Bayliner 249 2005 vs Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 249 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 is certified for 11. 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 has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 249 2005 or the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 75 gallons on the Bayliner 249 2005. That 223-gallon difference translates to roughly 669–1115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 249 2005 and Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 249 2005 and the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 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 249 2005 vs Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996

Bayliner

Bayliner 249 2005

2005

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Bayliner

Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996

1996

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 249 2005 vs Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 249 2005 vs Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 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 3988 Command Bridge 1996 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Bayliner 249 2005 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 39,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 249 2005 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

Makenot available

Model249

Modelnot available

Model Year2005

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 - Detail5 ft. 1 in. (1.55 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.55

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches61

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise20℃

Deadrisenot available

Draft [max] - DetailHull: 1 ft. 7 in. (.48 m) Max: 3 ft. 0 in. (.91 m)

Draft [max] - Detail3.33 ft

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters1.01

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches40

Weight - Detail3,990 lbs. (1,810 kg)

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg1809.83

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.399

Weight - lbs.not available

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 2 in. (7.37 m) Rigged: 25 ft. 11 in. (7.90 m)

Length overall - Detail39.00 ft

Length overall - Meters7.9

Length overall - Meters11.89

Length overall - Inches311

Length overall - Inches468

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet39

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (295.3 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1128.05

Fuel tank capacity - Gal75

Fuel tank capacity - Gal298

Engine makenot available

Engine makeCummins

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeDiesel

Drive typenot available

Drive typeinboard

Operational Info

Water capacity15 gal. (56.8 l)

Water capacity1

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Cabinsnot available

Cabins2

Headnot available

Head2

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal36

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters136.27

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allRigged: 27 ft. 10 in. (8.48 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Weight5,373 lbs. (2,437 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Bayliner 249 2005 vs Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 — Common Questions

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 249 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 is certified for 11. 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 has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 249 2005 or the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 75 gallons on the Bayliner 249 2005. That 223-gallon difference translates to roughly 669–1115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 249 2005 and Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 249 2005 and the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 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 249 2005 full specs ← Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 full specs