1996-1999 Bayliner Jazz 1500 Specs and Review [Video]

The Jazz 1500 was one of the few 2-stroke Bayliner jet boats ever built, released in 1996 as the successor of the proven Jazz 1400. The 1500 enjoyed a larger and heavier platform and was available with a 120hp inline-4, or 175hp V6 Mercury SportJet engine. The third member of the family was the lesser-known Reflexx, which never became as popular as its open-deck relatives.

In this post, we’ll review the iconic Jazz 1500 and its key specifications.

Bayliner Jazz 1500 Review

In the ‘90s and early ‘00s, a lot of marine manufacturers offered small 2-stroke jet boats, and the Bayliner was just one of them.

The first model in this breed was the 1993 Jazz 1400 followed by the closed-deck Reflexx in 1994.

In 1996, the popular Jazz was completely revamped and returned with a more powerful engine option.

The reshaped model was built on a significantly larger hull, measuring 15 feet 2 inches in length and 10 feet 6 inches in width. Compared to the original Jazz, this platform was 14 inches longer and 14 inches wider.

The dry weight of the boat was also increased from 1000 to 1395 pounds. Consequently, you could expect the overall weight of a Jazz 1500 on a trailer to be in the ballpark of 1750-2000 pounds depending on the load and the features on the trailer.

Its relatively shallow-V hull featured a 19-degree transom deadrise and a 1-foot draft. This flat architecture made the boat agile but offered a poor rough water performance.

Just like the hull, the top deck of the Jazz was completely redesigned. The new layout offered more floor space and five seats, but the boat was rated for only 4 people or 600 pounds.

The bench seat in the cockpit got well-contoured cushions with armrests, while the flat bow area was replaced by a smaller couch and an inviting sun lounge seat.

The helm was also completely redesigned, being returned with more bells and whistles.

According to the manufacturer, the key construction features of the Jazz 1500 were as follows:

·         Five-year structural hull limited warranty, transferable

·         Vinyls: expanded thick, heavy-duty, marine grade

·         Electrical system: color-coded

·         Fiberglass: hand-laid

·         Foam floatation

·         Variable lift hull design

·         Hand-laid fiberglass

·         Meets or exceeds all appropriate U.S.C.G. safety standards

·         NMMA Certified

Engine

The Jazz 1400 was available with Mercury SportJet engines, the standard 90hp triple, and the optional 120hp inline-4 variants.

Unlike its predecessor, the revamped 1996 Jazz 1500 already came standard with the 120hp, inline-4 power mill, while a new high-performance, 175hp, V6 engine was available as an option.

The base 120hp Mercury SportJet was a 2-stroke, 1687cc, 4-cylinder, in-line, reed-valve marine engine with the following features:

·         Architecture: In-line, 4-cylinder

·         Displacement: 1678cc (102.9 cu.in.)

·         Bore x Stroke: 85.7 x 73.05 mm

·         Intake: reed valves

·         Induction: 4 float-type side-draft carbs

·         Lubrication: Oil-injection

·         Starter: Electric

In contrast, the key features of the optional 175hp Mercury SportJet included:

·         Architecture: V6, 6-cylinder

·         Displacement: 2503cc (153 cu.in.)

·         Bore x Stroke: 88.925 x 67.31 mm

·         Induction: 6 float-type carbs

·         Intake: reed valves

·         Lubrication: Oil-injection

·         Starter: Electric

These engines were paired with a Mercury SportJet propulsion system. This mixed-flow, single-stage jet pump featured a stainless-steel impeller and a manual reverse bucket.

To feed these larger engines, the fuel capacity of the Jazz was also increased from 17 to 23 gallons.

Features

The key features of the ’96-’99 Jazz 1500 were as follows:

·         Navigation lights

·         Blower for forced engine compartment ventilation

·         Bilge pump (500 gph, manual and automatic)

·         Mooring cleats

·         Stainless steel bow/transom eyes

·         Ski-tow pylon

·         Deck fittings: fuel fill

·         Engine controls (forward and reverse) with a neutral safety switch

·         Fuel tank, built-in 17 gallon

·         Grab handles

·         Engine hatch with gas-assist opening

·         Transom platform, integral, with retractable swim ladder

·         Storage compartments: bow and port sides

·         Beverage holders

·         Fireglass cockpit liner

·         Snap-in runner carpet

·         Fire extinguisher

·         Mirror

·         Bimini top

·         Sound system

Seats:

·         Cockpit: Three across bench with arm-rests between

·         Bow: rear-facing padded bench seat

·         Bow: Sunlounge with padded backrest

Helm station:

·         Engine controls: side-mount, forward and reverse, with a neutral safety switch

·         Ignition safety switch with lanyard

·         Waterproof switches

·         Instrumentation: analog speedometer, tachometer, voltmeter, fuel gauge

·         Padded grip steering wheel

·         Engine high-temperature alarm

Storage compartments:

·         Storage compartment (bow) lockable

·         Gear storage in the engine compartment

·         Glovebox

On top of that, each Bayliner Jazz 1500 came standard with a custom Escort trailer, which was specifically engineered for this boat.

