Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 174 SF 2010 vs Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Bayliner 174 SF 2010 against a modified vee Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bayliner 174 SF 2010 at 17,5 ft versus Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 tips the scales at 2 368 lbs — 521 lbs less than the Bayliner 174 SF 2010 at 1 847 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 Bayliner 174 SF 2010 carries a rated maximum of 135 hp. Engine data for the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 carries 28 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Bayliner 174 SF 2010. 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 174 SF 2010 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 174 SF 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 174 SF 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 17,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 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
Model174 SF
Model185 Bowrider
Model Year201
Model Year2013
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. 8 in. (1.12 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 1 in. (1.24 m) 7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m) max
Bridge clearance - Meters1.12
Bridge clearance - Meters2.41
Bridge clearance - Inches44
Bridge clearance - Inches95
Deadrise19°
Deadrise19°
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 9 in. (0.53 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] meters0.53
Draft [drive up] inches18
Draft [drive up] inches21
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 10 in. (0.86 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 1 in. (0.94 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inches37
Weight - Detail1,847 lbs. (838 kg)
Weight - Detail2,368 lbs. (1,074 kg)
Weight - kg837.78
Weight - kg1074.11
Weight - lbs.1847
Weight - lbs.2368
Height - Detail5 ft. 9 in. (1.75 m) rigged
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters1.75
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches69
Height - Inchesnot available
Length - Feet17.5
Length - Feet18
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in. (5.33 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. (5.49 m)
Length overall - Meters5.33
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Inches21
Length overall - Inches216
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard135 hp
Engine/s standard135 hp
Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (79.5 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (106 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49
Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99
Fuel tank capacity - Gal21
Fuel tank capacity - Gal28
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max135 hp
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelC/A1 (3 l)
Operational Info
Maximum people6
Maximum peoplenot available
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 11 in. (6.68 m)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Weight2,320 lbs. (1,052 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - Weightnot available