Bayliner Element M17 Boats For Sale

The Bayliner Element M17 is an entry-level deck boat built around an outboard, sized at 17 feet 7 inches with a 7-foot beam and rated to carry seven people. Empty hull weight sits at 1,984 pounds, and on its trailer it runs roughly 2,400 to 2,500 pounds, light enough to tow behind most capable cars, SUVs and trucks. The trailer measures about 20 feet 1 inch from tongue to motor and stands around 7 feet tall, and a swing-tongue hitch trims roughly three feet off that length so the rig fits in most average garages. For shoppers asking how much a Bayliner Element boat costs, a base configuration with a 60-horsepower outboard builds out near $24,160, while a well-optioned M17 with trailer has been offered around $28,519 to $31,000, dealer pricing depending.

Power comes from outboards ranging from 60 to 90 horsepower, with the Mercury 90 four-stroke being the common upgrade; a Mercury 75 and a 100-horsepower version also appear on the water. With the 90, the M17 reaches a top speed in the mid-30s mph and cruises comfortably in the mid-20s, around 19 to 23 mph, which is where most owners spend their time. The outboard format keeps maintenance simple and lets you run in saltwater or brackish water, since you can flush the motor after use. Mercury's engine monitoring system watches the motor, beeping for minor faults, reducing power for severe ones, and shutting down to protect itself in a catastrophic case.

The M17 rides on Bayliner's patented M-hull, a deep-V center flanked by two outer sponsons. That shape gets the boat onto plane quickly with little bow rise, adds buoyancy, holds it flat even with several people seated on one side, and gives it a shallow draft that helps when launching, retrieving and running skinny water. In open chop the trade-off shows: it handles wind and waves best at the right speed and is not a deep-V offshore boat, so crossing another boat's wake calls for slowing down.

The helm sits to starboard with a basic instrument cluster covering speedometer, fuel and volts or battery, plenty of dash room to add a 4- or 6-inch GPS, digital depth or sonar, and a waterproof Bluetooth stereo running two speakers. Storage is a strong point for a 17-footer: nearly every seat cushion lifts to reveal space below, there is an anchor locker and bow cubbies, and one continuous bin runs roughly seven to eight feet for skis, wakeboards, chairs and bags. The transom carries a built-in self-draining day cooler, a swim ladder, two rear-facing jump seats for watching skiers and tubers, and a ski pole or tower for towing.

The bow seating is open and spacious enough for a six-footer to stretch out, with an infill cushion, hand holds and cup holders—nine in total across the boat. A bimini top folds flat for storage and stays functional at speeds up to the boat's roughly 35 mph top end. Available options include tinted side windscreens, a full center-closing windshield, chrome cleats and accents, a snap-on mooring cover, a forward or rear-facing lounger and sunbed conversion, and the MX package bundling a snap-on bow and cockpit cover, bimini, Bluetooth stereo, auto bilge pump and ski pylon. Hull colors include gray, black and blue, configurable on Bayliner's build tool.

Is the Bayliner Element a good boat? For a new boater wanting an affordable, easy-to-tow, easy-to-maintain platform for family days, swimming and light towing, it delivers a lot of room and usable storage for the size and price. Points to weigh when looking at a Bayliner Element M17 for sale are the bumpy ride in real chop, a speedometer that reads accurately mainly at higher speeds, and some sharp edges in the build, all consistent with a no-frills, value-focused deck boat.