170 Bayliner


New for 2012 is the Bayliner 170 OB which is one of the boatmaker's more versatile bowriders.

Equipped with the electric trolling motor, this is a fisherman's paradise. Indeed, though the 170 OB, can be equipped with up any of four Mercury four-stroke outboards that range from 90- to 125-horsepower, the real beauty of this model lies in the bow area where you will find the optional MotorGuide 12-Volt trolling motor.

When you drop turn off the outboard and turn on the almost-silent trolling motor you have quite a bass boat. Imagine a bass boat with the features of a bowrider:

Front bucket seats for the skipper and front passenger and a full rear bench seat for comfort.

The bow area, accessible through the hinged wind screen, offers full cushions that you can sit on all day as you slowly and quietly fish for small mouth or large mouth bass, for that matter, of if you just want to troll for trout in an area where you don't want to anchor and need some control (why trout always seem to find the deepest and rockiest holes to congregate in is easy to figure, they don't really want to be caught and if they have any sense -- some think they do -- they stay in those holes. However with the trolling motor set to just the right rpm, you can have a floating fishing platform off of which you do not have to drop a telltale anchor that alerts the fish there's someone out there to catch them.

That the 170 is also aimed at the fishing crowd is evident from its fish-finder hardware and its live well storage. There's also hullside rod storage.

If you are into more than just fishing, you can also have some fun with the optional ski pylon that's available.

At almost 18-feet with a six-foot beam and and a deeper Vee hull, the $16,000 170 OB can carry up to seven people. Her maximum draft is nearly three feet, so, again, you have to be careful bringing her close to shore, although she does offer about 20 gallons of usable fuel storage so you can have an afternoon of either fishing, skiing or wakeboarding fun.