BAYLINER ELEMENT REVIEW 2016 FROM TORONTO BOAT SHOW / 2 YEARS IN - IS IT ALL ITS CRACKED UP TO BE

 

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2016 BAYLINER ELEMENT REVIEW

 

I said along time ago that the Bayliner Jazz would have been the perfect little bass boat had Bayliner put an outboard power package on the back. It was the most stable small boat ever made by Bayliner bar none. So many years later we see the Element released upon us. A return to a true Bayliner starter boat, inexpensive an every mans boat in a world of high priced over embellished boats. We gave the line 2 years to mature some before Boat Nut took a look, All we read was great for the kids and fun for the family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a firm believer that we are headed for platform construction boats. This is were one hull can be decked and configured in several ways. The same systems power packages and hardware will keep these boats at a affordable price point. The Element market if given time to find the right deck combinations and kept in check could be the first of many platform type boats we will see.

 

 

 

 

 

 I looked at three Element boats at the Toronto Boat Show this year to see what all the fuss was about, I must say that I was not knocked over with awe. Element is a very simple boat that will fit some bodies of water and markets very well for "starter boaters" or someone who wants a small second boat option.

 

 

 

 

Element is the outboard equivalent to any of the open concept jet boats that are popular. The 19 foot open concept runabout/ deck boat is a competitive market with many variations to choose from. So how does the Element stack up against other open concept boats their size?  Well there really are no bare bones stripped down runabout/ deck boats like this. Other builders offer similar style boats, but not straight at you bare bones. This is sort of a starting over again for Bayliner and their entry boat market breed.

So what is an Element, well it is said to be a departure in hull design for Bayliner ( SORT OF they had a mono hull deck boat several years ago that if you remember had a very similar hull). It sports the "M" Hull which is not a new idea however it is new to Element. The "M" hull is a shallow V, and I do mean Shallow with two drops in the hull on either sides creating sponson style hulls down each side. Almost as though a slice was taken out of a deep V hull. (very much a mono hull deck boat hull), I knew I seen it some were before! This design of hull provides three objectives a very shallow draft (how much water a boat needs to float), fast to plane with excellent stable flat cornering and side to side load stability ( which means if you step on one side the boat does not want to pitch over at you). By the way excellent to take to the beach!

 

The draw back to this hull is that the boat should ride like a sheet of plywood in rough water, as the v is not deep enough to completely break the wave away with the effect of a hard hit inside the two side hull drops. You can see this in the picture below in calmer water look at how far ahead the water breaks away from the hull, you will also notice water spraying straight forward. What happens during rougher conditions is this forward spray gets trapped and has no were to go giving you a hard hit, similar to a tri hull.

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This boat has been described as having lots of free board by other reviewers, its is okay for a boat this size nothing really special, it does however have a deep floor to deck side feel considering how shallow the draft is, right around an adults knees. Having the "M" hull produces a lot of lift as the water is pushed down two sides of the boat, so the feel will be more of a boat with a higher free board. All of this of course will be affected by the load which on the Element models I looked at allowed for approximately 4 -200 pound adults despite all that seating capacity. I have another concern this boat is literally wide open (to the environment) on the models I inspected. It appears Bayliner offer a rail package (from the Bayliner Photos). With or with out the bow rail this boat is going to turn like a little tunnel hull carving through a turn with little side roll. The "G" load in a conventional bow rider in a turn, in the front seats is about 4G. The Element is not sold as a go fast but I would bet that at high speed I could toss someone off the front seat, if you have small co captains have them ride aft of the helm were it is safer.

 

 

 

1. Deck Layout on the Element was shown in two configurations  A deck boat / runabout style, boat one with a ski bar at the back.

 

Boat number one ( Ski Bar/ Sport) with no bimini top up showed like a white porcelain bath tub with a bar and motor at the back, Way too much white to be in the sun all day! (you will understand that if you have looked out over a white bow all day while driving a boat). Just because it has all those seats do not plan on putting an adult in every one as the capacity is only 800 lbs. The small windshield is another deck boat take off, as a matter of fact the more I look at this boat the more it is a deck boat! The picture above shows you the dash simple and easy to read, I agree. The problem is the marine industry has had all kinds of instrument failures you might call it a plaig of sorts. This large single gauge that provides several vital pieces of information to the driver. This gauge will be extremely expensive to replace once you are out of warranty, and there is a high chance it will fail I guarantee it.

 

The storage area in the Element below the seat boxes will be shallow no way around it, you will fill these areas in no time with lifejackets and safety gear. All items now mandatory no matter were you are boating. Where are you going to put that gigantic cooler you day trippers tote around with you. Never mind water skis a tube or what ever your kids want to be towed on (Kids of all ages).

 

 

Boat 2-  The same as number one. Only this one is a little bit more refined, well it has color to the upholstery at least. If you live in Florida beware of the steering wheel that will get 200 degrees.

