Bayliner 3 Cabin Pilothouse 4588 - AffordableOceanfrontProperty

Welcome...Let me Tell You a Bayliner Success Story.  If you are already familiar with the 45 Bayliner Pilothouse or just getting started on a Possible Boating Adventure, you may find this review interesting...if not convincing.  For its intended use, there is No Better Boat Value in a similar size, age and price range than the 45 Pilothouse.  This design was so successful since her Introduction in 1984 that George Orwell would have been impressed!  It was the Right Combination for Buyers Looking for an Affordable Yacht with a Floor Plan that satisfied their expectations in a Vacation & Recreational Home.  At the same time, she doubled very well as a Dependable and Economical Coastal Cruiser.  

Consider this:  The popularity started almost instantly with the 4550/4588. This design evolved into a 4788 around 1994 and when Bayliner Re-Branded their Bigger Boat Lines to Meridian, the Meridian 490 Pilothouse was "born" in 2004 but it was still basically the same layout.  Production continued over 34 years with only a 2-year break in 2002-2004 due to the Re-Branding/Production Transition. (I have included photos of all 3 Designs in the "Full Specification" details with notes on approximate current prices for you to compare to the 4588 while considering the relative value of the 3 generations.)

What's so Good About the Design?  First, I will presume that you are not looking for a fishing boat.  If you are, we can help...but we should go over all the basics to get you "Heading in the Right Direction".  Of course, if you mounted a railing on the very wide (stock) swim platform, you would provide an unobstructed, overhead, rod-clearing space and have yourself a fishing feature.  (Light Duty Fishing for Fun)  It's been designed to do a whole lot of things better than fishing.

A Four-Season Porch Outside the Great Room.  It's really the Wide Swim Platform combined with a Transom Gate to your Hardtop-Covered Cockpit Patio where the list of What this Boat Does Very Well Starts.  It's a very Sensible Diving Platform and for access into and out of a tender it's Simple & Safe. With the Swim Platform at Dock Level, access with or without provisions is as easy as it gets.  No climbing precarious dock steps or ladders and with the Flying Bridge Deck Extended Overhead, converting the Patio into an All Season Porch is a Natural.  

I see the Swim Step & Patio as a Gateway to the 45's version of a Great Room...the Salon and Galley all together....open and at the same level.  (Really smart and perfect for a room full of people.)  

The Great Room has a 270 degree, 3-sided Installation of Continuous Windows (with venting sliders) that provide you with a Panoramic View unlike any other boat in her class.   It lends itself well to beaming in sunshine and cross ventilation.

Wow...this Really is a Great Room!  Part of the Yacht Shopping process is to make sure the boat you choose will serve your requirements well.  To do that, you should make a list of how you see it being used and by whom and the frequency of special events.  Most boats spend nearly all their time at the docks.  It's a place to go to entertain friends, family...or simply your time away from it all.  The combination of the Salon, the Galley, the Dinette, the Patio and the Swim Step all on a single level with easy access and exceptional views makes it a one-of-a-kind winner in my book. There's much more to like about this design the closer you study the functional relationship of the spaces.

The "Second Floor" Bridge Deck has Interior Access which is a Huge Plus ! This is another livability, accessibility and entertainment element that you should consider. From the Pilothouse, you have direct access to the upper deck. The Added Square Footage with a Flexible Full Enclosure provides Endless Possibilities.  It will serve you well as an Open Breezeway with a Sun Covered Bimini in the Summer and a Warm Enclosed Upstairs in the Off-Seasons.

Whether it's just you and your mate hanging out in the mornings or you need more space to entertain your large party of guests...this Flying Bridge Space is Much More Valuable & Functional because of the Interior Access.   It  Adds More Usable Area to your Floor Plan.  The direct access makes the boat functionally bigger than others with limited and/or difficult exterior access from ladders specifically.  

You can't discuss this convenient access without mentioning the 2 Helm Stations in the Pilothouse and on the Flying Bridge and how that connection makes piloting work so well.

When You Cruise...You Will Like Her Even More.  Close quarter piloting can be a challenge at times.  I like the connection from the lower to the upper helm. In a matter of a few seconds, you can switch to either station.  While the upper helm provides wider overall lines of sight, the lower helm gives you a much shorter & full width view of the forward deck...making it a "smaller" boat with full visibility of the bow for close-up landings.  Of course, with seating for well over 12-14 people on the flying bridge, it's nice to be able to drive the boat while staying connected with your group rather than feeling like "The Lonely Guy".

