185 with 135 hp

D

dallasag

New Member
May 21, 2009
5
I am in the market for a used 17 - 19 ft ski boat for lake use. I have seen a couple 185's for sale with the 135 hp Merc, but the majority seem to have the bigger engine.

Is 135 hp sufficient to pull a 200+ lb skier on a 2600 lb sea ray 185?

Thanks in advance!
 
Short answer, yes, but be prepared for a lot of criticism on the 3.0L (this topic has come up a few times). I have a 2007 185 w/ the 3.0 135HP and I'm fine with it. I've pulled tubes, skis, wake boarders, and knee board without issue. My WOT top speed is a bit disappointing at 39MPH (GPS). The larger engine has a better resale value and is probably more fun to drive.

Bottom line, if its in your budget get the bigger engine, you probably won't regret it, but if its not a big deal for you, the 3.0 will be fine, and better on gas too.

Oh one more thing, Nauticus Smart Tab's, Get em! Completely changed my ride in choppy water! Best money spent on my 185!
 
Good answer, above.

Here's something interesting for you all. I have the luxury of being able to take many different models out for "fun". The 185 Sport, even though it is 400lbs heavier than the 175, actually has a better hole shot! The 185 has a newer hull design than the 175. You gotta give credit where credit is due - Sea Ray is constantly tops in the game when it comes to hull design... and of course other things, as well! :smt038
 
Thanks for the info. I am trying to decide between a 17.5 ft ski boat and a 18.5 foot boat with the same 3.0 engine. A 185 with the 4.3 is out of my price range, unless I find a used 2003-2005 in good condition.

I was not clear on this before, but I am shopping around used boats, hoping to get something 2005 - 2008. Would your recommendation of 185 over 175 with the 3.0 engine change depending on the year? I am not having much luck finding comprehensive info. on the changes to these boats year to year.

In my area, the most used selection seems to be Bayliner and Sea Ray. If I am looking to own a ski boat for 3 years with a minimal amount of depreciation and upkeep, how would you guys rank the following - all between 2005 and 2008 and all with the 3.0 Merc: Sea Ray 175, Sea Ray 185, Bayliner 175, Bayliner 185.

Thanks!
 
I will try and state this as unbiasedly as I can. Bayliner is fine boat - it serves a purpose in the boating industry. It's inexpensive and gets people into boating. But honestly, you get what you pay for. You're going from one end of the "quality/performance/resale value" spectrum to the other when you compare Bayliner to Sea Ray.

The reason you see a lot of Bayliner's for sale is because a decent amount are sold - because of the price. The reason you see a lot of Sea Ray's for sale is because there are a lot of Sea Ray's sold - because of quality.

A Sea Ray hull will out-perform a Bayliner hull hands-down.

For the years you are looking at, the current 175 hull is exactly the same (although you may find it called a 180 - anything after 2001 will have the same hull, regardless of model designation).

The current 185 hull started with the '06 model year.

Hope that helps,
Dennis
 
On the SeaRay 185, 2004/2005 dry weight 2650, 2006/2007 dry weight 2400, 2008/2009 dry weight 2600, if you go SeaRay I would try and look for 2006/2007 due to 400 lbs lighter. I did not check the 175 on SeaRay site. Bayliner I think is lighter than the SeaRay also, I hve not checked that either.
 
Thank you very much for the info.

Right now I am looking at a 2007 185 with 135 hp and 30 hours for $15,000.00.

Should I go for this deal or wait for an equivalent 175 with 135 hp?
 
The 175 shows a dry weight of 2100, 300 lbs difference, I would go for it. The 185 is going to have a little more room and the weight difference will help the ride. You can also add Smart Tabs to make it even better.
 
Have you thought about a real ski boat? I'm talking flat bottom, straight inboard, hull skegs, ballast tank for boarding. If that's what you want to do, why not buy the real thing? Master Craft, Supra, etc. come to mind.
 
dallasag said:
Should I go for this deal or wait for an equivalent 175 with 135 hp?
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The 185 is better for skiing. As I stated above, it's not really about the weight - it's about hull design and efficiency.

The inboard ski boat is a good idea, but I think it'd be awful hard to find a newer one in the price range that was mentioned. I haven't priced them recently, so I could be wrong, but one would probably have to go back at least 10 years. But, absolutely, a "real" ski boat is the ticket for some hardcore stuff.
 
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I am not interested in a REAL ski boat with a true inboard. Just something to putter around the lake in, that I can fit in my garage, and pull my fat ##% out of the water.

If I suddenly turn into a ski or wakeboard fanatic, I can always move up in a few years.

More than anything, I just wanted to confirm that I wasn't making a mistake in getting a 135 hp 185 because it was not going to reasonably perform as a ski boat.

