● SEA RAY 185 Sports● ● ● ● ● ●
The GOLD standard
PERFORMANCE
Test boat engine: MerCruiser
4. 3 L TKS, 262 ci / 4. 3 L, 4 stroke
V6 producing 190 hp, Alpha One
drive with three blade
aluminum prop
ENGINE (RPM)
Idle 650
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
4600 max
SPEED (MPH)
2.9 mph
5
8.2
11. 9
22. 4•
30.4
37.2
42. 7
50. 7
51
*Cruising speed
WITH STYLING THAT is almost instantly
recognizable and a long history as a
top seller, Sea Ray Boats are a kind of
gold standard in the industry. Sea Ray
is now owned by Brunswick Corp.,
and some would say it’s Brunswick’s
flagship boat line, built in large numbers, sold in markets around the
world, and available in sizes from 17
Unless you’re Aristotle Onassis, Sea
Ray probably builds a boat for you.
Our 185 Sport test boat represents
Sea Ray’s real bread-and-butter; a
family bowrider with a wide range of
features, luxurious appointments and
exhilarating performance.
Sea Ray offers a matched trailer
with available disc brakes and a
swing away tongue to make it easier
to store this boat in your garage at
home. Be careful though. The 185 has
a standard swim platform and in fact,
the boat measures 19’ 8” in length
overall. You’ll need a good 20+ feet
of garage.
Our test boat had the middle
engine option: a 4. 3 Litre MerCruiser
stern drive with TKS, “Turn Key
Starting”. Producing 190 hp, the TKS
feature was as good as its name. A
simple twist of the key and the
engine started immediately.
Out of the water with just a driver,
we accelerated to planing speed in
only 3.2 seconds; in 7. 4 seconds we
were well over 40 mph. This is strong
acceleration for either skiing or carrying a gang of friends and family
members. As the speeds rise, the Sea
Ray hull proved to be a real thoroughbred. We topped out at 51 mph
doing 4,600 rpm. Cranking the wheel
over hard, we carved a very tight turn
and the ride was solid and smooth in
the normal lake conditions that day.
We were amazed to find we could
cruise at only 2,500 rpm doing 22. 4
mph; a serene and silent speed that
