Bayliner Bodega: A Worthy Boat?

The Bayliner Bodega is a spacious cruiser with a three-stateroom layout, a queen walk-around berth, and ample storage space. It is known for its roomy interior and spacious exterior entertainment spaces. The boat has a strong following, with some owners claiming it is a great boat for its price point. However, others have pointed out its limitations, such as lower-grade materials and lower-quality components. While it may not be a top-tier boat, many owners have shared positive experiences with the Bayliner brand, highlighting its dependability when properly maintained.

The Bayliner Bodega is a good option for those seeking a liveaboard boat

The Bayliner Bodega is also known for its roomy interior and spacious exterior entertainment spaces. It has a 150-square-foot flybridge with a full enclosure and side walk-arounds with canvas safety screens to protect children and pets. A retractable stairway leads from the flybridge to the foredeck, making docking and anchoring simple. The Bayliner Bodega also has a unique sliding door adjacent to the helm, similar to those found on tug replicas.

In terms of specifications, the Bayliner Bodega has a length of 40 feet and a beam of 14 feet. It has two engines, each with 165 HP, and a cruising speed of 8 knots. The fuel tanks can hold up to 400 gallons, and the fresh water tanks have a capacity of 275 gallons. The boat accommodates two single berths and two double berths across three staterooms, with the master stateroom featuring a walk-around queen bed, a head, a separate shower, and storage lockers.

Overall, the Bayliner Bodega offers a spacious and comfortable liveaboard experience, with ample interior and exterior spaces, and good specifications for cruising and living on board.

The Bodega is known for its roomy interior and spacious exterior

The Bayliner Bodega is a spacious boat, offering a roomy interior and a spacious exterior. With a length of 40' and a beam of 14', the Bodega provides ample living and entertainment space.

The interior of the Bodega is known for its generous dimensions, particularly in the saloon and staterooms. The saloon features a wraparound couch and two swivel chairs, creating a comfortable and home-like living room feel. The aft stateroom is roomy, offering a walkaround centerline queen bed and plenty of storage space, as well as an ensuite head and shower. The forward stateroom accommodates two single bunks, while the portside stateroom has a double bed. The galley is well-equipped and spacious, with a u-shaped design that includes a stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer, and trash compactor.

Moving to the exterior, the Bodega boasts a 150-square-foot flybridge with a full enclosure. The flybridge provides ample space for entertainment and leisure activities, with a retractable stairway leading down to the foredeck for easy docking and anchoring. The side walkarounds feature canvas safety screens, ensuring the safety of children and pets on board. The portside helm station has an entry door, and the lifelines have been upgraded to stainless steel stanchions.

Overall, the Bayliner Bodega is renowned for its spacious interior and exterior areas, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a comfortable and functional boat for extended cruising, liveaboard, or entertainment purposes.

The boat has a reputation for being fuel-thirsty

The Bayliner Bodega is a fuel-thirsty boat. The 40' Bayliner Bodega, built between 1978 and 1983, is known for its slow speed and high fuel consumption. With a hull and engine placement that is not designed for efficiency, this boat has a reputation for being a high fuel user, whether powered by gas or diesel.

The Bodega's fuel consumption is a notable concern for potential buyers, but it offers other attractive features, such as its spacious interior and exterior entertainment spaces. It provides an impressive amount of interior living space, including a saloon with a wraparound couch and swivel chairs, creating a homely living room feel. The aft stateroom offers a walkaround centerline queen bed and ample storage, while the forward stateroom features two single bunks.

The galley is well-equipped, featuring a trash compactor, ice maker, and ample storage. The flybridge, with its full enclosure, offers 150 square feet of additional space, and the retractable stairway leading to the foredeck makes docking and anchoring a breeze.

While the Bayliner Bodega may not be the most fuel-efficient boat on the market, its generous living spaces and entertainment areas make it a popular choice for those seeking a comfortable and well-appointed vessel.

The Bodega's engine access is not the best

The Bodega is a 40' boat with a spacious interior and exterior entertainment spaces. However, its engine access is not the best. While the Bodega has a lot of room inside, getting to the engine can be challenging. This is especially true if you ever need to replace the engine, as it is difficult to access.

The Bodega was built from 1978 to 1983 and offered a lot of interior room for a 40' boat. It had a saloon with a wraparound couch and swivel chairs, creating a homely living room feel. The boat also featured multiple staterooms, with the master stateroom offering a walkaround queen bed and the forward stateroom having two single bunks. The galley was well-equipped, with a stove, oven, refrigerator, and trash compactor.

Despite the Bodega's generous interior space, the engine access is less than ideal. This can make maintenance and repairs more difficult and time-consuming. In the event that the engine needs to be replaced, the limited access can make the job even more challenging and costly.

It is important to consider the trade-off between interior space and engine access when deciding whether the Bodega is the right boat for your needs. While the Bodega offers a spacious and comfortable interior, the challenges of accessing the engine may outweigh the benefits of the extra room for some boaters.

Overall, while the Bodega has its strengths, the engine access is not one of them. If you are considering purchasing a Bodega, be sure to factor in the potential challenges and costs associated with maintaining and repairing the engine due to the limited access.

The boat is solid value for its price

The Bayliner Bodega is a solid value for its price. The boat has a spacious interior, with a saloon that features a wraparound couch and swivel chairs, creating a home-like living room feel. It has multiple staterooms, with the aft stateroom offering a walkaround centerline queen bed and the forward stateroom featuring two single bunks. The galley is well-equipped, with a stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer, and even a trash compactor.

While the Bayliner Bodega may not be a top-tier boat, it offers good value for its price. One owner shared that their family had a Bayliner for years, using it every summer for various activities like skiing, tubing, and fishing. They kept it running smoothly with regular maintenance and sold it to another family who were eager to buy it.

The Bodega is particularly appealing for its roominess. One owner commented that it has "massive amounts of interior livable space" and is "positively huge inside." This makes it an attractive option for those seeking a liveaboard boat or for larger groups.

When considering purchasing a Bayliner, it's essential to keep in mind that they are entry-level boats. This means they are typically made with less expensive materials and may have lower-quality components. However, with proper care and maintenance, a Bayliner can be a good option, especially for those on a budget.

Additionally, when buying a used Bayliner, it's crucial to have a thorough survey done, as older boats may have issues with fuel tanks, rot in stringers, and rot in the transom. Overall, the Bayliner Bodega can be a good value for the price, offering a spacious and comfortable boat for those seeking an entry-level option.

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