Over the years, I have found that captains (running from an element-exposed, flying bridge with a limited and/or difficult ladder access) often end up in the "Lone Ranger Club"...meaning nobody wants to either be there or be jogging up and down a ladder...especially after a couple of Margaritas or in a pitching sea. It's just the way it works.  People falling off ladders can put a quick end to the fun and it's expecting too much from your landlubber or mobility-issue guests.   The Stairway to Heaven (the bridge) provides socializing benefits and it eliminates the risk of ladder related slip and fall accidents.   Besides, did you come here to relax or a work-out?

No matter what your goal or boat design preference (Sportfisher-Trawler-Express-Sailboat), we try to point out the features we like or do not like and give the reasons why for you to consider in your shopping process.

We Love the Pilothouse...So Will You!  It's not isolated. It's semi-open to the Great Room as well as the Flying Bridge.  No Lone Ranger Syndrome here.  The seating for 4 at the built-in table also serves as a captain's cruising bunk...something on long runs at night or in foul weather that can provide a level of safety and security when you need to be instantly available to your crew on watch.  

If you have children or friends that act like children...you can see nearly ever square footage...including the Bridge, the Side and Forward Decks, the Great Room and Patio.  Many boats have blind spots like a forward helm on a flying bridge deck with no line of sight to the cockpit. The pilothouse is a safer design from that standpoint.

The Helm Console is Fully Dedicated to one function only...Running and Monitoring all the Equipment, Engines, Drives, Electronics and Systems on Board.  That makes it more  efficient and it is more likely you will spot trouble before it gets serious. Everything you need to know or access is right there...like the cockpit of a commercial airplane.  It's not only extremely practical and logical...it's just a cool design. (No Wet Electronics and all Critical Screens are Protected in the Pilothouse.)

There's Exceptional Visibility through the Large Windshields and the Port and Starboard Access Doors to the side and forward decks provides a sunny patio for your family and friends. For me, it's another observation for the pilot while on autopilot and clear of traffic.  "Step outside...take a deep  breath and watch the world and dolphins go by."  It just adds another area that lends more function and pleasure to your cruise and an immediate access to your ground tackle. (Good Idea)

Are you Getting Sleepy?  I don't blame you.  It's easier just to look at pictures but to really understand the Exceptional Value in this Pilothouse Design...it takes some explaining.  The layout is sold as a 3-Cabin Boat...true enough with the "Anti-Room" to the Master.  It converts to a 3rd Double Bunk Cabin.  Depending on your particular needs, the 3rd Stateroom would also make an Excellent Walk-in Closet.  The en suite Master Head (Bathroom) has a Full-Size Tub with Shower. A Walk-in Closet and the Bathtub would be welcomed (and fairly unique) Benefits with this Floor Plan. There's no question that a Bath Tub and Large Walk-in Closet might be well received by your partner... and perhaps quintessential to some.

Nice Midships Guest Quarters are Flanked by A Head with Stall Shower. Being closest to the "Great Room" and Refrigerator can have its advantages.  This cabin has a wide berth for 2 with a handing locker and (in this one)...a night stand.

What about those Hino Engines? Contrary to the misinformed, Hino parts and service are in good supply.  The engines are Japanese and basically very fuel efficient and dependable.  No matter the brand, diesel engines need to be maintained and run properly.  If you pay attention to the details, these engines will provide 1000's of hours of service to owners that are not likely to log more than 100 hours per year.  In the second generation (4788) Cummins Diesels-Diamond Series replaced the earlier Hino Engines...so, depending on your budget...you have engine options if you like the overall design

Before the Meltdown of 2008, Bayliner had a production facility in Washington State. Bayliners and the Pilothouse Designs covered in this review are incredibly popular in the region...and for good reason, given the sea conditions of the Pacific Northwest. These boaters tend to like staying inside a Warm Pilothouse with the option of running from the flying bridge on the exceptionally nice days.

A Smart Buy for You...Maybe? The way I see it, in approximately a  $90,000.00 to $130,000.00 selling price range based on general inventory; this would be a smart buy for someone looking for a more modern, lower maintenance rakish- style boat.  It could be a perfect platform "as is" or ideal for a custom interior/exterior remodeling.

In the end, it's really about the space and how it works for you.  If the boat will also perform well underway...it's a boat to seriously consider.

A Footnote to Buyers and Sellers. "What works best for our clients is for us to (first) understand your needs.  If this is not the right boat for you...we will tell what we think would be your best design options.  We help our buyers sort out all the inventory that applies specifically to their requirements (regardless of whose listing).  I think you might see the advantage working with a broker that has your best interest in mind."

"If you take the time to go to our website and read the Outstanding Letters of Recommendation from our Buyers and Sellers, we hope you will put us to work on your behalf.  That is how we float your boat...so to speak.  We are seriously here to help."   (Call or click me with your Questions and Comments.) 

