Bayliner 185 2006 vs Bayliner 205 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 2006 or the Bayliner 205 2005?

For trailering, the Bayliner 185 2006 has the edge at 2 123 lbs dry weight versus 2 963 lbs for the Bayliner 205 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner 185 2006 has a documented max rating of 220 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 205 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 205 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 205 2005 measures 96" wide, compared to 93" for the Bayliner 185 2006. 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 2006 or the Bayliner 205 2005?

The Bayliner 205 2005 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 2006. That 7-gallon difference translates to roughly 21–35 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 185 2006 and Bayliner 205 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 2006 and the Bayliner 205 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 2006 vs Bayliner 205 2005

Bayliner

Bayliner 185 2006

2006

View full specs →

Bayliner

Bayliner 205 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 185 2006 vs Bayliner 205 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 185 2006 vs Bayliner 205 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.

The Bayliner 185 2006 carries a rated maximum of 220 hp. Engine data for the Bayliner 205 2005 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 205 2005 carries 35 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Bayliner 185 2006. 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 185 2006 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 205 2005 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 185 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 185 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 205 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

Model185

Model205

Model Year2006

Model Year2005

MakeBayliner

Measurements / Dimensions

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

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 4 in. (6.20 m) Rigged: 20 ft. 11 in. (6.38 m)

Length - Feet18

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Meters5.84

Length overall - Meters6.38

Length overall - Inches23

Length overall - Inches251

Draft [drive up] - DetailHull: 1 ft. 8 in. (.51 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches47

Length - Meters5.54

Length - Metersnot available

Weight - lbs.2123

Weight - lbs.2963

Bridge clearance - Inches48

Bridge clearance - Inches47

Weight - kg962.98

Weight - kg1343.99

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 0 in. (.91 m)

Draft [max] - DetailHull: 1 ft. 7 in. (.48 m) Max: 3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m)

Beam7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m)

Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.44 m)

Beam - Inches93

Beam - Inches96

Bridge clearance - Meters1.22

Bridge clearance - Meters1.19

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise20℃

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

Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Length - Inches2

Length - Inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches2

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Beam - Meters2.36

Beam - Meters2.44

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters1.19

Weight - Detail2,123 lbs. (963 kg)

Weight - Detail2,963 lbs. (1,344 kg)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Engine makeMerCruiser

Engine makenot available

Horsepower135 hp

Horsepowernot available

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max220 hp

Engine maxnot available

Engine/s standard3.0 l MerCruiser? Alpha I (135 hp)

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (106 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132.5 l)

Operational Info

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Maximum people8

Maximum peoplenot available

Trailer Info

Trailer - Height6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m)

Trailer - HeightRigged: 6 ft. 10 in. (2.08 m)

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

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

Trailer - Weight3,700 lbs. (1,678 kg)

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 allStorage Length (Tongue Swung to Side): 22 ft. 4 in. (6.81 m) Rigged: 24 ft. 0 in. (7.32 m)

Bayliner 185 2006 vs Bayliner 205 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 185 2006 or the Bayliner 205 2005?

For trailering, the Bayliner 185 2006 has the edge at 2 123 lbs dry weight versus 2 963 lbs for the Bayliner 205 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner 185 2006 has a documented max rating of 220 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 205 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 205 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 205 2005 measures 96" wide, compared to 93" for the Bayliner 185 2006. 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 2006 or the Bayliner 205 2005?

The Bayliner 205 2005 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 28 gallons on the Bayliner 185 2006. That 7-gallon difference translates to roughly 21–35 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 185 2006 and Bayliner 205 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 185 2006 and the Bayliner 205 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 2006 full specs ← Bayliner 205 2005 full specs