1970 SRV 180 120 hp

Leslie L

New Member
Oct 22, 2019
10
Detroit area
Boat Info
180 SRV Sea Ray 1970 120HP
Engines
120 hp
Looking for an owner's manual. Any help out there? How about this: Button on right side of the dash, left of horn and cigarette lighter is not labeled. Does anyone know what it does?
Thanks for any info.
SRV 180 HoneyBee.jpg
 
Nice looking boat. The button is supposed to toot the horn. Mine doesn't work because the horn is gone. Check the wiring. Maybe the horn doesn't work anymore.
 
Nice looking boat. The button is supposed to toot the horn. Mine doesn't work because the horn is gone. Check the wiring. Maybe the horn doesn't work anymore.
Actually the button next to it is labeled horn and it works. The original horn is still there. Another member said it is for the lights but the light switch is on the left of the dash and labeled lights and also works. The tachometer and the speedometer also don't seem to be working but all other instruments appear operational. Clearly a wiring issue but still leaves third item on right a mystery. Thanks for your input. I love my new/old little boat and am glad I found you guys.
 

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I will look at mine and see if it is labeled
 
it is the switch for the windshield wiper.
 
Thanks. No wonder it didn't work: my windshield wiper is missing.
Thanks so much for your help. Are you still boating out there in the Pacific Northwest? Here in the Midwest, my boat came out of the water last weekend. Can't wait for summer!
 
Yes and no. No I'm not, but some people are. Boating is pretty much a year round activity in the lowlands, on Puget Sound and adjacent waters, and lowland lakes in western Washington and Oregon. Most of my boating is on American Lake in Pierce County. Half of the lake is owned by the Army and they have their own marina and that's where I keep my boat, but they always close up and require everyone to get their boat out by September 30. If I wanted I could still use the boat ramp. But this gives me a period to work on the boat, do whatever needs doing. This way it doesn't cut into fishing time during the rest of the year. And right now we are going through a cold spell in the 20's at night (which is about as cold as it gets in western Washington) so that puts a damper on things.
 
Sounds like a great way to divide up the seasons. Happy fishing and working on your boat. I'm hoping for lots of snow. If it's going to be winter I prefer winter all the way. Luckily the boats in the garage so some work can still be done. Fishing, not so much.
 
More power to you. I spent a winter in Michigan back in 1965-66 at U of M in Ann Arbor. And I have lived in places where winters are long and snowy. No thanks. Now that I'm retired I prefer the milder climate. Besides, if I want snow it's only 30 miles away in the mountains.
 
The sixties at U of M sounds enviable. Don't blame you for heading to the NW though. I've worked in Horticulture for over 30 years and the Pacific NW is definitely on my bucket list. Sounds like a Shangri la of sorts. Maybe someday.....
 
Of sorts. LOL Does rain a bit, but that's what keeps the grass and trees green and keeps the temps usually mild. But even that can get a bit depressing. However, I was born and raised here, and my wife (a New York City girl) loves it.
I enjoyed Michigan. The Fall and Spring were really beautiful, and the people were really friendly. My roommates were both Michigan natives. One from the Northern Peninsula. Boating is big in Michigan. Did some sailing while there on one of the local lakes. Go Big Blue.
 
Hey guys... chiming in here w my 1970 srv 180. How many of us are there w these ole runabouts?

6106D807-E91D-4792-BBCA-AB8842342D28.jpeg
 
I've got the same year, model and color as yours. What does the button next to your cigarette lighter do?
I love my SRV 180. I think it's the best boat in my neighborhood. Get's a lot of second looks.
 
They should do just fine, Of course remember they're old. Don't push it. A 40 something year old engine is not going to last if you run it full tilt. But at cruising speed ( 3/4 throttle) they should do fine. Also if you have raw water cooling you need to flush it after each use in salt water. If you have a closed system then you shouldn't have to.And give it a wash down after a day in salt water. I do my boating on a large lake but I have no doubt it would do fine if i took it out on Puget Sound.
 
Here's mine. 73 SRV
 

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Guys, We’re getting ready to move from Illinois back to Florida and I’m really struggling on whether I should bring Lil Havana w us.
She’s in great shape and always maintained w open check book.
She’s easy to trailer and store.

BUT it is a salt environment and most of my buds tell me I’m crazy to bring her down for salt use. That and the sun will scorch the color.

I m waffling.
 
Every time I hear someone say it won't last in salt water I have to chuckle. That's the same old canard about aluminum boats being used in salt water. If you have raw water cooling, you will need to flush the system after use which requires a hose, a set of muffs and about 15 minutes of your time. If you have a heat exchanger, salt water never goes into the engine or manifold. Yes a closed cooling system with a heat exchanger is better but not absolutely necessary. There are thousands of boats used everyday (well maybe not right now during lockdown) on salt water that have raw water cooling. Outboards have raw water cooling and those who own them know they have to flush after every use.

As for the sun thing, yes it will fade the color, mine is faded after 48 years. But if you wax it regularly, at least once or twice a year, and keep it under a cover when not in use it will do fine.

However, right now in Florida boating is really restricted. The ramps are closed. If you want to find out what's going on there boating wise try The Hull Truth forum https://www.thehulltruth.com/ Be advised some of the folks on that forum can be really sarcastic and downright nasty but there are a lot of Floridians and they talk about the current situation a lot.
 

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