Trophy - For Serious Fishing - Not Cruising
Written: Oct 06 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Solid and safe, good handling, 10 year hull warranty
Cons: Fuel economy, uncomfortable for more than 2 people
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| grebob's Full Review: Bayliner 2002 Trophy Walkaround DX/LX |
When we moved to Southern California a couple of years ago, we wound up living about a 20 minute drive from Dana Point Harbor. It seemed kind of dumb to live this close to the ocean without taking advantage of it. I had an aluminum 17’ bass boat which I had used on fresh water in Utah and later in California. It was obvious that this boat was unsuitable for the ocean, even though I had never been out there. We started looking around for something that could be used both for fishing and also thought about being able to safely go as far as Catalina Island about 35 miles from Dana Point.
Before I bought this 21’ Bayliner Trophy 2002FF I had read a great number of “Bayliner-bashing” articles - how cheaply they were made, low quality, high maintenance, etc. I only looked at them so I could compare them with a “good” boat. What I found was surprising. Yes, Bayliner boats are mass produced as inexpensively as possible, but dollar-for-dollar, I couldn’t find any other boat which had the features we wanted anywhere near the price we paid. Think of it as the difference between a Ford or Chevy and a Mercedes or Rolls. The Mercedes and Rolls certainly are quality vehicles, but the average middle-income family cannot afford them easily. Nearly everyone can afford a Ford or Chevy, and they give good service for the money. The same goes for Bayliner. If you can afford it or have to have “status”, go ahead and spend the extra $10-20,000 for a “good” boat. I can think of lots of other ways to spend the difference.
We bought our 1999 Trophy a year ago. The only extras it had was the canvas enclosure and a windshield wiper on the helm side. We were fortunate enough to get the 2000 model 125HP Mercury with the progressive ignition feature. I didn’t know anything about it then, but it’s a great feature for trolling. It runs on 2 cylinders when below 2,000RPM. Saves a lot of fuel and makes the boat easier to control in the harbor.
When we first brought the boat home and I backed it into the yard to park it next to the house, I thought “I got too big a boat! This thing is a MONSTER.” When the weekend came and we took it out in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, I thought “I didn’t get a big enough boat. This thing is a MINNOW.” For those who haven’t been out there, the ocean is BIG!! You realize that simple fact before you even get a half-mile out the first time. After I added Bennett trim tabs, a GPS, and a depth/fish finder, everything worked out better.
We have found the Trophy, which we named “Getaway” is quite adequate for it’s purpose. We’ve been to Catalina Island twice. Getaway will easily make the round trip without refueling thanks to an 85 gallon gas tank. We have made short runs from Dana Point up to Newport Harbor and down to the San Onofre power plant. I caught a small barracuda a few weeks ago about 3 miles from the harbor. All in all, the Bayliner Trophy has served us well.
The GOOD:
A solid boat - strong enough to safely take on the Pacific Coastal waters.
Very good quality on the major parts of the boat (hull, motor, electrical)
Handles well due to hydraulic steering.
Good fishing provisions - rod holders and fishwells
Progressive ignition motor is excellent for fishing.
Small enough to trailer - will work for inland lakes too.
Long range for extended trips.
Comes with VHF radio standard.
The BAD:
Cockpit seating not adequate for large people.
Some quality problems on minor components like seat latches and horn.
Really comfortable for only 2 fishermen - adequate but somewhat crowded for 4 people.
Live-well too small.
Poor fuel economy (typical for mainly-fishing outboard powered boats).
Porta-potti is very small.
Didn’t come standard with trim tabs (a must).
Didn’t come with GPS (also a necessity for longer trips).
One last thing, for the REAL scoop - both good and bad - on Bayliner boats, check out the Bayliner Owners Club at http://www.boc-web.org/. I’ve learned more about boats from this site in a short time than I could have any other way.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
grebob
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Member: Bob Elkin
Location: Laguna Hills, CA
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 2 members
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