Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 205 Bowrider 2009 vs Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Bayliner 205 Bowrider 2009 against a deep vee Bayliner 245 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 245 Cruiser 2012 measures 24,1 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 205 Bowrider 2009 at 20,6 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 205 Bowrider 2009 tips the scales at 2 838 lbs — 2 292 lbs more than the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 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 205 Bowrider 2009 carries a rated maximum of 260 hp. Engine data for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 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 2012 carries 64 gallons versus 37 gallons in the Bayliner 205 Bowrider 2009. 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 205 Bowrider 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 205 Bowrider 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 205 Bowrider 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 20,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model205 Bowrider
Model245 Cruiser
Model Year2009
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.43 m)
Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.57 m)
Beam - Meters2.49
Beam - Meters2.57
Beam - Inches98
Beam - Inches101
Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m) Max: 7 ft. 1 in. (2.16 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 9 in. (2.06 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.16
Bridge clearance - Meters2.06
Bridge clearance - Inches85
Bridge clearance - Inches81
Deadrise20℃
Deadrise16°
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 8 in. (0.51 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5 in. (0.43 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] inches2
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 1 in. (0.94 m)
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. (0.84 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Meters0.84
Draft [max] - Inches37
Draft [max] - Inches33
Weight - DetailWith Standard Engine: 2,838 lbs. (1,287 kg)
Weight - Detail5,460 lbs. (2,477 kg)
Weight - kg1287.29
Weight - kg2476.61
Weight - lbs.2838
Weight - lbs.546
Length - Feet20.6
Length - Feet24.08
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 5 in. (6.22 m) Rigged: 22 ft. 5 in. (6.83 m)
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 1 in. (7.34 m) 25 ft. 7 in. (7.8 m) rigged
Length overall - Meters6.83
Length overall - Meters7.8
Length overall - Inches269
Length overall - Inches307
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makeMercury
Engine model5.0L MerCruiser® Alpha I
Engine modelMPI / B3 (5.0 L) ECT Carb Compliant
Fuel tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail64 gal. (242 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters140.06
Fuel tank capacity - Liters242.27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal37
Fuel tank capacity - Gal64
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Horsepower220 hp
Horsepowernot available
Engine max260 hp
Engine maxnot available
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standard260 hp
Operational Info
Maximum people9
Maximum peoplenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)
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 - HeightRigged: 6 ft. 9 in. (2.06 m)
Trailer - Heightnot available
Trailer - Length over allRigged: 27 ft. 5 in. (8.36 m)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - WeightWith Standard Engine: 3,738 lbs. (1,696 kg)
Trailer - Weightnot available
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available