Bayliner VR5 Bowrider: Review (2024)

Bayliner's new VR5 is a stunning 6.0m sports bowider that's just the perfect size for bay cruising and mixed water sports. There is loads of seating and storage space, plus the latest MerCruiser 4.5L 250hp V6 sterndrive engine to propel to you to fun times afloat.

OVERVIEW
- Building a better mouse-trap
US-based Bayliner has held the honour of being the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational powerboats. The vast majority of these rigs are family bowriders.

Hundreds of thousands of bowriders have rolled out of Bayliner factories around the world over the years, so you might expect the company’s design boffins to have explored all possibilities with regard to interior design and layout.

Yet, judging by the new layout in the latest VR5 bowrider, this boatbuilding behemoth is still evolving. With this new generation bowrider, Bayliner has built a better mouse-trap.

In design terms, the new Bayliner VR5 (and subsequent larger VR6) represents a radical departure from previous models, including its most immediate predecessor, the 185 bowrider.

The latter, one of the company’s most popular models (after the smaller 175 series boat), has a traditional vee monohull design with a compact, V-shaped bowrider seating area.

In contrast the new VR5 has an entirely new hull and deck with a bluff looking and much broader bow. The new boat is longer, wider, better finished and far more spacious than its predecessor.

The new interior is cleverly designed with larger bow and stern seating areas, dual sun-lounge pads and loads of storage space.

The Bayliner VR5 is now available in Australia through a nation-wide network of Bayliner dealers. We sampled one of the latest VR5s powered by the sophisticated MerCruiser 4.5L 250hp V6 MPI petrol sterndrive.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Base or premium models with three MerCruiser engine options
Bayliner importer, Berowra Waters Wholesale, is making the new VR5 bowrider available with two levels of fit-out – Base and Premium. With each model you can also add or delete individual options, providing these changes are made before your boat is shipped to Australia.

If the Base model sounds like it might be a stripped out model with few frills, then you’d be wrong — it is jam-packed with features and equipment. It just has less equipment than the Premium model. Both are essentially drive-away models with pricing that includes everything except safety gear and registrations.

The Base model available in Australia also features more gear and equipment than the standard US models. Locally delivered models, for example, include a bimini top, stainless steel upgrade package, helm bucket seat with barrel-back bolster, co*ckpit table, co*ckpit carpet runners, and a portable head. This gear is optional in the US.

The Premium Aussie VR5 Edition, and the subject of this review, has still more gear, including an Xtreme wakeboard tower with integrated top and tow-point, bow seating area infill cushion, bow and co*ckpit cover, faux teak matting to the boarding platform, and a digital depth indicator.

All models have composite core construction (replacing timber in past models), and foam-filled hulls built to meet or exceed US ABYC and NMMA standards as well as local Level Flotation standards.

Each boat is backed by a life-time limited transferable hull warranty.

You will have to add your choice of electronics (VHF, fish finder/GPS, etc,) registrations and safety gear, but otherwise the boats are ready to roll.

With both Base and Premium VR5s, there are three MerCruiser sterndrive engine options in Australia. The entry pricing has the Base model powered by the ageing, automotive based 220hp 4.3L MPI MerCruiser V6 engine with Alpha One drive leg. With a single-axle galvanized steel trailer (to Aussie specifications) with mechanical brakes, this 220hp MerCruiser powered package is priced from $75,190.

The two other engine options include the 200 and 250hp versions of MerCruiser’s very latest and highly rated 4.5L V6 engines, which were designed completely in-house by Mercury Marine.

With the 200hp 4.5L MerCruiser and Alpha One drive-leg, the Base model VR5 is priced from $75,990. Moving up to the 250hp version adds only $1500 to the price, so opting for the larger engine is a no-brainer.

Our test boat package was the Premium edition with all the bells and whistles, plus the larger 250hp 4.5L V6 MerCruiser/Alpha One. This fully-fitted package with the same galvanised steel trailer is competitively priced (given the huge inventory of gear and equipment) at $85,090.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Beam-Forward layout increases seating and storage space
The key interior feature of the new VR5 is what Bayliner has dubbed its "Beam-Forward" design which essentially has the widest part of the boat carried forward to the bow. This has allowed the designers to substantially increase the size of the forward seating area and provide more storage space.

From the attached photos you can see the bow layout is configured in a wide u-shape — as opposed to a regular V-shape. There is more width in the forepeak, allowing the seats to be wider, more comfortable.

As with many US-built craft, however, you won’t find a formed anchor well, though there is ample space for the anchor and rode in a locker under the centre bow seat cushion.

