|
|
|
A Bayliner Is Born
by Capt. Patricia Miller Rains
The all-new 3788 Motoryacht is sleek, accommodating and affordable
Print This Article
|
Email This Article
|
In January, US Marine released its newest Bayliner motoryacht -- the 3788 sedan -- a well-designed two-stateroom boat that’s ideal for boating families.
The 3788’s prototype appeared in April’s Newport In-Water Boat Show. Soon after, we were able to take the first test of this boat, accompanied by Pete Zaleski of Olympic Boat Centers, the San Diego Bayliner dealer, and William Filip of Bayliner Marine.
From the outside, the Bayliner 3788 shows a hint of European-influenced styling, especially in its curvaceous flybridge, cabin sides, saloon windows, foredeck and aft platform. The swept-back radar arch lines up over the upswept transom, forming a sleek wedge.
The 3788 has a nice low profile. The boat looks fast and stable, and it certainly proved to be just that during our test.
We tested the boat on a blustery spring day off San Diego, with 18 to 20 knots of northwesterly wind, big swell and a few 6 foot whitecaps piling up. It seemed as though Filip, who had flown in from Seattle, had brought Pacific Northwest weather down with him for this sea trial.
Despite the conditions, this 37 foot Bayliner felt very solid underneath us that day, riding like a larger vessel. Our prototype was powered with twin Cummins 250s, but Filip said 99 percent of the company’s orders have been for boats equipped with more powerful Cummins 330s. With a pair of 330 hp diesels, the 3788 turns in a top speed of 26.2 knots (30.1 mph) at 2,800 rpm, and cruises at around 17.7 knots (20.4 mph) at 2,200 rpm.
During our test, we carried 150 gallons of fuel (one-half load), about 60 gallons of water (a little less than half capacity), a lunch hook and chain in the bow and standard cabin furnishings, but no dinghy or long-range cruising gear. Off Point Loma in hearty sea conditions, at 2,650 rpm, our prototype made 18.25 knots. It handled the big swells nicely, even on the beam.
The 3788 held our course line perfectly well, then turned on a Hynautic dime. Upwind, at 2,500 rpm, it sliced through the square wave tops without pounding or bouncing.
I had been driving the boat from the flybridge helm station. When I went below to see how the ride felt in the saloon, everything remained smooth, cozy and quiet.
Even in this seaway, I found that the eight molded steps between the flybridge and cockpit were easy to negotiate. They are less steep than a ladder, and they offer much better footing, even when wet. An extension of the cabin’s starboard wall shields you as you ascend, and lends a feeling of security.
Handrails were positioned in exactly the right places. For example, at the top of the stairway, a guardrail around the generously sized companionway extends a few inches farther, forming a perfect handhold for the top step -- one of those trip-prone places on all boats.
At the Helm
The flybridge is built in one piece. The smoothly molded-in helm console is practically and conveniently arranged. UV-stabilized burled walnut panels frame the electronics, gauges and controls. Our test boat was equipped with dual Teleflex engine controls, an engine synchronizer, tachometers, trim tab controls, a compass, a depth sounder, radar, a GPS receiver, an electronic chart plotter and a VHF radio.
The helm’s breaker panel is located near the dash. A low windshield protects the bridge, and visibility on all sides is good from the adjustable helm seat.
The U-shaped cushioned seating accommodates five or six adults. Bayliner now makes the back cushions taller, for better support, and the middle section is longer than 6 feet, for comfortable napping.
The bridge deck extends 6 feet abaft the seating area, making room for a folded inflatable dinghy or deck furniture. The low-slung arch carries the radar antenna, deck lighting and speakers. For trucking purposes, the arch unbolts, and the whole top deck can be removed in one piece.
Our test boat had an optional inside steering station, which boaters in the Pacific Northwest really appreciate -- and so do I. The inside helm seat is an adjustable two-man bench. Deep cushions of faux leather match the rest of the main saloon. One nice idea: The key-style ignition is located in the electrical panel, inside a teak cabinet in the saloon, so kids can’t accidentally turn it off or on.
The three forward windshields have large wipers, and a smaller side window opens.
Get Comfortable
The main saloon, with inside helm area and galley, has windows offering virtually 360 degree visibility and an abundance of ambient light.
