Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 vs Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 or the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012?

The Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,6 feet overall. The Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 comes in at 20,6 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 or the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012?

For trailering, the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 has the edge at 682 lbs dry weight versus 3 409 lbs for the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013. 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 266 Discovery 2012 has a documented max rating of 300 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 217 Deck 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 217 Deck 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 and Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 or the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012?

The Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 has the bigger tank at 81 gallons, versus 55 gallons on the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013. That 26-gallon difference translates to roughly 78–130 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 and Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 and the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 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 217 Deck 2013 vs Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012

Bayliner

Bayliner 217 Deck 2013

2013

View full specs →

Bayliner

Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 vs Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 against a deep vee Bayliner 266 Discovery 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 266 Discovery 2012 measures 25,6 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 at 20,6 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 tips the scales at 3 409 lbs — 2 727 lbs more than the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 at 682 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 266 Discovery 2012 tops out at 300 hp. Engine specs for the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 carries 81 gallons versus 55 gallons in the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013. 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 266 Discovery 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 217 Deck 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 266 Discovery 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 25,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 217 Deck 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

Model217 Deck

Model266 Discovery

Model Year2013

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 8 in. (2.34 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail8 ft. 10 in. (2.69 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.34

Bridge clearance - Meters2.69

Bridge clearance - Inches92

Bridge clearance - Inches106

Deadrise20°

Deadrise17°

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 9 in. (0.53 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.41

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] inches16

Draft [drive up] inches21

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

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 3 in. (0.99 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.81

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches32

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail3,409 lbs. (1,546 kg)

Weight - Detail6,820 lbs. (3,094 kg)

Weight - kg1546.3

Weight - kg3093.5

Weight - lbs.3409

Weight - lbs.682

Length - Feet20.58

Length - Feet25.58

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 7 in. (6.27 m)

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 7 in. (7.8 m)

Length overall - Meters6.27

Length overall - Meters7.8

Length overall - Inches247

Length overall - Inches307

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelMPI / A1 (4.3 l) ECT Carb compliant

Engine modelMPI / B3 (5.0 L) CARB Compliant, ECT

Engine/s standard220 hp

Engine/s standard260 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal. (208.2 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail81 gal. (306.6 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2

Fuel tank capacity - Liters306.62

Fuel tank capacity - Gal55

Fuel tank capacity - Gal81

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Engine maxnot available

Engine max300 hp

Operational Info

Water capacity10 gal. (37.8 l)

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

Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 vs Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 or the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012?

The Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 is the longer of the two at 25,6 feet overall. The Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 comes in at 20,6 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 or the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012?

For trailering, the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 has the edge at 682 lbs dry weight versus 3 409 lbs for the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013. 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 266 Discovery 2012 has a documented max rating of 300 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 217 Deck 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 217 Deck 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 and Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 or the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012?

The Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 has the bigger tank at 81 gallons, versus 55 gallons on the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013. That 26-gallon difference translates to roughly 78–130 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 and Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 217 Deck 2013 and the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 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 217 Deck 2013 full specs ← Bayliner 266 Discovery 2012 full specs