Stowage below the seats isn't finished or lined, but is simply painted. Vinyl is two-tone throughout, with white the prominent color accented by grey. A windscreen, not a windshield, tops the helm. At the helm, a single, oversized speedometer echoes that of a Mini Cooper. Simplicity is the overriding theme throughout. The choice allowed Bayliner to avoid the costs of a permanent system, a valuable savings given today’s expansive emissions requirements. The battery is located below the starboard seat the removable 12-gallon fuel tank occupies a similar space to port. An optional removable cooler can be housed in the open space below a central filler cushion, and all seats feature stowage below. Swim platforms flank the outboard, and a three-step ladder on the starboard side is angled away from the prop. Two small swim platforms are scalloped into the stern and extended, 20”-square platforms further flank the outboard, the starboard platform featuring a three-step ladder that angles outward to keep boarders away from the engine. Aft, a 6’ x 2’ 4” sun lounge occupies its own recessed compartment. At the bow, an optional filler cushion turns the U-shaped bench into one big playpen. Only the helm’s is cut shorter, to accommodate the throttle. All three seats share the same simple base cushion the port seats share the same identical backrests. This mirror-image approach creates economies of scale for the builder. In the main cockpit area they’re identical, with the helm seat and both port seats scalloped into the deck to create a conversation-friendly space. Seat bases are molded into the deck itself. It’s the ideal construction for easy clean-ups and maintenance, but its true genius may be in the simplicity of its design. Above the bondline, that hull is mated to a one-piece, self-bailing fiberglass deck. The hull carries an "M" shape, to maximize stability. A side benefit to the design: those sponsons make it easy to put the boat on the standard-equipment trailer, as they hook onto the trailer bunks and center the boat naturally. Their goal was to deliver a boat that displayed a relatively flat attitude, much like a triple-tube pontoon or, to make a leap away from the water, a car. Designers also wished to avoid the pitch and yaw common to many V-hulls when cornering. One stated goal was to provide level floatation, even when passengers board by stepping on a gunwale. The shape also doesn’t flatten aft like a cathedral, but instead is carried from bow to stern. It’s similar to a cathedral hull, except the hull’s outer sponsons are far more prominent. Here, Bayliner designers crafted an M-shaped hull form, designed to offer “exceptional stability and superior passenger comfort” whether underway or at rest. A 16’ 2” long, 7’ 5” wide model that perhaps best resembles a mash-up of jet boat, runabout, and deckboat, the Element’s rethinking starts below the waterline. Instead, designers created an entirely new craft from scratch, one that would appeal to those aforementioned targets… and beyond. It’s a tall order, but to Bayliner’s credit, the company didn't just try to tweak an existing platform. And oh yeah, it would be helpful if it could fit into a smaller garage. They would, however, be willing to settle for somewhat lower top speeds, as long as the boat had plenty of seating for passengers. Neither group would settle for a boat that seemed like some overgrown toy. Their requirements would be a layout that enhances conversation and a design that didn't look dated, yet at the same time, didn't scream for attention like some recent jet or wake-inspired models. A secondary audience would be a 30-something couple without kids. As a result, any boat aimed at them would have to be lightweight enough to be easily towed. That typical family likely owns a six-cylinder, crossover-style tow vehicle. After much research, Bayliner determined the “typical” consumer would be a family of four, the parents viewing the boat as a way to connect with their young children. And, of course, just who would be buying it. The Element, the latest entry level boat from Bayliner, should play a role in minting many new boaters.
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