Thanks again for the help.
 
The 185 with the 4.3L. You WON'T regret it. That was my first boat. She was a fantastic little boat...
 
My opinion? Stay clear of the Bayliner. I had one and sold it 2 years ago. I had a 2005 175BR with the 3.0 Mercruiser. Bought it used but like new condition. Bayliner quality is so questionable that even the bow light was installed crooked and faced much more to "port" then straight ahead. You get what you pay for and Bayliner (in this size boat) is definitely "entry level". I disliked the 3.0 so much (in the Bayliner) that I opted for the 4.3 when I bought my Sea Ray. I never second guessed that one as I love the 4.3. Also, the Sea Ray does something else different with the carb to make it run correctly right from first start up with no hiccups and I remember the Bayliner 3.0 needing allot of time to warm up and run good. It wasn't a power issue, but a rought kind of running plus the bayliner is very noisy. Oh yea, they totally skimp out on insulation under the motor cover and you almost need ear plugs. My 4.3 is not MPI but I wouldn't know it because it just runs so well. If you plan to keep this boat for more then one season, consider a better brand such as Sea Ray, even if you do settle for the 3.0 because the 3.0 in a Sea Ray likely also has "turn key start" and will run much better then any Bayliner will. Just my 2 cents.

If you want this boat as just an all around lake boat for occasional skiing or tubing, then you might well be OK with a 3.0 I know my Dealer alsways recommended and liked that motor in this boat and you might want to look around for a demo drive somewhere. If you're buying used, same thing try to demo the boat you are buying.
 
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the 3.0 installed in the searay has a TKS carburator. It has a feature when you start it it will idle a bit higher until it warms up then idle back down. For pulling a skier I would go with the 4.3 mpi. It is an animal compared to the 3.0. Usually the 3.0 is more of a rough idling motor.
 
govols019 said:
I have been underwhelmed with the TKS system. I still have to start my boat at fast idle even when it's warm.
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Well, having owned both:
Bayliner 3.0 carb
Sea Ray 4.3 carb TKS

I can say without question that the bayliner was a bear and a bit*h to get warmed up and run without stalling and hiccuping. The 4.3 with TKS on the other hand starts immedietely and runs like it's warmed up right from the start. maybe that's the difference in the motors or maybe that's the TKS system but all I know is that my Sea Ray with TKS does not leave me "wanting" for the MPI version. At the very least I would get the TKS motor as found in a Sea Ray, even if that is the 3.0 motor. Besides, your ears will thank you too.
 
go for the 185 you will be happy. I have a 06 185 with the 3.0 and it's just fine and is great on gas,it's no speed demon but great for tubing and sking.
 
buhuskies said:
Well, having owned both:
Bayliner 3.0 carb
Sea Ray 4.3 carb TKS

I can say without question that the bayliner was a bear and a bit*h to get warmed up and run without stalling and hiccuping. The 4.3 with TKS on the other hand starts immedietely and runs like it's warmed up right from the start. maybe that's the difference in the motors or maybe that's the TKS system but all I know is that my Sea Ray with TKS does not leave me "wanting" for the MPI version. At the very least I would get the TKS motor as found in a Sea Ray, even if that is the 3.0 motor. Besides, your ears will thank you too.
Click to expand...

Could be the difference in motors because I've heard that the 3.0 is a notoriously rough idling motor. I'd still rather have an old fashioned choke over the TKS. I guess you could chalk that up to my years of being an old outboard owner.

I've been in a Bayliner 175 and you're right, that joker is loud.
 
TKS is hit or miss. It's nice idea - using this "wax" stuff that will change consistency with temperature to allow the "auto-choke" feature. If it's working well, you'll love it. If it's not working well, it's sometimes difficult to get it working nicely. I'm not completely sold on the idea, yet.
 
I am 6'7 and weigh about 290 pounds and my 3.0 pulls me on a tube....no problem and there is PLENTY of throttle left to really get me hurt if I wanted to be pulled faster. Keep in mind, the guy driving is 5'10 and weighs another 250+ pounds.

If I were shopping again, I would probably go with a bigger motor simply because I want to cruise faster when going from point A to point B. But.....when gas was at 4.50 a gallon last summer, I was glad I didn't have to fill a 40 gallon tank and run through the whole tank in a day of boating. The gas bill would have been a bummer. I was glad to throw 20 gallons in and get a few outings on that tank.

So, it really comes down to what you want because the 3.0 will pull just fine. Ditto on what the others said on Bayliner vs Sea Ray. The lakes up here in Montana can get a little rough and when your boat is taking a pounding, you want quality and longevity over a quick fix on price.
 
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