Agile and Playful


I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Seattle, Washington area and Lake Stephens to see how Bayliner’s new Capri 205 measured up for you. After chatting with the Bayliner folks for a few hours and seeing if we could see more than fifty feet in the heavy fog, we finally glimpsed some sunshine and broke out the cameras. Seattle is not only known for rain, but apparently is known for the fog as well! Fog burns off, rain soaks. It was a relief to just have fog.


While another captain worked with two other models, I hooked up the test gear and scared some fish. This boat was introduced for 2003 as a replacement for the 19 footer. Customers were looking for more length and room in the cockpit, so they added some inches in both directions and called it the Capri 205. She is 20’1” in length and 8’0” in beam. Add her weight of about 3100 lbs and you have a nice sport boat that is pretty easy to tow behind the family vehicle and fits into the carport or garage if you haven’t converted them for other storage, and if the missus will give up her prime spot.


I was very impressed with her agility. In fact, I played with her every chance I had during the day just because she was nimble and could show the other ski boats playing around her that she was more than capable of the challenge and literally ran circles around them. (Really got their attention when later on a helicopter was about fifty feet off her bow as she romped!) She sprang from the gates and onto plane in just over 3 seconds. In about seven seconds, we were passing through 30 mph on our way to a top speed of just a hair over 50 mph. She seemed most comfortable running in the 30 mph range. Here she drank only 8.5 gallons per hour giving her a range of about 140 miles to a tank.


Back on the docks, I took a long look at her. She has stylish hull graphics and generally gave you the impression she was made to play with ski toys and soak up rays. Her bow has ample seating for at least three adults with nicely padded cushions and gunnel pads. Two handles to a side give you added safety for the riders ahead of the windshield underway. Under all forward seating is storage. More padded storage is revealed by lifting the back rest in the front of the companion and helm consoles.


The walk-thru windshield is typical Taylor with a latch that you will have to be careful with. It is adequate, but made of plastic and looks like it is a weak point that will get broken the first time someone leans on the windshield while chatting at anchor. In the cockpit, the companion seat is a wider version of a sun lounger. The glove box has overboard drainage in case water seeps in and the stereo also is tucked inside the glove box.


The helm is well appointed with a matching sun lounger chair. Instrumentation is arranged for good visibility and has a European look. The cockpit sole has a lift away cover for wake board and other water toys while space for some smaller items is designed under the two rear seats separated by the engine cowling. These seat backs are removable for access to batteries, fuel cell and other mechanicals. Pull the bottom of the seats out, slip the tab of the back edge into a slot in the side near the top of the gunnel on both sides and you have another sunpad so three people can soak up sunshine in comfort. Just don’t try to let people ride there when the boat is underway. The engine hatch is hinged and opens wide for easy access to the healthy 5-liter or better engine package.


The stern has a built in swim platform, telescoping flip over ladder and something I am surprised I don’t find on many boats with swim ladders, a handle right where you need it to pull yourself up onto the boat safely!


She has the style and features I have learned to expect from Bayliner and more pep and punch than I anticipated before I hit the throttles for the first time. Check it out for yourself today.




By Capt. Bob Smith

Speeds measured with Stalker ProSports radar gun. Fuel consumption (gallons per hour) measured with Floscan digital fuel-flow meter on gas inboards, sterndrives, and outboards, TechMate electronic scan tool on gas EFI inboards, Caterpillar digital fuel-flow meter on diesel engines, or permanently installed fuel-monitoring equipment. Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity. Sound levels determined using Radio Shack digital decibel meter on A scale. 68 dBA is the level of normal conversation.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions