A 1988 Bayliner 2450 Restoration Journey – And the Adventure That’s Just Beginning
For years, I’ve had a deep desire to get back on the Great Loop. My old Carver was a fantastic home on the water, but with less than one mile per gallon fuel economy and major maintenance demands, that boat made long-distance travel unrealistic. If I wanted to get back on the Loop, I needed something lighter, simpler, more efficient — and affordable.
That’s when I found a 1988 Bayliner 2450 Ciera $600.00 dollar project boat.
She needed everything…
And I mean everything.
But I saw potential. I saw a chance not just to rebuild a boat, but to prove a point:
You don’t need a giant trawler or a massive budget to chase your boating dream.
You just need determination, a vision, and the willingness to get your hands dirty.
Good Times 2.0 was born — and this is the story of how I rebuilt her from the keel up.
👉 Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to follow the full journey and watch every step of the rebuild.
(I’ll add video links throughout this article.)
⭐ Why I Chose a Bayliner 2450 for the Loop
Most people would scroll right past a 1988 Bayliner project boat. But I wasn’t looking for perfect — I was looking for possible.
Here’s what made this boat the right choice:
- Lightweight hull = fuel efficiency
- Single engine setup = simple, affordable maintenance
- Excellent layout for sleeping, cooking, and storage
- Trailerable so I can work on it anywhere
- Budget-friendly (all-in rebuild for a fraction of a Loop cruiser)
That fuel economy alone was a game-changer:
- My Carver: less than 1 mpg
- Good Times 2.0: over 2 mpg, and soon even better with solar + electric assist
That meant one thing:
I could afford to finish the Great Loop.
👉 Subscribe to the YouTube channel to see why I chose this boat and to watch the full buying story.
Clickonpi
⭐ A Complete 2,000+ Hour Restoration
What started as a fixer-upper turned into a full transformation. Nearly every minute of the rebuild is documented on video so people can follow step-by-step, learn from the mistakes, and maybe even build their own project boat.
🔧 Interior Rebuild
The interior was stripped down and completely reimagined:
- New cabinets
- New countertops
- Carpet and flooring
- Fresh upholstery
- Lighting upgrades
- A redesigned sleeping area
- Efficient use of every inch of space
I even rebuilt much of the interior for less than $500 — proof that creativity beats a big wallet every time.
⚙️ Mechanical Overhaul
A project boat always surprises you — and this one did not disappoint.
- Mystery oil leaks
- Water intrusion
- Alternator failures
- Fuel system improvements
- New electronics and navigation systems
- Bilge upgrades
- Steering and outdrive adjustments
Each problem became a lesson, and each lesson became a video.
(Click Here To Watch The Video)
⚡ Electrical & Solar Prep
To make this boat Loop-ready, I focused heavily on power systems:
- Full rewiring in multiple sections
- New inverter
- New distribution and fusing
- Solar wiring routed through the top
- LED lighting
- Electric motor planning for hybrid cruising
I documented the solar system issues, upgrades, and fixes as well.
🛠️ Building a Custom Hardtop (NidaCore + Fiberglass)
One of the most important parts of this rebuild was creating a hardtop strong enough for:
- Shade
- Structure
- Solar panels
- Future electric propulsion support
I built the entire top myself using:
- Composite panels
- Fiberglass
- Stainless supports
- Carefully routed wiring
- Reinforced mounting points
This top alone makes the boat safer, stronger, and far more efficient.
👉 Subscribe on YouTube to follow the full hardtop build and see the solar installation coming soon.
⭐ Testing the Boat — The Florida Mini Loop
Once Good Times 2.0 was ready, it was time to test her under real-world conditions.
The Florida Mini Loop — a 537-mile circumnavigation of South Florida — became the perfect proving ground.
🌴 Highlights of the Mini Loop:
- Taking on water in rough seas
- Engine problems that turned into blessings
- Snorkeling in Islamorada
- Feeding tarpon at Robbie’s
- Hidden island adventures
- Marine Stadium anchorage in Miami
- Solo run to Ft. Lauderdale
- Dolphins, storms, narrow channels, and “dragons”
- Final stop at Peanut Island
This loop taught me everything I needed to know to prepare for the Great Loop.
(Insert links: Mini Loop Parts 1–9)
👉 Subscribe on YouTube to watch the entire Florida Mini Loop series and future Loop travel.
⭐ Why This Boat — And This Journey — Matters
My goal has always been simple:
Show people that you don’t need a big budget to chase big adventures.
Not everyone can buy a $150,000 Loop boat.
Not everyone can spend $500 a week on fuel.
Not everyone can put 2–3 years into a full-size trawler.
But a well-built, well-planned, fuel-efficient boat like Good Times 2.0?
Now that’s achievable.
I’m doing the Great Loop differently so that others can see:
- You can do it on a budget.
- You can do it in a smaller boat.
- You can do it with ingenuity instead of money.
- You can do it with the boat you have — not the one you wish you had.
And most importantly:
👉 You can follow along by subscribing to the YouTube channel — and I hope you will.
⭐ Spring 2026 — Restarting the Great Loop
Good Times 2.0 is nearly ready.
The systems are tested.
The hardtop is built.
The Mini Loop is complete.
The solar install is underway.
This spring, I’ll be restarting my Great Loop journey — slower, smarter, and more efficient than ever.
And I’d love to take you with me.
👉 Subscribe to the YouTube channel so you don’t miss the launch, the updates, and every mile of the journey.
👉 Every new video will be linked right here on the website.
Adventure doesn’t wait.
And neither should you.
