Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 vs Bayliner 305 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 has the edge at 546 lbs dry weight versus 11 857 lbs for the Bayliner 305 2004. 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 245 Cruiser 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 305 2004 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 305 2004 measures 132" wide, compared to 101" for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012. 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 245 Cruiser 2012 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

The Bayliner 305 2004 has the bigger tank at 148 gallons, versus 64 gallons on the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012. That 84-gallon difference translates to roughly 252–420 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 and Bayliner 305 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 and the Bayliner 305 2004 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 245 Cruiser 2012 vs Bayliner 305 2004

Bayliner

Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012

2012

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Bayliner

Bayliner 305 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 vs Bayliner 305 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 vs Bayliner 305 2004 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 305 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 305 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 305 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 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

Model245 Cruiser

Model305

Model Year2012

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.57 m)

Beam11 ft

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Meters3.35

Beam - Inches101

Beam - Inches132

Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 9 in. (2.06 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.06

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches81

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise16°

Deadrise17℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 5 in. (0.43 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. (0.84 m)

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 9 in. max

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches33

Weight - Detail5,460 lbs. (2,477 kg)

Weight - Detail11,857 lbs

Weight - kg2476.61

Weight - kg5378.24

Weight - lbs.546

Weight - lbs.11857

Length - Feet24.08

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 1 in. (7.34 m) 25 ft. 7 in. (7.8 m) rigged

Length overall - Detail31 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters7.8

Length overall - Meters9.6

Length overall - Inches307

Length overall - Inches378

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Engine modelMPI / B3 (5.0 L) ECT Carb Compliant

Engine modelnot available

Engine/s standard260 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail64 gal. (242 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail148 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters242.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters560.24

Fuel tank capacity - Gal64

Fuel tank capacity - Gal148

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Water capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)

Water capacity35 gal

Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75.7 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal2

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 vs Bayliner 305 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 has the edge at 546 lbs dry weight versus 11 857 lbs for the Bayliner 305 2004. 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 245 Cruiser 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 305 2004 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 305 2004 measures 132" wide, compared to 101" for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012. 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 245 Cruiser 2012 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

The Bayliner 305 2004 has the bigger tank at 148 gallons, versus 64 gallons on the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012. That 84-gallon difference translates to roughly 252–420 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 and Bayliner 305 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 245 Cruiser 2012 and the Bayliner 305 2004 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 245 Cruiser 2012 full specs ← Bayliner 305 2004 full specs