Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012 vs Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012 against a deep vee Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 measures 28,6 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 9,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012 at 18,8 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 tips the scales at 8 056 lbs — 5 778 lbs less than the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012 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 380 hp, the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 has a 245-hp advantage over the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012'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 285 Cruiser 2012 carries 89 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012. 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 285 Cruiser 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 28,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 195 Discovery 2012 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
Model195 Discovery
Model285 Cruiser
Model Year2012
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)
Beam9 ft. 11 in. (3.02 m)
Beam - Meters2.31
Beam - Meters3.02
Beam - Inches91
Beam - Inches119
Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters1.19
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches47
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise18°
Deadrise17°
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5 in. (0.43 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail2 ft. 1 in. (0.64 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] meters0.64
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [drive up] inches25
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. (0.84 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 5 in. (1.04 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.84
Draft [max] - Meters1.04
Draft [max] - Inches33
Draft [max] - Inches41
Weight - Detail2,278 lbs. (1,033 kg)
Weight - Detail8,056 lbs. (3,654 kg)
Weight - kg1033.28
Weight - kg3654.14
Weight - lbs.2278
Weight - lbs.8056
Length - Feet18.75
Length - Feet28.58
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 9 in. (5.72 m)
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 7 in. (8.7 m) 31 ft. 2 in. (9.5 m) rigged
Length overall - Meters5.72
Length overall - Meters9.5
Length overall - Inches225
Length overall - Inches374
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelMPI / A1 (3.0 L) WPS ECT Carb Compliant
Engine modelMerCruiser 300 M MPI / B3 (350 MAG) ECT
Engine/s standard135 hp
Engine/s standard300 hp
Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87.1 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail89 gal. (337 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06
Fuel tank capacity - Liters336.9
Fuel tank capacity - Gal23
Fuel tank capacity - Gal89
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max135 hp
Engine max380 hp
Operational Info
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity28 gal. (106 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail30 gal. (113.6 l) waste 30 gal. (113.6 l) optional gray
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters113.56
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal3