Bayliner 170 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007?

The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 17,5 feet overall. The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 15,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007?

For trailering, the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 has the edge at 1 753 lbs dry weight versus 2 278 lbs for the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 is rated to a maximum of 260 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 tops out at 125 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 9 lbs per hp compared to 14 lbs per hp for the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 measures 91" wide, compared to 83" for the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 has the bigger tank at 37 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 and Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 and the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 are built by Bayliner. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Bayliner 170 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007

Bayliner

Bayliner 170 OB 2012

2012

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Bayliner

Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007

2007

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 170 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 measures 17,5 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 15,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 at 2,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 tips the scales at 2 278 lbs — 525 lbs less than the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 at 1 753 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 260 hp, the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 has a 135-hp advantage over the Bayliner 170 OB 2012's 125-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 carries 37 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 14 lbs per hp for the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBayliner

Model170 OB

ModelDiscovery 215 Bowrider

Model Year2012

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam6 ft. 11 in. (2.11 m)

Beam7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)

Beam - Meters2.11

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Inches83

Beam - Inches91

Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 2.5 in. (0.98 m) 6 ft. 6.63 in. (2 m) max

Bridge clearance - DetailMax: 4 ft. 3 in. (1.30 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.01

Bridge clearance - Meters1.3

Bridge clearance - Inches78.63

Bridge clearance - Inches51

Deadrise19°

Deadrise18℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5.5 in. (0.44 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] inches17.5

Draft [drive up] inches18

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 11 in. (0.89 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail1,753 lbs. (795 kg)

Weight - Detail2,278 lbs. (1,033 kg)

Weight - kg795.15

Weight - kg1033.28

Weight - lbs.1753

Weight - lbs.2278

Length - Feet17.5

Length - Feet2

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in. (5.33 m)

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in. (6.32 m) Rigged: 22 ft. 5 in. (6.83 m)

Length overall - Meters5.33

Length overall - Meters6.83

Length overall - Inches21

Length overall - Inches269

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.32

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches9

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Engine modelOptiMax DFI

Engine modelnot available

Engine/s standard90 hp

Engine/s standard5.0L MerCruiser? Alpha I (220 hp)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (79.5 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters140.06

Fuel tank capacity - Gal21

Fuel tank capacity - Gal37

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine max125 hp

Engine max260 hp

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over allRigged: 24 ft. 2 in. (7.37 m)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight3,735 lbs. (1,694 kg)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)

Bayliner 170 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007?

The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 17,5 feet overall. The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 15,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007?

For trailering, the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 has the edge at 1 753 lbs dry weight versus 2 278 lbs for the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 is rated to a maximum of 260 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 tops out at 125 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 170 OB 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 9 lbs per hp compared to 14 lbs per hp for the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 measures 91" wide, compared to 83" for the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 has the bigger tank at 37 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Bayliner 170 OB 2012. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 and Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 170 OB 2012 and the Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 are built by Bayliner. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Bayliner 170 OB 2012 full specs ← Bayliner Discovery 215 Bowrider 2007 full specs