1992 Bayliner 4388 Sedan

Testers Notebook:       1992 Bayliner 4388 Sedan      Location: Desolation Sound, Pacific Ocean, British Columbia, Canada.      Test load: Four adults, full fuel, safety gear.      Test day conditions: Varied over the course of our charter      Synopsis: It's not hard to see why so many Bayliner Yachts make their way into charter fleets.  With great layouts, plenty of storage and loads of windows they feel much bigger than they are.  Impulse easily handled our TV crew of five adults and all the gear that these guys need to cart with them.

By: Jim Payetta
    
     When it comes to talking about charter yachts, it's usually a sailing vessel that is being spoken of. That's because, in the world of chartering, bareboat powerboats are a rare breed. That's not to say they aren't available, they certainly are, but not in the same numbers and variety as sailing vessels.
     That being said, when we headed to the west coast of Canada to shoot a Boats & Places TV episode, we were lucky to find a couple of charter operations that offered bareboat power vessels. One of these companies was Desolation Sound Yacht Charters. Among their fleet of power yachts was the vessel that we were to use for our cruise up to Desolation Sound…a 1992 Bayliner 4388 Sedan.
     Now, lots of boaters talk about Bayliners and we've all heard the various comments about them in the past. But I must say, I have owned a number of Bayliners and I've been happy with each and every one of them.  Bayliners are very well designed and built for the market for which they were intended. I'll add the fact that Bayliner has always had, and continues to provide, some of the most well thought out layouts of any boat builder, anywhere.  
     One of the claims that Bayliner can speak to is that they have been able to make boating affordable for many. When I was a Bayliner owner I had to listen to comments from many who told me that they were saving up to buy what they considered a "real" boat. "How could you buy one of those Bayliners?," I heard over and over again.  As I left my slip to head out to my favorite anchorage, I took great joy in waving a friendly goodbye to those who were still standing on shore, "saving up" so they could buy a "real boat". That was eleven years and three boats ago - and some of those people are still saving.  
     The 4388 Bayliner for our charter was a 1992 model named Impulse.  Again, the layout on the 4388 makes it not only a great family cruiser, but an excellent bareboat charter yacht as well.
     Starting at the stern, the aft cockpit features a built in bench seat, lots of deck space for fishing or setting up chairs for those who just want to sit and enjoy the scenery. From the aft cockpit you have easy access to the engine compartment, making regular maintenance a snap. There's plenty of storage under the lift up deck hatches with lots of room to store water toys, fenders, fishing rods, extra lines, and more. With built-in rod holders and a hot and cold shower, the aft cockpit space becomes the perfect place for launching water activities or just enjoying the sunshine. There is easy access to the swim platform through the transom door.
     The main salon in the 4388 is where this manufacturer really shows that they know how to design boats that boaters want. This area is all open with a large u-shaped dining area to port, entertainment center/system to starboard, icemaker and wet bar to starboard and forward of the entertainment system. The galley is forward of the dining area. With lots of windows all around, this area is very bright and provides a panoramic view of your surroundings. The 14ft. 3in. beam, combined with the open concept and surround windows, makes the salon seem even larger than what it is. As this area is all on one level, the open concept makes it easy for the chef to converse with guests while preparing culinary works of art. The galley is complete with 3-burner stove, built in microwave, 2 fridges and nice deep twin sinks. Plenty of cupboards and storage make stocking up for those extended cruises a breeze. To port of the galley is the lower helm station so, on those not so hot days, even the captain can enjoy the party while underway.
     One of the most important areas on any charter yacht is the sleeping accommodations and again, Bayliner knows how to design functionality into their layouts. The accommodations on the 4388 are a few steps down from the main salon. There is a mid-cabin to port that is simply huge. This extra deep berth can easily accommodate 3 or 4 kids, or a couple of NBA size adults. There is a head right across from the mid-cabin that not only serves the mid-cabin guests but also is the day head. One of the unique things on the 4388 is that the second head from the master stateroom is connected to the forward head through a shared shower stall.
     The forward master stateroom is also huge. It features an extra large bed, great side and top ventilation, and is complete with a sitting area, plenty of closet space, mood lighting and lots of storage space.
     Up on the flybridge, Bayliner again demonstrates why they sell so many boats. There is a seat across the back that folds down into a sun lounge or when up as a seat, forms an L-shaped seating area by connecting to the seat that runs down the port side. There are two separate helm seats, one for the captain and one for the mate. The helm is to center and on Impulse, the bridge was completely enclosed - an almost must for cruising the varied weather of British Columbia.
     This boat was equipped with twin 250 HP Hino diesels, which provided us with a comfortable cruising speed of 14 knots. Our cruise from Comox to Desolation Sound took us out on the water over lunchtime and I was elected to prepare lunch while underway. Now, even on solid land in my kitchen at home, I am always very careful using sharp knives anywhere around my fingers. I like having ten of them. So preparing lunch that involved a moving vessel and sharp knives was a task I took on with some concern. However, the wide beam provided all the stability I needed to prepare a meal and I was still able to count to ten afterwards - without using my toes. And the large surround windows allowed me to enjoy all the amazing scenery while I was "stuck" in the galley.
     When I served up lunch for the five of us that were on board, the dinette easily had room for everyone.  By night it can quickly convert to another large sleeping area.  This worked out perfectly for us, making the on-board accommodations very comfortable while still ensuring plenty of privacy.
     All in all, the 4388 made for a great bareboat charter yacht for our cruise. And for all you Bayliner owners out there, I'll see you out on the water where you belong!

Specs:

For the dealer nearest you contact:

Bayliner Marine Corp.,
P.O. Box 9029,
Everett, Washington,
U.S.A. 98206
1-800-443-9119
www.baylinerboats.com