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Engines & Drives
If you are shopping for a used fibreglass bowrider, there is a good chance it has a stern drive. Knowing the difference between the legs is the difference between a bargain and a project.
A practical guide to the stern drive legs used in bowrider boats, what each suits, and how to inspect one before you buy.
The most common leg on family bowriders up to about 300 hp. Light, efficient and cheap to service, but not designed for sustained high-torque abuse. Ideal for a 4.5L V6 family boat.
Heavier duty, used behind V8 power and on larger or heavier hulls. Bravo One suits high-speed single-prop applications, Bravo Three uses counter-rotating twin props for grip and docking control.
Twin contra-rotating propellers give exceptional grip, straight-line tracking and low-speed manoeuvrability. Fitted to premium bowriders such as the Cobalt R6, often with joystick docking.
Check the bellows for cracking and the date stamp, inspect anodes, look for milky drive oil which indicates water ingress, and feel for play in the gimbal bearing by rocking the leg. Look closely at the transom shield for corrosion, particularly on saltwater boats.
Budget for bellows and drive service on any boat where the history is unclear. It is far cheaper than the alternative.
The bowriders that come up most often when readers ask us where to start.
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
15.5 ft fibreglass Bayliner bowrider with stern drive power — entry level pricing and a classic convertible bowrider layout.
US$26,000 - US$34,000 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
Ownership
The same bowrider used in salt water and fresh water leads two very different lives. Salt does not merely age a boat faster; it attacks specific components relentlessly. The good news is that the defence is simple, cheap and entirely within your control. Cooling systems come first. Salt deposits build up inside engine passages, manifolds and risers, restricting flow and eventually causing overheating and internal corrosion. Sterndrives are more exposed than outboards because raw water passes through more of the engine. Then electrics: connectors, terminals, switch panels, trailer wiring and plugs corrode from salt-laden air even on boats that are never submerged. Aluminium components — outboard legs, trim rams, alloy hulls, trailer frames and fittings — face galvanic corrosion, and stainless fasteners in aluminium make it worse where no isolation exists. Flush the engine with fresh water after every single trip, without exception, using the correct flush connection and running long enough for water to leave clean. Hose the boat, trailer and especially the trailer brakes and lights thoroughly, and rinse the bilge. Wash and dry upholstery to remove salt crystals that abrade and dry out vinyl, then treat with a marine protectant. Spray a corrosion inhibitor on the engine cowling internals, battery terminals and…
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