Bayliner Model 4788

[Byresch]

A friend of mine in San Diego is looking at several Bayliner Model 4788s that are for sale there and asked me what I thought of them. I've had 2 friend that owned 4788s and one that owned a 45 foot model and they really like the boats. I told him I'd go for one with the Cummins engines, but to go for it.

I think they are comfortable boats and one will make a great liveaboard which is what he wants. I wished him luck, good seas and happy sailing with it.

I know this isn't Hatteras related but I am wondering what you guys consider makes a boat a good liveaboard.

 

[SEVEN]

I have a number of friends that own 4788’s and the live them. This is just my opinion but they are not ocean going boats. Great for bay and delta. Hulls are thin. I’m some areas you can see light through the hull. However they are roomier that most body that size. Easy on and off through the transom.

 

[Scarlett]

Having surveyed many of both, tell him not to consider the 4588, you don’t want the Hino diesels and there was a big step up in build quality on the 4788. Agree with Rusty’s comments also. John

 

[Boatsb]

Cummins is the better choice by far. A customer has a 53 with cummins 5.9s and it planes off and cruises pretty well. It's an icw boat. Not for big water for sure.

Working on it's a bit challenging. Not well designed for access.

 

[Passages]

I recall Pascoe felt the Bayliner 4788 was a great boat. Check Yachtsurvey.com

 

[Scarlett]

Scott’s comment is spot on. In a 4588 with Hino diesels you cannot even add water without lifting the main saloon floor panels, in fact some of the floor panel supports are cut out to clear the engines. There is a tiny crawl space where the stairs going down to the cabins lift out. John

 

[oscarvan]

I recall Pascoe felt the Bayliner 4788 was a great boat. Check Yachtsurvey.com

Doesn't seem listed..... https://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/indexboatreview.htm

 

[Passages]

Doesn't seem listed..... https://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/indexboatreview.htm

Then it was in his book, Mid Sized Powerboats

 

[krush]

I recall Pascoe felt the Bayliner 4788 was a great boat. Check Yachtsurvey.com

Is he relevant anymore...or even alive?

 

[oscarvan]

Is he relevant anymore...or even alive?

Yes and no.

His readings are always entertaining and contain a wealth of tips and knowledge.

David Pascoe passed away in 2018 at the age of 71.

 

[spartonboat1]

I have a number of friends that own 4788’s and the live them. This is just my opinion but they are not ocean going boats. Great for bay and delta. Hulls are thin. I’m some areas you can see light through the hull. However they are roomier that most body that size. Easy on and off through the transom.

I will admit to not being up to date on the Bayliner 4788. However, I would be very curious to know if the hulls are no longer chopper-gun laid up.

20 years ago I was in a Saugatuk, MI marina, where a 4700 series Bayliner was freshly in the slings of the lift with water running off the hull. One of the passengers from the Bayliner told me that they were coming in off Lk MI when their bilge pumps automatically kicked in. They were taking on water, but did not know how or where, at the time.

Later, around Labor Day later in that summer, I dropped that same marina and there sat that Bayliner on the hard. I found the Yard Manager and asked about the issue earlier in the year with water coming in. He replies, "funny you would ask that. We were just approved by the lawyers to work on the hull." I replied "well finally". He says, "Go look at the hull below the water line forward. You'll where the water came in."

So I wandered over to the Bayliner to take a look. There was a hole in the hull the size of my forearm. That size hole will tend to bring in water, esp. there while underway. It was a chopper gun boat and pretty much all that was there was gel-coat. Not much in the way of fiberglas.

I tell the story only on the basis that it was a first person observation and also remarks from the Yard Manager.