Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 235 BR 2012 vs Bayliner 245 SB 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Bayliner 235 BR 2012 against a deep vee Bayliner 245 SB 2011 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 235 BR 2012 at 22,5 ft versus Bayliner 245 SB 2011 at 24,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 245 SB 2011 tips the scales at 546 lbs — 171 lbs less than the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 has a 40-hp advantage over the Bayliner 245 SB 2011's 260-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 245 SB 2011 carries 64 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Bayliner 235 BR 2012. 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 245 SB 2011 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 245 SB 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 245 SB 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 24,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 235 BR 2012 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
Model Year2012
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.57 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.57
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches101
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 4 in. (1.32 m) 8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m) max
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 9 in. (2.06 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.54
Bridge clearance - Meters2.06
Bridge clearance - Inches1
Bridge clearance - Inches81
Deadrise21°
Deadrise16°
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5 in. (0.43 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] inches18
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. (0.84 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters0.84
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches33
Weight - Detail3,750 lbs. (1,701 kg)
Weight - Detail5,460 lbs. (2,476 kg)
Weight - kg1700.97
Weight - kg2476.61
Weight - lbs.375
Weight - lbs.546
Length - Feet22.5
Length - Feet24.08
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 6 in. (6.86 m)
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 1 in. (7.34 m)
Length overall - Meters6.86
Length overall - Meters7.34
Length overall - Inches27
Length overall - Inches289
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelMPI / A1 (5.0 L) ECT Carb Compliant
Engine modelMerCruiser
Engine/s standard260 hp
Engine/s standard220 hp
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail64 gal. (242 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters242.27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal64
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max300 hp
Engine max260 hp
Operational Info
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people9
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 - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Length over all26 ft. 0 in. (7.92 m)
Trailer - Weightnot available
Trailer - Weight6,998 lbs. (3,174 kg) with boat and engine
Trailer - Widthnot available
Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)