Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005?

For trailering, the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 has the edge at 809 lbs dry weight versus 2 368 lbs for the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013. 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 is certified for 9. 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 measures 91" wide, compared to 12" for the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005. 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 185 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005?

The Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 has the bigger tank at 113 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013. That 85-gallon difference translates to roughly 255–425 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 and Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 and the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 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 185 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2005

Bayliner

Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013

2013

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Bayliner

Bayliner 288 Classic 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 is rated for 9 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 288 Classic 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 0,0 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

MakeBayliner

Model185 Bowrider

Model288 Classic

Model Year2013

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)

Beam10 ft. 0 in. (3.05 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters3.05

Beam - Inches91

Beam - Inches12

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 1 in. (1.24 m) 7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m) max

Bridge clearance - Detail10 ft. 3 in. (3.12 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.41

Bridge clearance - Meters3.12

Bridge clearance - Inches95

Bridge clearance - Inches123

Deadrise19°

Deadrise18℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 9 in. (0.53 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 1 in. (0.94 m)

Draft [max] - DetailHull: 1 ft. 8 in. (.51 m) Max: 3 ft. 2 in. (.97 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches38

Weight - Detail2,368 lbs. (1,074 kg)

Weight - Detail8,090 lbs. (3,670 kg)

Weight - kg1074.11

Weight - kg3669.56

Weight - lbs.2368

Weight - lbs.809

Length - Feet18

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. (5.49 m)

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 7 in. (9.33 m)

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters9.32

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches367

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Engine modelC/A1 (3 l)

Engine modelnot available

Engine/s standard135 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (106 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail113 gal. (427.7 l) 93 gal. w/diesel engine (352 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Liters427.75

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal113

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity34 gal. (128.7 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail26 gal (98.4 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters98.42

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal26

Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005?

For trailering, the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 has the edge at 809 lbs dry weight versus 2 368 lbs for the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 is certified for 9. 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 measures 91" wide, compared to 12" for the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005. 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 185 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005?

The Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 has the bigger tank at 113 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013. That 85-gallon difference translates to roughly 255–425 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 and Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 Bowrider 2013 and the Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 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 185 Bowrider 2013 full specs ← Bayliner 288 Classic 2005 full specs