Lately, advertisements have been hammering away at the importance of
spending more time with your family. As boaters, you already know how boats can bring families
together ' but do you know what kind of boat will do that best?
Foot for foot, feature for feature, it's hard to find a better family machine than a deck
boat. Factor in storage space, seating, towing power and amenities such as front and rear boarding
ladders, and this design has little competition as a party pleaser ' except, maybe, for pontoon
boats. Problem is, some deck boats look like pontoon boats, and some even ride like them: Sure,
they're stable and high off the water, but it feels like you're hitting speed bumps in even minor
chop. That's fine, if you're hauling the grandkids across the lake. But if you head into coastal
waters, or even a lake that kicks up nasty waves, you want a hull that's not going to let a blast
of cold water come sweeping over the front and suddenly snuff out the party.
What you want is a sport boat bottom, and for the last few years, manufacturers have been
leaning more toward 'ride-in' deck boats rather than 'ride-ons.' It makes more sense to compare
these new deck boats with bowriders rather than the pontoon-style decks.
Bayliner recently introduced the 2159 to its family of four Rendezvous deck boats. In
profile, the 2159 looks and runs like a sporty bowrider. But the topside has the wide-open layout
of a deck boat. The sterndrive power has the advantage of opening up the back of the boat, so
there's extra seating and easier access to the swim platform ' as opposed to the clunkier layout of
an outboard ' and the boat looks sleeker. The helm and double lounges fit six adults easily.
The big deal on the 2159 is its value: Bayliner manages to build a boat that's inexpensive,
but definitely not cheap. Feature for feature, it can go against any deck boat its size, and keep
up in terms of quality. But when price is factored in, this boat excels. With base power it costs
just $25,709.
The 2159's fit and finish are strong. There are no ragged edges or fiberglass burs. And
while storage spaces aren't gel-coated like on some higher-priced boats, everything is cleanly
finished. Storage is good, with spaces under every seat except the helm and the two at the transom.
The large in-floor locker has a drain so you can stow wet stuff.
The boat doesn't have a lot of gee-whiz features, especially at this price, but there are
some notables, such as the tinted glass windshield and the Sun-Chaiser lounge seat on the companion
side, which changes into three positions. There's also an enclosed head compartment, with
carpeting, electric light and a three-slat vent on the door for ventilation. The 2159 has space for
a 54-quart cooler; a small cubby hole next to the throttle, where you can stick a cell phone or
portable GPS; and two pedestal holes, in the bow and stern, for the standard table.
And there are big-picture features, as well. The full-fiberglass cockpit liner is easy to
clean. The center walkway on the transom makes it easy to climb on the boat from the swim platform,
as does the entry up on the bow, and both ends have telescoping ladders. An optional 'Advantage
Pac' ($1,143) includes a depthfinder, CD player, Bimini top and tilt steering. There's no
radio/cassette player as a standard feature, which is unusual for a deck boat or any boat that
tries to be a people-pleaser. So, you're almost forced to buy the options, though if you have kids,
a Bimini is an excellent investment against too much sun.
The 2159's a pleasure to drive, as a cruise along Miami's Intracoastal Waterway reveals. The
boat's a little slow out of the hole (hitting 0 to 25 mph in just more than 8 seconds), but
otherwise it handles much like any other sportboat. Turns are crisp and precise, and the boat takes
the wakes of motoryachts in stride with a solid thump, rather than a tinny bang. The boat's
interior stays dry, even after launching off a few big wakes.
The test boat is powered with the base 190-hp, 4.3L MerCruiser with Alpha I drive ' a motor
that is up to the task. All too often, price-conscious boats are under-powered to keep the sticker
price low, but the 4.3L MerCruiser is a good engine for this hull, hitting a top speed of 42.2 mph.
Bayliner is also offering the boat with two engine upgrades.
The 2159's options list includes a Fish Pac, and surprisingly for Bayliner, the trailer
doesn't come as standard but as a $2,850 option. That, along with the Advantage Pac, hikes the
price closer to $30,000, but with all its features, this boat still offers excellent value.