The Bayliner V20 is available with two engines: an outboard and an inboard. Comparing the two, on the same day and on the same stretch of water, really speaks for itself. Despite identical hulls, we're not sailing the same boat at all.
For our test drive, the V20i in board was offered in its maximum power configuration, with a 250 hp Mercruiser 4.5 l V6 Alpha. With this engine, we reached a top speed of 42.7 knots. While speed is respectable, acceleration is less so. Indeed, in this configuration, the boat (200 kg heavier than its outboard counterpart) is slow to lift off the throttle, and not lively on acceleration. This may be an argument for some yachtsmen who want to keep their crew safe, and for whom hard acceleration is not to their taste.
On the other hand, the V20 powered by a Mercury 150 hp (maximum power is 225 hp) has a slower top speed (36.25 knots), but offers crisp, dynamic acceleration. The new Mercury 150 R, with its high torque, is undoubtedly the right combo for this boat. The shipyard tells us that it tested the boat with a 175 hp Mercury to reach the equivalent inboard speed of 40.6 knots.
In tight turns, the two boats behave in diametrically opposed ways. The outboard version turns flat with a fairly wide radius. The inboard, on the other hand, lies on its edge, making a short turn.
