Bayliner 245 2004 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 245 2004 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 has the edge at 809 lbs dry weight versus 5 284 lbs for the Bayliner 245 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 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 288 Classic 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 245 2004 measures 101" wide, compared to 12" for the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004. 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 2004 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004?

The Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 has the bigger tank at 113 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Bayliner 245 2004. That 48-gallon difference translates to roughly 144–240 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 245 2004 and Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 245 2004 and the Bayliner 288 Classic 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 2004 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2004

Bayliner

Bayliner 245 2004

2004

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Bayliner

Bayliner 288 Classic 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 245 2004 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 245 2004 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 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 288 Classic 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner 245 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 288 Classic 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 288 Classic 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 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

Model245

Model288 Classic

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 5 in

Beam10 ft

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Meters3.05

Beam - Inches101

Beam - Inches12

Deadrise16℃

Deadrise18℃

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

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 2 in. max

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inches38

Weight - Detail5,284 lbs

Weight - Detail8,090 lbs

Weight - kg2396.78

Weight - kg3669.56

Weight - lbs.5284

Weight - lbs.809

Height - Detail9 ft. 9 in

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters2.97

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches117

Height - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail24 ft

Length overall - Detail30 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Meters7.32

Length overall - Meters9.35

Length overall - Inches288

Length overall - Inches368

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail65 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail113 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters246.05

Fuel tank capacity - Liters427.75

Fuel tank capacity - Gal65

Fuel tank capacity - Gal113

Operational Info

Water capacity20 gal

Water capacity34 gal

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailOptional

Trailer - Detailnot available

Bayliner 245 2004 vs Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 245 2004 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 has the edge at 809 lbs dry weight versus 5 284 lbs for the Bayliner 245 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 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 288 Classic 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 245 2004 measures 101" wide, compared to 12" for the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004. 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 2004 or the Bayliner 288 Classic 2004?

The Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 has the bigger tank at 113 gallons, versus 65 gallons on the Bayliner 245 2004. That 48-gallon difference translates to roughly 144–240 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 245 2004 and Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 245 2004 and the Bayliner 288 Classic 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 2004 full specs ← Bayliner 288 Classic 2004 full specs