Bayliner Element XR7: Deck Boat, Pontoon Boat, Runabout
This all-new model defies definition by combining several different boat types.
December 11, 2014
The new Bayliner Element XR7 looks, at first glance, a bit unusual—is it a pontoon boat? A deck boat? A runabout? The answer in all cases is yes, and like the other Elements in Bayliner’s stables, instead of following the “norm” the XR7 blazes new trails of its own.
The Bayliner Element XR7 doesn't run on pontoons, but has a distinctly pontoon-like deck layout.
By this point, you’ve probably seen and heard about the Bayliner Element. It won an Innovation Award at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show, set a new bar for affordability and sold like hotcakes. It still does, actually. And it was quickly followed with the introduction of the Element XL, a slightly larger, more powerful version of the boat, as well as fishing versions.
Now, we have the Element XR7. Well, almost—if you’re reading this review soon after its publication, the XR7 might not be on the market just yet. But we got a sneak-peek and a test-run on the prototype of this boat. And although it carries the Element name-tag and rides on the Element’s M-shaped hull, the differences between this model and its predecessors are huge.
Pontoon
For starters, from the waterline up the XR7 looks more like a pontoon boat than anything else. It has a pair of large lounges forward, and a second pair aft. It has a wet-bar built into the back of one of those lounges. It has tall sides—fences, in pontoon parlance—everywhere except on the bow where you step up to the bow swim platform. And it has a long, generous aft swim platform, as well.
Deck Boat
So, how’s it like a deck boat? For starters, you get the advantages of fiberglass, like the ability to carve out a huge stowage box for water skis, wakeboards, and the like, under the deck. Thank you, Bayliner, for adding the gas-assist struts here to make swinging open the large hatch more or less effortless.
Perhaps even more important to most boaters, however, is that the console houses a head compartment. It continues back under the deck for several feet, so you not only get legroom but also an extra space for bulk stowage. That’s a big step up from the canvas pop-up head enclosures found on most pontoons. One gripe: there was no strap to secure the head door open (nor was there one for the boarding door). Let’s remember that we tested a prototype and Bayliner may add straps to production boats, but if they don’t, this is something you’ll want to add on your own.
Want to get a better look at that head console? We thought so. Here’s a quick video:
Runabout
Now let’s talk runabout. Our test boat had a sturdy tow arch over the outboard, perfect for pulling all sorts of tow toys. And with the 200 HP Mercury Verado outboard on the transom, it has a sporty runabout feel to it, too. With a full load of six people and half fuel we ran at 34.7 MPH, and that was before Bayliner had a chance to get the boat propped correctly (it turned 5000 RPM at WOT, which should be brought up to 5800 to 6400 to meet Mercury’s recommendations). Remember: prototype. Once they have a chance to tweak and fiddle, this boat should break 40 MPH, no problem.
Here's one option we know they'll be offering for the Element XR7: A refrigerator can be added to the wet bar.
It handles more like a runabout or a deckboat than like a pontoon, which shouldn’t come as any surprise. The M-hull is somewhat cat-like in that it packs a bit of air under the hull, delivering a cushioning effect as you hit waves. It also carves out turns nicely, and responds quickly to the throttle. The downside was a tendency to porpoise a bit at high speeds when all the passengers were sitting on the aft lounges. Hopefully Bayliner will address this while moving from prototype to production, but keep it in mind when you go for a test drive.
We wish we could give you some more details regarding pricing, important options, and the like, but again, we saw the boat in prototype mode and many decisions regarding its final form haven’t yet been made by Bayliner. That said, we’re confident of one thing: if you like the layout of a pontoon boat, the utility of a deckboat, and the performance of a runabout, the Bayliner Element XR7 belongs on your short list.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 22'0" |
| Beam | 8'6" |
| Draft | TBD |
| Deadrise | NA (M-hull) |
| Displacement | TBD |
| Fuel capacity | 40 gal. |
Other Choices:
Carolina Skiff also has a fiberglass pontoon-like boat, the Fun Chaser 2100. Or, you could check out a deckboat like the Starcraft Aurora if you’re inclined more towards fiberglass. But if the topsides lounge layout is what has you hooked, you’ll probably be more interested in pontoon boats like the Princecraft Vectra 23.
See our Bayliner XR7 listings.
For more information, contact Bayliner Boats.
