Bayliner 185 2005 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Bayliner 185 2005 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012?

For trailering, the Bayliner 185 2005 has the edge at 2 123 lbs dry weight versus 9 098 lbs for the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 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 315 Cruiser 2012 has a documented max rating of 260 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 185 2005 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 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 is certified for 9. 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 315 Cruiser 2012 measures 120" wide, compared to 93" for the Bayliner 185 2005. 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 2005 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012?

The Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 has the bigger tank at 120 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 2005. That 92-gallon difference translates to roughly 276–460 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 185 2005 and Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bayliner 185 2005 and the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 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 2005 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012

Bayliner

Bayliner 185 2005

2005

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Bayliner

Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 185 2005 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 185 2005 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 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.

The Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 tops out at 260 hp. Engine specs for the Bayliner 185 2005 aren't listed - confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 carries 120 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Bayliner 185 2005. 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 315 Cruiser 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner 185 2005 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 9 passengers and at 30,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 185 2005 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

Model315 Cruiser

Model Year2005

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m)

Beam10 ft. (3.05 m)

Beam - Meters2.36

Beam - Meters3.05

Beam - Inches93

Beam - Inches120

Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 0 in. (2.92 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.22

Bridge clearance - Meters2.9

Bridge clearance - Inches48

Bridge clearance - Inches114

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise18°

Draft [max] - DetailHull: 1 ft. 8 in. (.51 m) Max: 3 ft. 0 in. (.91 m)

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 4 in. (1.02 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters1.02

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches40

Weight - Detail2,123 lbs. (963 kg)

Weight - Detail9,098 lbs. (4,127 kg)

Weight - kg962.98

Weight - kg4126.78

Weight - lbs.2123

Weight - lbs.9098

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 2 in. (5.54 m) 19 ft. 2 in. (5.84 m)

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 6 in. (9.3 m) 31 ft. 8 in. (9.65 m) rigged

Length overall - Meters5.84

Length overall - Meters9.65

Length overall - Inches230

Length overall - Inches380

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail2 ft. 1 in. (0.64 m)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.64

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches25

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet30.5

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (106 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail120 gal. (454.2 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Liters454.25

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal120

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelMerCruiser T-220 M MPI / B3 (4.3 L) ECT Carb Compliant

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardTwin 220 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Engine maxnot available

Engine maxTwin 260 hp

Trailer Info

Trailer - HeightRigged: 6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m)

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - Length over allStorage Length (Tongue Swung to Side): 20 ft. 1 in. (6.12 m) Rigged: 21 ft. 9 in. (6.63 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Weight2,905 lbs. (1,318 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity33 gal. (124.9 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail30 gal. (113.6 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters113.56

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal30

Bayliner 185 2005 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Bayliner 185 2005 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012?

For trailering, the Bayliner 185 2005 has the edge at 2 123 lbs dry weight versus 9 098 lbs for the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 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 315 Cruiser 2012 has a documented max rating of 260 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 185 2005 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 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 is certified for 9. 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 315 Cruiser 2012 measures 120" wide, compared to 93" for the Bayliner 185 2005. 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 2005 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012?

The Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 has the bigger tank at 120 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 2005. That 92-gallon difference translates to roughly 276–460 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 185 2005 and Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bayliner 185 2005 and the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 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 2005 full specs ← Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2012 full specs