The Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2009 is a modified-V design and the Bayliner 255 SB 2011 is a deep-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bayliner 255 SB 2011 measures 25,1 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 7,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2009 at 18,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 255 SB 2011 tips the scales at 6 480 lbs - 4 245 lbs less than the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2009 at 2 235 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 300 hp, the Bayliner 255 SB 2011 has a 80-hp advantage over the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2009's 220-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 255 SB 2011 carries 70 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2009. 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 185 Bowrider 2009 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Bayliner 255 SB 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2009 could be the deciding factor.