215 Express Cruiser

greygoose1

New Member
Mar 28, 2009
16
Lake St. Clair
Boat Info
201 Liberator
Engines
351 King Cobra
Hello all, I have owned a Sea Ray in the past, but life got in the way for a while and I had to sell her. My previous Sea Ray was a 1997 215 Express Cruiser and now that I am getting back into boating I would like the same boat again. I have found a 1998 and a 1999 215 for sale in my area, both have the EFI 350 rated at 250 and 260 horsepower. While my boat was fuel injected, it only had the 220 horsepower 350.

My question is.... What type of speed / performance will be noticed with the extra 30-40 horsepower? I know that would certainly be noticeable in a car, but I am not sure if it would be as noticeable in a boat.

Thanks for any info you can give me.

Chris
 
Are you sure you didn't have a 5.0L in your last boat?
220 is the 5.0L standard and the 5.7 is 250HP. My cousin has a 225WE with the 5.0L and he cruises pretty well. I had the 5.7EFI just like I have in my boat now in my last boat(230OV). I was a great package for that size boat.
 
Are you sure you didn't have a 5.0L in your last boat?
220 is the 5.0L standard and the 5.7 is 250HP. My cousin has a 225WE with the 5.0L and he cruises pretty well. I had the 5.7EFI just like I have in my boat now in my last boat(230OV). I was a great package for that size boat.

A 225 weekender and a 215 express cruiser might be similar but they are not identical. In 1997 a 5.0 was not an option, only carbureted or fuel injected 350's with different horsepower ratings. Trust me, I know my Sea Rays. :grin: See link for reference.

I just need to know how noticeable the additional horsepower would be.

http://www.searay.com/Archives_Manuals/Sea_Ray_Archives/1997/25%20feet%20and%20below/215EC_SS.pdf
 
Great Boat, it was my 1st Searay and it was a 1998 215. Mine had the 5.0, very fast, got it up to 38 MPH. Just don't buy my old one as I beat the hell out of it and after I traded it the delare had to replace the lower unit.
 
Hello all, I have owned a Sea Ray in the past, but life got in the way for a while and I had to sell her. My previous Sea Ray was a 1997 215 Express Cruiser and now that I am getting back into boating I would like the same boat again. I have found a 1998 and a 1999 215 for sale in my area, both have the EFI 350 rated at 250 and 260 horsepower. While my boat was fuel injected, it only had the 220 horsepower 350.

My question is.... What type of speed / performance will be noticed with the extra 30-40 horsepower? I know that would certainly be noticeable in a car, but I am not sure if it would be as noticeable in a boat.

Thanks for any info you can give me.

Chris

In the years you are referencing, and in regards to the engine size:
5.0L Carb = 220HP
5.0L EFI = 240HP
5.7L Carb = 250HP
5.7L EFI = 260HP

All were offered with the Alpha drive. Top end speed? Sea Ray publishes a range, rather than a definitive number. At the low end, the range is 44-48mph, at the top end is 46-50mph. So, to answer your question, there's about a 2mph difference at WOT.

However, the extra "grunt" that more horsepower/displacement offers is more noticable during the hole-shot.

I used to own a 2000 215EC with the 5.0L EFI and, IIRC, topped out at 46 or 47.

By the way, trim tabs are an easy upgrade on this boat - I did it myself. With tabs, extra power for the hole-shot is less of an issue.

Hope this helps,
Dennis
 
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I had a 2001, 215EC that I got from Peters Marine.........
5.0, EFI, 240HP,

And out on the Chesapeake Bay, she would top out at 44.6 MPH.
Nice hole shots.......
That was a great and fun first boat.
 

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