Bayliner 185 Boat Review & Opinions

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel

I purchased this 2011 Bayliner 185 boat towards the beginning of last year's boating season. This is the first boat that I've owned and I'm glad that I opted to purchase the brand new Bayliner 185, as opposed to a good condition used boat. The price was very reasonable. I chose to purchase the Bayliner 185, instead of the Bayliner 175 because of a small price difference and an abundance of small details that really added up in my opinion. I have not encountered any mechanical problems with the boat. I paid someone to change the oil and gear lube this season but plan to learn how to do that myself next season. I winterized the boat myself this season (feel free to check out my YouTube video). All maintenance for the Bayliner 185 has been very simple to perform, even for a non-mechanic like myself. The only minor complaint that I have found is the exterior decals on the boat. They are peeling off where the black meets the white hull. Although this is not major, it definitely shows where some cost was cut during manufacturing. From a mechanical perspective, all is great! It has a MerCruiser 3.0 4-cylinder engine that will achieve a top speed of around 50 miles-per-hour on calm water. I usually cruise at around 30 miles-per-hour and can get around 100 miles from a tank of gas. The boat handles really well. The interior is very comfortable and the way that the seats can be customized for tanning instead of cruising is great! I highly recommend the Bayliner 185 for anyone looking for an affordable, comfortable and quality boat that is easy to maintain. If you're looking for something with a lot of power and refined cosmetic design, look elsewhere though. I've already had an abundance of fun days on the lake this season and am already looking forward to next boating season! Filmed in 1080P HD with a Panasonic Lumix TS3 camera and a GoPro HD Hero2 camera!

Bayliner 185 Boat Review & Opinions 80 13

Reviews 12 years ago 50,148 views

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Sue-Anne Silvania - 5 years ago

Can you use these types of boats in saltwater? I’m from the Caribbean. Saltwater all around

Sue-Anne Silvania - 5 years ago

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel Thank you

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 5 years ago

Not sure but I know that saltwater is rough on boats

Dwayne how to - 5 years ago

I have this same boat, my family and I love it! We bought it 2nd hand and the previous owner upgraded the radio with Bluetooth technology and its fantastic.

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 5 years ago

It’s definitely great value. Bluetooth radio upgrade, speaker upgrade and stainless prop upgrade make it the perfect boat! #Bayliner

Robert Carless - 6 years ago

Sniff, sniff, sniff .... ruined the video for me. Cut out dairy products and smoking as a cure.

vicaras1 - 6 years ago

You should just tear ass and belch instead of sniffing.

Robert Carless - 6 years ago

Every minute or so you are sniffing/breathing the snot back up your nose, as you speak. It sounds awful

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 6 years ago

I don’t understand. Please explain.

joseph paone - 6 years ago

im looking to buy one how does it do with skiers and water tubers

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 6 years ago

I tubed and skied many times and it had plenty of power for me.

Happy grower Chris - 6 years ago

Have you have any issues with the boat or motor

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 6 years ago

Awesome. They seem to hold their value quite well too.

Happy grower Chris - 6 years ago

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel thanks a lot for the quick reply I’m looking for my first boat and I’m really liking these boats. I’m looking at a couple in my area

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 6 years ago

Negative. It has been an excellent boat and I’d buy another without hesitation. It’s a lot of boat for the money and rivals many boats that cost two times or more IMO #Bayliner

imadvizinyounow - 7 years ago

I swear to God! Anytime I search for anything on YouTube, you have a video on it! Amazing! Silver coins, British Virginia Islands and now a 185! Crazy!!!

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 7 years ago

ROFL I have content across the board =) Thanks for watching!

Tonybone Robert - 7 years ago

I took my pinstripe off of my 2006 185 4.3 L V6 and I took it off the entire boat and trailer

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 7 years ago

+Tonybone Robert Cool

Papichulo9606 - 8 years ago

is this a good boat for fishing? looking for a boat for the family to enjoy, but I personally want to be able to fish.

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 8 years ago

+Papichulo9606 It could be used for fishing although it's not specially equipped for fishing like other boats. We use it to ski and cruise around. Great boat! #Bayliner

MegaFishguts - 8 years ago

3.0 is garbage too

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 8 years ago

I've enjoyed mine. This has been a great boat for an affordable runabout.

10. comment for Bayliner 185 Boat Review & Opinions

MegaFishguts - 8 years ago

glastron is a much nicer boat

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 8 years ago

I've never owned one but I hear that they make great boats too!

haroonjahed - 8 years ago

Thanks for the informative video. Definitely quite a through review for people who are interested and I am sold.

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 8 years ago

FWIW wife and I still love this boat. It's a lot of boat for the money and we enjoy using it every weekend. I wish that it had a storage compartment for the anchor on the front of the bow but that's not uncommon for a boat of this size.

