From the classifieds: Bayliner 175 Bowrider

The 5.3-metre inboard-engined boat basically invented the front-lounge category, is light enough to tow behind a mid-size family car and small enough to tuck away in the garage when not in use.

But its talents have also extended onto the water, where the hull beneath the Bayliner 175 Bowrider handles everything a family can throw at it, from cruising to tow sports.

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Best of all, the Bayliner 175 Bowrider was always keenly priced for what it was, making it a serious contender on the used boat market with plenty of pre-loved boats to choose between.

Up front, the hull uses a 19-degree deadrise, making it well suited to the typically choppy waters of Sydney Harbour, Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay and the Gold Coast Seaway.

The hull is optimised to run with the saltwater-hardened 135hp MerCruiser four-cylinder inboard engine connected to an Alpha One sterndrive leg that lifts up out of the way so that you can bump the bow up onto a beach.

This engine produces its best performance fairly low in the rev range – from around 4600rpm – which makes it a fairly economical performer given the fuel tank has only 80 litres of capacity.

That said, the Bayliner 175 Bowrider has never been known as a slouch, easily hitting a top speed of more than 35 knots when asked.

The shape of the Bayliner 175 Bowrider’s bow is maximised for space, providing a generous seating area that wraps around to face astern. Importantly for a trailerable boat, there is plenty of storage built in under the bow seats.

Entry to the bow seating area is via a split console fitted with a door in the wrap-around windscreen to make access to the space as easy as possible.

The helm is comfortbale, and the co-pilot’s seat has back-to-back seating that converts into a sunbed once the desired anchorage is reached. Similarly, seating down the rear of the Bayliner 175 bowrider converts into a sun lounge.

Seat coverings are hard-wearing vinyl optimised for being left out in the sun.

The MerCruiser engine is versatile enough for tow sports, and the cockpit floor includes a large locker with a lift-up lid that can easily store a set of skis or a wakeboard.

One of the Bayliner 175 Bowrider’s more attractive features was its price; for around $30,000, buyers could drive off the showroom floor with a complete package made for a day out enjoying the water.

Quite a number of Bayliner 175 Bowriders are listed on boatsales.com.au, hinting at how popular the boat has been.

Expect a boat to have a number of upgrades to make them more user-friendly, including a bimini and more premium audio systems that include Bluetooth music streaming.

It also pays to shop around for boats that feature the optional “flight package”, which includes flash-looking graphics, a ski tower, integrated bimini and a swim platform.

Prices for second-hand Bayliner 175 Bowriders on boatsales.com.au vary, but we like this one listed in Victoria for $20,000. The seller says the boat has had little use since the children have arrived, hence the motivation to sell.

As with any second-hand boat purchase, we recommend having the boat professionally inspected by a service such as SeaWorthy before agreeing to buy it.

Specifications
Model: Bayliner 175 Bowrider
Length: 5.33m
Beam: 2.13m
Draft: 0.86m (max)
Weight: 838kg (dry)/1031kg (tow)
Engine: 135hp MerCruiser four-cylinder inboard engine with Alpha One sterndrive
Fuel: 79.5L, petrol
Passengers: 6