Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011 vs Bayliner 217 SD 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011 against a modified vee Bayliner 217 SD 2010 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011 at 18,8 ft versus Bayliner 217 SD 2010 at 20,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 217 SD 2010 tips the scales at 3 409 lbs — 1 131 lbs less than the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011 at 2 278 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 260 hp, the Bayliner 217 SD 2010 has a 125-hp advantage over the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011's 135-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 217 SD 2010 carries 55 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011. 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 217 SD 2010 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 217 SD 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 217 SD 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 20,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 195 Discovery 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model195 Discovery
Model217 SD
Model Year2011
Model Year201
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam - Meters2.31
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches91
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 8 in. (2.34 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.13
Bridge clearance - Meters2.34
Bridge clearance - Inches84
Bridge clearance - Inches92
Deadrise18°
Deadrise20°
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5 in. (0.43 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 4 in. (0.41 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] meters0.41
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [drive up] inches16
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. (0.84 m)
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 8 in. (0.81 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.84
Draft [max] - Meters0.81
Draft [max] - Inches33
Draft [max] - Inches32
Weight - Detail2,278 lbs. (1,033 kg)
Weight - Detail3,409 lbs. (1,546 kg)
Weight - kg1033.28
Weight - kg1546.3
Weight - lbs.2278
Weight - lbs.3409
Length - Feet18.75
Length - Feet20.58
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 9 in. (5.72 m)
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 7 in. (6.27 m)
Length overall - Meters5.72
Length overall - Meters6.27
Length overall - Inches225
Length overall - Inches247
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Detail27 ft. 3 in. (8.31 m) rigged
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters8.31
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches327
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makenot available
Engine modelMerCruiser
Engine modelnot available
Engine/s standard135 hp
Engine/s standard190 hp
Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal. (208.2 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06
Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2
Fuel tank capacity - Gal23
Fuel tank capacity - Gal55
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max135 hp
Engine max260 hp
Operational Info
Maximum people7
Maximum people12
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity10 gal. (37.8 l)
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 11 in. (6.38 m)
Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 2 in. (6.45 m)
Trailer - Weight2,905 lbs. (1,318 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - Weight4,351 lbs. (1,974 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - Width7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available