Yachting Art Magazine

Venture Group – One year after the launch of the Bayliner C21 and two years after the Bayliner V20, the American brand is continuing to refresh its range with the V22 and V22i. These two 6.99 m bowriders follow a formula that has long been at the heart of Bayliner’s business: offering relatively affordable, easy-to-use and safe family boats, suitable for both cruising and water sports.

Bayliner is continuing to refresh its European range. The American manufacturer has announced the arrival of the new V22 and V22i, two versions of the same 6.99-metre bowrider, available with outboard and sterndrive engines respectively.

This launch comes around a year after that of the Bayliner V21, which had already marked an evolution in the range’s style and positioning. With the V22, Bayliner has stepped up a gear in terms of size and passenger capacity, whilst remaining true to its traditional market: that of family motorboats designed to be accessible to boaters who are not seeking the sophistication or performance of more specialised models.

Bayliner revamps the VR6 formula

The V22 and V22i build on the legacy of the VR series, and in particular the VR6, which for over a decade was one of Bayliner’s key offerings in the bowrider market.

The general concept therefore remains familiar: an open cockpit, a central passageway leading to the forward saloon, and maximum use of the available length. The design has, however, evolved significantly, with more sculpted sides and a more contemporary silhouette.

Measuring 6.99 m in length and 2.54 m in width, the V22 retains a reasonable size for this category. Its hull features a 20-degree angle at the transom, a classic compromise designed to maintain comfort in choppy conditions without adopting a particularly radical hull design.

The maximum advertised capacity is 12 people on the V22 outboard and 11 people on the V22i sterndrive.

Two engine options up to 250 ch

The main difference between the two versions is, naturally, at the stern.

The Bayliner V22 is fitted with a Mercury outboard engine capable of up to 250 ch. This layout prioritises mechanical simplicity, facilitates maintenance and frees up space that would otherwise have been taken up by the engine compartment.

The V22i, for its part, retains a MerCruiser sterndrive system, also available up to 250 ch. This configuration notably allows for a more uncluttered stern around the swim platform.

This dual offering also reflects the differences in preferences that persist in the European market, where outboard engines have grown considerably but where sterndrives still retain a customer base for bowriders of this size.

A layout suited to family outings

On board, Bayliner has focused primarily on ease of movement and versatility. The two helm seats can swivel through 180 degrees to form part of the saloon when the boat is at anchor.

Depending on the chosen configuration, the cockpit can be laid out in a U-shape or L-shape. Several storage spaces are built in, and various phone charging points are provided on board.

The version intended for the European market can, in particular, be fitted with equipment better suited to extended day trips: a fully enclosable bimini top, a small kitchen unit with a sink, a portable hob and a drawer-style fridge, an electric windlass at the bow, and an adjustable sun lounger with a reclining backrest.

A cockpit table made of genuine teak and various GatorStep deck coverings are also among the options available.

This specification enables the V22 to transcend its role as a mere bowrider designed for water sports. The boat can thus be used for a day of inshore cruising, anchoring, a family outing or towed activities.

Affordable and safe family boats

With the V20, C21 and now the V22 and V22i, Bayliner seems above all to be aiming to consolidate a segment in which the brand has historically thrived: that of the first family boat or versatile leisure craft, without seeking to introduce a multitude of complex technical solutions.

The deep cockpit, high freeboard, numerous seats and the internal passageway to the bow all contribute to this sense of safety, particularly when children are on board. The option to fit the boat with an electric windlass, full cockpit cover or a small galley area further expands its range of features.

The European price was not disclosed in the information released at the time of the announcement. However, it will be a key factor in assessing the actual market positioning of this new generation, as Bayliner has historically built much of its reputation on mass-produced boats offered at affordable prices.

The Bayliner V22 and V22i will begin their European tour in autumn 2026. They are due to be showcased at HISWA in the Netherlands, the Southampton International Boat Show, Interboot in Friedrichshafen, the boat shows in Genoa, Warsaw and Barcelona, as well as in France at the Grand Pavois 2026 in La Rochelle.

Technical specifications – Bayliner V22 / V22i