I talked to a party that have a Bayliner 5788 that is stabilized. They use it to go to the Bahamas every year. I, while I like Bayliners for coastal cruising, would not venture that far with one. I am wondering what everyone thinks of this usage.
I would have zero hesitancy going to the Bahamas on a stabilized 5788. A significant percentage of the boats that go there are less capable.
I have been misled in my judgement of Bayliners by a different forum. I have 3 friends that own Bayliners. Two own the 4788 models and one owns a 5788, I have been on all three and liked them. However; the other forum I used to be a member of said they were lousy boats for the Bahamas or anywhere that had open water. They always recommended getting a Hatteras instead.
You have been misled. US Yacht, Meridian and Bayliner motor yachts (all the same) are good boats. No, they are not as heavy as a Hatterass, but the weight of a Hatt may be over rated. A boat can take as much as the people inside can take, not what the boat can take. AND, who really wants to go boating on a bad day. My Bertram is a heavy old boat also. We don't go out on bad days, one of our cats gets sea sick. I remember a friends 25' Bayliner Saratoga with single 350 Chevy and 270 Volvo drive. Ran the heck out of it many times between Lake Worth and Walkers, day & night. I owned a Bayliner Trophy 2860 with single stern drive also for many years. You can not kick a Bayliner (much). Now, I am a boat kicker, but that is in many different threads already.
If you're only going once a year, easy to pick a weather window. Some days a 13' Boston Whaler would be comfortable and have seen them make it across.