Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 vs Bayliner Capri 180 2001 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Bayliner Capri 180 2001 is certified for 5. 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 1996 or the Bayliner Capri 180 2001?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Bayliner Capri 180 2001. That 275-gallon difference translates to roughly 825–1375 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 and Bayliner Capri 180 2001 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 and the Bayliner Capri 180 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 3988 Command Bridge 1996 vs Bayliner Capri 180 2001

Bayliner

Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996

1996

View full specs →

Bayliner

Bayliner Capri 180 2001

2001

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 vs Bayliner Capri 180 2001 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 vs Bayliner Capri 180 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 3988 Command Bridge 1996 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Bayliner Capri 180 2001 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 39,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bayliner Capri 180 2001 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail39.00 ft

Length overall - Detail18'0"/5.49m

Length - Feet39

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Meters11.89

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Inches468

Length overall - Inches216

Draft [max] - Detail3.33 ft

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters1.01

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches40

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Beamnot available

Beam7'6"/2.29m

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.29

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches9

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise17 degrees

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail1,878 lbs./853kg

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg851.85

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.1878

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal298

Fuel tank capacity - Gal23

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1128.05

Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06

Engine makeCummins

Engine makenot available

Fuel typeDiesel

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeinboard

Drive typenot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal/87L

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity2

Sleeping capacitynot available

Cabins2

Cabinsnot 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

ModelCapri 18

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2001

Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 vs Bayliner Capri 180 2001 — Common Questions

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Bayliner Capri 180 2001 is certified for 5. 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 1996 or the Bayliner Capri 180 2001?

The Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 has the bigger tank at 298 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Bayliner Capri 180 2001. That 275-gallon difference translates to roughly 825–1375 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 and Bayliner Capri 180 2001 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bayliner 3988 Command Bridge 1996 and the Bayliner Capri 180 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 3988 Command Bridge 1996 full specs ← Bayliner Capri 180 2001 full specs