New to boating - 2000 Sea Ray 185

Glocker

Member
Sep 7, 2019
39
Boat Info
Boat: 2000 Sea Ray 185
Tow Vehicle: 2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4
Engines
4.3 Mercruiser
I just bought my first boat, a 2000 Sea Ray 185 with 4.3 Mercruiser. I'm looking forward to learning about boating and having fun out on the lake with this thing! I've got some small things to work out on it though.

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It's currently at the mechanic getting a new impeller installed; a safety measure since this thing has been sitting for two years. It also needs the cooler latch replaced, but I'm expecting that to be an easy swap out.

The one thing I'm not looking forward to tackling is the stereo. When I went on the first test drive of the boat, there was a serious electrical issue that shut us down and we ended up having to be towed back to the marina. It turns out the alternator went, and took the main circuit breaker and fuse block with it. I don't know if the stereo worked before this or not, but I have a feeling it could have fried the stereo.

Any tips on where to start? How easy is it to get the stereo out of the dash if it is indeed fried? It's been about 16 years since I've messed with stereos!!!
 
Doubt that cooked it. So if you replaced all the items you mentioned do you have 12 volts to the stereo ? Usually there can be an inline fuse going to it.
 
It turns out the radio wasn't getting power. We ran a new power wire from the captains position, forward through the bow, and back to the co-captain's position. I went ahead and swapped out the head unit for a $21 Dual from Walmart; no CD but it has Bluetooth for connecting and streaming from the phone. It sounds great although with only two speaker you loose the music above 20 miles an hour! LOL
 
You will be hard pressed to get a stereo loud enough to hear on plane. I am running 8 speakers, two amps and a sub and can barely hear it when it is blaring me out of the cockpit at no wake speed.
 
Congratulations on your new to you boat ... that’s a nice size and good you have the V6. The only thing I want to hear when going is the engine ...
 
Small details make me happy!
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Got another small thing done this Sunday; I installed a replacement Sunbrella cover on the bow of the boat. It doesn't match the main cockpit cover but I can live with that. It was pretty easy to install the snaps.
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After I got the cover done, I drug the boat down the street to put it the water one last time this season. It's been pretty warm here in Georgia, ranging from comfortable to unbearably hot. While that makes for great boating, my lake is 8ft below full pool!

I scouted the ramp before getting the boat wet to make sure I wasn't going to ground at the dock. I then pretty much made sure I kept to the center of the lake to avoid any junk. Being as almost no one was out, I fooled around with speed and trim. I learned this drinks LOTS of fuel! LOL
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I've gotten pretty good at launching and recovering my boat by myself! I can get it in and back out pretty quick, but I'm going to teach the wife how to back the trailer in the spring.
 
Nice, welcome aboard. Feel free to ask if you get stumped on something.
 

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