Welcome...Let me Tell You a Bayliner Success Story.  If you are already familiar with the 45 Bayliner Pilothouse or just getting started on a Possible Boating Adventure, you may find this review interesting...if not convincing.  For its intended use, there is No Better Boat Value in a similar size, age and price range than the 45 Pilothouse.  This design was so successful since her Introduction in 1984 that George Orwell would have been impressed!  It was the Right Combination for Buyers Looking for an Affordable Yacht with a Floor Plan that satisfied their expectations in a Vacation & Recreational Home.  At the same time, she doubled very well as a Dependable and Economical Coastal Cruiser.  

Consider this:  The popularity started almost instantly with the 4550/4588. This design evolved into a 4788 around 1994 and when Bayliner Re-Branded their Bigger Boat Lines to Meridian, the Meridian 490 Pilothouse was "born" in 2004 but it was still basically the same layout.  Production continued over 34 years with only a 2-year break in 2002-2004 due to the Re-Branding/Production Transition. (I have included photos of all 3 Designs in the "Full Specification" details with notes on approximate current prices for you to compare to the 4588 while considering the relative value of the 3 generations.)

What's so Good About the Design?  First, I will presume that you are not looking for a fishing boat.  If you are, we can help...but we should go over all the basics to get you "Heading in the Right Direction".  Of course, if you mounted a railing on the very wide (stock) swim platform, you would provide an unobstructed, overhead, rod-clearing space and have yourself a fishing feature.  (Light Duty Fishing for Fun)  It's been designed to do a whole lot of things better than fishing.

A Four-Season Porch Outside the Great Room.  It's really the Wide Swim Platform combined with a Transom Gate to your Hardtop-Covered Cockpit Patio where the list of What this Boat Does Very Well Starts.  It's a very Sensible Diving Platform and for access into and out of a tender it's Simple & Safe. With the Swim Platform at Dock Level, access with or without provisions is as easy as it gets.  No climbing precarious dock steps or ladders and with the Flying Bridge Deck Extended Overhead, converting the Patio into an All Season Porch is a Natural.  

I see the Swim Step & Patio as a Gateway to the 45's version of a Great Room...the Salon and Galley all together....open and at the same level.  (Really smart and perfect for a room full of people.)  

The Great Room has a 270 degree, 3-sided Installation of Continuous Windows (with venting sliders) that provide you with a Panoramic View unlike any other boat in her class.   It lends itself well to beaming in sunshine and cross ventilation.

Wow...this Really is a Great Room!  Part of the Yacht Shopping process is to make sure the boat you choose will serve your requirements well.  To do that, you should make a list of how you see it being used and by whom and the frequency of special events.  Most boats spend nearly all their time at the docks.  It's a place to go to entertain friends, family...or simply your time away from it all.  The combination of the Salon, the Galley, the Dinette, the Patio and the Swim Step all on a single level with easy access and exceptional views makes it a one-of-a-kind winner in my book. There's much more to like about this design the closer you study the functional relationship of the spaces.

The "Second Floor" Bridge Deck has Interior Access which is a Huge Plus ! This is another livability, accessibility and entertainment element that you should consider. From the Pilothouse, you have direct access to the upper deck. The Added Square Footage with a Flexible Full Enclosure provides Endless Possibilities.  It will serve you well as an Open Breezeway with a Sun Covered Bimini in the Summer and a Warm Enclosed Upstairs in the Off-Seasons.

Whether it's just you and your mate hanging out in the mornings or you need more space to entertain your large party of guests...this Flying Bridge Space is Much More Valuable & Functional because of the Interior Access.   It  Adds More Usable Area to your Floor Plan.  The direct access makes the boat functionally bigger than others with limited and/or difficult exterior access from ladders specifically.  

You can't discuss this convenient access without mentioning the 2 Helm Stations in the Pilothouse and on the Flying Bridge and how that connection makes piloting work so well.

When You Cruise...You Will Like Her Even More.  Close quarter piloting can be a challenge at times.  I like the connection from the lower to the upper helm. In a matter of a few seconds, you can switch to either station.  While the upper helm provides wider overall lines of sight, the lower helm gives you a much shorter & full width view of the forward deck...making it a "smaller" boat with full visibility of the bow for close-up landings.  Of course, with seating for well over 12-14 people on the flying bridge, it's nice to be able to drive the boat while staying connected with your group rather than feeling like "The Lonely Guy".

