Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 has the edge at 3 044 lbs dry weight versus 5 497 lbs for the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004. 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 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 242 Classic 2004 measures 102" wide, compared to 98" for the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013. 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 215 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004?

The Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 has the bigger tank at 37 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004. 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 215 Bowrider 2013 and Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 and the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 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 215 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 242 Classic 2004

Bayliner

Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013

2013

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Bayliner

Bayliner 242 Classic 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 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

Model215 Bowrider

Model242 Classic

Model Year2013

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.43 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.49

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches98

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.19 m) 7 ft. 1 in. (2.16 m) max

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.16

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches85

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise20°

Deadrise18℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 8 in. (0.51 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches2

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 1 in. (0.94 m)

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 5 in. max

Draft [max] - Meters0.94

Draft [max] - Meters1.04

Draft [max] - Inches37

Draft [max] - Inches41

Weight - Detail3,044 lbs. (1,381 kg)

Weight - Detail5,497 lbs

Weight - kg1380.73

Weight - kg2493.4

Weight - lbs.3044

Weight - lbs.5497

Length - Feet20.5

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 6 in. (6.25 m)

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 9 in

Length overall - Meters6.25

Length overall - Meters7.24

Length overall - Inches246

Length overall - Inches285

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Engine modelMPI / A1 (4.3 l) ECT Carb Compliant

Engine modelnot available

Engine/s standard220 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters140.06

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Gal37

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity13 gal

Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 vs Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 has the edge at 3 044 lbs dry weight versus 5 497 lbs for the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 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 242 Classic 2004 measures 102" wide, compared to 98" for the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013. 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 215 Bowrider 2013 or the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004?

The Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 has the bigger tank at 37 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004. 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 215 Bowrider 2013 and Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 215 Bowrider 2013 and the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 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 215 Bowrider 2013 full specs ← Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 full specs