The open galley-up layout allows the chef to maintain a conversation with the guests and the skipper. The galley is surrounded by windows, one of which opens -- making for good cross-ventilation with the helm window.
The U-shaped galley has a lower refrigerator and freezer aft and a two-basin stainless steel sink along the port side. Facing forward are a convection/microwave and a two-burner electric stove.
Stowage space is easily accessible, and there’s a large two-tier lazy Susan cabinet in the forward corner. Countertops are Formica with wooden fiddles.
Opposite the galley, instead of the roomy inside helm station, you could opt for a U-shaped dinette that seats six. Whether to opt for the dinette might be your most difficult decision; however, I found that there was already plenty of sit-down room in the aft section of the main cabin.
You enter the deeply carpeted main cabin via two steps leading up from the cockpit, through a large sliding glass door. The saloon’s entertainment center and electrical panel are to port, inside a nicely contoured cabinet.
A free-standing chair is forward of the cabinetry. To starboard is a good-sized fold-out table and an L-shaped lounge seating area that quickly and easily converts to an extra double berth. Together with the berths in the master and guest staterooms belowdecks, the boat sleeps six people.
Lift a small floorboard in the main saloon, and you’ll gain access to the fuel shut-off and battery switches. Two larger floorboards can be lifted for complete engine room access. I’m not a small person, and I had plenty of room down here to maneuver.
A short ladder takes you to a clear pathway between two 12 foot engine-mount longitudinal stringers. The Cummins diesels are on either side.
The fire extinguishing system and optional fuel transfer and oil change systems are handy, mounted on bulkheads. Everything is conveniently color coded. There’s overhead lighting, too -- but in daylight, we found that the removed floorboards gave ample light for simple maintenance.
An optional 8 kW Westerbeke generator and 30 amp battery charger and inverter are accessible below the two cockpit hatches. Abaft the steering gear, there’s a large horizontal stowage area. If you mounted dinghy davits on the molded swim step or transom platform, you’d put the supports down here.
The cockpit is almost 7 by 9 feet, with a skid-resistant sole. It is encircled and half covered by the aft portion of the bridge deck. An optional canvas and vinyl enclosure is available for the whole cockpit.
On each side of the cockpit, two molded steps and three grabrails give access to sidedecks, which are flush and have skid-resistant surfaces all the way forward to the anchor and bow pulpit. Beefy, securely mounted 7/8 inch rails extend all the way from the cockpit steps to the bow pulpit.
A Lewmar windlass is standard at the bow, and two locking deck hatches are provided for chain storage and gear. One side has a raw water tap and hose for cleaning muddy ground tackle before bringing it aboard.
A translucent circular overhead hatch for the main saloon is set into the center raised section of the foredeck. A large sunpad is adjacent, which secures with a bolt rope. A rotating spotlight is mounted nearby.
Accommodating Interior
The master stateroom is positioned at the bow, and its attached head has -- surprise -- a real bathtub disguised as a standard enclosed shower.
The guest stateroom is accessible off the same companionway, to starboard, below the optional inside helm station.
Both staterooms have double berths, cedar-lined hanging lockers, drawer storage and opening portlights with screens. But the guest berth is lower and athwartships, with the foot tucked below the galley area. In certain sea conditions, you may be very glad to have at least one berth oriented in a different direction. More storage lies to port of this sleeping area.
Filip says Bayliner has pre-sold and built at least seven more of these 3788s since creating the prototype. Those purchased at the January boat shows were delivered in May.
Bayliner uses an exclusive five-axis tooling system, to ensure a high level of quality and uniformity of construction. During the hand-layup process, vinyl resin is used, to prevent osmosis blistering.
Before it is delivered to the dealer, each boat is pool tested in salt water (with all systems running) and high-pressure soak-tested to guarantee no leaks -- all under sheds at La Conner, Washington.
With impressive advanced construction methods, cutting-edge styling, special attention to overall quality and a price tag that ensures customers get a lot for the money, Bayliner’s 3788 Motoryacht is a welcome addition to the line -- and an indicator of advanced new boats that are coming in the future.
|
This article first appeared in the July 2000 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
|
|
|
|
