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Fighting in Style
by Chris Caswell
Bayliner 2802 Trophy is a solid battlewagon with flair
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As I headed south on Pacific Coast Highway toward Newport Beach, California to test the new Bayliner 2802 Trophy, my view was not an encouraging one. As far as the horizon, the sea was a frothy white with long lines of big swells driven before a howling southerly.
At Marine Center, the Bayliner dealer in Newport, representative Matt Samerdyke was also watching the wind kick up whitecaps on the protected harbor, but he was philosophical: "Hey, it's a boat test, right?"
So, off we set in the 2802 Trophy, the flagship of Bayliner’s bluewater line of sportfishers. Unlike many boat tests where I have to circle back over the wake to find any waves, we gave the 2802 the same kind of use (and abuse) as a serious offshore angler.
By the time we reached the harbor entrance, the red storm warning flag was flying. The Harbor Patrol was eying us warily, and the sea between the jetties looked as turbulent as a washing machine commercial.
But let me just say that the 2802 was as solid and tough as it looks. From the crest of the first few waves, we dropped in free fall into the trough, stabbing the bow plank into the green face of the next sea and throwing spray the length of our boat even at idle speed -- but there wasn’t even a creak or a groan from the 2802, aside from those made by Matt and me.
The Bayliner brochure labels the 2802 a battlewagon -- a term usually reserved for big convertible sportfishers -- but in this case, I'd have to agree.
If your passion for fishing is strong enough to ignore red warning flags, then this is a boat to take on that gray sea. Turning to run across the seas, the throttles went forward and the 2802 leaped onto plane -- shouldering aside the swells that were out of sync with the normal pattern. Running downwind, we could set up on the face of a swell and use slight bursts of throttle to loaf back toward the safe harbor, but without any tendency to broach or spin sideways.
Though Bayliner labels this as though it was a 28-footer, it’s actually 31 feet long when you include the husky fiberglass outboard bracket that doubles as a boarding and swim platform.
Our test boat had a pair of Mercury 175 hp Offshore outboards bolted to the transom, which is about midrange power for this boat and makes a good package. The boat can handle up to twin 225s.
Step aboard that stern platform, and you'll find a husky molded transom door for cockpit access. The transom is extra wide, to create room for a pair of cutting boards atop the coaming. One covers a 71 quart aerated live bait well, while the other hides a bait prep area with drain.
A pair of drawers is located in the transom for fishing gear -- and because the transom is full-height, you can back down into a sea without worrying about filling the cockpit, unlike most outboard boats.
The entire cockpit is deep for security, and the side coamings are padded for comfort. A pair of jump seats fold down at the forward end of the cockpit, so you don't have to spend the entire day on your feet just to be near the rods.
Rod racks are under the coaming, to both port and starboard, along with bins for storing lines and gear. The non-slip area of the cockpit is a light gray color that’s not only easy on the eyes, but hides the usual dirt marks and scuffs.
Water Gets Carried Away
I was particularly impressed to see that the twin flush-mounted fishboxes in the cockpit sole had deep gutters to carry away water -- a seaworthy touch. Up two steps from cockpit level is the bridgedeck, with a pair of molded storage lockers topped by twin Pompanette chairs with armrests.
These storage lockers include a hidden sink and faucet to starboard, and a bin with a drain to port, as well as a pull-out tackle box under the companion seat.
The helm area is very well planned, starting with the dark gray gelcoat that covers the area under the curved windshield, to prevent reflections. Teleflex Sea Star steering is standard, along with the single-lever Mercury engine controls.
A full array of gauges is furnished on an upper dash panel, along with a 5 inch Danforth compass, while a plexiglass-protected panel directly in front of the helm provides an immense amount of space for flush-mounted electronics. Below this blank space is a row of clearly labeled toggle switches for the various systems, which are protected by a panel of circuit breakers at the skipper's right elbow.
A Standard VHF radio is included, along with an AM/FM cassette stereo.
The skipper's seat was augmented by a molded foot brace, resulting in a helm that is not only comfortable both sitting or standing, but one that other builders might use as an example of effective layout.
The curved windshield is just below eye level, so most skippers will look over rather than through the tempered safety glass; but a full enclosure is standard, so you have wind and spray protection on days like our test. A single windshield wiper is standard, but it clears only a small area, half-hidden behind the dash.
The walk-around sidedecks have high bulwarks for added security. The welded stainless steel bowrail, which extends from the cockpit to the bow plank, is angled outward for added room. One drawback is that you’ll need to be careful when lying alongside a pier, because the rails are outboard of the rubrails and might be damaged if you don't use fenders.
Forward, the bow plank holds the usual anchor roller, and a hawse pipe leads to a self-draining anchor locker. One nice touch is the offset hatch, which allows you to make sure that your anchor chain and rode is stowed properly.
The non-slip deck surface is aggressive without being too abrasive, but there was no non-slip on either the cabin top or on most of the gunwales. There's not much reason to be on the cabin, so that can be justified, but the rails are a logical place to step when boarding the 2802 and the absence of non-slip on the gunwales could lead to an inadvertent swim.
Room to Spare
Below, the cabin is surprisingly large. Part of this is due to the nearly 10 foot beam of the 2802, but it's also a deep cabin that gives excellent headroom and a sense of space.
To starboard is an enclosed head, with a molded fiberglass liner, a Jabsco manual head and a sink with a shower nozzle that can be used in conjunction with the floor drain. Most of the undercounter storage is lost to the hot water heater, which is included with the standard pressure water system.
The galley is to port, with a small counter, an even smaller sink, a one-burner Origo alcohol/electric cooktop and on our test boat, an optional undercounter Norcold refrigerator/freezer to replace the standard icebox. There's not much galley storage -- a couple of bins above the counter and a small locker underneath -- but it's certainly ample for occasional overnighting.
Forward in the cabin is a U-shaped settee with a table that drops down to convert the area into a double berth with filler cushions. Aft, tucked under the raised bridgedeck, is a single berth that's a bit difficult to gain access to, but is comfortable and spacious once inside.
The 2802 has a full hand-laid fiberglass hull and deck, with cored stringers and liners that are bonded to both hull and deck for a unitized construction that we certainly tested off Newport.
Like most Bayliners, the fit of the moldwork is acceptable, relying on silicone sealant and trim strips to cover any gaps. But the quality of the fiberglass panels is excellent in the 2802, with a ripple-free hull and flawless gelcoat in all areas.
As I mentioned earlier, the 2802 Trophy passed all the offshore tests with flying colors on a day when most boats were turning back into the harbor. Whether you're heading far off the coast of California for game fish or chasing salmon in the rugged Northwest, the 2802 has all the qualities that make the term "battlewagon" appropriate.
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This article first appeared in the June 1997 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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