Bayliner VR4 Boats For Sale

The Bayliner VR4 is an 18-foot-9-inch bowrider with a 7-foot-6-inch beam, rated to carry seven adults. It comes two ways: an outboard model powered by a Mercury 115-horsepower four-stroke (the Pro XS on recent builds), and a stern drive model running a MerCruiser 4.5-liter 200-horsepower engine with an Alpha One drive. The outboard hull accepts up to 150 horsepower. A deep-V bow carries aft to a 19-degree transom deadrise, deadrise comparable to many center-console fishing boats, which helps it cut through chop and harbor wakes. It sits within Bayliner's VR series of bowriders, and shoppers cross-comparing it against the larger Bayliner VR5 boat or Bayliner VR6 bowrider boat will find the VR4 the most compact and towable of the group.

Performance is brisk for the size. The Mercury 115 outboard pushes the VR4 past 40 mph at top end and cruises comfortably around 26 to 27 mph, drawing from a 33-gallon fuel tank that supports a full day or a weekend on the water. The 200-horsepower stern drive runs harder still: with a 17-pitch prop at roughly 2,100 feet of altitude one owner saw 49 mph, and a 14.25-by-18-pitch stainless prop returned 45 to 46 mph as a more all-around setup. High freeboard helps the hull run dry and handle larger waves without stuffing the bow.

The helm has a clean dash with analog gauges covering tach, speed, fuel, battery, and outboard trim and tilt, plus toggle switches for bilge pump, anchor light and horn. A Bluetooth stereo with a Jensen head unit is standard, with RCA outputs that make adding an amplifier and extra speakers straightforward; a small GPS is a common shop-installed addition. USB and 12-volt charge ports sit at the helm and in the bow. The captain's chair includes a flip-up bolster for driving higher, and the stern drive layout offers dual captain's chairs. The windshield is a sturdy framed unit with a closing center window and optional wing extensions.

On deck, a full-beam swim platform lets you cross the transom even past the outboard, served by a four-step telescoping boarding ladder and a ski tow pylon or tow hook. The cockpit uses a wraparound seat layout with a movable backrest that converts from an aft-facing lounge for watching skiers and tubers to a forward-facing companion seat. The deck is non-skid fiberglass with no carpet, and storage is generous: in-floor ski lockers, compartments under every seat, and a large locker where the engine sits on stern drive boats freed up entirely on the outboard version. A "beam forward" design opens up the bow, which seats adults comfortably and converts to a sun pad with an infill cushion.

Build quality reflects all-fiberglass construction with no wood and starboard under the cushions, making the boat easy to rinse and maintain, and the boat is engineered for easy engine and wiring access. It ships standard with a single-axle galvanized trailer with a swing tongue for garage storage, and the package tows at around 3,500 pounds including trailer and engine. A bimini top is standard, with a tower available; color options include dark blue and black-and-white gel coat. A package with trailer, bimini and canopy cover was offered at $34,990. Smart Tab SX trim tabs are a worthwhile addition for keeping the boat level under uneven loads.