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Shock Attack
by Chris Caswell
Everything about the Bayliner 2855 Ciera Sunbridge is a pleasant surprise -- even the sticker price
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Everyone jokes about “sticker shock” -- that moment of stunned disbelief when you look at the price sticker on a new car or boat and think to yourself, “Have they misplaced a decimal point here?”
In the vast majority of cases, sticker shock occurs because the price is perhaps twice what you thought the product should actually cost. But I’m here to tell you there’s another kind of sticker shock -- one that makes you think to yourself, “That price can’t possibly be right -- it’s way too low.” Given a choice, that’s the kind of sticker shock I prefer.
And that’s exactly the case with the Bayliner 2855 Ciera Sunbridge. I won’t keep you in suspense here: You can get the 2855 for about $50,000, even including an upgrade to the big MerCruiser 7.4 with the duo-prop Bravo III drive. For a well-equipped and spacious 30-footer with two big double berths, an enclosed head with a shower and a full galley, that’s cause for reverse sticker shock.
I like salespeople who really know their product, so I was lucky to get Matt Samerdyke from Marine Center in Newport Beach to give me a guided tour and to handle the driving duties on our test run. Without Matt, I probably would have missed many of the subtle features of the 2855 that make it such a great boat.
Built for All Boaters
The 2855 is the second largest boat in the Ciera line (the 2858 Command Bridge is a few inches longer), but it’s the largest with express cruiser styling, which puts everything more or less on one level.
The aft cockpit is spacious enough for a couple of deck chairs, although you really don’t need them because a folding bench seat hinges neatly out of the transom. It’s a good compromise between space for activities like fishing and the seating needs for a family cruise with friends.
The cockpit, like the boat itself, is designed with real people in mind. Molded steps in the cockpit sides, for example, serve as a boost to the deck or pier for those of us who are less than agile, and there’s even a hot-and-cold transom shower.
Samerdyke pointed out that the cockpit offers peace of mind to boaters with children, since the coamings are high and the solid transom door can be locked securely. Add in the great non-slip deck and the well-placed handholds, and you have a family boat par excellence.
The upper level of the cockpit is no less well-planned. There’s a J-shaped settee to port with a removable table for entertaining or dining outside, and enough stretching room to work on your tan. The backrest on the aft side is another example of thoughtful planning, since it hinges forward to convert the seat into an aft facing bench seat with a fold-down footrest and a storage locker underneath.
The skipper has his “office” to starboard, with a pedestal-mounted captain’s seat that slides and turns, so it can be used with the settee table for dining.
The dashboard is laid out in two panels, with the readable gauges close to your line of sight on the upper panels. The middle panel is left empty for electronics, and there’s plenty of room for a GPS or even a radar, since you already have the standard electronics arch overhead. Two rows of toggle switches handle the electrical systems next to the wheel, and a Quicksilver single-lever throttle and shift is right where you’d want it.
Our test boat had the optional “Advantage Package,” which puts a Standard Horizon VHF and a digital depth finder in a wood-grained dash, along with a tilt steering wheel and 12v accessory outlet. A Ritchie compass is standard. Bayliner earns points for the neutral-colored areas on the dashboard and under the windshield, which eliminates the usual reflections from white decks.
A bi-fold door hinges out of the way for cabin access, and you’ll be surprised at how much living space Bayliner has managed to fit into a 9 foot, 7 inch package.
To port is the galley, a molded fiberglass counter with ash trim, a deep stainless steel sink, a two-burner Origo AC/DC stove and a Norcold refrigerator under the dinette. It’s compact, but there’s ample storage with drawers and lockers under and over the galley. Our test boat had the optional microwave but, with hot and cold water, the standard package is ready to start cooking!
On the opposite side, the dinette will also surprise you, since it’s large enough for four adults. Dinettes are usually on the skimpy side because they take up a lot of space, but you and your guests don’t have to be skinny-minnies to fit for dinner.
Forward, there’s a big V-berth that doesn’t rely on adding fillers to make it up for sleeping and has huge storage compartments underneath. A seat is just aft for tying your shoes and, with a big deck hatch and two opening hull ports, there’s plenty of light and air. In fact, the whole cabin is bright, with two overhead hatches and large non-opening side windows (good news for those who tire of leaks from sliding side windows).
Aft, there’s a mini-stateroom tucked under the raised cockpit. The berth is square and big, stretching more than 7 feet across the boat. There’s an upholstered headboard, an opening port into the cockpit and no sense of claustrophobia, since there’s plenty of headroom for sitting.
The enclosed head offers full headroom, a fully molded white liner for easy cleaning and a shower pan in the floor. Standard equipment includes the Jabsco head and a big sink in the vanity counter, plus plenty of storage for toiletries.
Under the Deck and Under Way
Engine access is outstanding; the entire cockpit floor hinges upward on gas-assisted lifts.
The whole engine is exposed with the hatch up, so service and routine maintenance tasks are simple. The through-hull fittings, bilge pumps and all the other systems that are too-often buried are easily reached. The one flaw is the aluminum fuel tank, which disappears out of sight under the engine room bulkhead, with most of it hidden and uninspectable under the aft berth.
The standard boat has a MerCruiser 5.4 with an Alpha One drive, but our test boat had an upgraded 7.4 with a duo-prop Bravo III stern drive. I’d recommend the larger engine for two reasons: the Multi-Port Injection (MPI) makes the boat reliable and economical; while the Bravo III drive gives you great handling, especially in tight maneuvering or backing situations.
We had the perfect day for testing the boat but not for getting performance numbers. Outside the Newport jetties, there was a washing machine slop of patternless waves left over from a recent storm, but the 2855 was up to the task. Even dropping off waves and crashing into the troughs didn’t make this boat groan or creak. With a 21 degree deadrise, there’s plenty of vee in the bottom to cleave through the waves and soften the ride.
Each 2855 comes with a Bimini top and a full cockpit enclosure, which gave us great protection from the wind chill. But we didn’t need it for protection against spray, because even when running at full throttle in the rough seas, we didn’t take a single drop of spray on the windshield. All in all, the Bayliner was solid and comfortable in spite of the conditions.
So how can they build a boat with all this equipment at this price? In spite of what the competition may say, it’s not done by cutting corners. The 2855 is well-built, from the bronze seacocks to the double-sewn Bimini top. The answer is by building many boats so that there are sizable savings both in production costs and in quantity purchases of everything from stereos to refrigerators. With an MSRP of $44,395 for the standard engine package and $50,495 for the upgraded 7.4 MPI/Bravo III package, this is an affordable quality.
As Samerdyke pointed out, the 2855 is great for growing families, with plenty of space, solid construction and a price that doesn’t dent your budget. It’s equally attractive to “empty-nesters” who no longer need their large boat and want something that’s comfortable for a cruise with occasional weekend guests.
Either way, the Bayliner 2855 Ciera Sunbridge is definitely a must-see, and a chance to get a case of reverse sticker shock.
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This article first appeared in the June 1998 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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