The boat I am going to look at is a Bayliner Avanit Command 3258 1996 model with twin 7.4 bravo 3 drive's. boat is out of the water.
Questions....
What do I need to look for?
How do these boat handle, ride?
Are they a ridged boat or flex a lot?
What are the speeds and fuel consumption?
How do they trailer? Arch has got to come off.

The more input I can get the better for me to make a decision on whether or not to buy something like this. I know it's a Bayliner and there's a cheap factor.


thanks
Dan

I'm a believer that you get what you pay for, be it whisky, cars, clothes boats etc, etc.

Don't expect a Bayliner to be built and finished like a Sea Ray (I see you own/owned a 270) they used lesser quality vinyl, more chrome and less stainless and lack the attention to detail than the more expensive builders.

Mercruisers and Bravos are all the same regardless of the boat. Binliners were always a bit lighter so theoretically may be a touch faster than some other sports cruisers but I'm not sure their hull designs were constantly developing and evolving as much as others. Downside to the lighter hull is usually not quite as solid ride in the rough.

I don't know about hull issues and transom/stringers on that model but 'survey' springs to mind. From what I've read on here about surveyors, it's not all positive but if you make it clear what you want from a surveyor, it may help you reach a decision.

Others here will be able to tell you more than I can but might help to know what year the boat is and where you're planning to use the boat.

RR

Oh...this should be good!

Boat is a 1996. Yes, this should be good.
I have owned
1972 sea ray 190
1986 four winns 190 horizon
1987 four winns 211 Liberator
1987 power play 230 conquest
1990 sea ray 270/290 Sundancer

Bayliner were away on the bad list. I did personally check a Bayliner 3258 avant with 350 Merv's last week. (Don't what the 350s) I was surprised on what the quality and how solid the hull was. So the weekend I am checking the the 454 bravo 3s boat out. Wich is a drive for me.

https://m.facebook.com/Bayliner-Offs...5678801780188/

I have a nice tiars/slickcraft 31 that I can sell you cheap. Its sitting on a trailer and is 3 times the boat...

More info

Haven't posted in awhile I see. I bought a 1998 Carver 370 Voyager. That was a very rigid boat and very well built in trouble free. Had it for 8 years. Just sold it bought a 257 Legend by power Quest. Little smaller hopefully less stressful to take out and expensive to keep. That and I'm going to be able to go to different places around Michigan again.

Welcome back to the dark side!😂

I have a 1989 2755 Bayliner and it’s a great boat, don’t let snobs poo poo them, sure it’s not a formula but I like their layout and space for their size. If your the kinda guy that will only by a matching number corvette then don’t get it, other wise mine has been great(did replace the ford and cobra drive with 496 and Volvo penta dp drive). I have no complaints about mine, I almost bought a Avanti recently just didn’t have a trailer for it, plus with the scarab resto on the go too many boats.like any old boat check for rot and mechanical condition.