Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009
2009
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VS
Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008
2008
View full specs →

Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 vs Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 vs Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 measures 18,6 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 16,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 tips the scales at 2 992 lbs — 297 lbs less than the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 at 2 695 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 Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 has a 40-hp advantage over the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009'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 37 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBayliner
MakeBayliner
Model197 Deck Boat
ModelDiscovery 210 Cuddy Cabin
Model Year2009
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)
Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.44 m)
Beam - Meters2.46
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches97
Beam - Inches96
Bridge clearance - DetailMax: 7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailMax: 4 ft. 6 in. (1.37 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.13
Bridge clearance - Meters1.37
Bridge clearance - Inches84
Bridge clearance - Inches54
Deadrise17℃
Deadrise18℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 4 in. (0.41 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 7 in. (0.48 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.41
Draft [drive up] meters0.48
Draft [drive up] inches16
Draft [drive up] inches19
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 8 in. (0.81 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 0 in. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.81
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Inches32
Draft [max] - Inches36
Weight - Detail2,695 lbs. (1,222 kg)
Weight - Detail2,992 lbs. (1,357 kg)
Weight - kg1222.43
Weight - kg1357.15
Weight - lbs.2695
Weight - lbs.2992
Length - Feet18.58
Length - Feet2
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 7 in. (5.66 m) Rigged: 20 ft. 11 in. (6.38 m)
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in. (6.32 m) Rigged: 22 ft. 8 in. (6.91 m)
Length overall - Meters6.38
Length overall - Meters6.91
Length overall - Inches251
Length overall - Inches272
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters6.32
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches9
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makenot available
Engine model3.0L MerCruiser® Alpha I
Engine modelnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132.5 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49
Fuel tank capacity - Liters140.06
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal37
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Horsepower135 hp
Horsepowernot available
Engine max220 hp
Engine max260 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standard5.0L MerCruiser? Alpha I (220 hp)
Operational Info
Maximum people1
Maximum peoplenot available
Trailer Info
Trailer - HeightRigged: 6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m)
Trailer - Heightnot available
Trailer - Length over allRigged: 23 ft. 2 in. (7.06 m)
Trailer - Length over allRigged: 24 ft. 2 in. (7.37 m)
Trailer - WeightWith Standard Engine: 3,545 lbs. (1,608 kg)
Trailer - Weight3,942 lbs. (1,788 kg)
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Width8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)

Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 vs Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 or the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008?
The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 is the longer of the two at 18,6 feet overall. The Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 or the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008?
For trailering, the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 has the edge at 2 695 lbs dry weight versus 2 992 lbs for the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008. 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.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 is rated to a maximum of 260 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 tops out at 220 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 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 197 Deck Boat 2009 measures 97" wide, compared to 96" for the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008. 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.
How do the fuel tanks compare on the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 and Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008?
Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 35 gallons and 37 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.
Are the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 and Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bayliner 197 Deck Boat 2009 and the Bayliner Discovery 210 Cuddy Cabin 2008 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.