Bayliner 197 SD 2011 vs Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 or the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 is the longer of the two at 24,1 feet overall. The Bayliner 197 SD 2011 comes in at 18,6 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 or the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 546 lbs dry weight versus 2 695 lbs for the Bayliner 197 SD 2011. 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.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner 197 SD 2011 has a documented max rating of 190 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 197 SD 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 is certified for 7. 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.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 measures 101" wide, compared to 97" for the Bayliner 197 SD 2011. 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 or the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 has the bigger tank at 64 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the Bayliner 197 SD 2011. That 29-gallon difference translates to roughly 87–145 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 and Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 and the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 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.

Boat Comparison

Bayliner 197 SD 2011 vs Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013

Bayliner

Bayliner 197 SD 2011

2011

View full specs →

Bayliner

Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013

2013

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 197 SD 2011 vs Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Bayliner 197 SD 2011 against a deep vee Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 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 245 Cruiser 2013 measures 24,1 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 5,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 at 18,6 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 tips the scales at 2 695 lbs — 2 149 lbs more than the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 at 546 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 Bayliner 197 SD 2011 carries a rated maximum of 190 hp. Engine data for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 carries 64 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Bayliner 197 SD 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 245 Cruiser 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 197 SD 2011 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

Model197 SD

Model245 Cruiser

Model Year2011

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)

Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.57 m)

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Inches97

Beam - Inches101

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 9 in. (2.06 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.13

Bridge clearance - Meters2.06

Bridge clearance - Inches84

Bridge clearance - Inches81

Deadrise17°

Deadrise16°

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 4 in. (0.41 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5 in. (0.43 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.41

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] inches16

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 8 in. (0.81 m)

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. (0.84 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.81

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches32

Draft [max] - Inches33

Weight - Detail2,695 lbs. (1,222 kg)

Weight - Detail5,460 lbs. (2,477 kg)

Weight - kg1222.43

Weight - kg2476.61

Weight - lbs.2695

Weight - lbs.546

Length - Feet18.58

Length - Feet24.08

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 7 in. (5.66 m)

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 1 in. (7.34 m) 25 ft. 7 in. (7.8 m) rigged

Length overall - Meters5.66

Length overall - Meters7.8

Length overall - Inches223

Length overall - Inches307

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelMerCruiser

Engine modelMPI / B3 (5.0 l) ECT Carb compliant

Engine/s standard135 hp

Engine/s standard260 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132.5 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail64 gal. (242 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters242.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal64

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeI/O

Engine max190 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (37.8 l)

Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)

Maximum people1

Maximum peoplenot available

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75.7 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal2

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 11 in. (6.38 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Weight3,548 lbs. (1,609 kg) with boat and engine

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Bayliner 197 SD 2011 vs Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 or the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 is the longer of the two at 24,1 feet overall. The Bayliner 197 SD 2011 comes in at 18,6 feet, making it roughly 5,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 or the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 546 lbs dry weight versus 2 695 lbs for the Bayliner 197 SD 2011. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner 197 SD 2011 has a documented max rating of 190 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 197 SD 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 is certified for 7. 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 245 Cruiser 2013 measures 101" wide, compared to 97" for the Bayliner 197 SD 2011. 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 or the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 has the bigger tank at 64 gallons, versus 35 gallons on the Bayliner 197 SD 2011. That 29-gallon difference translates to roughly 87–145 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 and Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 197 SD 2011 and the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 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.

← Bayliner 197 SD 2011 full specs ← Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2013 full specs