Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner 305 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 648 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 255 Cruiser 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 8 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 102" for the Bayliner 255 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 255 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

The Bayliner 305 2004 has the bigger tank at 148 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013. That 141-gallon difference translates to roughly 423–705 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 and Bayliner 305 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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 255 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner 305 2004

Bayliner

Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013

2013

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Bayliner

Bayliner 305 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner 305 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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 255 Cruiser 2013 caps at 8. 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 255 Cruiser 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBayliner

Model255 Cruiser

Model305

Model Year2013

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam11 ft

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters3.35

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches132

Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 7 in. (2.01 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.01

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches79

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise18°

Deadrise17℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 10 in. (0.56 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 3 in. (0.99 m)

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches33

Weight - Detail6,480 lbs. (2,939 kg)

Weight - Detail11,857 lbs

Weight - kg2939.28

Weight - kg5378.24

Weight - lbs.648

Weight - lbs.11857

Length - Feet25.08

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 1 in. (7.65 m) 26 ft. 10 in. (8.18 m) rigged

Length overall - Detail31 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters8.18

Length overall - Meters9.6

Length overall - Inches322

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 - Detail70 gal. (265 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail148 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98

Fuel tank capacity - Liters560.24

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7

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) waste 20 gal. (75.7 l) optional gray

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 255 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner 305 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

For trailering, the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 648 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 255 Cruiser 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 8 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 102" for the Bayliner 255 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 255 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner 305 2004?

The Bayliner 305 2004 has the bigger tank at 148 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013. That 141-gallon difference translates to roughly 423–705 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 and Bayliner 305 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 255 Cruiser 2013 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 255 Cruiser 2013 full specs ← Bayliner 305 2004 full specs