Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Bayliner 235 BR 2012 vs Bayliner 3255 Avanti Sunbridge 1989 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Bayliner 235 BR 2012 vs Bayliner 3255 Avanti Sunbridge 1989 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Bayliner 235 BR 2012 has a 40-hp advantage over the Bayliner 3255 Avanti Sunbridge 1989's 260-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 2 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 3255 Avanti Sunbridge 1989 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 3255 Avanti Sunbridge 1989 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 3255 Avanti Sunbridge 1989 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 32,0 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
Makenot available
Model235 BR
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 4 in. (1.32 m) 8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m) max
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.54
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches1
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise21°
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches18
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Detail3.00 ft
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches36
Weight - Detail3,750 lbs. (1,701 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg1700.97
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.375
Weight - lbs.not available
Length - Feet22.5
Length - Feet32
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 6 in. (6.86 m)
Length overall - Detail32.00 ft
Length overall - Meters6.86
Length overall - Meters9.75
Length overall - Inches27
Length overall - Inches384
Draft Minnot available
Draft Min2.00 ft
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makeOMC
Engine modelMPI / A1 (5.0 L) ECT Carb Compliant
Engine modelnot available
Engine/s standard260 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters757.08
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal2
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeinboard
Engine max300 hp
Engine maxnot available
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower260 hp
Operational Info
Sleeping capacitynot available
Sleeping capacity3
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity5
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal34
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters128.7
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower