The popularity of bowriders, deck boats and sports boats has exploded. The world's largest producer is the American giant, the Brunswick group of companies, which has been the catalyst igniting the fuse since the 1970s. Their top recreational bowrider and deck boats have enjoyed constant success in a rapidly changing world. Competitors have come and gone, and many have returned, but the Bayliner brand has been steadfast.

 The Bayliner 175 is the world's highest-selling fibreglass boat under 6 metres today! That statement alone says a mouthful.

The Bayliner 175 is an aquatic phenomenon. In fact, with years of experience going into its design and responding popularity, it clearly qualifies for the title of "iconic!"

The hull is slick, the layout's spot on, and the ergonomics are super comfy. Plus, the build quality is impressive, shows impressive value for money, and has a serious style factor that'll put a smile on any owner's face.

Thanks to Avante Marine, we got our hands on the 2011 model, and their rep, Michael Galouzis, showed us what it's all about—simply having a blast on the water with family and friends.

Great All-Rounder/Crossover Boat

The Bayliner 175 is a real all-rounder, commonly called a crossover boat. It's a multipurpose machine that'll please every member of the family. The black and white two-tone hull is a head-turner, and the simple decals add style. It's got all the features you need in a bowrider, but it's uncluttered and easy on the eye.

The Mercruiser 135HP 4-cylinder inboard drives through the ever-popular Alpha One stern drive, which is a great match. With the optional 19" prop, it's got some serious bite. It's perfect for water skiing or hauling a load of mates, and it still manages a top-end speed of 35 knots (65 kmh) at 5200 rpm (WOT). Should you prefer a bit more top-end speed, you can opt for a 21" prop; however, it will reduce the holeshot and load capacity.

The interior's well-designed, too. In fact, it's best designed as simple but effective. It's comfortable, too! The skipper has a single, swivel bolster-style seat, and the passengers have back-to-back seats. There's a pair of moulded seats on either side of a stylish, pivoting engine compartment at the rear, and all of the seating is furnished with thick, comfortable marine upholstery. Access for servicing the engine is quick, easy and convenient, with a minor suggestion that a bit more acoustic lining would make the engine even quieter.

Sports Car On Water

 The Bayliner 175 is simply a pleasure to drive. The 2011 model now includes power steering as standard. This is a vast improvement on conventional steering, and it works really well with the efficiency of the refined deep V hull. You can accelerate from whoa to full go without a hand on the steering wheel, although it's obviously not recommended.

There is absolutely no torque twist. As you power through the rev range, the nose drops a second time at around 4000rpm and 27 knots (50 kmh), telling the driver that it is keen for more. The handling at speed is terrific, enticing you to keep belting through high-speed turns where there is zero cavitation from a high-performance hull and suitably matched power configuration. In short, you will love to drive the Bayliner and feel in complete control no matter the speed. Confidentially, there were even a few whispers from the crew that perhaps some of our offshore specialists should notice some of the latest sports boat hull designs.

 

Driving the Bayliner 175 

Trimming the boat is child’s play. Even a complete boating novice will get the feel of the trim very quickly, and that's important in a bowrider with the large passenger capacity altering the hull's attitude. The water skiers will love the relatively low wake at speed, and for boarders and surfers, you can produce a reasonable wave by adjusting the load to the rear and tilting the Alpha One upwards at slower speeds. The hull's entry is designed to carry the added weight forward with reasonably broad shoulders and a defined chine, adding lift and buoyancy.

Typically, American designs have no anchor wells or bow fittings. I guess they simply don’t anchor these things in the States. There are some storage cavities under the bowrider cushions where you can store some ground tackle, but you may have to add a bow fitting to tie off.

Moving back into the cockpit, you first notice the strength of the attractive safety glass windscreen with its brushed stainless steel frame. The helm is simply a pleasure to operate. The driver's pedestal seat is fully adjustable; even my 6'4" buddy felt comfortable. The premium vinyl upholstery features attractive silver inserts that perfectly match the Dino sports steering wheel, dashboard backing panel and Faria gauges. Everything at the helm is in the right place, and the chrome rimmed analogue gauges are straightforward to read. The flush mount Mercruiser controls are in a comfortable position, and I had no problems seeing through the windscreen right through the rev range, as there is virtually no bow lift.

All The Goodies 

The passenger side has a back-to-back seat that folds into a sun lounge. (My lady, Ali, loved it!) The moulding of the passenger dash area is very simple, but it does have a handy recess for all your phones and knick-knacks, plus there are refreshment holders for both the driver and all passengers. All fibreglass edges are treated to an attractive trim that is far more suitable than pinch-weld.

The cockpit floor and sides are upholstered in a deep grey carpet that looks and feels great. The floor has a large ski locker, but otherwise, there is a lack of suitable side pocket storage. There are grab-hold handles in all the right places to suit its maximum recommended carrying capacity of seven people.

