things to think about.
OMG I think I found the crew to do my future Whaler restoration... Gorgeous!!! Time to cash in that Big Otter money.
Featured Boston Whaler Builds — FassēCo
fasseco.com
I would love the opportunity to put many scuffs, dings, and slimes into a fully restored boat like that. Tools not jewels.It would be too nice to use. Who wants a bunch of stinky fish slime all over that?
Hard pass.numerous suspicious soft spots