Bayliner 192 Classic

 

Issue: June 2004
Manufacturer: Bayliner

What do you get when you develop a craft that is economical to run, has family appeal and falls below the $40,000 barrier ? the Bayliner 192 runabout. I haven?t reviewed a boat out of Berowra waters for some time and I had forgotten what a nice part of the world the Northern Sydney, Bayliner dealership has found itself in. I hastily drove my vehicle onto the new car ferry that accesses the Marina and from that moment, things changed ? I slipped into Berowra waters time. Mobile phones don?t work, the waters are calm, the locals have a leisurely sway about them and a just launched Bayliner 192 was nestled alongside the fuel wharf waiting for me.

To add to the ?mellow? the + rst mile leg out of the waters is a 4 knot zone, so no matter how fast the boat can go, a river cruise past an eclectic selection of moored clinkers, cruisers and the odd riverboat is mandatory. On this moderate Sydney summer afternoon, the Bayliner 192 didn?t have to work hard to win me over, because it was one of those water days that would have the average punter sold before they even boarded the craft for a test ride. The Bayliner 192 has a simple approach to family boating. In Aussie terms she is a half cabin runabout, with a small ? not enough headroom for a grown-up ? cabin and a Porta Potty.

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The cabin has a light down below and some storage and that?s about it. The vee berth would be good for a quick nap, a nappy change, or a play platform for the children, but this boat is designed for the action to happen topside. The cockpit offers seating for six, with two upholstered back-toback seats and two aft seats and they all convert to sun lounges. Grab handles are easily accessible from all seats and storage areas are located throughout the craft. Under the vee-berth, in the under5 oor locker, side pockets and aft pockets, but there are not a lot of long storage areas.

Access to the bow is via steps to the opening windscreen and once forward, the bowrail, combined with substantial deck grip, provide a good sense of security that is often lost on craft with bulbous foredecks. Getting in and out of the water is also made easy with the swim step on the starboard side of the leg, with its stainless steel handrails and a retractable ladder. This swim step will de+ nitely come in handy, because there is no doubt that the kids will want to bring the tow toys along. These can be stored well out of the way in the cuddy cabin until needed.

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