Bayliner VR6 OB Bowrider 2025 Review

Bayliner is a leading manufacturer of bowrider trailerboats. For decades this trusted, high-volume US boat builder has produced great value, family-favourite bowriders and deck-boats.

For the 2025 model year, Bayliner has half-a-dozen VR series bowrider models to choose from, including the range-topping VR6 OB Bowrider.

For this review Aussie Bayliner dealer C Worthy Marine joined us on the Gold Coast with a VR6 OB Bowrider paired with the maximum power Mercury 200hp V6 EFI four-stroke outboard.

Paired with the big Mercury V6 200hp outboard, the Bayliner VR6 OB is available with pricing starting at $129,990.

This price buys you a full-featured, foam-filled (read safe) family bowrider, complete with bow and stern seating areas, loads of storage space, a lockable change-room/head compartment, transom cooler box, glovebox, sub-floor ski/wakeboard storage space, a self-bailing cockpit, tilt-adjust steering wheel, swim platform with ladder, and more.

Add the optional tandem-axle galvanised steel braked trailer and the package price rises by $8500 to $138,490.

Our test boat was fitted with several options which lift the drive-away price to $149,800 – but with the trailer included.

The extra interior kit includes an interior lighting package, portable toilet, bow infill cushion, bow/cockpit wind-blocker, cocktail table, grey-coloured SeaDek EVA flooring throughout, and a sturdy wakeboard tower with incorporated bimini cover.

Bayliner has maximised seating and storage space in the VR6 Bowrider with cushion-topped moulded fibreglass seat boxes through much of the cockpit.

Most seats are reconfigurable too – or can be folded down to convert a regular seat into a recliner lounge.

Up in the bow seating/entertaining area there is a wide, U-shaped seating area above three fibreglass storage boxes.

The centre storage compartment is used as the anchorwell so that all of the available space at the bow can be maximised for seating and storage.

With the optional centre infill board and cushion the bow space turns into a large sunpad.

Unfortunately, the bow compartment does not convert into a fishing deck as the hatch lids are attached to the seat cushions.

Other bow features include padded backrests, a pair of cup holders and stereo speakers, hand rails and a double USB port.

An optional wind-blocker beneath the centre section of the three-piece windshield separates the bowrider compartment from the helm station.

The layout of the helm is simple but practical. A comfortable sliding helm chair with flip-up bolster is situated behind a tilt-adjust sports steering wheel that is mounted beneath a small dash and fascia panel.

Our test boat was rigged with the standard analogue engine gauges and switching, but you can swap out the two round gauges for an optional Simrad 7-inch or 9-inch multi-function digital display.

The Mercury outboard engine throttle box is conveniently built into the side panel alongside the helm chair and next to a netted storage recess, a 12V power socket, and another USB port.

Over to port there is a dash-top glove box above a change-room and head compartment.

The head compartment/space is compact in size, but there is an overhead hatch along with a side-opening entry door to make it easy to step down into the recess.

Opposite the bucket helm chair there is a crew chair with a reversible backrest to allow this port side seat to be converted into an aft-facing chaise-style lounge – and/or dropped down flat to create a full-length sunpad.

The moulded bench seating then wraps around the front of the transom wall and across to the starboard side transom walk-through opening and boarding step.

There is storage space inside all of the box seats – including the small aft-facing seat that is situated behind the helm chair.

This latter, starboard side seat also converts into a recliner lounge with the addition of infill boards and cushions.

Notably, the large storage space beneath the centre transom lounge can be optioned as a plumbed live bait/fish well for fishing.

In front of the aft bench seat there is a pedestal base in the floor for the optional cocktail table.

Behind the transom wall there is a cavernous storage area and mechanical room beneath a full-width padded sunlounge with starboard-side folding head/backrest – which doubles as a transom boarding entry gate.

Overhead, our test boat was fitted with a durable-looking, rattle-free wakeboard tower and bimini cover.

Other noteworthy features include a port-side battery storage compartment (within the lazarette/mechanical room storage space), a large, sub-floor water ski storage compartment, a transom step icebox/storage space, as well as twin rear boarding platforms and a telescopic boarding/swim ladder.

Overseas the Bayliner VR6 OB Bowrider is available with Mercury outboards between 150hp and 200hp.

Locally delivered models are powered exclusively by the larger V6 Mercury 200hp in the extra-longshaft configuration.

Paired with the Mercury 200hp four-stroke motor, our test boat achieved a top speed of 40.9 knots (75.7 km/h).

Getting there was good fun too; the Bayliner’s wide hull chine flats keep it sitting nice and flat under hard acceleration, so the boat is able to launch very smartly onto the plane.

Through the mid-range the Bayliner has excellent throttle response and there is ample power on tap to get the boat moving quickly – and/or to haul a skier/wakeboarder out of the water.

Underway the hull is also very stable, dry, and well balanced.

The 20-degree deadrise deep-vee hull slices smoothly through wave chop, being most effective and most comfortable when the sharp bow is kept pinned/trimmed down into the sea.

Generally, I rate the Bayliner VR6 OB highly for mixed boating activities; it’s easy to drive, good fun through the turns, comfortable and safe for both novice and experienced boaters.

The Bayliner VR6 Outboard Bowrider ticks all the right boxes for family day boating and social towsports.

The VR6 OB Bowrider is fast, fun and fit to carry up to 10 people onboard – so you can take the whole family (and a few in-laws) out with you to enjoy a warm summer’s day on the water.

Model: Bayliner VR6 OB Bowrider
Length overall: 6.9m
Hull length: 6.79m
Beam: 2.44m
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Weight with std. engine: 1722kg (approx)
Towing weight (dry): 2100kg (approx)
Maximum power: 200hp
Engine as tested: Mercury 200hp four-stroke extra-longshaft outboard
Fuel: 125L
Passengers: 10 (or 750kg)
Priced from: $129,990 with a Mercury 200hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering. Add $8500 for a tandem-axle braked trailer.
Price as tested: $149,800. As above but including the tandem-axle trailer, as well as an interior lighting package, portable toilet, bow infill cushion, bow/cockpit wind-blocker, cocktail table, grey-coloured SeaDek EVA flooring throughout, wakeboard tower with incorporated bimini cover, anchor with chain and rope, inshore safety gear pack, and 12 months' registrations.
Supplied by: C Worthy Marine