Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

For trailering, the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 8 056 lbs dry weight versus 21 500 lbs for the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001. 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 285 Cruiser 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 measures 167" wide, compared to 119" for the Bayliner 285 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 285 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

The Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 89 gallons on the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013. That 209-gallon difference translates to roughly 627–1045 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 and Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 and the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 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 285 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001

Bayliner

Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013

2013

View full specs →

Bayliner

Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001

2001

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 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 Motor Yacht 3988 2001 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBayliner

Model285 Cruiser

ModelMotor Yacht 3988

Model Year2013

Model Year2001

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 11 in. (3.02 m)

Beam13'11"/4.25m

Beam - Meters3.02

Beam - Meters4.24

Beam - Inches119

Beam - Inches167

Deadrise17°

Deadrise10 degrees

Draft [drive up] - Detail2 ft. 1 in. (0.64 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.64

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches25

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 5 in. (1.04 m)

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters1.04

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches41

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail8,056 lbs. (3,654 kg)

Weight - Detail21,500 lbs/9,761kg

Weight - kg3654.14

Weight - kg9752.23

Weight - lbs.8056

Weight - lbs.21500

Length - Feet28.58

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 7 in. (8.7 m) 31 ft. 2 in. (9.5 m) rigged

Length overall - Detail39'0"/11.90m

Length overall - Meters9.5

Length overall - Meters11.89

Length overall - Inches374

Length overall - Inches468

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Engine modelMerCruiser 300 M MPI / B3 (350 MAG) ECT

Engine modelnot available

Engine/s standard300 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail89 gal. (337 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail298 gal/1,127L

Fuel tank capacity - Liters336.9

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1128.05

Fuel tank capacity - Gal89

Fuel tank capacity - Gal298

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Water capacity28 gal. (106 l)

Water capacity100 gal/378L

Holding tank capacity - Detail30 gal. (113.6 l) waste 30 gal. (113.6 l) optional gray

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters113.56

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal30

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

For trailering, the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 has the edge at 8 056 lbs dry weight versus 21 500 lbs for the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001. 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 285 Cruiser 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 measures 167" wide, compared to 119" for the Bayliner 285 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 285 Cruiser 2013 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

The Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 89 gallons on the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013. That 209-gallon difference translates to roughly 627–1045 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 and Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bayliner 285 Cruiser 2013 and the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 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 285 Cruiser 2013 full specs ← Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 full specs