2011 185 sport......

T

tazer

New Member
Aug 15, 2011
12
Emma Lake SK
Boat Info
BLUE!!! 185 sport

Matches the blue sport trac tow vehicle
Engines
190 hp TKS Mercury
I have about 25 hrs on my new boat.

A couple of things.

Anyone miss having a right arm rest? My wife and I will go for 2 hr boat rides and piloting the kids on the tube all afternoon I wish I had an arm rest.

The boat dealer forgot to install fire extinguisher.... will pick one up, but where is a good spot to install it? I am under the impression that in the back under the engine cover is not where it should be.

A bow filler cushion on competitor boats is a nice feature. I admit have not looked at Sea-Ray website but did not see any in brochure. Any one ever have one?

My glove box/radio cover feels very fragile. On a solid boat that I think is well built the door on the glove box feels very flimsy. Also wish it had a bit more room so cell phone/kids glasses/wife's cell phone/car keys/wallet/Ipod were easier to access that the under dash compartments. Any one break or have trouble with the door?

Thanks Jeff
 
My boat feels comfortable to throttle on longer trips but the armrest thing is personal preference. I keep two extinguishers aboard. One is mounted at arms reach under the helm. The other is in the gunnel next to the engine compartment. If there is a fire I certainly don't want to be fumbling around looking for the extinguisher. I don't think there are any bow filler cushions for the 185 sport but you could be creative with a bean bag or diy with a custom filler cushion. The glove box is a little small but I haven't had any problems with the door or latch. The door is light weight but it is attached well with a piano hinge. I would prefer the weight savings anywhere I can get it. Congratulations on your new boat but please mount an extinguisher asap so you don't end up SOL.
 
tazer said:
Anyone miss having a right arm rest? My wife and I will go for 2 hr boat rides and piloting the kids on the tube all afternoon I wish I had an arm rest.

The boat dealer forgot to install fire extinguisher.... will pick one up, but where is a good spot to install it? I am under the impression that in the back under the engine cover is not where it should be.


A bow filler cushion on competitor boats is a nice feature. I admit have not looked at Sea-Ray website but did not see any in brochure. Any one ever have one?

My glove box/radio cover feels very fragile. On a solid boat that I think is well built the door on the glove box feels very flimsy. Also wish it had a bit more room so cell phone/kids glasses/wife's cell phone/car keys/wallet/Ipod were easier to access that the under dash compartments. Any one break or have trouble with the door?


Thanks Jeff
Click to expand...

blaster said:
I would prefer the weight savings anywhere I can get it. Congratulations on your new boat but please mount an extinguisher asap so you don't end up SOL.
Click to expand...

I've seen the bow filler issue on other threads, blaster is right, no factory bow cushion - probably for all of the Sport line boats. But you could make a filler and have a top cushion made - probably by an upholstry shop.

My helm is deep, and the extinguisher is deep under the helm. I should probably move it to a better place. I think blaster has a point about having two. The boat gets full of stuff and people, and you want it accessable.

I think I have the same glove box door as blaster. Mine seems sturdy enough.

I'm in the same camp as blaster about weight. I shopped multiple boats, and saw a lot of things I liked. But, it all comes down to consumer compromise regarding your wallet and sense of purpose for your boat. On the little midwest lakes where I boat, your brand new Sea Ray 185 would be one of the top 10 or 15 boats on the lake by price value. Anything above a 24 footer on these lakes is rare (and starts to look silly big and overpowered for the water acres we have to work with). Enjoy your boat, its a beauty, fast, and a luxury model compared to a lot of older / lower dollar boats on the lake.
 
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I have a 2008 and mine came with a oem bow cushion. Don't know if they changed it in 2011. Also be careful with the stereo door. Mine was left down and one of the kids leaned on it and the screws pulled out of it.
 
I agree that Sea Ray really needs an arm rest on these! I have a 2010 and on choppy waters it really gets annoying and I usually get a really nice mark on my arm from that edge you can kind of rest on. This is going to be my first mod to the boat after a fire ext. mount. I also have the same issue with figuring out a good place for the fire extinguisher :) There just isn't a great place for 1 let alone 2.

Yep the glove box door feels flimsy but so far mine is OK but I have my doubts if it will last but so far so good. I have researched the bow cushion aspect and there is not one. They really need that as I think a lot of people would buy one. I agree with the other post that for all the things the boat does have these are small things, but still annoying but I will take them compared to the quality of the other boats in it's size range!
 
I don't have an arm rest and honestly in such a small boat I think that it would get in my way.

Surprised on the fire extinguisher part from the dealer. I have the stock one in the cubby next to me. A second and larger one under the seat affixed to the wall on the port bow seat.

I havn't seen a bow filler cushion for the 185 S, but would be great!

My door for the radio box is also week. Sometimes hard to latch. I have read that others have replaced it with a better lock. I haven't broke the door yet. I do have all of my audio stuff under the radio. This includes a small amp and an fm modulator (daisy chains the antenna cable). I keep my phone next to me in a water tight bag.

- Mark
 
I "think" he was looking for a filler cushion, which is different from the forward seat cushion... it makes the entire bow area a large flat area.
 
Tazer:

I have the 2006 version - the right arm rest would definitely be in the way on my boat. As a major source of fires will be the engine, I second the suggestion that while there are many places for a fire-putter-outer, in the engine compartment is not on that list. Mine is in the port storage compartment, w. a second in the forward seat storage.

I'd love the bow filler cushion; please post if you find one elsewhere. Mine does not even have the center seat cushion that Red95jeep posted.

The glove box (sigh). I appear to have the oldest boat of any reply so far (?) and the glove box has caused a few cracked fingernails and smashed fingers and many choice words. It is not well-designed, and the hinge has bent just enough that it is necessary to turn the latch and then pull down on the door to open it. My son now closes it by kicking it. High on the list of things to fix (but lower than the after-market depth gauge, which does not work).
 
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