When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 and the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2013 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 at 25,1 ft versus Bayliner 266 Discovery 2013 at 25,6 ft. At 648 lbs and 682 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bayliner 266 Discovery 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 could be the deciding factor.