Bayliner 2159 Rendezvous
Bayliner's 2159 Rendezvous is the perfect platform for fun.
October 27, 2002
The Bayliner 2159 Rendezvous is the kind of boat that gives you the flexibility you want.
If you're like most boaters, you want to get maximum fun out of your time on the water — and you don't want any limits placed on your choices of on-the-water activities. The Bayliner 2159 Rendezvous is the kind of boat that gives you the flexibility you want.
Use it for wakeboarding, fishing, cruising, or as a base for swimming or snorkeling. Best of all, there's no compromise on space in its 21 foot length. You can bring along friends and gear without cramping your style.
Space Max
In building the 2159, the Bayliner designers maxed out the useable interior space by extending the beam to 8 feet, 6 inches. Not only does this provide extra leg and elbowroom for the seating, but also it offers an abundance of spacious storage nooks and crannies. Bayliner claims 37 cubic feet in all, so you won't have gear underfoot while under way.
There are compartments under both seats in the bow and aft cockpit benches. They have a molded lip to prevent spray and rainwater from getting in, so your stuff will stay dry.
A niche under the starboard cockpit seat holds a removable 54 quart cooler. Amidships, a hatch in the sole opens to accommodate ski or wakeboard storage — and, of course, there are drink holders all around.
One feature of the 2159 that everyone on board will eventually appreciate is the enclosed head compartment built into the port console. It's even lighted.
The space is big enough to store some things while you're getting to or from your destination, too. One of them can be the tabletop that can be set up in either the bow or cockpit. You won't have to stow the anchor there, though, because a locker in the bow holds it securely out of the way until needed.
For catching rays, the 2159 offers several places to stretch out in style. You can use either of the bow benches with their comfortable backrests as individual spots, or convert the entire bow to a sunpad with an insert.
On the port side of the cockpit, the backrest of the passenger seat at the console has two other positions. It flips forward to make a backrest for the bench seat behind it (so you can stretch your legs and face aft), or it can be locked in a horizontal position (to make another sunpad). Everyone will probably fight for this spot.
A three-step hideaway ladder to starboard lets you climb out from the water. From there, you enter the cockpit from the center of the transom. Another three-step hideaway ladder is built into the bow. Shorter than the stern ladder, it's sized to help you climb on and off when the boat is beached. There's a wide pad with a molded skid-resistant surface at the bow, to help you board easily from a dock.
The 2159's helm features an adjustable swivel bucket seat. The console has a full set of analog engine instruments including a speedometer; a tachometer; a voltmeter; fuel, oil and temperature gauges; and a drive trim indicator. There's a full windshield to keep you from blowing away while under way.
Run With the Wind
OK, let's get under way. First and foremost, the 2159 is a fun little number to run.
Our test boat was equipped with the smallest of the three engine options available, a MerCruiser 4.3L (Alpha drive). The standard powerplant — it was rated at 190 hp — had plenty of get up and go. With three people and about three-quarters of a tank of gasoline on board, it had quick acceleration off the line and got on plane in about 4 to 5 seconds.
By the way, we should mention that the fuel capacity of the 2159 is a surprising 56 gallons. That's more than many other boats in this size range, and it will give you almost six hours of cruising time.
The boat is easy to handle and responds quickly to the wheel. We did some tight turns and figure eights, to put it through the paces, and we were impressed by how well mannered it took them.
We did manage to get some prop cavitation in a very tight turn, but the hull was listing significantly when it happened. We measured the noise level at the helm at wide-open throttle to be 82 dbA. The engine was turning 3,800 rpm, and our GPS showed 33.4 mph.
Option Menu
All of the features we've mentioned so far are standard on the 2159 Rendezvous. Bayliner's Advantage Package offers a few goodies that you'll probably want to include, such as a tilt steering wheel, a digital depth indicator and a CD player, along with a Bimini top that has about 6 feet of headroom underneath.
The Fish Pack is a dealer-installed option that includes a 67 pound thrust 24v trolling motor with all the necessary wiring and a charger, plus a fish finder, a pedestal seat for the bow and an aerated live well. Cockpit carpet runners are also available from your dealer.
The boat and trailer package for the 2159 Rendezvous with the 4.3L engine has a base MSRP of $28,559. That includes Bayliner's five-year transferable structural hull warranty. Figure on adding $1,143 for upgrading to the 5.0L stern drive. Ask your dealer about the different trailer options available that include tandem axles and galvanizing.
Boats like the Bayliner 2159 are what boating is really all about — running with the wind. This quick little craft is fun for an outing and can be filled with family and friends.
Bayliner 2159 Rendezvous Specifications
| Length | 21'2" |
| Beam | 8'6" |
| Draft* | 3'2" |
| Dry weight | 3,400 pounds |
| Fuel capacity | 56 gallons |
| Maximum power | 260 horsepower |
| Price as tested with MerCruiser 4.3L (Alpha drive) and trailer | $28,559 |
Performance
| Top speed | 33.4 mph |
| Cruising speed | 26.9 mph |
| Miles per gallon at 26.9-mph cruising speed | 2.6 |
| Fuel cost for 100 miles | $53.46 |
| Range at 26.9 mph cruise | 145.6 miles |
(Fuel cost based on a fuel price of $1.39 per gallon)
Test Boat Engine Specifications
| Model | MerCruiser 4.3L stern drive (Alpha drive) |
| Propshaft horsepower | 190 |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 262 c.i.d. |
| Bore and stroke | 4.00" x 3.48" |
| Gear ratio | 1.81:1 |
| Compression ratio | 9.4:1 |
| Maximum engine speed | 4,800 rpm |
| Weight | 840 pounds |
Standard Features
Enclosed lighted head, curved safety glass windshield, 54 quart removable cooler, six mooring cleats, adjustable swivel bucket helm seat, 12v accessory outlet, 10 cup holders, 8 grab handles.
Options
CD player, Bimini top, digital depth sounder, tilt steering wheel.
For More Information
Bayliner Marine Corp.
P.O. Box 9029.
Everett, WA 98206.
(800) 443-9119.
www.bayliner.com