Me oue - 10 years ago

Safe Boating all.

Me oue - 10 years ago

I have a Bayliner 652 Cuddy with a 4.3 lit and I must say just on tick over 3000rpm moves just fine. The spec it 10 Gall/ Hr at 60MPH, so a gas guzzler, but if your just sunning, find a handy sand bank and throw the anchor. A swim platform is a must, it covers the outdrive up so anyone jumping off the boat are not in and danger of hitting the prop., We scuba dive a lot off ours and its been so handy.800Kg load. One regret it's seven years old, serviced and looked after but I see all the scratches.

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 11 years ago

what I mean. Think of See Doo as just a bigger jet ski and look on Google for all of the maintenance nightmares posted about them. I maintain most all aspects of the MerCruiser engine myself. Please feel free to ping me if you have any additional questions. I love this Bayliner 185 and like I said, only thing I'd do if I had it to do over is get the bigger engine and possibly the extended swim platform. Cheers!

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 11 years ago

Bayliner 185 with upgraded engine for sure. Why? Well my Bayliner 185 with the smaller engine has been great to me. It's affordable to maintain and the engine is powerful enough. However, if I had it to do over I would have bought the larger engine but this was my first boat purchase and I looked at cost only. Don't get See Doo....costly repairs and upkeep and proned to have problems. Can't go wrong with a new boat with a new Mercruiser engine. Do some Google searches and you'll see .....

carlos lehder - 11 years ago

Your videos have been helpful to me Iam looking to buy my first boat I have narrowed it down to the bayliner 185 with the upgraded 4.3 engine or a sea doo challenger could you please help me by giving me the pros and cons of between these boats . I will be using it to cruise ,fish ,and tubing .any help would be appreciated

redskinboy1221 - 11 years ago

you sould do a video on how to dock your boat

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 11 years ago

Good suggestion. Please feel free to sub my channel. I'll be posting a lot more Bayliner videos when I dewinterize her in a few weeks. Cheers!

sam shepherd - 11 years ago

hi, can you please do a small video on the 4cyl 3l TKS motor? E.g how reliable is it? how well does it start, idle and run. showing how well it starts when cold. Thank you

20. comment for Bayliner 185 Boat Review & Opinions

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 11 years ago

I take immaculate care of all of my toys and the decals peeling off has been my only major complaint. That and a radio on the back of the boat would have been a nice touch. Also, I'd probably opt for the swim platform option if I had it to do over. The back of this boat is of sufficient size but it's a tall reach to grabs beers from the cooler. Good luck and Bayliner definitely is a good deal for the money in my opinion. Have a good one!

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 11 years ago

Definitely great value for the money! I'm actually about to de-winterize her for the next season. Hopefully she'll perform as well this season as she did the previous too. If you've got the extra cash I'd definitely recommend the 4.3. I like my smaller engine but the extra power would be nice plus it'll actually likely yield better gas mileage, as the smaller engine has to work harder/consume more gas......

A S - 11 years ago

Great review. Looking at getting one myself, although leaning towards the 4.3 motor. Seems like a great value for the money.

creatine64 - 11 years ago

only a couple are coming up because I smacked and aluminum dock (thanks to the idiot speeding by as I was docking when he should have been going thru at idle speed) but outside of that they are doing fine. as far as adding a swim platform there should be no reason why you wouldn't be able to. I'll PM you the website to the bayliner forums and they people there who have added them, along with a ton of other mods, and they can give the who what when how info. Just subscribed to your channel

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 11 years ago

@IrixGuy It's such a great boat and I maintain very well. It's upsetting that the peeling decals have made it look abused.

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 11 years ago

@creatine64 Thanks! I wonder if I could add the swim platform to this one? I miss not having it. Also, are your decals peeling off?

creatine64 - 11 years ago

great review!, I have the same make and model (engine too) however we were able to get one with the full sun deck (bench seat across the back) and the swim platform. we are first time boat owners as well and I have to say this is easy to care for, trailer, & drive for newbies. great job thanks for posting and man that water looks so inviting!!!!

IrixGuy's Adventure Channel - 12 years ago

@David Bowens Nice! You're gonna love it and I bet the anticipation is killing you :). I winterized about a month back and my wife and I are already ready for next season. Be sure to add a depth finder to you blank spot in the dash if they didn't already install. Best 100 dollar add-on!

David Bowens - 12 years ago

I just bought my 2012 off the showroom floor at our local Bayliner dealer. Got a great deal as there were many 2013 already in stock. Bad thing is the season is over here in West Virginia and will have to wait till spring to get her on the water.

Jessika Gorgievska - 12 years ago

@p154831 they are about $29-$36 grand starter we bought one and it was $37.000 thats brought down the salez manaoukd nit go down and thats with only added a extended roof so you Re looking at that price