The layout of the bow seating area and configuration of the padded back-rests encourages two people to sit facing forward while underway, with a third person facing aft - whilst leaning back against the bow back-rest.

The layout works well. We found it very comfortable as the back-rests were appropriately angled, and high enough to providing excellent back support.

The infill board and cushion included in the Premium package slots easily into position between the seats to create a large, comfy sun lounge.

With the locker under the centre seat cushion used for the anchor and rode, dry gear can be stowed in two lockers under the side seating, although there is plenty of additional storage space aft.

As with most bowriders the VR5 has a centre opening windscreen so you can move readily between the forward and rear co*ckpits.

The black-framed, toughened-glass screen appears sturdily constructed and is just the right height for a seated helmsman, although we would have appreciated a grab rail of some kind near the helm or above the windscreen.

The driving position itself is superb, one of the best this reviewer has encountered on a bowrider boat in years. The moulded dash/fascia insert with sports steering wheel extends out from the dash and windscreen, so the wheel is close to you when reclining fully back into the deluxe bucket seat.

It feels like you are behind the wheel of a car actually... and that is how it should be. You should not have to lean forward in your seat to reach the steering wheel or throttle; yet that is how it is in most of the trailerboats we test.

The dark grey coloured dash/fascia also keeps sun glare and reflection to a minimum and there is space for the switch panel and engine gauges (though not a lot more).

A small/medium-sized fish/finder/GPS could be bracket mounted beneath the windscreen while a VHF radio might need to be located over on the port side dash, close by the lockable glove box.

As you would expect with a Bayliner bowrider there is plenty of storage space and adaptive seating in the self-draining rear co*ckpit.

Safety gear, bags, towels, etc, can be stowed in a compartment within the port side console or in lockers under the port side seating.

Beneath the rear bench seat there is an insulated ice box which can double as additional storage space.

Whilst the skipper has a regular bucket helm seat, the co-pilot has a full length L-shaped moulded seat box set-up with padded cushions and a reversible padded back-rest. Rotating the back-rest forward and down flat transforms the port side seating area into a full length sun lounge.

The backrest can also be configured to create an aft facing chaise-style sun lounge, similar to the full width sun-pad stretching across the top of the MerCruiser sterndrive engine cover.

The whole rear seating/storage area has been very well thought-out with the emphasis on being able to change/adapt the seating to suit different boating situations.

The included co*ckpit table for example, slots into a socket in the floor to create a rear dinette/eating area, but is easily removed and tucked away in a side locker inside the sterndrive engine box, which incidentally is easily big enough for the V6 MerCruiser with ample space around the engine for servicing and maintenance.

Other features include the attractive faux-teak floor runners, large underfloor ski-locker, and a starboard side transom door which doubles as a headrest for the engine cover sun lounge.

At the stern, the VR5 has a very large swimming/boarding and tow-sports platform which extends out and well aft of the MerCruiser sterndrive leg, boosting the overall length of the boat to over 6.2m.

PERFORMANCE
- Improved power and torque from latest MerCruiser V6
Our test model Bayliner VR5 came equipped with the top of the range engine, the superb MerCruiser 4.5L 250hp V6 MPI (multi-port electronic fuel injection) mated to an Alpha One drive leg.

Debuting in the US in 2014, the latest V6 will ultimately replace both the 4.3L 220hp V6 (though it is still one of the VR5 engine options) and the old 5.0L 260hp V8, both of which are based on automotive engines from GM.

The 4.5L MerCruiser has a 90 degree V6 engine configuration with a bore x stroke of 90mm x 81mm. It has a cast-iron cylinder block, two valves per cylinder with push rod actuation. The cylinder heads and intake manifold are made from aluminium for lighter weight and corrosion resistance.

The 4.5L V6 is available in 200 and 250hp variants. It is some 60kg lighter than the old 5.0L V8 engine and only marginally heavier than the 220hp 4.3L V6.

This 4.5L MerCruiser is also the first V6 engine that is compatible with Mercury SmartCraft digital throttle and shift (DTS), although our test boat had traditional analogue gauges and controls.

Adaptive Speed Control is another great new feature which allows you to set the throttle and the engine will maintain your chosen RPM, regardless of changing sea conditions, reducing the need for throttle adjustments.

Servicing and maintenance is much easier with the new engine. The fuel filter and all fluids can be checked from the front of engine, and there is a prominently placed placard with full instructions for routine maintenance.

The MerCruiser comes with raw water or freshwater cooling options. Our test boat had the latter for increased longevity.

