Bayliner 195 Bowrider Review and Specs [Video]

Manufactured from 2003 through 2016, the Bayliner 195 Bowrider was a nice midsized bowrider powered by 190-250hp MerCruiser sterndrive engines.

In this review, we’ll discuss this widely popular runabout and its factory specifications.

Bayliner 195 Bowrider Review

Hull and Top Deck

Intruduced in 2003, the Bayliner Bowrider series carried over the legacy of their Capri predessors.

Marketed between 2003 and 2016, the sterndrive-powered 195 Bowrider (195 BR) was a midrange model of this Bayliner dayboat family.

She was built in a modified V fiberglass hull with a 19-degree transom deadrise with a maximum draft of 2 feet 11 inches.

Regarding measurements, the overall length of the boat was 19 feet, which was increased to 19.5 feet in the mid-2010s. In contrast, her almost 8-foot beam remained unchanged.

According to original brochures, the 195 BR was designed to be “the maximum size boat that fits in the average garage.”

This is why her storage length was less than 20.5 feet with a trailerable beam of 8.5 feet.

Depending on the model year, the 195 BR weighed dry 2,900-3,000 pounds alone, and 3,850-3,900 pounds on a trailer.

Figuring in the weight of a full tank of gas and some gear, the gross trailering weight averaged in the ballpark of 4,000-4,500 pounds.

Rated at nine people, the top deck of the 195 was available with two traditional bowrider seating layouts.

Both of these shared the same forward lounge with full wraparound seating, a curved walk-thru windshield, and a fairly small integrated stern platform.

What they differed in was their cockpit seating architecture.

Labeled as the Family Seating layout, the standard floorplan had a helm swivel bucket seat, a port back-to-back lounger, and two removable aft jump seats that converted into a sun lounger.

In contrast, the optional Sport Seating layout was designed with two swivel bucket seats with barrel back bolsters, a wide aft bench seat, and a fixed full-beam sun pad.

This configuration offered a much more modern appearance and larger sunbathing surfaces. In return, it was far more crowded due to significantly less free deck space.

Storage compartments included a sizeable in-floor ski/wakeboard locker, under-seat storage compartments, hull-side storage pockets, and a lockable small item tray in the port console that doubled as an ice box.

You could also find two storage units behind the backrests of the bow seatings.

Captains valued the simple yet practical helm fitted with a 3-spoke padded tilt steering wheel, side-mounted engine controls, a cup holder, and a storage tray.

Protected by a non-glare brow, the custom-molded dash housed the most important instruments like a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and volt meter.

Integrated cup holders, grab handles, mooring cleats, eyelets, navigation lights, a fiberglass floor liner, a ski tow eye, a fold-out cockpit table, and an audio system all came standard.

The long list of optional features included a more stylish interior design, a Bimini top, a bow filler cushion, bow speakers, covers, a digital depth indicator, LED cockpit lighting, snap-in carpet runners, transom stereo remote, and a swim platform add-on.

Just like her smaller siblings, the 195 BR could also be opted with the Flight Series Package, which added a wakeboard tower with a Bimini top, stainless-steel trim upgrades, custom Flight graphics, and a color-matched swim platform extension.

Tower-mounted wakeboard racks and a ski locker ballast system were also available at an extra cost.

Engines and Performance

Regardless of the model year, the 195 BR was manufactured with 4-stroke MerCruiser sterndrive engines.

However, available engine packages changed several times over the years.

For example, in 2015 the standard power option was the fuel-injected 4.3L MPI Alpha I rated at 220hp.

The list of optional engines included a carbureted 190hp 4.3L TKS and the top-of-the-line 250hp 4.5L MPI.

Each of these was paired with an Alpha I stern-leg.

According to the manufacturer, the reported top speeds of the 195 BR with the 190 and 220hp engine variants were 47.5 and 50.6 mph, respectively.

You could also expect the cruising range to be in the neighborhood of 120-140 miles.

Thanks to her lively engines, the boat could be used for various activities like towing a tube or a wakeboarder.

Novice boaters appreciated the easy predictable handling, even in tight turns.

One of the downsides of the 195 BR was arguably its poor rough water performance.

Sure, her modified-V hull and lightweight construction were not designed with offshore adventures in mind.

Specifications

The factory specifications of the Bayliner 195 Bowrider were as follows (2015 model year):

Dimensions and Capacities

Overall Length (LOA)	19’ 5”
Beam	7’ 11”
Max Draft	2’ 11”
Dead Rise	19°
Approx weight w/ standard engine	2,901 lb.
Fuel Capacity	32 gal.
Max People Capacity	9
Max People Weight	1,200 lb.
Storage Length	20’ 5.5”
Beam on Trailer	8’ 6”
Height on Trailer	TBD

Engine Packages

Std. Engine	220hp MerCruiser 4.3L MPI A1 ECT
Opt. Engines	190hp MerCruiser 4.3L TKS C A1, 250hp MerCruiser 4.5L MPI A1 ECT

Disclaimer: Specifications in these charts are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Takeaways

Introduced in the mid-2000s, the Bayliner 195 Bowrider was the successor of the Capri 195.

She utilized a modified V fiberglass hull and bowrider-style seating layouts with a generous-sized cockpit.

This entry-level 19.5-footer runabout was available with 190-250hp MerCruiser engines with Alpha I sterndrive leg.

Over the years the model went through some upgrades and cosmetic changes before it was phased out by the VR series in the late 2010s.

Besides her affordability, the 195 Bayliner was known for her simple features, reliable engines, and easy handling, which appealed to beginner boaters.

Her reputation for durability and reliability means she’s still in demand on the used market.

And since the model had been in production for over a decade, there’s plenty to choose from.

Their asking prices vary between $5,000 and $30,000, depending on the age, engine package, features, and condition.

Besides the 195, her closest relatives the 185 Bowriders and the 205 Bowriders are also popular among used boat buyers.

It might be worth taking a look at those as well!