Bayliner 185  Fish N Ski 2009 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009
2009
View full specs →
VS
Bayliner 255 2010 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 255 2010
2010
View full specs →

Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 vs Bayliner 255 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 against a deep vee Bayliner 255 2010 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 2010 measures 25,1 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 7,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 at 18,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 255 2010 tips the scales at 6 144 lbs — 3 909 lbs less than the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 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 260 hp, the Bayliner 255 2010 has a 40-hp advantage over the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 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 185 Fish N Ski 2009 carries 28 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Bayliner 255 2010. 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 2010 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 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 2010 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 255 2010 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 Fish N Ski 2009 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
MakeBayliner
Model185 Fish N Ski
Model255
Model Year2009
Model Year201
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. 0 in. (1.22 m) Max: 6 ft. 0 in. (1.83 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 7 in. (2.01 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters1.83
Bridge clearance - Meters2.01
Bridge clearance - Inches72
Bridge clearance - Inches79
Deadrise19℃
Deadrise18°
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 8 in. (0.51 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 10 in. (0.56 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] meters0.56
Draft [drive up] inches2
Draft [drive up] inches22
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 0 in. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 3 in. (0.99 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters0.99
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches39
Weight - DetailWith Standard Engine: 2,235 lbs. (1,014 kg)
Weight - Detail6,144 lbs. (2,787 kg)
Weight - kg1013.78
Weight - kg2786.87
Weight - lbs.2235
Weight - lbs.6144
Length - Meters5.49
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet25.08
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in. (5.49 m) Rigged: 19 ft. 1 in. (5.82 m)
Length overall - Detail25 ft. 1 in. (7.65 m)
Length overall - Meters5.82
Length overall - Meters7.65
Length overall - Inches229
Length overall - Inches301
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail10 ft. 1 in. (3.07 m) rigged
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters3.07
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches121
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makenot available
Engine model3.0L MerCruiser® Alpha I
Engine modelnot available
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
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Horsepower135 hp
Horsepowernot available
Engine max220 hp
Engine max260 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standard260 hp
Trailer Info
Trailer - HeightRigged: 6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m)
Trailer - Heightnot available
Trailer - Length over allRigged: 21 ft. 9 in. (6.63 m)
Trailer - Length over all30 ft. 2 in. (9.19 m)
Trailer - WeightWith Standard Engine: 3,085 lbs. (1,399 kg)
Trailer - Weight7,882 lbs. (3,575 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - Width7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available
Operational Info
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people8
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75.7 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal2

Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 vs Bayliner 255 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 or the Bayliner 255 2010?
The Bayliner 255 2010 is the longer of the two at 25,1 feet overall. The Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 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 Fish N Ski 2009 or the Bayliner 255 2010?
For trailering, the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 has the edge at 2 235 lbs dry weight versus 6 144 lbs for the Bayliner 255 2010. 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 255 2010 is rated to a maximum of 260 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 tops out at 220 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 Fish N Ski 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 255 2010 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 2010 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009. 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 Fish N Ski 2009 or the Bayliner 255 2010?
The Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 has the bigger tank at 28 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Bayliner 255 2010. 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 Fish N Ski 2009 and Bayliner 255 2010 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bayliner 185 Fish N Ski 2009 and the Bayliner 255 2010 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.