Searay 190 vs 205, help needed :-)

sharpsolver

New Member
Jan 27, 2018
17
Vienna Austria
Boat Info
Searay 190 SPE (Sport Europe) 2013
Towing Vehicle: BMW 2016 5 Series
Engines
Merc. 3.0. 135hp Alpha One
Hi there!
I introduced myself a few weeks ago and was almost finished buying a 2013 searay 190 with the 3.0 tks engine in really good shape from a friend. The boat looks like new, has run 70hours never saltwater
"unfortunately" a local dealer offered a 2009 searay 205 with the 5.0 V8 engine with just a slight difference in the price, has run in 370 hours in saltwater but perfectly maintained.
Any reasons in your opinion not to take the v8? Any known usual problems with that engine especially in combination with saltwater?

Thx!

Chris
 
Our 205 has been a great boat. You will want the V8. Salty boats I usually stay away from,
unless it has good documentation that it was maintained, flushed properly.
 
More information is needed.

Was the 205 kept in a slip or on a trailer? How salty was the water? Brackish or ocean? Warm or cold water? Was the motor fresh water flushed after use? Have you looked at the boat in person? If so, how does it present? Corrosion, stains, oily bilge, rust?

How do you plan to use the boat? The extra space and power of the 205 will be a big plus if you take out several people or are really into tow sports. The 190 with that power isn't a speed demon nor will it tow skiers well with more than a moderate load.

I wouldn't reject the 205 because it was used in salt water. Rather, do your due diligence in researching maintenance records, type of use, and get an engine survey from a marine mechanic.
 
Hi! Thx for your instant replies !

I plan to use it on a river mainly, watersports later when the kids are bigger for the time just bathing and a bit tubing.


The boat was located in Croatia - >ocean water and has a pretty complete documentation of maintenance. Of course fresh water flush after use is not documented, but the last owner is well known to the dealer. I will have a look at the 205 next week, it looks good on the photos. I will let you know then :) So there are no known issues with the 2009 5.0 mpi v8 or the 2009 205 itself in you opinion ?

Best regards
Chris
 
Several people will probably argue otherwise, but I think a 3.0L engine in a 190 that you intend to use for watersports will leave you wanting for more power. If the 205 checks out, I think it will be a better long term solution for you and your family. As is often said on this forum: "Buy your 2nd boat 1st"
 
I agree with that :)
"buy your second boat first" - never heard before :) :) surely true...
 
If you are spending more than $10,000 I would highly suggest getting a boat and engine survey. Do not ask how I know.
 
You’ll quickly tire of how hard the 3.0 works when trying to use for water sports. Pulling a skier, expect to shift people to the bow to get her on plane. 4.3 V-6 or the 5.0 both better options.
 
The 205 with the 5.0 TKS is a 50 mph boat with the stock alum prop. The 5.0 MPI is more rare. That's a 55+ boat. You will be happy with either for your intended purpose. It's been a great boat for me.
 
Forget about the 190 with the 3.0 TKS. It will be a miserable flaccid dog. The 205 is a great boat. If in fact it has a 5.0 MPI 260hp (very rare) you will love it and never look for more power!!!! It is a beast. If it is a 205 with 5.0 carburetor it will be adequate for most purposes. I have the 5.0 MPI in a 205 and it hits 59 mph with stock prop. I installed a Mercruiser high 5 and now it tops out about 55 but could pull a tree of the shore and plane at about 14 mph and it doesn't matter if I have 2 people on board or 8 people on board you cant tell a difference!!
 
I had no problems with a 175 Sport with the 3.0 TKS and four adults and two kids on board. Got up on plane just fine and never felt like a "miserable flaccid dog". But it is a bit smaller of a boat. But the engine was very loud. Really got tired of that noise when going on any little trips.
 
I heard of many people being satisfied with the 3ltr engine in a 175 or a Bayliner 180
I tried it myself in a Larson 180 an it was okay without the wow effect ...
The 190 is a bit heavier, if the 205 is not such a beauty as expected, I will surely test the 190 first of course - we'll see
@Stingrayaxe: it will be the 5.0 mpi, not tks...
I hope you mean 55+ in mph not in years of the owner :)

Anyway you are great giving me so many of your opinions, I will see the 205 next week to find out, how good the condition really is and will let you know then!
 
Last edited:
@KnotEasy: you wrote your 205 was a great boat why did you sell it?

Best regards Chris
 
I still own my 205 with 5.0 mpi and it tops out at 55MPH with the High Five (5 blade prop) I just don't see the 3.0 liter being adequate. I owned one in a 16 foot starcraft for 20 years. If you want to pull a solemn skier you had to shuffle people to front of boat. It would plow to plane. Rest assured it ran correctly. A 190 is much bigger than 16 foot starcraft weighing 2200lbs. It topped out at 43 mph with just me on board and high 30's with 4 people. Just took 4ever to pull a solemn skier up. The 205 will also be much bigger than 190. It will be wider and longer, not just longer. I also would take fuel injection any cay over a fickle carburetor....

PS my Starcraft was a 1988, entire life in salt water. Just sold two weeks ago. Besides replacing manifolds every 8-10 years it was original outdrive, alternator, block. Never had valve cover off. If boat is flushed after each use i have no issues with salt water boat.
 
@searay205

That sounds pretty convincing :)
Of interest but not the main issue: how much difference in the mean fuel consumption did you notice between the 3.0 (i guess always around 4000rpm) and the 5.0 ltr engine at most economical rpm?
 
Last edited:
The 3.0 liter used little to no gas. I will say the 5.0 mpi uses twice the gas. Then again the 205 is 3100lbs and starcraft was 2200lbs. I bury the throttle at every opportunity so I burn the most. I usually burn 12-13 gallons on the 205 on a full day of boating. That includes pulling tubers, skiers, cruising. I would guess 3-5 gallons per hour of runtime. The starcraft burn was 3-4 gallons per hour. Boating isn't a place to save money, the difference in buring an extra 5-7 gallons of fuel ($13 per outing) is neglible. My buddy had a 496 mag, that burned the fuel..........
 
I personally never seen a TKS (turn key start) that worked as design. Theoretically you just turn the key like you would on fuel injection. There is a little solenoid the allow fuel in the carburetor. How hard is it to give boat a little throttle? My buddy has a 195 with 5.0 TKS. He always jacking around with float level, runs good hot, but doesn't start hot, starts good cold but doesn't run good cold. My would vapor lock after sitting a couple hours. Carburators are PIA!!! Fuel injection is a dream and mercruisers used it for decades its a proven design.....
 
FYI, the 185/190 sport, even though it's heavier, runs BETTER than the lighter 175 (both with the 3.0L). We can't always compare based solely on specs. The hull design was improved for better hole shot and if you've happened to run them, it's actually very obvious. With a light to medium load - 3 or 4 adults and pulling a skier - the 185/190 does quite well... surprisingly well. Now, if you start loading the boat up and want to compare it to the 205 with a 5.0L MPI V8... no comparison. But that's not even close to an "apples to apples" comparison, either. The 205 with a 5.0L MPI is a rocket ship.
 
Thx again for the loads of information to help a boat newbie, you are awesome :)
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,943
Messages
1,422,703
Members
60,927
Latest member
Jaguar65
Back
Top