Bayliner 235 BR 2011 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 235 BR 2011
2011
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VS
Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007
2007
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Bayliner 235 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 235 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Bayliner 235 BR 2011 at 22,5 ft versus Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 at 25,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 tips the scales at 6 637 lbs - 2 887 lbs less than the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 at 3 750 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 - 300 hp for the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 and 300 hp for the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007. 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 Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 carries 81 gallons versus 50 gallons in the Bayliner 235 BR 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 235 BR 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 22,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBayliner
MakeBayliner
Model235 BR
ModelDiscovery 246 Cruiser
Model Year2011
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailMax: 8 ft. 10 in. (2.69 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.54
Bridge clearance - Meters2.69
Bridge clearance - Inches100
Bridge clearance - Inches106
Deadrise21°
Deadrise17℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 9 in. (0.53 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] meters0.53
Draft [drive up] inches18
Draft [drive up] inches21
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 0 in. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 3 in. (0.99 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters0.99
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches39
Weight - Detail3,750 lbs. (1,701 kg)
Weight - Detail6,637 lbs. (3,010 kg)
Weight - kg1700.97
Weight - kg3010.49
Weight - lbs.3750
Weight - lbs.6637
Height - Detail8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) rigged
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters2.59
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches102
Height - Inchesnot available
Length - Feet22.5
Length - Feet25
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 6 in. (6.86 m)
Length overall - Detail25 ft. 8 in. (7.82 m) Rigged: 26 ft. 6 in. (8.08 m)
Length overall - Meters6.86
Length overall - Meters8.08
Length overall - Inches270
Length overall - Inches318
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters7.82
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches8
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makenot available
Engine modelMerCruiser
Engine modelnot available
Engine/s standard260 hp
Engine/s standard5.7L MerCruiser® Bravo® III (250 hp)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail81 gal. (306.6 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters306.62
Fuel tank capacity - Gal50
Fuel tank capacity - Gal81
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max300 hp
Engine max300 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)
Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)
Maximum people11
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 - Gal20
Trailer Info
Trailer - Height8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Heightnot available
Trailer - Length over all26 ft. 10 in. (8.18 m)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Weight4,692 lbs. (2,129 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - Weightnot available
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available

Bayliner 235 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007?
The Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Bayliner 235 BR 2011 comes in at 22,5 feet, making it roughly 2,5 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer - the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007?
For trailering, the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 has the edge at 3 750 lbs dry weight versus 6 637 lbs for the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007. 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 235 BR 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 is certified for 8. 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 235 BR 2011 and Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 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 235 BR 2011 or the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007?
The Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 has the bigger tank at 81 gallons, versus 50 gallons on the Bayliner 235 BR 2011. That 31-gallon difference translates to roughly 93–155 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 and Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes - both the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 and the Bayliner Discovery 246 Cruiser 2007 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.