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Buying & Owning
Bowriders are among the cheapest powerboats to own, mostly because they live on a trailer rather than in a marina. Here is a realistic annual budget.
Realistic annual ownership costs for a bowrider: fuel, servicing, insurance, registration, storage and depreciation.
For a typical 20 ft (6.10 m) bowrider used 20-25 days a year: fuel US$600-1,200, annual service US$400-900, insurance US$300-700, registration US$100-400, and storage anywhere from nothing at home to US$1,500-3,000 in a yard or under cover.
That puts a realistic all-in figure around US$1,500-3,500 per year for a home-stored trailer boat, before depreciation.
New bowriders lose the most in the first three years, typically 25-35 percent. After year five, depreciation flattens sharply, which is exactly why a well-kept five-year-old boat is the sweet spot for value.
Premium brands like Cobalt and Sea Ray depreciate more slowly. Value brands drop faster but start from a much lower price.
Covers and biminis wear out. Trailers need tyres and bearings. Batteries last three to five years. Upholstery repair is surprisingly expensive. And the first season usually includes a few hundred dollars of safety gear, ropes, fenders and lifejackets.
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
Getting towing right is the difference between spontaneous weekends and a boat that stays home. The mistake almost everyone makes is comparing the brochure hull weight to their vehicle's tow rating — two numbers that have almost nothing to do with real towing. Start with the dry hull weight, then add the engine if it is quoted separately, then fuel at roughly 0.75 kg per litre, plus batteries, safety gear, water sports equipment, an esky and the trailer itself. Trailers add 250-450 kg for single-axle and 400-700 kg for tandem. A 5.5 m aluminium bowrider quoted at 600 kg dry usually tows at 1,200-1,400 kg. A 6.5 m fibreglass boat quoted at 1,600 kg often tows at 2,400-2,700 kg. Always use the loaded figure and aim to stay well under your vehicle's rating rather than at it. Up to about 1,200 kg loaded — small aluminium bowriders to 5 m — a mid-size sedan, wagon or compact SUV with a proper tow package is usually sufficient. Between 1,200 and 2,000 kg, mid-size SUVs and utes handle the job comfortably. Above 2,000 kg, which covers most fibreglass bowriders over 6 m, you want a full-size SUV, ute or truck rated for 2,500-3,500 kg. Beyond 2,500 kg…
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