BAYLINER V20/V20I: Unknown revealed

Bayliner clears the unknowns about the secret test carried out last August in Madrid. This new model, whose world premiere test we witnessed, is available in two versions: outboard, V20, and inboard, V20i. Both have water sports in their DNA. During the day we also had the opportunity to test another first that was later presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the new Mercury 150 Racing.

Author: Diego Yriarte

Photos: Diego Yriarte / Bayliner

Bayliner has a wide range of models that can meet all the needs of enthusiasts or young families who are approaching the nautical, whether for water sports, fishing or coastal navigation. Bayliner is one of the brands of the Brunswick Corporation group and is, together with Mercury engines, imported in Spain and Portugal by Touron, which is based in Madrid.

Under absolute secrecy, the European nautical press was summoned to a sea trial, in fresh water, in the vicinity of Madrid. None of the European or local journalists had ever been to the Entrepeñas reservoir. A wild place where dozens of vultures take flight as we pass by and free horses drink water on the shore. Few houses populate its shores and very few nautical facilities. A perfect place to keep a secret.

In the morning we made an “excursion” aboard three boats, guided by Carlos Martin who is responsible for the Technical Service of Touron and a connoisseur of these waters, so the experience was double, tourist and professional.

The sailing conditions were perfect, no wind, completely flat water and six people on board.

The new models V20, with outboard engine, and V20i, with inboard engine, come to replace the VR models, designed more than a decade ago. Precisely for this reason a completely new model was developed, updated in style and efficiency. It is still a model bowrider which offers the possibility of having two living areas, aft and forward, connected by a central passage or access.

The fact of being a new design and with new molds, gave the shipyard the opportunity to offer improvements within a segment with a lot of competition; an opportunity that was fully exploited.

The production of new models for this type of activity is very creative and continuously evolving. Bayliner is one of the leading brands in this competitive market and has responded with a model that in its general aesthetics and hull lines has been updated to gain more interior volume. The different engines and transmissions require considerable modifications in the deck configuration, so two well differentiated models are offered.

Before deciding on one or the other option: outboard or inboard, the future owner will have to evaluate and see what suits him best for his sailing plan, how he will use the boat and what space needs he may have. To mention the most obvious, the inboard version gains a sundeck and loses stowage space and the L-seat. The outboard version gains space in the cockpit for the L-seat and stowage space. The rest are driving sensations, no less important.

BAYLINER V20

The V20 model is the corresponding outboard engine. The unit we tested was equipped with a Mercury 150 Racing engine, which was also a first.

Having modified the hull by increasing the length, it was also possible to slightly increase the beam and develop a straighter bow than on previous models. In this way, interior space has been gained, allowing the helm station to be moved forward and the aft cockpit to be enlarged, while the forward cockpit remains identical in size in both versions.

With a 250 Hp engine, the Bayliner V20 promises to reach 44 knots.

Central Circulation

At the stern, the engine is outside the bathing platforms. The starboard access connects to the central passage, interrupted only by the windshield whose central part opens to give access to the forward cockpit. As usual, this is a good place to enjoy the sun, listen to music or share a table with three or four other people. If we choose to stay aft, we have an L-shaped seat with its short section at the transom. This seat is comfortable in navigation, whether we are sitting or lying down. As in the bow, it is possible to install a table, but in this case a large area is created in which it is pleasant to chat and to which the pilot and companion seats are added when turning aft.

Good response

The V20 model can be equipped with engines ranging from 115 to 250 hp. In our case we sailed with a Mercury 150 Racing V6 and, according to the tests carried out by Touron, the maximum speed was 36.25 knots at 5,700 rpm with a consumption of 50 L/h. Possibly, 150 Hp is the power that best suits this type of boat in relation to performance and power required. And, although a 250 Hp engine promises to reach 44 knots, we believe that perhaps this much power is not necessary for most programs.

With the 150 Hp engine it is perfectly possible to tow a person skiing or the typical inflatable toy, with reasonable fuel consumption and speed. At cruising speed, the consumption is reduced to less than half, at 3,500 rpm the speed is 22 knots and the consumption is 20 liters.

The V20 is a very complete boat, ideal for those starting out in sailing, particularly suitable for the towable nauticalwhich is an excellent choice for this type of boat.

BAYLINER V20i

The Bayliner V20i has another poise, another character. With the stern topped by a sundeck and wakeboard bow, it feels like it has considerably more volume than the V20. It also sits differently when the weight of the engine shifts.

When accessed from the stern, the bathing platform gives greater safety and allows easy access from the water. The size of the sundeck is directly related to the space of the cockpit, in this case a little reduced. It is also possible to create a space in which to sit and chat from the cockpit seats. The bow space remains the same as that of the V20, as only the cockpit area has been modified.

The position and weight of the engine determine some of the V20i’s sailing characteristics.

The customization options offered by the shipyard are very varied and help to configure the boat according to the future owner’s intended use.

Another seat

Obviously, the position and weight of the engine determine some characteristics of the way of sailing. The V20i sails with another seat, the weight further down and inside the boat is very different from the propulsion of an outboard, so is the wave it generates. Bayliner proposes for this model Mercury MerCruiser engines of 200 or 250 Hp ECT 4.5L MPI with Alpha One tail, which is the one that had the unit present in the Entrepeñas reservoir.

According to the tests carried out by the brand, with two people on board, sailing at a maximum of 5,200 rpm the speed it reaches is 42.7 knots with a consumption of 80.4 l/h. Therefore, with a consumption much higher than that of the unit powered by outboard engine.

With these records, the cruising speed at 3,000 rpm is maintained at 20.8 knots with a consumption of 25 l/h, more similar to the consumption of its other version.

Although the Bayliner V20i can be perfectly adapted to the sailing programs mentioned for the outboard version, it is worth bearing in mind that it can be used to its maximum performance and advantage in the practice of sports such as wakeboarding or other disciplines that require a special wave shape.