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Meridian 381 Sedan (ex-Bayliner 3788)

Built 2003–2006 by Meridian Yachts (Brunswick)

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About the Meridian 381 Sedan (ex-Bayliner 3788)

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Meridian 381 Sedan (ex-Bayliner 3788)
Illustration, not a photo of this model. AI-generated illustration of a typical flybridge motor yacht.
Built
2003–2006
Builder
Meridian Yachts (Brunswick)
Length
38.5 ft
Beam
13.58 ft
Draft
3.33 ft
Displacement
22,275 lb
Hull / keel
planing
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
300 gal
Water
125 gal
Holding
37 gal
Stern thruster
none

Slightly revised Bayliner 3788 Motor Yacht (from 2001), renamed when Bayliner's big boats became Meridian in 2003. Low-deadrise (10 deg) wide hull with shallow keel; two staterooms, galley up.

Known problems for this model

No well-sourced problem reports found yet.

Engines & parts

MerCruiser 5.0 (305) / 5.7 (350) V8 gas parts: good

Factory standard engine — you entered “MerCruiser gas V8 inboard”

GM small-block Chevrolet base engines, so internal parts are everywhere. Marine exhaust manifolds and risers for 1983–2002 small blocks are sold by many aftermarket makers (Sierra, Barr, Osco and others) through Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries and similar stores; Mercury sells genuine parts through dealers.

Parts sources: Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries

Common problems (2)
  • Manifold/riser failure and water in cylinders exhaust
    Cast-iron manifolds and risers rust internally or their gaskets fail, letting water back into the cylinders; small amounts cause hard starting and rough running, large amounts hydrolock and wreck the engine. Service roughly every 7 years in fresh water and about 5 in salt.
    powerandmotoryacht.com · forums.iboats.com · justanswer.com
  • Overheating from scaled manifolds cooling
    Rust and scale inside the manifolds restrict cooling flow and cause overheating under load.
    powerandmotoryacht.com
Model sources (1)

hmy.com

Other Meridian models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.