Bayliner 185 2004 vs Bayliner 212 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 2004 or the Bayliner 212 2005?

For trailering, the Bayliner 185 2004 has the edge at 2 123 lbs dry weight versus 3 218 lbs for the Bayliner 212 2005. 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 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 212 2005 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 212 2005 measures 98" wide, compared to 93" for the Bayliner 185 2004. 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 2004 or the Bayliner 212 2005?

The Bayliner 212 2005 has the bigger tank at 55 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 2004. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 185 2004 and Bayliner 212 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 2004 and the Bayliner 212 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 2004 vs Bayliner 212 2005

Bayliner

Bayliner 185 2004

2004

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Bayliner

Bayliner 212 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 185 2004 vs Bayliner 212 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 185 2004 vs Bayliner 212 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 212 2005 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 185 2004 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 212 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 212 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 185 2004 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

Model212

Model Year2004

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 9 in

Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Beam - Meters2.36

Beam - Meters2.49

Beam - Inches93

Beam - Inches98

Deadrise19℃

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. max

Draft [max] - DetailHull: 1 ft. 7 in. (.48 m) Max: 2 ft. 11 in. (.89 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail2,123 lbs

Weight - Detail3,218 lbs. (1,460 kg)

Weight - kg962.98

Weight - kg1459.66

Weight - lbs.2123

Weight - lbs.3218

Height - Detail6 ft. 3 in. (rigged)

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters1.91

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches75

Height - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 2 in

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 3 in. (6.48 m) Rigged: 22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m)

Length overall - Meters5.54

Length overall - Meters6.78

Length overall - Inches218

Length overall - Inches267

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 9 in. (1.45 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.45

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches57

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal. (208 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal55

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailPainted or Galvanized, Single-Axle w/Brakes, Tongue Jack & Swing-Away Tongue

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - HeightRigged: 7 ft. 8 in. (2.34 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all23 ft. 7 in. (7.19 m) Rigged: 25 ft. 3 in. (7.70 m)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight4,188 lbs. (1,868 kg)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m)

Bayliner 185 2004 vs Bayliner 212 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 2004 or the Bayliner 212 2005?

For trailering, the Bayliner 185 2004 has the edge at 2 123 lbs dry weight versus 3 218 lbs for the Bayliner 212 2005. 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 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 212 2005 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 212 2005 measures 98" wide, compared to 93" for the Bayliner 185 2004. 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 2004 or the Bayliner 212 2005?

The Bayliner 212 2005 has the bigger tank at 55 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 2004. That 27-gallon difference translates to roughly 81–135 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 185 2004 and Bayliner 212 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 2004 and the Bayliner 212 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 2004 full specs ← Bayliner 212 2005 full specs