Question:
Just took a look at the 2452 that seems to creep into various Bayliner
posts.
At first glance, the boat looks good. I'm sure there are lots of people
who would be happy and satisfied with this boat. I don't knock their
choice in boats. However...
Call me narrow minded, but what's with those gunwales? The two pictures
make it look like the gunwales, while wide, are mostly sloping at a
steem angle towards Davey Jones' Locker! How do you walk on the
gunwale? How do you get to the bow?
What about that hard top? Doesn't the back half of your head and body
get wet and/or sunburned?
Where do you put the fighting chair? Where do you mount the rod
holders? On a boat that size, I would need to mount at least 5 rod
holders.
How do you pull a 200 lb. tuna over that tremendous amount of
freeboard? My back hurts just thinking about it. Where do you put the
tuna once you get it on board?
The typical 24' boat around here has a fishbox that can hold around 500
pounds of fish and ice. The 2452 doesn't look like it has near that
capacity. In fact, it doesn't even look like I would be able to put a
big Igloo cooler in the cockpit.
Anyway, folks. This is how a person who goes deep sea fishing looks at
boats. I hope you understand that this is how I look at boats. First
and foremost is how am I going to outfit the boat to go fishing? If it
doesn't have flat gunwales, I don't want it. If it doesn't have a big
cockpit, I don't want it. If I get wet or sunburned while driving the
boat, I don't want it. If I gotta break my back to get a big fish in
the boat, I don't want it. If I can't carry 300# of ice, I don't want
it.
I'll take a further look at the various other Bayliners, but it's gonna
take a while. BTW, how does a single manufacturer build so many
different boats? How many different models does Bayliner build anyway?
Answer:
You're right, the 2452 isn't built for fishing at all. It's more of a
small
pleasure boat. I have a '97 2452 (3rd boat) and like it a lot.
FYI, the gunwales are flat as well as wide, and have a grooved surface
for grip and probably strength. I keep my BBQ on one side. There are
steps molded into the cockpit to help to step up to it.
The hardtop gets in the way of a rod. I have a couple of holders mounted
to the rails on both sides overhead. I haven't suffered from any weird
sunburns
but my shoulders tan a little faster (and that spot on top of my head).
The hard
top really comes in handy during bad or cold weather, and gives you kind of
a second cabin to hang out in when the canvas is used.
This fishbox is good for occasional fishing, but better for icing a few
cases
of beer (responsible boating taken into account) or just used as stowage.
The cockpit is smaller than I'd like, but it was a trade off for the extra
cabin
space, which is often more useful to me. We like to have a nice lunch or
dinner as part of our trip.
Anyone claiming it's a fishing boat is certainly wrong...but it's great for
what
