Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 235 BR 2011 vs Bayliner Discovery 246 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Bayliner 235 BR 2011 against a modified vee Bayliner Discovery 246 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bayliner Discovery 246 2009 measures 25,6 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 3,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 at 22,5 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner Discovery 246 2009 tips the scales at 6 354 lbs — 5 979 lbs less than the Bayliner 235 BR 2011 at 375 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 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 Discovery 246 2009 carries 81 gallons versus 5 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 2009 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 2009 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
Model235 BR
ModelDiscovery 246
Model Year2011
Model Year2009
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 - Inches1
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 - Detail6,354 lbs. (2,882 kg)
Weight - kg1700.97
Weight - kg2882.12
Weight - lbs.375
Weight - lbs.6354
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 - Feet25.58
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 6 in. (6.86 m)
Length overall - Detail25 ft. 7 in. (7.8 m) Rigged: 26 ft. 7 in. (8.10 m)
Length overall - Meters6.86
Length overall - Meters8.1
Length overall - Inches27
Length overall - Inches319
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelMerCruiser
Engine model5.7L MerCruiser® Bravo® III
Engine/s standard260 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
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 - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal81
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max300 hp
Engine max300 hp
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower250 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 - Gal2
Trailer Info
Trailer - Height8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - HeightRigged: 12 ft. 6 in. (3.81 m)
Trailer - Length over all26 ft. 10 in. (8.18 m)
Trailer - Length over allRigged: 30 ft. 2 in. (9.19 m)
Trailer - Weight4,692 lbs. (2,129 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - WeightWith Standard Engine: 8,072 lbs. (3,661 kg)
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)