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The Bayliner 195 Bowrider is the boat buyers move to when the 185 feels a foot too short. At 19 ft 5 in (5.93 m) overall with a 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m) beam and nine-person capacity, it carries a full family plus friends without the cockpit turning into a scramble for seats.
Standard power is the MerCruiser 4.3L V6 sterndrive, quoted at 190 hp or 220 hp depending on year. That is a genuine ski and wakeboard engine in a hull of roughly 2,900 lb (1,316 kg) dry weight, so the 195 pulls a skier out of the water cleanly and still cruises economically at half throttle.
The seating is what sets the 195 apart from the smaller Bayliners. Twin bow lounges run right to the anchor locker, the helm and companion buckets swivel, and the aft area converts between a plush sun lounge, forward-facing bench and twin jump seats with a transom walk-through. A cockpit table drops into place for lunch at anchor.
Practical details were quietly good for the price bracket: hull-side storage for skis and ropes, port and starboard console lockers, a 32 US gal (121 L) fuel tank for full-day range, and a large transom with swim platform, boarding ladder and optional flip-up seats facing the water.
On the used market the 195 is one of the best value family bowriders you can buy. Check the transom and stringers as you would on any older sterndrive, confirm the bellows and drive service history, and a well-kept example will do family cruising, tow sports and sandbar days for a fraction of the cost of a new boat.
The world's best selling bowrider size, Light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
A premium 25-foot bowrider renowned for its deep seating, convertible lounges, refined ride and exceptional finish.
US$155,000 - US$210,000 new
Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
On the Water
Bowriders are social boats first, which is why purists say they cannot fish. That is out of date. A well-specified bowrider fishes perfectly well for most people, provided you buy for the features that matter and accept the limits of an open-bow layout. Start with the deck. Removable bow cushions and a flat, unobstructed bow floor turn the front of the boat into a casting platform in under a minute. Boats with fixed, moulded-in bow furniture cannot do this, and no accessory will fix it. Next, look for a self-draining or easily washed floor, rod holders in the gunwales, a wet locker or fish box with a drain, and a transom you can land a fish over. A live well and a bait board are bonuses; a boat you can hose out is essential. Aluminium bowriders often out-fish fibreglass here simply because owners treat them more casually. A hull you do not mind dropping a lead sinker onto is a hull you will actually fish from. For estuary, bay and lake fishing, a moderate-deadrise hull in the 5.0-6.0 m range hits the balance between stability at rest and a comfortable run home. Deep-V hulls ride better offshore but roll more when you stop, which matters…
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