Bayliner 305 2004 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 305 2004 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

For trailering, the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 has the edge at 215 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 305 2004 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 132" for the Bayliner 305 2004. 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 305 2004 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

The Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 148 gallons on the Bayliner 305 2004. That 150-gallon difference translates to roughly 450–750 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 305 2004 and Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 305 2004 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 305 2004 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001

Bayliner

Bayliner 305 2004

2004

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Bayliner

Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001

2001

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 305 2004 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 305 2004 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 305 2004 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 305 2004 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

Model305

ModelMotor Yacht 3988

Model Year2004

Model Year2001

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam11 ft

Beam13'11"/4.25m

Beam - Meters3.35

Beam - Meters4.24

Beam - Inches132

Beam - Inches167

Deadrise17℃

Deadrise10 degrees

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

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches33

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail11,857 lbs

Weight - Detail21,500 lbs/9,761kg

Weight - kg5378.24

Weight - kg9752.23

Weight - lbs.11857

Weight - lbs.215

Length overall - Detail31 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Detail39'0"/11.90m

Length overall - Meters9.6

Length overall - Meters11.89

Length overall - Inches378

Length overall - Inches468

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail148 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail298 gal/1,127L

Fuel tank capacity - Liters560.24

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1128.05

Fuel tank capacity - Gal148

Fuel tank capacity - Gal298

Operational Info

Water capacity35 gal

Water capacity100 gal/378L

Bayliner 305 2004 vs Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Bayliner 305 2004 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

For trailering, the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 has the edge at 215 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 305 2004 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 132" for the Bayliner 305 2004. 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 305 2004 or the Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001?

The Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 148 gallons on the Bayliner 305 2004. That 150-gallon difference translates to roughly 450–750 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 305 2004 and Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 305 2004 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 305 2004 full specs ← Bayliner Motor Yacht 3988 2001 full specs