Back in 1996, Jerry Green wrote a column in the Detroit News in which
he practically deified the Pittsburgh Steelers, who, he said, 'represent the iron workers,
America's lunch-bucket, dollar-grubbing, couch-potato middle class.' Green dubbed the Steelers the
'Lunch-Bucket Brigade,' and while it may sound like a bit of a backhanded compliment, it's not. You
could say the same thing about just about the entire Bayliner fleet, but especially about the 2859
Ciera Classic Cruiser. It's not flashy, but it'll do just about anything and everything you ask of
it, and do it well.
This isn't to say the 2859 Ciera Classic is completely without charm. It's just not the kind
that reaches out and whaps you upside the head. The bodylines, for example, may at first seem too
old-school plain, but after awhile one starts to appreciate the clean, uncluttered look. And it
boasts a certain retro quality that grows on you. Still, if you're the kind of person who buys a
boat based entirely on looks, you're probably not going to buy this particular model. That's too
bad, because you're missing out.
Just to drive this point completely into the ground, the 2859 Ciera Classic is a boat that
works well. There's a reason and a purpose for virtually every item and every inch of space. The
catwalk, for example, is narrow but serviceable so the cabin can be roomier. The foredeck, which
doubles as the cabin roof, is for stretching out and taking it easy while moored. The rear deck is
big and open. If you're an angler, there's more than enough room for casting. The rear deck even
has an in-floor fish well with a drain to carry the catch home. If you're more of an entertainer,
there's enough space to fit a dinette table and chairs. In fact, even if you're not much of an
entertainer it would be a good idea to invest in a few folding canvas camp chairs, because one
thing the rear deck doesn't have is seating.
There is seating in the cockpit, a bench that holds two most comfortably, as well as a
removable cocktail table. If you've spent your boating life in the Sun Belt or on ski boats, the
2859's 3/4-enclosed cockpit may strike you as somewhat odd, but it works. There are four sliding
side windows (two on each side), with a screen to the rear that you can open up to catch a breeze
if things start getting stuffy. Cooler climates will see nicely extended seasons with those windows
and the standard Sunbrella cruise curtain.
As plain as the 2859 is topside, it's a pleasant surprise to find a downright sumptuous
cabin when you go below. The first thing ' and if you're tall, the best thing ' you'll notice is
the headroom. Unless you're taller than 6 feet 2 inches, you can stand tall and proud and even walk
around without having to bend over, all the way from the steps leading to the cockpit to the
forward berth. That's something you don't get even on many much larger boats.
Just as sweet is the full galley with a refrigerator, a stainless-steel sink with
pressurized hot and cold running water, and an Origo two-burner stove. And just as you can
comfortably stand and cook at the galley, you can comfortably stand and shower in the head (just
rear of the galley), even if you're a 6-footer. Across the way is the dinette, which seats four and
is about as comfortable as a small booth can be. (Let's face it ' you're not going to dine in
luxury or even extreme comfort on any boat smaller than about 45 feet.) The dinette table also
converts to a berth.
The forward berth is plenty big for two, and has a privacy curtain. The same goes for the
midcabin berth, although it's worth noting that the midcabin has a really open space where your
head lies, so it's much, much less claustrophobic than some midcabins, especially on comparably
sized boats. Like the cockpit, the cabin has sliding windows that provide good ventilation, and
privacy curtains so you can get things nice and dark when it's time to tuck in.
The cabin's a good place to be while moored, but when you're underway the helm is the place
to be. It's a sparse but functional helm, with a folding seat that's set far enough back to let you
stand comfortably at the wheel. Power comes from a choice of MerCruiser engine packages, a 350
Magnum MPI Bravo III (300 hp), a 7.4L MPI Bravo II (310 hp), or a 4.2L diesel Bravo II (200 hp).
Equipped with the 350 Magnum MPI Bravo III, the test boat performs up to expectations, reaching a
top speed of 39 mph. Although it seems louder, the sound meter registers a maximum reading of 100
dB-A at the helm while running full-throttle. (The noise probably seems louder than it really is
because of the enclosed helm.)
Midway through what has been a relatively uneventful test, the weather takes a turn for the
worse, and that's when the 2859 Ciera Classic really impresses. The once-calm waters of the Strait
of Juan de Fuca, just off the coast of Washington's San Juan Islands, suddenly get fierce, with
random three- to five-foot whitecaps coming in all directions. It's a bit rougher than riding in a
Cadillac, but the 2859 handles the conditions remarkably well, even after a suddenly unsubmerged
log renders the prop virtually ineffective. Even crippled and battered by very difficult seas, the
2859 performs so impressively that the boat's utter ' and, to be honest, otherwise inexcusable '
lack of cupholders anywhere in the cockpit is happily forgiven. This is a boat the Steelers would
be proud of.