Bayliner 185 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009?

The Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 is the longer of the two at 18,8 feet overall. The Bayliner 185 BR 2011 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 0,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009?

For trailering, the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 has the edge at 2 278 lbs dry weight versus 2 368 lbs for the Bayliner 185 BR 2011. 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 185 BR 2011 is rated to a maximum of 220 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 tops out at 135 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 185 BR 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 and Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 share an 7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009?

The Bayliner 185 BR 2011 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 and Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 and the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 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 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 195 2009

Bayliner

Bayliner 185 BR 2011

2011

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Bayliner

Bayliner Discovery 195 2009

2009

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 185 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Bayliner 185 BR 2011 against a modified vee Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 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 185 BR 2011 at 18,0 ft versus Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 at 18,8 ft. At 2 368 lbs and 2 278 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 220 hp, the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 has a 85-hp advantage over the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009's 135-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 185 BR 2011 carries 28 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Bayliner Discovery 195 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 BR 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBayliner

Model185 BR

ModelDiscovery 195

Model Year2011

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Inches91

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m) Max: 7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.41

Bridge clearance - Meters2.13

Bridge clearance - Inches95

Bridge clearance - Inches84

Deadrise19°

Deadrise18℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5 in. (0.43 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] inches17

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

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. (0.84 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches33

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

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

Weight - kg1074.11

Weight - kg1033.28

Weight - lbs.2368

Weight - lbs.2278

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet18.75

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in. (5.49 m)

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 9 in. (5.72 m) Rigged: 20 ft. 8 in. (6.3 m)

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters6.3

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches248

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelMerCruiser

Engine model3.0L MerCruiser® Alpha I

Engine/s standard135 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (106 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal23

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Engine max220 hp

Engine max135 hp

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower135 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people8

Maximum peoplenot available

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 11 in. (6.38 m)

Trailer - Length over allRigged: 23 ft. 2 in. (7.06 m)

Trailer - Weight2,995 lbs. (1,358 kg) with boat and engine

Trailer - WeightWith Standard Engine: 2,836 lbs. (1,286 kg)

Trailer - Width8 ft. 0 in. (2.44 m)

Trailer - Width7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m)

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - HeightRigged: 6 ft. 10 in. (2.08 m)

Bayliner 185 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009?

The Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 is the longer of the two at 18,8 feet overall. The Bayliner 185 BR 2011 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 0,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009?

For trailering, the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 has the edge at 2 278 lbs dry weight versus 2 368 lbs for the Bayliner 185 BR 2011. 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 185 BR 2011 is rated to a maximum of 220 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 tops out at 135 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 185 BR 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 and Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 share an 7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009?

The Bayliner 185 BR 2011 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 and Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 BR 2011 and the Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 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 BR 2011 full specs ← Bayliner Discovery 195 2009 full specs