Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 vs Blue Wave PureBay 2022 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 or the Blue Wave PureBay 2022?

The Blue Wave PureBay 2022 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 comes in at 18,3 feet, making it roughly 5,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Blue Wave PureBay 2022 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 tops out at 115 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Blue Wave PureBay 2022 is certified for 7. 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: Are the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 and Blue Wave PureBay 2022 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 and the Blue Wave PureBay 2022 are built by Blue Wave. 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

Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 vs Blue Wave PureBay 2022

Blue Wave

Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011

2011

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Blue Wave

Blue Wave PureBay 2022

2022

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 vs Blue Wave PureBay 2022 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 vs Blue Wave PureBay 2022 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Blue Wave PureBay 2022 has a 185-hp advantage over the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Blue Wave PureBay 2022 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Blue Wave PureBay 2022 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Blue Wave PureBay 2022 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBlue Wave

Makenot available

Model180 V-Bay

Modelnot available

Model Year2011

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam89 in

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.26

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches89

Beam - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail12 in

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.3

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches12

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail975 lbs

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg442.25

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.975

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet18.33

Length - Feet24

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail24.00 ft

Length overall - Meters5.59

Length overall - Meters7.32

Length overall - Inches22

Length overall - Inches288

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeoutboard

Engine max115 hp

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeSuzuki

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower300 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,257 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people5

Maximum peoplenot available

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 vs Blue Wave PureBay 2022 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 or the Blue Wave PureBay 2022?

The Blue Wave PureBay 2022 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 comes in at 18,3 feet, making it roughly 5,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Blue Wave PureBay 2022 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 tops out at 115 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Blue Wave PureBay 2022 is certified for 7. 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.

Are the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 and Blue Wave PureBay 2022 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 and the Blue Wave PureBay 2022 are built by Blue Wave. 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.

← Blue Wave 180 V-Bay 2011 full specs ← Blue Wave PureBay 2022 full specs