When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bayliner 190 Bowrider 2013 and the Bayliner 197 Deck 2013 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bayliner 190 Bowrider 2013 at 19,4 ft versus Bayliner 197 Deck 2013 at 18,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 197 Deck 2013 tips the scales at 2 695 lbs — 301 lbs less than the Bayliner 190 Bowrider 2013 at 2 394 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 190 Bowrider 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 197 Deck 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 190 Bowrider 2013 could be the deciding factor.