Bayliner 185 BR 2012 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 is the longer of the two at 25,1 feet overall. The Bayliner 185 BR 2012 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 7,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 648 lbs dry weight versus 2 368 lbs for the Bayliner 185 BR 2012. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner 185 BR 2012 has a documented max rating of 220 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 185 BR 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Bayliner 185 BR 2012. 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 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 185 BR 2012 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013. That 21-gallon difference translates to roughly 63–105 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 and Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 and the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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 2012 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013

Bayliner

Bayliner 185 BR 2012

2012

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Bayliner

Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 185 BR 2012 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Bayliner 185 BR 2012 against a deep vee Bayliner 255 Cruiser 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 measures 25,1 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 7,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 at 18,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 tips the scales at 2 368 lbs — 1 720 lbs more than the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 at 648 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 185 BR 2012 carries a rated maximum of 220 hp. Engine data for the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 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 BR 2012 carries 28 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013. 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 255 Cruiser 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 185 BR 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 255 Cruiser 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 25,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 185 BR 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

Model185 BR

Model255 Cruiser

Model Year2012

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches91

Beam - Inches102

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

Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 7 in. (2.01 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.41

Bridge clearance - Meters2.01

Bridge clearance - Inches95

Bridge clearance - Inches79

Deadrise19°

Deadrise18°

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 10 in. (0.56 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inches22

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

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 3 in. (0.99 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches39

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

Weight - Detail6,480 lbs. (2,939 kg)

Weight - kg1074.11

Weight - kg2939.28

Weight - lbs.2368

Weight - lbs.648

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet25.08

Length overall - Detail18 ft. (5.49 m)

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 1 in. (7.65 m) 26 ft. 10 in. (8.18 m) rigged

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters8.18

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches322

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelMPI / A1 (3.0 L) WPS ECT

Engine modelMPI / B3 (5.0 l) ECT Carb compliant

Engine/s standard135 hp

Engine/s standard260 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (106 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeI/O

Engine max220 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75.7 l) waste 20 gal. (75.7 l) optional gray

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal2

Bayliner 185 BR 2012 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 is the longer of the two at 25,1 feet overall. The Bayliner 185 BR 2012 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 7,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 648 lbs dry weight versus 2 368 lbs for the Bayliner 185 BR 2012. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner 185 BR 2012 has a documented max rating of 220 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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 185 BR 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Bayliner 185 BR 2012. 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 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 185 BR 2012 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013. That 21-gallon difference translates to roughly 63–105 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 and Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 BR 2012 and the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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 2012 full specs ← Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 full specs