Bayliss Boatworks 60 Reviewed

Designed to make a splash on the highly competitive South Florida sailfish tournament circuit, Sequentis is the first walkaround from North Carolina’s Bayliss Boatworks. Courtesy Bayliss Boatworks/Eden Saunders

John Bayliss and his team of boatbuilders at Bayliss Boatworks in Wanchese, North Carolina, is accustomed to working with owners to create hand-crafted sport-fishing machines. That was certainly the case when Bayliss and his team took on their first walkaround build: the 60-foot Sequentis.

A walkaround design is similar to an express-boat layout, but it has deep alleys around the perimeter of the vessel. This setup gives anglers 360-degree access around the boat for fighting fish. And since Sequentis was designed for tournament live-bait sailfishing in South Florida, there’s as much fishing to be done off the bow as there is from the more traditional cockpit. 

The teak cockpit features a rocket launcher as well as mezzanine seating and a transom livewell with built-in pitch-bait tubes. Courtesy Bayliss Boatworks/Eden Saunders The mezzanine deck offers comfortable seating, plus refrigerated and freezer stowage beneath. Courtesy Bayliss Boatworks/Eden Saunders

In keeping with this approach, and keying on the need for substantial quantities of live bait, Bayliss installed two livewells in the bow in addition to  wells in the transom and the cockpit. Proper pump selection and drainage were both key to make the intricate system function properly. There are also hidden fittings for removable on-deck livewells, adding to the system’s flexibility.

The 60-footer’s exterior layout demonstrates the builder’s penchant for efficient storage and attention to detail. Hand-selected teak makes up the cockpit sole, raised-bridge sole, forward walkaround deck and  the transom. Bayliss used traditional steam bending techniques to shape the walkaround deck—the result is as beautiful as it is durable. The bridge has a starboard-side dash with two Release Marine helm chairs along with a tackle center, a dinette table to starboard and a portside lounge. A sun pad and a forward bench are on the bow, as well as an anchor locker forward of the livewell and bait tubes. The starboard-side bridge bench seat houses a quick-change helium tank with custom brackets for ease of use when the wind is light and helium balloons are needed to keep the fishing kites flying properly. 

The air-conditioned command deck, with a teak table to port, lounge seating to starboard and a helm station forward. Courtesy Bayliss Boatworks/Eden Saunders The bow area has additional seating, plus a unique livewell setup. Courtesy Bayliss Boatworks/Eden Saunders

Belowdecks, the layout includes a combination salon and galley with a Miele cooktop and speed oven, a Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer and a stainless-steel sink. Also included is a day head with shower to starboard, and a forward stateroom with twin bunks. Though the interior is smaller in size than standard sport-fishing yachts, the same attention to detail was carried out when building the boat’s custom teak cabinetry, sofa and bunks.

A sofa belowdecks and to port has stowage underneath. Note the warm vertical teak woodwork throughout the salon. Courtesy Bayliss Boatworks/Eden Saunders The galley is set up with Miele appliances and a stainless-steel sink. Courtesy Bayliss Boatworks/Eden Saunders

In a sport where having the ability to quickly relocate to a hot bite can mean the difference between finishing in first place or last, Sequentis is fast. Powered by two MTU 12V2000 M96X diesel engines, this 60-foot walkaround reportedly hit speeds of well over 42 knots during the initial sea trials.

Take the next step: baylissboatworks.com

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