PMY TESTED: BAYLINER 3488 MOTORYACHT

Bayliner1s 3488 Motoryacht boasts reliable construction and adroit handling l thanks to a novel control system .

User-Friendly Despite its notorious cl ima te, Seattle is a city of the outdoors. able quality at the right price has a lways been central to the The Olympic Ra ng be kons in one direction, while in the popularity of Bayliner's boats, but with the introduction of the other Mount Rainier and the ascades loom like Oz. Even on 3488 Motoryacht, the builder has taken reliable workman­overcast weekends a large m asure of the city's population ship to a new level. empties into the open a ir. But only some head to mountain The first yacht built using Bayliner's modular production

tra ils. For nearly everywhere you look the landscape is re- system, the 3488 is assembled from several preCisely con­flected on water. Bound by Pug t ound to the west a nd Lake structed sections that were developed using advanced soft­Washington to the east and embracing Lake Union, S atll is war and omputer Aided Design (CAD). Such extensive

computer modeling enabled Bayliner to determine an opti-Since 1955 these surroundings have inspi red Bay liner, mum hu ll shape and devise the best configurations for elec­

based in nearby Arlington, to meet the needs of pleasure- trica l Circuitry and mechanical equipment, plus exploit boaters not just in the Northwest but coast to coast. Depend- normally unused interior spaces.

The modified deep-V hull, of course, is paramount. Its hand­Above: Go-fast styling on the 3488 Motoryacht's superstructure. la id fiberglass is protected from osmotic blistering by vinylester

resin applied over the gelcoat. Th engine room module is bonded to the hulJ with trong ur Lha n adhesive, and when the module consisting of lh f rward la t r om, head, and

I

play" al on m du l .

The comforts of the saloon are commensurate with the con­veniences of the teak-tIimmed galley, which include a Norcold below-counter renigerator, a stainless steel double sink, two­burner stove (LPG or electric) , and microwave/convection oven. When meals are ready, you can extend the leaves and

raise the teak table to dining level before the port-side settee. Stowage beneath this settee is ample, with deep compartments taking full advantage of available space. Likewise, there is loon and s

manag r Rob And n proudly pointed out how the design plenty of room for belongings in the forward stateroom in huU-ofth air nditi nin y l m had been incorporated into the mold d h ad lln r. Alth ugh the a ir handler is beneath the flying-brid n501 ,i t can be serviced through a panel in the ov rh ad, and il dueling is integrated into the headliner in a br ad or for highly efficient distribution.

I t' I r lh l the space it cools will be easily maintained ov r lh ma ny y ars of enjoyment the 3488 should provide. Th omforlable settees (ours covered in optional Luxor

I th r), lh molded-fiberglass dash, the L-shape countertop

As a further testament to lh xa lne ' modular construction, th les h r ' und forward drop snugly into place lik puzzl pieces. Should the carpet ne d r pi ing after a few seasons of cruising, simply lift out the panels, wheel them up to your SUV on a dock cart, and drop them off for recov­ering. You could do the same if eventually you wanted to refinish the teak and holly

sole of the galley.

74 POWER & MOTORYACHT April 2001

side shelves, a starboard hanging locker, three drawers built into the double berth, and a compartment beneath the mat­tress. The common-access head with shower and optional VacuFlush MSD is port of a midcabin with a recessed double berth that kids should enjoy for its novelty and adults should

appreciate for its roominess. Access to the engine compartment is through a hatch in the

saloon sole that drops you in between the twin powerplants. You may feel cramped when doing work on the outboard

sides of the engines, but

you can go at them com­fortably when taking care of routine mainte­nance on the inboard

sides. For major jobs, two more hatches open di­

rectly above each engine. Our test boat was

Left and below left: At­

tractive cabinetry in the

galley hides an optiona l

entertainment center.

