Whether you’re rekindling a passion for boating or launching into the boating lifestyle for the first time, the Bayliner Element is your way in. All-new for the 2013 model year, Element is a revolutionary new boat that promises to make boating an accessible, easily adoptable pastime for just about anyone. Element’s affordable price allows owners to enjoy the “So Worth It!” Bayliner boating experience for a surprisingly low monthly payment that is comparable to a cable bill, and its unique design offers an automotive-like driving experience that will be familiar to anyone who’s been behind the wheel of a car.
“Whatever has held people back from getting into boating in the past, Element erases all that,” said Matt Guilford, Bayliner’s vice president of marketing. “We solicited extensive customer feedback and, thanks to some very creative innovations, developed a product that’s pitch perfect for someone looking for an approachable way into the boating lifestyle.”
At 16 feet in length, Element easily accommodates a family of four and has capacity for up to six. Its surprisingly roomy layout includes opposed cockpit seating, which fosters easy conversation among passengers, a full-beam aft sunpad, and a cushioned bow lounge area that boasts room for two to stretch their legs. Even with a full crew, there’s still space onboard for a carry-on cooler. Deep cockpit freeboard enhances passenger safety, and a pair of stern swim platforms provide easy water access.
To make it refreshingly easy to own, Bayliner designed Element with minimal upkeep in mind. A standard 60-hp Mercury FourStroke outboard engine provides reliable, fuel-efficient power capable of towing a tuber or wakeboarder. Low-maintenance Mercury outboards are engineered to perform in either fresh or saltwater, so Element is equally at home on inland or coastal waterways. And Element’s self-bailing cockpit is easy to clean after a day on the water; just hose and go.
The most distinctive aspect of Element’s design is its signature M hull. Bayliner’s engineering team sought to create a running surface that delivered exceptional stability and superior passenger comfort while at rest and under way. The team ultimately moved away from a traditional V hull in favor of an innovate M-hull design that maintains exceptionally level flotation even when passengers step on gunnels while boarding. Much like a car or tri-tube pontoon boat, Element takes turns like it’s riding on rails, with very little of the pitching and yaw commonly associated with V-hulled craft. And to simplify the driving experience for novice and experienced boaters alike, Bayliner constructed an all-new helm station for Element that features a single, multipurpose gauge and only a few essential dash controls.
Element is just as easy to maneuver out of the water. At a trailering weight of approximately 2,200 pounds, Element is towable by many small SUVs. With a 16’2” overall length and 7’5” beam, Element can be stowed in an average-sized garage. The standard Element trailer has been specially designed to make launching and retrieval at the boat ramp a breeze.
Element will makes its debut at the 2013 New York Boat Show, starting January 3, 2013.