Over all the years that Bayliner and Brunswick have built boats you would think that black on the steering wheel switches or dash would be long gone but NO! Element number two did have the bimini top up and Bayliner has done it again, Thin wall aluminum bars and nylon jaw slides. This top will rattle after three trips and will eventually turn into a aft facing parachute. This boat is way to wide a beam and too open a boat for these cheap materials. Knowing, like all boaters do the cost of repairs and canvas fabrication this issue is going to bite a boat buyer in the first few years of ownership. Boaters do not fold up their bimini tops when they leave the boat they are up all the time(storm in and storm out). To add to that some boater is going to tie fenders to the top poles, just as sure as the sun comes up and those nylon fittings will be in pieces almost immediately.

 

If you do buy an ELEMENT keep it covered there is a lot of seating to get destroyed here and that will not help any kind of resale value. 

Deck Boat/ Runabout Versions of Element.

Pros:  Price (for an actual boat you can take some friends out on the water for a day)
          Great small starter boat
          Easy to tow behind a vehicle
          Ski Bar
         Life Time Transferable Hull Warranty
         First platform hull to be truly used as such

Cons:
          A boat that is at the bottom of the market, what will resale be, not much
          Too stripped down they will not be owned long (a regular trade boat).
           Going to keep the name Bayliner associated with cheap
           To open concept, trying to provide to much seating,(should have went for a smaller seating capacity and more day touring boat)
           No style just reminds me of a boat under repair without a windshield and rail package, looks incomplete.
           Element will disappear in a marina or on the water boat buyers like to show off this boat will   disappoint.
             Upholstery needs to be improved

*Would I buy one well the short answer is no* I would be tired of this boat to quickly and want more. I am not a fan, if I wanted to ride out in the open I would buy a PWC. I get the idea here but really a small deck boat why not take this hull and create a nice two or three seat tour boat, were a couple can use the wide open areas to lounge in the sun and store all their needs. Element is a great cottage shuttle I guess, but even then it is to small.

Other Boats That are similar:

 Stingray1825c Deck Boat, and if you feel like spending 30 or so minutes with the stingray option list and up all the separately priced options they have ( I cant be bothered) you to can come up with a price for the boat you want, they don't even show a base price!

 

 Element Fishing Boat

 

This is were I had real hope for the Element, no offence to the deck boat lovers, but the Bayliner Jazz was the perfect lead to a Bayliner Bass Boat. but no Bayliner did not go that way. Element went center console (again). No sunken cockpit fishing boat at all, but ok lets take a look.

 

The Element hull makes a great fishing boat platform period. Not to long in length, forward beam and stabile everything you want. A homerun right?

 

Well I have to say Element designers fell asleep more than once here. First swim platforms!, Screwed down center console ( were did they dig this up at a boat swap meet no body does this any more! Mold grows under the edge and you can never stop crap from building up under the edge). Rod holders in the side of the console make for hooks in bodies and broken rods.

 

 

 

 

 

Please for gods sake quite with the dual usage boats why the flip up back seats this is a nice smaller fishing boat put in an aft swivel chair! And please add pop up cleats and lights spend the extra 50 bucks and shave the decks so fishing line can run free.

 

 

I do think that this could be a great little boat, honest. Its pretty and really affordable.

 

 

The fishing center console Element is a mix of really good and why did they cheap out all in one, Stainless thru hulls and plastic hatch pulls and gas cap?

 

 

 

Upholstery needs some improvement a little wavy

 

Below the decks some side walls will rip holes in your hands when changing batteries

 

On a whole I hold great promise for the Element Center Console, it represents something new with hull design and use. Bayliner needs to improve a lot of typical entry level boat thinking. If they do they may have another Trophy in their case.

PROS: Bayliner can build a fishing boat it is in their genetics
Warranty
Excellent Space for the size
Stabile for a fishing platform
Price that will not break the bank

CONS: Old school console development
Plastic hardware in the wrong places
Limited shallow storage
No aft swivel Seat
No area for forward or aft electronics
Swim platform and other deck rigging to catch your line or have to fish around
Not enough standard items with base model
Possible resale value on first model year boats
No downrigger mounting locations allowed for in the building process

* Would I buy one , Yes I would I believe this Element makes sense, and will get better until it is taken away from Bayliner and the prices shots thru the roof, Like the Trophy and Robalo

Bayliner please look back at the jazz design and see if it jars your mind a sunken cockpit fishing boat you were almost there!


I have to admit I have not water tested one of these boats but I have been boating since 1971 and have a pretty good idea how and what to expect from a hull if I am wrong about a hard ride I will admit it< however all signs point in this direction. Pictures tell a thousand words! My two on the water concerns with this "M" hull are ride in rough water and backing up. The backing up I will reserve comment on until after a ride!

Authors CC / BW


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