Matching a deep vee Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 against a modified vee Bayliner Discovery 246 2009 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 at 28,6 ft versus Bayliner Discovery 246 2009 at 25,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 tips the scales at 8 056 lbs — 1 702 lbs more than the Bayliner Discovery 246 2009 at 6 354 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 380 hp, the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 has a 80-hp advantage over the Bayliner Discovery 246 2009's 300-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 carries 89 gallons versus 81 gallons in the Bayliner Discovery 246 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 246 2009 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2012 could be the deciding factor.