Bayliner 217 SD 2011 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 217 SD 2011
2011
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VS
Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner Discovery 210 2009
2009
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Bayliner 217 SD 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Bayliner 217 SD 2011 against a modified vee Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bayliner 217 SD 2011 at 20,6 ft versus Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 at 20,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 tips the scales at 3 409 lbs — 417 lbs more than the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 at 2 992 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 260 hp for the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 and 260 hp for the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 carries 55 gallons versus 37 gallons in the Bayliner Discovery 210 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 217 SD 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 20,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 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
MakeBayliner
Model217 SD
ModelDiscovery 21
Model Year2011
Model Year2009
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.44 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches96
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 8 in. (2.34 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailMax: 4 ft. 6 in. (1.37 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.34
Bridge clearance - Meters1.37
Bridge clearance - Inches92
Bridge clearance - Inches54
Deadrise20°
Deadrise18℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 4 in. (0.41 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 7 in. (0.48 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.41
Draft [drive up] meters0.48
Draft [drive up] inches16
Draft [drive up] inches19
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 8 in. (0.81 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 0 in. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.81
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Inches32
Draft [max] - Inches36
Weight - Detail3,409 lbs. (1,546 kg)
Weight - Detail2,992 lbs. (1,357 kg)
Weight - kg1546.3
Weight - kg1357.15
Weight - lbs.3409
Weight - lbs.2992
Length - Feet20.58
Length - Feet20.75
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 7 in. (6.27 m)
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in. (6.32 m) Rigged: 22 ft. 8 in. (6.91 m)
Length overall - Meters6.27
Length overall - Meters6.91
Length overall - Inches247
Length overall - Inches272
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelMerCruiser
Engine model5.0L MerCruiser® Alpha I
Engine/s standard190 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal. (208.2 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2
Fuel tank capacity - Liters140.06
Fuel tank capacity - Gal55
Fuel tank capacity - Gal37
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max260 hp
Engine max260 hp
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower220 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity10 gal. (37.8 l)
Water capacitynot available
Maximum people12
Maximum peoplenot available
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over all25 ft. 0 in. (7.62 m)
Trailer - Length over allRigged: 24 ft. 2 in. (7.37 m)
Trailer - Weight4,351 lbs. (1,974 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - Weight3,892 lbs. (1,765 kg)
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Width8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)
Trailer - Heightnot available
Trailer - HeightRigged: 7 ft. 7 in. (2.31 m)

Bayliner 217 SD 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009?
The Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 is the longer of the two at 20,8 feet overall. The Bayliner 217 SD 2011 comes in at 20,6 feet, making it roughly 0,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009?
For trailering, the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 has the edge at 2 992 lbs dry weight versus 3 409 lbs for the Bayliner 217 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.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Bayliner 217 SD 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 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.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Bayliner 217 SD 2011 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009. 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 217 SD 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009?
The Bayliner 217 SD 2011 has the bigger tank at 55 gallons, versus 37 gallons on the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009. That 18-gallon difference translates to roughly 54–90 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 and Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bayliner 217 SD 2011 and the Bayliner Discovery 210 2009 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.