Meridian Yachts, Brunswick's Value-Packed Cruising Yachts

From Bayliner motor yachts to a new name

Meridian was created by Brunswick in the early 2000s to take over the larger cruising yachts that had been sold as Bayliner motor yachts. The idea was to give those boats, which were built in the Pacific Northwest and very popular with cruising families in Puget Sound and British Columbia, a more upscale identity than the Bayliner name carried. Brunswick's Boat Group listed Meridian alongside Sea Ray and Bayliner for years.

The range ran from the compact 341 Sedan to pilothouse and motor yacht models in the 40 to 58-foot range. In 2009 Brunswick moved Meridian production from the Pacific Northwest to its plants on Florida's east coast, and the last boats were sold as 2016 models. Thousands remain in use, especially on the West Coast and in the Great Lakes.

Three sedans, from the 341 to the 441

Meridian's sedan bridge models share one idea: a single-level saloon and galley, two staterooms below and a flybridge reached by an easy staircase, all aimed at couples who handle the boat themselves. We cover three sizes of that recipe.

The Meridian 341 Sedan was the brand's entry model from the 2003 launch, at a base price of about $184,000. For 2005 it was replaced by an all-new 341 Sedan Bridge on a larger hull, just under 36 feet with a 12 ft 6 in beam, and Meridian made bow and stern thrusters standard under its Docking On Command name. Most used boats are 2005 to 2009 models with twin MerCruiser gas V8s, and they ask roughly $95,000 to $165,000. Diesel boats are rarer and worth more.

The Meridian 391 Sedan arrived in 2006 with a bright galley-up saloon, two staterooms and a flybridge on a hull just under 41 feet. Twin gas inboards were standard and Cummins diesels optional. It suits the classic Northwest cruising pattern but works equally well on the East Coast and the Great Loop.

At the top of the sedan line, the Meridian 441 Sedan Bridge replaced the earlier 411 in 2008 with a new 47-foot hull, deck and bridge. Both of its staterooms have their own heads, and buyers chose between Cummins diesels on V-drives with the Total Command joystick or, from 2011, Cummins engines on Zeus pods, which are quicker and more efficient. Used examples range from about $250,000 to $600,000, with the later pod boats at the top.

Meridians are not built to the standard of Grand Banks or Tiara, but they offer comfortable cruising and good space at a price many first-time cruiser buyers can reach.

Parts, resale and the Meridian survey checklist

Meridian resale is moderate and tracks the broader market for production cruisers, with the best prices in the Pacific Northwest where the boats are best known. Engines and drivetrains came from mainstream suppliers, so service is easy to arrange, and Brunswick dealers and independent yards remain familiar with the boats.

Inspect these items on any used Meridian.

• Window and hatch leaks, plus interior damage behind panels
• Deck and flybridge core moisture around rails and fittings
• Engine hours, exhaust risers and cooling system service
• Thruster and joystick systems, plus Zeus pod service records on later 441s
• Bow and stern thruster operation and battery condition
• Shaft seals, struts and rudder condition
• Generator, heating and air conditioning systems