Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2007 vs Bayliner VR5 Bowrider I/O 2020: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2007 vs Bayliner VR5 Bowrider I/O 2020 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 250 hp, the Bayliner VR5 Bowrider I/O 2020 has a 30-hp advantage over the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2007's 220-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 35 gal and 33 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2007 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Bayliner VR5 Bowrider I/O 2020 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner VR5 Bowrider I/O 2020 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
MakeBayliner
Makenot available
Model197 Deck Boat
Modelnot available
Model Year2007
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters2.46
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches97
Beam - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - DetailMax: 7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.31
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches91
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise17°
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 4 in. (0.41 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.41
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches16
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 8 in. (0.81 m)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.81
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches32
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail2,695 lbs. (1,222 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg1222.43
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.2695
Weight - lbs.not available
Length - Meters5.66
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet20
Length - Inches7
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 7 in. (5.66 m) Rigged: 20 ft. 11 in. (6.38 m)
Length overall - Detail20.00 ft
Length overall - Meters6.38
Length overall - Meters6.1
Length overall - Inches251
Length overall - Inches240
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard3.0L MerCruiser? Alpha I (135 hp)
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132.5 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49
Fuel tank capacity - Liters124.92
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal33
Drive typeI/O
Drive typenot available
Engine max220 hp
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMerCruiser
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower250 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity10 gal. (37.8 l) optional
Water capacitynot available
Maximum people10
Maximum peoplenot available
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over allRigged: 23 ft. 2 in. (7.06 m)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Weight3,545 lbs. (1,608 kg)
Trailer - Weightnot available
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available