Bayliner 185 2004 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 2004 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 648 lbs dry weight versus 2 123 lbs for the Bayliner 185 2004. 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 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 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 255 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 185 2004 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 2004 and Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 2004 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 2004 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013

Bayliner

Bayliner 185 2004

2004

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Bayliner

Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 185 2004 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 185 2004 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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 255 Cruiser 2013 is rated for 8 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 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 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

Model255 Cruiser

Model Year2004

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 9 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.36

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches93

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise18°

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. max

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail2,123 lbs

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

Weight - kg962.98

Weight - kg2939.28

Weight - lbs.2123

Weight - lbs.648

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

Length overall - Meters5.54

Length overall - Meters8.18

Length overall - Inches218

Length overall - Inches322

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

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

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.01

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches79

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

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

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches22

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet25.08

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal

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

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelMPI / B3 (5.0 l) ECT Carb compliant

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standard260 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Trailer Info

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

Trailer - Detailnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

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 2004 vs Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 2004 or the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 648 lbs dry weight versus 2 123 lbs for the Bayliner 185 2004. 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 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 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 255 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 185 2004 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 2004 and Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 2004 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 2004 full specs ← Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 full specs