Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 is the longer of the two at 42,0 feet overall. The Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 21,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 has a documented max rating of 260 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 is certified for 6. 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 has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 37 gallons on the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009. That 261-gallon difference translates to roughly 783–1305 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 and Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 and the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 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 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 2009

Bayliner

Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001

2001

View full specs →

Bayliner

Bayliner Discovery 215 2009

2009

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 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.

The Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 tops out at 260 hp. Engine specs for the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 carries 298 gallons versus 37 gallons in the Bayliner Discovery 215 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 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 42,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail42.00 ft

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in. (6.32 m) Rigged: 22 ft. 5 in. (6.83 m)

Length - Feet42

Length - Feet20.75

Length overall - Meters12.8

Length overall - Meters6.83

Length overall - Inches504

Length overall - Inches269

Draft [max] - Detail3.25 ft

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 11 in. (0.89 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches39

Draft [max] - Inches35

Beamnot available

Beam8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches97

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - DetailMax: 4 ft. 3 in. (1.30 m)

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.3

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches51

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise18℃

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 m)

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches18

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - DetailWith Standard Engine: 2,785 lbs. (1,263 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg1263.25

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.2785

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal298

Fuel tank capacity - Gal37

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1128.05

Fuel tank capacity - Liters140.06

Engine makeCummins

Engine makeMercury

Fuel typeDiesel

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeinboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine modelnot available

Engine model5.0L MerCruiser® Alpha I

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower220 hp

Engine maxnot available

Engine max260 hp

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity6

Sleeping capacitynot available

Head2

Headnot available

Water capacity1

Water capacitynot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal36

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters136.27

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeBayliner

Modelnot available

ModelDiscovery 215

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2009

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Trailer Info

Trailer - Heightnot available

Trailer - HeightRigged: 7 ft. 3 in. (2.21 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over allRigged: 24 ft. 2 in. (7.37 m)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - WeightWith Standard Engine: 3,685 lbs. (1,672 kg)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)

Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 vs Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 is the longer of the two at 42,0 feet overall. The Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 21,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 has a documented max rating of 260 hp. Engine specifications for the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 is certified for 6. 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 has the larger fuel tank — the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 or the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 37 gallons on the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009. That 261-gallon difference translates to roughly 783–1305 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 and Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 and the Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 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 3988 Command Bridge Motoryacht 2001 full specs ← Bayliner Discovery 215 2009 full specs