Other key features include a light weight fly wheel, low vibration engine mounts, a top mounted 70 amp alternator (lifting it up and away from the bilge area of previous models), and a new long-runner scroll type intake manifold (which draws in more air to build power and torque) with a rear facing throttle body to direct noise aft and away from the co*ckpit.

So how does the new V6 MerCruiser perform? In short, exceptionally well. Powering the VR5 test boat the 250hp V6 felt smooth and powerful. Our GPS recorded a high top speed of 43 knots. But more impressive was the strong and immediate throttle response from idle and through the middle RPM range.

Mercury Marine claims that the 250hp 4.5L MerCruiser offers V8 like performance from a V6. Though we were unable to do any comparison testing of old vs new, we are inclined to agree with Mercury following our test of this purpose-designed marine engine paired with the Bayliner VR5.

Regardless, the 250hp, 4.5L MerCruiser is certainly a worthy successor to the retiring automotive based MerCruiser models, offering improved and smoother performance, lower emissions and better fuel economy.

HANDLING AND RIDE
- Soft, dry ride, easy to handle, well mannered
The Bayliner VR5’s new "Beam Forward" hull and deck styling may not appeal to everybody, but it is certainly effective. The bow shape not only increases the amount of interior space, but the shape under the bow works well in suppressing spray, and pushing it down and away from the boat.

Below the waterline, the conventional deep vee shape (20 degree deadrise) does a fine job of softening out the bumps, yet the boat is still very stable at rest, thanks in no small part to the wide 2.44m maximum beam.

During our test we found the VR5 to be very well mannered, easy to handle, comfortable through choppy water, stable and manoeuvrable.

The steering was smooth and light and the boat cornered very well at speed. With these attributes the VR5 bowrider should excel as a family boat for mixed water sports applications.

VERDICT
- A wonderfully appointed family bowrider with speed to burn
Well that’s our review of the superb new Bayliner VR5 bowrider. What a ripper boat it is too. It is a country mile better than its predecessor 185 model. It handles beautifully, carves up bay chop with ease, and the MerCruiser 250hp V6 petrol sterndrive offers exhilarating performance.

Innovatively designed, competitively priced, the Bayliner VR5 is a great new boat for all kinds of bay and harbour water sports. Expect it to be a big hit in the busy bowrider market.

LIKES
>> Innovative interior layout
>> Adaptive seating and lounges
>> Easy handling with a dry, comfortable ride
>> Strong performance from 250hp V6 MerCruiser
>> Lots of standard inclusions
>> Excellent helm position
>> A fine boat for mixed water sports

NOT SO MUCH
>> Could use a grab rail for the skipper

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.72/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.9/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.6/5.0
X-factor: 4.6/5.0

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
5.1kts (9.4km/h) @ 1000rpm
5.7kts (10.5km/h) @ 1500rpm
7.5kts (13.9km/h) @ 2000rpm
18.2kts (33.7km/h) @ 2500rpm
24.3kts (44.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
30.7kts (56.8km/h) @ 3500rpm
35.4kts (65.5km/h) @ 4000rpm
38.3kts (71.8km/h) @ 4500rpm
42.8kts (79.2km/h) @ 5000rpm (WOT)

Specifications: Bayliner VR5
Premium package price as tested: $85,090 including MerCruiser 4.5L MPI 250hp V6 with Alpha One sterndrive leg, galvanised single axle steel trailer with mechanical disk brakes, bimini top with wakeboard tower, stainless steel upgrade package, Xtreme tower with integrated top, bow infill cushions, helm bucket with barrel-back bolster, co*ckpit table, bow and co*ckpit cover, co*ckpit carpet runners, portable head, swim platform faux-teak matting and a digital depth indicator.

Base package price from: $75,190 including MerCruiser 4.3L MPI 220hp V6 with Alpha One sterndrive leg, galvanised single axle steel trailer with mechanical disk brakes, bimini top, stainless steel upgrade package, helm bucket with barrel back bolster, co*ckpit table, co*ckpit carpet runners, and a portable head.
Length overall: 6.23m
Hull length: 5.6m
Beam: 2.44m
Weight with std engine: 1,313kg (dry)
Towing weight: 1,713kg (dry)
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Maximum power: 250hp
Engine as tested: MerCruiser 4.5L 250hp V6 sterndrive
Fuel: 132 litres
Maximum Persons: Seven

Supplied by:
C Worthy Marine
Phone: (07) 5580 0905
Email: office@cworthy.com.au
Website:
www.cworthy.com.au.

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