Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 has the edge at 5 497 lbs dry weight versus 9 098 lbs for the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013. 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.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 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.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 measures 102" wide, compared to 12" for the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013. 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 has the bigger tank at 12 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 and Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 and the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 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.

Boat Comparison

Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013

Bayliner

Bayliner 242 Classic 2004

2004

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Bayliner

Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 30,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBayliner

Model242 Classic

Model315 Cruiser

Model Year2004

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam10 ft. (3.05 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters3.05

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches12

Deadrise18℃

Deadrise18°

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 5 in. max

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 4 in. (1.02 m)

Draft [max] - Meters1.04

Draft [max] - Meters1.02

Draft [max] - Inches41

Draft [max] - Inches4

Weight - Detail5,497 lbs

Weight - Detail9,098 lbs. (4,127 kg)

Weight - kg2493.4

Weight - kg4126.78

Weight - lbs.5497

Weight - lbs.9098

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 9 in

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 6 in. (9.3 m) 31 ft. 8 in. (9.65 m) rigged

Length overall - Meters7.24

Length overall - Meters9.65

Length overall - Inches285

Length overall - Inches38

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.9

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches114

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail2 ft. 1 in. (0.64 m)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.64

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches25

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet30.5

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail120 gal. (454.2 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Liters454.25

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Fuel tank capacity - Gal12

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelT-220 M MPI / B3 (4.3 l) ECT Carb compliant

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardTwin 220 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O - Twin

Operational Info

Water capacity13 gal

Water capacity33 gal. (124.9 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail30 gal. (113.6 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters113.56

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal3

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 vs Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013?

For trailering, the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 has the edge at 5 497 lbs dry weight versus 9 098 lbs for the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013. 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 242 Classic 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 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 242 Classic 2004 measures 102" wide, compared to 12" for the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013. 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 242 Classic 2004 or the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013?

The Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 has the bigger tank at 12 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 and Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 and the Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 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.

← Bayliner 242 Classic 2004 full specs ← Bayliner 315 Cruiser 2013 full specs