Over the years, I have found that captains (running from an element-exposed, flying bridge with a limited and/or difficult ladder access) often end up in the "Lone Ranger Club"...meaning nobody wants to either be there or be jogging up and down a ladder...especially after a couple of Margaritas or in a pitching sea. It's just the way it works.  People falling off ladders can put a quick end to the fun and it's expecting too much from your landlubber or mobility-issue guests.   The Stairway to Heaven (the bridge) provides socializing benefits and it eliminates the risk of ladder related slip and fall accidents.   Besides, did you come here to relax or a work-out?

No matter what your goal or boat design preference (Sportfisher-Trawler-Express-Sailboat), we try to point out the features we like or do not like and give the reasons why for you to consider in your shopping process.

We Love the Pilothouse...So Will You!  It's not isolated. It's semi-open to the Great Room as well as the Flying Bridge.  No Lone Ranger Syndrome here.  The seating for 4 at the built-in table also serves as a captain's cruising bunk...something on long runs at night or in foul weather that can provide a level of safety and security when you need to be instantly available to your crew on watch.  

If you have children or friends that act like children...you can see nearly ever square footage...including the Bridge, the Side and Forward Decks, the Great Room and Patio.  Many boats have blind spots like a forward helm on a flying bridge deck with no line of sight to the cockpit. The pilothouse is a safer design from that standpoint.

The Helm Console is Fully Dedicated to one function only...Running and Monitoring all the Equipment, Engines, Drives, Electronics and Systems on Board.  That makes it more  efficient and it is more likely you will spot trouble before it gets serious. Everything you need to know or access is right there...like the cockpit of a commercial airplane.  It's not only extremely practical and logical...it's just a cool design. (No Wet Electronics and all Critical Screens are Protected in the Pilothouse.)

There's Exceptional Visibility through the Large Windshields and the Port and Starboard Access Doors to the side and forward decks provides a sunny patio for your family and friends. For me, it's another observation for the pilot while on autopilot and clear of traffic.  "Step outside...take a deep  breath and watch the world and dolphins go by."  It just adds another area that lends more function and pleasure to your cruise and an immediate access to your ground tackle. (Good Idea)

Are you Getting Sleepy?  I don't blame you.  It's easier just to look at pictures but to really understand the Exceptional Value in this Pilothouse Design...it takes some explaining.  The layout is sold as a 3-Cabin Boat...true enough with the "Anti-Room" to the Master.  It converts to a 3rd Double Bunk Cabin.  Depending on your particular needs, the 3rd Stateroom would also make an Excellent Walk-in Closet.  The en suite Master Head (Bathroom) has a Full-Size Tub with Shower. A Walk-in Closet and the Bathtub would be welcomed (and fairly unique) Benefits with this Floor Plan. There's no question that a Bath Tub and Large Walk-in Closet might be well received by your partner... and perhaps quintessential to some.

Nice Midships Guest Quarters are Flanked by A Head with Stall Shower. Being closest to the "Great Room" and Refrigerator can have its advantages.  This cabin has a wide berth for 2 with a handing locker and (in this one)...a night stand.

What about those Hino Engines? Contrary to the misinformed, Hino parts and service are in good supply.  The engines are Japanese and basically very fuel efficient and dependable.  No matter the brand, diesel engines need to be maintained and run properly.  If you pay attention to the details, these engines will provide 1000's of hours of service to owners that are not likely to log more than 100 hours per year.  In the second generation (4788) Cummins Diesels-Diamond Series replaced the earlier Hino Engines...so, depending on your budget...you have engine options if you like the overall design

Before the Meltdown of 2008, Bayliner had a production facility in Washington State. Bayliners and the Pilothouse Designs covered in this review are incredibly popular in the region...and for good reason, given the sea conditions of the Pacific Northwest. These boaters tend to like staying inside a Warm Pilothouse with the option of running from the flying bridge on the exceptionally nice days.

A Smart Buy for You...Maybe? The way I see it, in approximately a  $90,000.00 to $130,000.00 selling price range based on general inventory; this would be a smart buy for someone looking for a more modern, lower maintenance rakish- style boat.  It could be a perfect platform "as is" or ideal for a custom interior/exterior remodeling.

In the end, it's really about the space and how it works for you.  If the boat will also perform well underway...it's a boat to seriously consider.

A Footnote to Buyers and Sellers. "What works best for our clients is for us to (first) understand your needs.  If this is not the right boat for you...we will tell what we think would be your best design options.  We help our buyers sort out all the inventory that applies specifically to their requirements (regardless of whose listing).  I think you might see the advantage working with a broker that has your best interest in mind."

"If you take the time to go to our website and read the Outstanding Letters of Recommendation from our Buyers and Sellers, we hope you will put us to work on your behalf.  That is how we float your boat...so to speak.  We are seriously here to help."   (Call or click me with your Questions and Comments.)  -Art Burnevik, Broker

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