The Bayliner 245 combines simplicity and cruising into one easy-to-handle package.

Capt. Steve Says...

I took my first look at the Bayliner 245 as I was approaching the dock and my first thought was, “she’s not too big”. But that turned out to be more of an asset than a liability. Once I stepped onboard, I instantly realized how useful this boat would be in the right hands. The hands of an owner moving up from a bowrider that wants to keep his/her trailerability. For that task, the 245 is right at home, or more to the point, home away from home.



This seatback flips to make a comfortable aft facing seat, or add comfort to the L-shaped seating.

Roomy Cockpit

You enter the cockpit via the swim platform and a starboard walkthrough, or you can step onto the non-skid cap rail and down onto a step on either side of the cockpit. Since this is only a 24’ boat the cockpit and the bridge deck are both just one large space. The seat back on the lounger tilts forward or aft, depending on who want to sit where and do what. My guess is that when the boat is running, guests will be sitting forward, and when at anchor or in a marina, the seat back will be moved forward so everyone can gather in the aft part of the cockpit. This is a nice feature so long as you don’t have a crowd aboard and people want to sit on both sides of the seatback at the same time.

Obviously Bayliner was not looking for extra things to spend money on when building this boat, but I would like to see on the option list a folding aft seat that would be tucked into the transom bulwark. A pedestal table option might also appeal to some owners.

The Helm

The helm is comfortable with convenient armrests both below the side windshield and on top of the windshield frame. The helm seat moves only fore and aft. Although I found it hard to move, I attribute that to its being new and having little history of moving at all.

Surprisingly, I was greeted by full instrumentation, rather than just the basics with the engine temps and oil pressure relegated to alarms.



Note the full instrumentation. The high water alarm, to port and above the wheel, could be moved to better facilitate a map display.

There was also a high water bilge alarm with a secondary pump switch located smack in the empty space that would otherwise conveniently hold a GPS/moving map display. While I love the safety feature of the alarm/switch, it could easily be relegated to a location that would give the dash space better functionality. Lawyers must have placed the three warning labels right in the high-priced real estate on the dash.

Steering was rack and pinion and fingertip easy. Circuit breakers were below the helm at knee level. The molded in windshield walkthrough steps also made a great footrest at the helm.

The Cabin

Down below there were no surprises, which is a compliment to the boats simplicity. Forward V-seating converts into a berth as you would expect. The pedestal table could use a little work as this one had a lot of wobble to it that negated its being used for actually holding a plate of food, and any drinks would certainly find their way to the deck in short order. It’s a simple fix to match the base to the pedestal.

The galley has a small dual voltage fridge, sink and single burner stove. To starboard is the head and aft is the mid berth. The boat easily sleeps four and if two more don’t mind, you can add them to the cockpit deck with the aid of a full canvas enclosure, which is a nice option available. I like the cruising canvas because it extends the season and gives everyone another place to hang out at night or the hook or in a marina.



With just a couple aboard and no plans for waterskiing, then the standard 5.0 L engine should get the job done nicely.

Testing the 245

We tested the Bayliner in February in typical Florida conditions that this boat would be subjected to... and with full fuel and three persons aboard. The engine in the boat we tested was the MerCruiser 5.0 L Alpha I 220-hp engine that was manufactured before Dec. 31, 2009. Some lucky boater has probably already bought this boat, because with this engine the MSRP base price of the boat was $54,460 – one of the very least expensive 24’ pocket cruisers on the market. Bayliner, in its wisdom, bought quite a number of these engines in 2009 so buyers who act fast will likely be able to secure a Bayliner 245 with one of these engines and avoid the four to five thousand cost increase for engines built aft Jan. 1, 2010, are EPA emissions-compliant in the U.S. The new catalyzed version of the 5.0 L engine that has 260-hp has been required in California for several years.

Buyers around the world will have to check with their own local dealer to find out what engines are permissible. MerCruiser is still producing the 260-hp 5.0L MPI in its non-catalyzed engine for use in boats sold outside the U.S.

Performance Numbers

Her top speed propelled by the single 220-hp Alpha I was reached at 4850 rpms and was measured as 37.6 mph. Best cruise of 26.1 mph was reached at a respectable 3500 rpms. At that speed her fuel burn was 9.9 gallons (37.6 L) per hour. That’s a great number... call it an even 10 gph and you can easily keep track of your fuel burn in your head on long cruises.

I could easily see trailering the Bayliner 245 to Lake George or Lake Havasu and spending a long weekend onboard while cruising all the remote hidey-holes to see what’s what, and then spending each night at anchor listening to the water lapping against the hull. For someone transitioning from a bowrider, it’s an easy trip.

Final Considerations

In North America there are ten or 15 companies making these trailerable pocket cruisers – or “starter cruisers” – at all price points. Most come standard with either a 5.0 L engine rated at 260-hp to 270-hp or 5.7 L engines rated around 300-hp to 320-hp. All of the boats weight between about 4500-lbs. (2045 kgs.) to about 6900 lbs. (3136 kgs.) That is quite a spread – i.e. some boats weigh as much as 50% more in this category of small pocket cruisers. Not surprisingly, the heavier boats have more amenities and material in them tend to cost a lot more.

Engine horsepower and weight are the two most important things you should consider. How much weight are you going to have aboard? If you plan to travel with four large adults, full fuel and water and a weekend supply of food and beverages, perhaps you should go for the larger engine option. If you plan to waterski behind this boat, you should also consider the larger engine. On the other hand, if it is just you and your honey and you will be happy cruising at 28 mph or so, then the 5.0 L engine should do the job.

At 5,284 lbs. (2402 kgs.) the Bayliner 245 is among one of the lightest boats of the 10 boats I compared it to in this trailerable size range. That is important when matching the boat you plan to buy with your tow vehicle. Also, with the same engine, because the Bayliner 245 is one of the lightest boats, it should go faster and get slightly better fuel economy than its competitors that are quite a bit heavier.

Everything about the boat is basic and there is very little on the boat that doesn’t need to be there. Looked at the other way, everything that needs to be there is on the boat. If you are just starting out or moving into cruising for the first time, or if cost of acquisition and operating expense is a major factor, then your short list will be very short, indeed, and the Bayliner 245 will be on it.

• Top speed for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser (2010-) is 37.6 mph (60.5 kph), burning 18.6 gallons per hour (gph) or 70.4 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Bayliner 245 Cruiser (2010-) is 26.1 mph (42 kph), and the boat gets 2.64 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.12 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 152 miles (244.62 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 220-hp MerCruiser 5.0L TKS V8.