Her lines, curvature, chines, and sheerline are extremely shapely yet clear, modern, and defined. Out back, we find a small, full-width boarding with stainless steel, a telescopic boarding ladder, bollards, a tow fitting, and boarding handles. The hull is fully foam-filled to maximise safety and riding comfort whilst minimising acoustic levels, with the reverse chines, extended strakes, and 2.22-metre beam all supplying excellent stability at rest.

I reflect on a conversation as we disembarked the Bayliner, during which we agreed with the rest of the world that the 175 bowrider is a terrific, versatile, value-packed package that will put a massive smile on the face of a substantial portion of the sports and cruising boat market. Bayliner backs its product with a lifetime warranty on the hull, plus the Mercruiser comes with the standard 2-year warranty.

Try as we might, we couldn’t find any important faults other than anchoring and storage. The Australian dealers offer locally supplied canvas options—after all, in my opinion, we have the best trimmers in the world! The full-drive on-drive-off bunk-style trailer comes complete to ADR standards for registration, including its width.

The Wrap

Whether you are a seasoned boater looking for a value-packed all-rounder, a family man with conflicting needs, or a first timer that wants a simple, trouble-free package, those many thousands of Bayliner customers worldwide cannot be wrong. The product has the backing of the stable Brunswick Corporation pedigree, and Bayliner products are presented in Australia by a well-established national dealer network.  When you weigh it all up, the Bayliner 175 bowrider is hard to go past – in more ways than one.

 

Performance

19” propeller, full fuel tank and two passengers. Light wind, calm seas.

Speed

RPM

Comments

 

15.5 knots (28.7 kmh)

2600

On plane

 

19.5 knots (36.1 kmh)

3000

Slight trim

 

23.6 knots (43.7 kmh)

3500

Slight throttle creep

 

27.1 knots (50.2 kmh)

4000

Comfortable trim

 

31.5 knots (58.3 kmh)

4500

Loving it!

 

34.0 knots (63.0 kmh)

5000

Yee ha!!!

 

35.0 knots (64.8 kmh)

5200

Wide Open Throttle (WOT)

 

 

On The Plane

  • Modern design with great looks

  • “Less is more” ergonomics and layout

  • Appealing to all age groups

  • Solid windscreen

  • Exciting to drive with excellent handling

  • Reputable manufacturer and dealer

  • Foam filled

  • Well-designed helm.

  • Great fun

  • Great value for money

  • Long warranty

 

Dragging The Chain

  • No anchor hatch or provision for ground tackle

  • Limited storage

 

At A Glance

Type – Family bowrider sports

Ride – Great

Fun Factor – Great

Overall Comfort – Very Good

Tow Vehicle – Family

Economy – Very Good

Value for Money – Excellent

 

Specifications 

Package Includes:

  • 175BR as per standard manufacturers' specifications

  • Mercruiser 15HP Stern Drive with Alpha One

  • Karavan single axle trailer with over-ride hydraulic brakes

  • 12 months registration for Boat and Trailer

  • Standard saltwater safety equipment for seven passengers

 

Dealer-fitted options include:

  • Bimini canopy

  • Bow cover

 

General

Type: Monohull Deep Vee

Material: GRP

Length (overall): 5.33 metres (17’6”)

Beam: 2.11 metres (6’11”)  

Weight: (Standard Package BMT) 1049KG approx

Approx Towing Weight: (Inc Safety Gear & Full Of Fuel): 1200 kg

Deadrise: 19 degrees

 

Capacities

Fuel:    79.5 litre tank

Rec. max. HP: 135HP

 

Engine

Make/model: 135 M C/A1 (3.0L) with Turn Key Start & Power steering

Type:  4 cylinder, naturally aspirated

Rated hp: 135hp (99.3 kW)  

Displacement:  3.0 litres

Weight (engine): 288 kg

Stern Drive: Alpha One

Sterndrive weight: 38 kg

Gearbox ratio: 2.00:1

Propeller: 19” Aluminium (tested) 21” Aluminium Standard

 

Supplied by Avante Marine, Boronia, Victoria.

Distributed in Australia by Berowra Waters Wholesale.

 

Ready to Set Sail? 

Find your dream boat online at Only Boats! If you enjoyed this review, check out our currently available Bayliner boats for sale.

We have great deals on many other boats for sale, including a wide variet of used boats and new boats. You can also check out our used boat buying guide if you're just getting started.

If you're upgrading or planning to sell your boat, why not explore our expert guide on how to improve boat resale value. If you're planning to attend a boat show soon, we've also put together a detailed boat show buying guide that's perfect for first-time buyers.

Smooth sailing starts with the right boat. We’re here to help you find it!

 

This article and images are by John "Bear" Willis and previously appeared at TradeaBoat.com.au, now powered by Only Boats.


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