The published record on this model and what owners report, with the
questions worth asking while a boat is still a listing. This page covers the model.
Every boat still needs its own homework.
A capable ~36' Loop platform with shallow draft and manageable length; the Bayliner-lineage wet-stringer question is the survey item that defines the buy.
A 2007-era ~36' aft-cabin flybridge motoryacht sharing Bayliner construction. Packs full-size amenities into 36' (full-beam master, two heads each with a separate shower), and the shallow ~3'6" draft makes it a natural Loop boat. Air draft is routinely misstated on these listings, so confirm it per hull. The one model-defining survey item is a moisture test of the stringers and hull core.
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How to read the tags on this page.PATTERNtwo independent sources agree; confirm it on the boat you're looking atCLAIMstated by one source, not yet confirmedQUESTIONopen, and settled by looking at the boat itselfCONTEXTbackground on how this model is built or usedSources are linked where published.
The hull: the #1 survey item
PATTERN
Wet stringers / core moisture is THE Meridian survey item.Meridian shares Bayliner construction, and reported wet-stringer / core-moisture issues are common enough that a specialist repair company (DryBoat) exists specifically for it. Sellers disclose it and it turns up in surveys.src:
Meridian owners of a 490 PH, a 459 and a 408, January 2025
Your move: Have the surveyor specifically moisture-test the stringers and hull core. A clean, dry bilge is NOT the core.
QUESTION
Is the wet-stringer issue a production defect, or maintenance/care?Contested: both sides. Owners push back hard on 'inherent defect': 'it's basically a Bayliner; 40-year-old Bayliners still going strong; moisture allowed to build up is an issue on ANY boat.' Others treat it as common enough to be a production problem. Honest read: a real thing to check, disputed as to whether it's inherent. Maintenance and a good survey are the deciding variables, not the badge.src:
An owner of a Meridian 490 PH, January 2025
Your move: Weigh it as a check item, not a badge disqualifier; freshwater life + documented maintenance lower the risk.
CONTEXT
If moisture IS found, DryBoat is the known specialist, and 'repaired' is not a red flag.Process: drill the stringers, air-dry, then pump epoxy to solidify; ~6 weeks. One owner's extensive two-area repair ran ~$50k. Surveyors have signed off on DryBoat-repaired boats. Documented DryBoat work often reads as a selling point (done, transferable), and one buyer negotiated the price down to cover found repairs, so 'already repaired' can be the opposite of a red flag.src:
Owners of an '05 459 and an '05 408, January 2025
CONTEXT
Distinguish structural from not.Moisture in the pulpit is not structural (common on any boat); the structural concern is the stringers/core. Don't let a minor non-structural reading kill an otherwise-good boat.src:
An owner of a Meridian 490 PH
Air draft is routinely misstated on these listings, so measure it.Listings on these misstate air draft: this listing shows air draft = 13'7", identical to the beam, which is a copy-paste tell; real air draft on a 36' flybridge is usually higher. The real number decides whether the tighter routes (Erie ~15'6", downtown Chicago ~17') are open to you.src:
listing + owner (Howard Robertson)
Your move: Measure the actual air draft on the hull; don't trust the listing's number.
CONTEXT
Strong space utilization for its length.Packs full-size amenities into 36': full-beam master (queen) + guest (island berth), two heads each with a separate shower stall, a real galley. A model selling point: 'seems bigger than it is.'src:
listing + owner
CONTEXT
Common equipment to expect.Bow AND stern thrusters ('good insurance'), 9kw genset, reverse-cycle heat/AC, electric windlass. Meridian's 'underwater exhaust' is a model feature (quieter; note it exists).src:
listing + owner
CLAIM
Engine options varied, so verify per boat.This boat has twin Cummins QSB 5.9 diesels (330 hp), a modern common-rail diesel. Other 368s may differ (including gas). Verify engine type + make per hull.src:
this boat: listing + owner
Fuel & range
CLAIM
One charter operator lists 4 to 5 gph at 7 to 8 knotsA charter company lists its 2005 368 with twin 330-hp Cummins at 7 to 8 knots on 4 to 5 gallons per hour, and at 15 to 16 knots (2,300 rpm) on about 15 gph total. It doesn't say whether the slow figure is per engine or total, and it notes consumption varies with conditions and load. It's one source, so treat it as indicative and ask for the owner's logs.src:
Anacortes Yacht Charters listing (BoaterBase)
Your move: Ask for the owner's fuel logs at trawler speed and at cruise.
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