Bayliner 180 OB 2012 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 180 OB 2012
2012
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VS
Bayliner Contessa 1985 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner Contessa 1985
1985
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Bayliner 180 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Contessa 1985 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 180 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Contessa 1985 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.

The Bayliner 180 OB 2012 carries a rated maximum of 125 hp. Engine data for the Bayliner Contessa 1985 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner Contessa 1985 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 180 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 Contessa 1985 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner Contessa 1985 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 180 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
Makenot available
Model180 OB
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m)
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters2.29
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches9
Beam - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 10 in. (1.17 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters1.17
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches46
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise17°
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 2 in. (0.36 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.36
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches14
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 7 in. (0.79 m)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.79
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches31
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail1,878 lbs. (852 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg851.85
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.1878
Weight - lbs.not available
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet28
Length overall - Detail18 ft. (5.49 m)
Length overall - Detail28.00 ft
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Inches216
Length overall - Inches336
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makeVolvo
Engine modelOptiMax DFI
Engine modelnot available
Engine/s standard90 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal23
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeinboard
Engine max125 hp
Engine maxnot available
Operational Info
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower

Bayliner 180 OB 2012 vs Bayliner Contessa 1985 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 180 OB 2012 or the Bayliner Contessa 1985?
The Bayliner Contessa 1985 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Bayliner 180 OB 2012 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 10,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?
The Bayliner 180 OB 2012 has a documented max rating of 125 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner Contessa 1985 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Bayliner 180 OB 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner Contessa 1985 is certified for 8. 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.
Are the Bayliner 180 OB 2012 and Bayliner Contessa 1985 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bayliner 180 OB 2012 and the Bayliner Contessa 1985 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.