Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008
2008
View full specs →
VS
Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022
2022
View full specs →

Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 vs Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 vs Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 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 175 hp, the Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 has a 25-hp advantage over the Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 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
Makenot available
Model197 Outboard Deck Boat
Modelnot available
Model Year2008
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. (1,222.4 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 standard115 hp Mercury Optimax
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 - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeoutboard
Engine max175 hp
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower150 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity10 gal. (37.8 l) optional
Water capacitynot available
Maximum people1
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

Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 vs Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 or the Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022?
The Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 is the longer of the two at 20,0 feet overall. The Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 is rated to a maximum of 175 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 tops out at 150 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 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 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.
Are the Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 and Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bayliner 197 Outboard Deck Boat 2008 and the Bayliner VR 5 OB 2022 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.