When the forward stateroom (left) a nd midcabin are both

spoken for, the port-s ide settee (a bove) converts to a berth .

equipped with a lower helm to starboard in the saloon in

place of the second settee on standard models. Visibility from it was good. I especially liked the view astern through the

sliding glass door. Anderson said that most rain-drenched

Northwesterners were requesting this option, but he expects

boaters in sunnier climes to be more than satisfied with the standard flying-bridge helm.

At that station, with the 3488's dimensions in clear sight

fore and aft, yo u' ll feel high and mighty. As we motored

through the cut b tween Lake Union and Lake Washington,

we towered over dedicated members of University of Wash­

ington's crew team rowing needle-thin boats. I envied their

heat-generating exertions; there wasn't a cloud in the sky

and hardly any wind, but it was January nonetheless, and

cold---€specially when we put the 3488's optional twin 240-

hp 48-250 Cummins diesel inboards to work. Her 26.7 mph

at wide-open throttle (3000 rpm) was a little too bracing. Talk

resin applied over the gel coat. The engine room module is bonded to the hull with strong urethane adhesive, and when the module consisting of the forward stateroom, head, and midcabin is added, its electrical and mechanical systems are already in, waiting only to be linked to the likewise "plug-and-

play" saloon module. Such precision is evident as soon as you enter the 3488's sa­

loon and see how seamlessly her parts are joined. Product manager Rob Anderson proudly pointed out how the design of the air conditioning system had been incorporated into the molded headliner. Although the air handler is beneath the flying-bridge console, it can be serviced through a panel in the overhead, and its ducting is integrated into the headliner in a broad arc for highly efficient distribution.

It's clear that the space it cools will be easily maintained over the many years of enjoyment the 3488 should provide. The comfortable settees (ours covered in optional Luxor leather), the molded-fiberglass dash, the L-shape countertop

clean up quickly and with minimal effort. As a further testament to the exactne of

modular construction, the soles here and forward drop snugly into place like puzzl pieces. Should the carpet need replaci ng

after a few seasons of cruising, simply lift out the panels, wheel them up to your SUV on a dock cart, and drop them off for recov­ering. You could do the same if eventually

you wanted to refinish the teak and holly sole of the galley.

74 POWER & MOTORYACHT April 200 1

The comforts of the saloon are commensurate with the con­

veniences of the teak-trimmed galley, which include a Norcold below-counter refrigerator, a stainless steel double sink, two­burner stove (LPG or electric), and microwave/convection

oven. When meals are ready, you can extend the leaves and raise the teak table to dining level before the port-side settee. Stowage beneath this settee is ample, with deep compartments taking full advantage of available space. Likewise, there is plenty of room for belongings in the forward stateroom in hull­side shelves, a starboard hanging locker, three drawers built

into the double berth, and a compartment beneath the mat­tress. The common-access head with shower and optiona l VacuFlush MSD is pott of a midcabin with a recessed double

berth that kids should enjoy for its novelty and adults should appreCiate for its roominess.

Access to the engine compartment is through a hatch in the saloon sole that drops you in between the twin powerplants. You may feel cramped when doing work on the outboard

sides of the engines, but you can go at them com­fortab ly when taking care of routine mainte­

nance on the inboard sides. For major jobs, two more hatches open di­rectly above each engine.

Our test boat was

Left and below left: At­

tractive cabinetry in the

galley hides an optional

entertainment center.

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The 3488 Motoryacht's optional lowe r he lm station on t he star­

board side includes space for flu sh-mounted e lectronics .

about wind-chill factor! The peak of Mount Ra inier suspended to the southeast didn' t look a ny colder. Even a t a typica l

cruiSing rpm of 2750, we were still doing nearly 24 mph, a nd the chattering of my teeth seemed a lot louder tha n the 77 decibels we recorded on the dB meter. As Bayliner's photo­

shoot manager Chuck Thompson a nd I recorded acceleration curves, the 3488 charged ahead like a three-yea r-old filly. The brisker the better, she seemed to say, while Thompson and I wondered just who was being put to the test here.

