Bayliner 235 BR 2012 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 235 BR 2012
2012
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VS
Bayliner 245 SB 2011 boat specs
Bayliner
Bayliner 245 SB 2011
2011
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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
MakeBayliner
MakeBayliner
Model235 BR
Model245 SB
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
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
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)

Bayliner 235 BR 2012 vs Bayliner 245 SB 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 245 SB 2011?
The Bayliner 245 SB 2011 is the longer of the two at 24,1 feet overall. The Bayliner 235 BR 2012 comes in at 22,5 feet, making it roughly 1,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 245 SB 2011?
For trailering, the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 has the edge at 375 lbs dry weight versus 546 lbs for the Bayliner 245 SB 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.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Bayliner 235 BR 2012 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bayliner 245 SB 2011 tops out at 260 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Bayliner 235 BR 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Bayliner 245 SB 2011 is certified for 9. 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 235 BR 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 101" for the Bayliner 245 SB 2011. 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 235 BR 2012 or the Bayliner 245 SB 2011?
The Bayliner 245 SB 2011 has the bigger tank at 64 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Bayliner 235 BR 2012. That 59-gallon difference translates to roughly 177–295 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 and Bayliner 245 SB 2011 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 and the Bayliner 245 SB 2011 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.