Few types of boats are as versatile for family fun on the Bay as bowriders, since they can be used for everything from water skiing to quiet evening cruises to dropping a fishing line. Bayliner has long been known for its commanding presence in this genre, and for close to seven decades Bayliner bowriders have gone through continual upgrades and refinements. 2025 marks yet another new generation of boats for this builder, with the V20 (an outboard version) and the Bayliner V20I (a sterndrive) hitting the scene.
For the moment we’ll focus on the V20I, because those who are most interested in activities like pulling up to the beach for a swim or spending the afternoon water skiing will likely gravitate towards this model for one simple reason: that big, beautiful swim platform. You just can’t beat the full-beam platform found on a sterndrive bowrider as opposed to the ones you’ll see on boats with an outboard on the transom. And in the case of the V20I, that platform plus a telescopic boarding ladder, stainless-steel tow-ring, and integrated deck ski/wakeboard locker ensure you’re ready for all of those athletic aquatic activities.
Unlike some of those bowrider generations from yesteryear, the V20I is also quite customizable. There are nine different hull color configurations alone, plus the ability to add goodies such as foam pad flooring, an upgraded stereo system (a 120-watt four-speaker system comes standard), a trailer, or even a tow tower. Or, of course, you could also opt for more power. The stock engine is a 200-hp MerCruiser 4.5L, which will provide plenty of oomph for most folks since that gets you speeds into the 40s. But if you feel the need to buzz across the Bay with the wind whipping your hair at speeds in the upper 40s, that powerplant can be upgraded to a 250-hp model.
Another change we’ve seen through generations of Bayliner bowriders is an increase in useable space for the given LOA. On the V20I this is most evident in the seating, which wraps the cockpit with a large L-shaped seat along the motor box (which has a lounger atop) and port side of the cockpit. Forward of it there’s a pair of flip-down bolster pedestal seats for the helm and passenger. And up front, as expected for a bowrider, a pair of forward-facing seats can be capped off with a filler to become a sunpad. But rather than merely having the usual closing door to close off the center walkthrough, there’s a removable backrest you can put in place along with the center filler to create a spot for a third person to sit facing forward. Better yet, bolsters on the inwales also allow you to kick back facing the centerline or facing aft. Add it all together and that’s quite a bit of seating for a 20-footer; note that despite its small size this boat is rated to hold up to nine passengers.
Interior space also gets a boost via Bayliner’s design philosophy. Their “Beam Forward” attitude carries the boat’s beam significantly farther into the bow than is usual for the average bowrider, expanding elbow room in the forward cockpit. Meanwhile, at the other end of the boat in what Bayliner calls “Aft Advantage,” they push the swim platform beyond the back of the running bottom to maximize space in the aft cockpit. Another nifty trick they use to boost available space aft is by bridging the walkthrough to the swim platform with a filler, extending the lounger to nearly the boat’s entire beam.
You say one kid wants to try wakeboarding, another likes to catch fresh fish dinners, and a third thinks beaching the boat and going for a swim is the ideal way to spend the afternoon? It sounds like a bowrider is in your future. And once you introduce the generation you’re raising to the next generation V20I, there’s a good chance there’s a Bayliner in your future, too.
By Lenny Rudow
Bayliner V20I Specifications:
LOA: 20’4”
Beam: 8’4”
Draft (min.): 1’8”
Displacement (approx.): 3985 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 45 gal.
Transom deadrise: 20 degrees
Max HP: 250
Local Dealer: Riverside Marine in Essex, MD - (410) 686-1500