Riding Experience

Vintage “PWC-like” mini jet boats were known for their thrilling riding experience, and the Jazz 1500 was no exception.

Thanks to its lightweight shallow-V hull and high-performance jet engine options, the Jazz was quick, agile, and extremely maneuverable. It was also capable of various tricks like spins and the legendary “nosediving,” which was often referred to as the “submarine.”

What’s more, it had a remarkable top speed and great hole-shot acceleration, especially with the V6 power mill.

Under ideal conditions, the top speed of the Bayliner Jazz 1500 was roughly 45-47 mph with a 120hp I4 engine while the 175hp V6 offered 55-57 mph out of the box.

With some aftermarket mods, this performance could be increased into a ballpark of 60-65 mph.

During rides, its well-padded seats with armrests offered much more traction and control than the flat bench seat in the 1400.

Problems

There’s no question that one of the most common compliant against the Jazz 1500 was its unreliable engines.

According to Boat Nut Magazine, the Mercury engines on these boats proved to be far less durable and dependable than the power sources on competitor Sea-Doos and Yamahas.

Therefore, the never-ending repairs caused a lot of headaches for owners. But even if they ran, these 2-stroke engines burned a lot of fuel and generated excessive smoke.

Another main drawback of the Jazz was an insufficient performance on the chop.

Even though it featured a larger and heavier hull than its forerunner, the new model was still fairly uncomfortable on rough waters. Since its keel couldn’t cut through the waves effectively, the boat bounced a lot while its low freeboard contributed to an unsafe feeling.

Because of this, the Jazz 1500 was primarily recommended for smaller water bodies, and taking it offshore was definitely not a good idea.

Bayliner Jazz 1500 Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the key specifications of the ’96-’99 Bayliner Jazz 1500s in these charts:

Dimensions and Capacities

Overall Length	15’ 2” (4.63m)
Beam	6’ 10” (2.09m)
Bridge clearance	2’ 4” (.71m)
Overall Length on Escort Trailer	18’0” (5.40m)
Approximate weight (w/std engine)	1395 lb. (633kg)
Draft	1’0” (.31cm)
Deadrise (at transom)	19-degree
Maximum capacity	4 persons or 600 lb.

Engine Specs

Engine Opt.	Mercury Sport Jet 120	Mercury Sport Jet 175
Architecture	Inline-4	V6
Type	2-stroke	2-stroke
Number of Cylinders	4	6
Displacement	1687cc (102.9 cu.in.)	2507cc (153 cu.in.)
Bore and Stroke	85.7 x 73.05 mm (3.375 x 2.876 in.)	88.925 x 67.31 mm (3.501 x 2.650 in.)
Cylinder Material	Cast Iron	Cast Iron
Piston Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Performance	120hp (89.5 Kw)	175hp (130.5 Kw)
Supercharged	No	No
Lubrication System	Oil injection	Oil injection
Induction System	Float-type side-draft carbs	Float-type side-draft carbs
Number of Carburetors	4	6
Intake System	Reed valve	Reed valve
Ignition System	CD Breakerless Magneto	CD Breakerless Magneto
Staring System	12V Electric	12V Electric
Cooling System	Thermostatic and pressure-controlled	Thermostatic and pressure-controlled

Drive Unit

Propulsion System	Jet pump
Jet Pump Type	Axial flow, mixed stage
Transmission	constant mesh w/reverse bucket
Impeller Type and Size	Stainless steel/5-blade
Nozzle	Ski type (low angle discharge)
Reverse	Twin-aperture flow diverter

 

Fuel and Oil

Recommended Gasoline	Unleaded 87 octane minimum
Recommended Oil	Quicksilver TC-W 3 or TC-W II 2-cycle outboard oil
Fuel tank capacity	23 US gal (87 L)

Discolaimer: These specifications are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Looking for a Bayliner Jazz 1500 For Sale?

Even though the Jazz 1500 was discontinued before the millennium, they often appear on the used market.

If you are considering buying one, you may find a good deal on Craigslist or classified boat sites like BoatTrader.com or Boats.com.

You can expect the asking prices to be anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 depending on the condition and engine option.

However, keep in mind that the affordable prices of these boats come hand-in-hand with lower reliability and performance.

If you want to buy a 2-stroke jet boat no matter what, you should consider a more reliable Yamaha or Sea-Doo instead.

Competitor models from these manufacturers offer not only higher reliability but are typically available with more powerful twin-engine options.

References

Bayliner.com

Boatnutmedia.blog