What a relief when it came tim e to check ou t the boat's niftiest option, the Integrated Control System (l CS) for close­quarters (than kfully, slow a nd re latively warm) maneu­vering . Including bow and stern thrusters controlled by a hull-shaped module at the helm, the ICS might bring skippers

about a s close as you can get nowadays to pOint-a nd-cl ick docking. Push the "bow" of the module to port, a nd you acti­vate the bow thruster, causing the boa t itself to mimic the motion of the module. Push the "stern " over, a nd the aft

thruster kicks in. If you rotate the hull shape fi rmly clockwise, both thrusters go to work in opposite directions and the 3488 spins on a dime. Push the module laterally, and the thrusters work together to wa lk the boat Sideways. It's as simple a s that- perhaps the grea test onboard stress reliever since the invention of the dock-side margarita .

When I used this clever switch, the 3488 reacted so nimbly I even felt a little cruel, like some ruthless puppeteer. It was, I think, the opposite reaction I've seen in more than a few skip­

pers who, just after crunching a fuel dock, will address their

vessels using terms usually reserved for one's most reviled enemies. As we tied up again on the edge of Lake Union, it

occurred to me that you'd be unlikely to have many argu­ments with a user-friendly boat like the 3488. She's just too easy to get along with. 0

Bayliner Marine 'li (800) 443-9119. www.bayliner.com .

Circle Reader Service No. 292.

PMY TESTED: BAYLINER 3488 MOTORYACHT

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Bose price: $153,483 with 2/26()'hp 5.7 l MPI, RWC MerCruiser gasoline inboOids Optional power: 2/26()'hp 5.7 l MPI, fWC MeiClUiser gasoline inboOids; 2/24(). hp 4B·250 Cummins diesel inboOids Standard equipment: AM/ fM stereo/CD player w/ 2 speakers; Rule 4.5· inch fluslHnount, illuminated compass; StondOid Horizon Eclipse Plus VHf IOdio; Bennett trilll iobs; Norcold refrigelOtor; Princess Hurner stove SPECIFICATIONS LOA: 35'0' Beam: 11 '8" Droit: 3'2" Weight: 17,000 Ihs. Fuel capacity: 224 gal. Water capacity: 92 gal. Test engines: 2/240·hp 48·250 Cummins diesel inboords Transmissions: Herta 630 Ratios: 2.0: I Props: 20x24 HS bronzc 4-hlode Steering: Hynoulic hydroulic Controls: Morse mechonicol Optional equipment on test boot: lower helm; InleglOled Conliol Syslem; Vocuflush MSO; luxOileo lher lounge; windloss; cenlrol vocuum; spollighl; lion· sorn shower; IOw'woler woshdown

ACCELERATION CURVE

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20 30 40 50

Time (seconds) Acceleration based on overage of 4 reciprocal runs using Siolker AIS radar gun and Ocean PC loplop.

RPM MPH GPH MPG 1M 11M DECIBElS (KIIOB) (JIMPG) RAIIGE RAIIGE

1000 8.0 (7 .0) 1.6 5.00 (4.35) 877 67 1500 11 .1 (09.7) 4.0 2.78 (2.41) 486 72 1750 11.9 (10.3) 5.8 2.04 (1.78) 358 74 2000 12.3 (10.7) 8.4 1.46 (1.27) 257 76 2250 15.5 (13.5) 11.4 1.36 (1.18) 238 77 2500 19.9 (17 .3) 15.2 1.31 (1.14) 229 79 2750 23.9 (20.7) 20.0 1.19 (1.04) 209 82 3000 26.7 26.4 1.01 177 85 Condilions: lemperolure: 4S'; humidily: 55%; wind: 10 mp h; seas: calm; I no woler, 2 persons, lighl gear. Speeds are fwo·woy overag es measured w/Slolker radar gun. GPH by Cummins Morine. Rang e: 90% of odverlised fuel copo cily. Decibels measured on A scale. 65 is Ihe level of normal conversolion.

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