Question about a 185.
- Thread starter axg1040
- Start date
IMHO - I would not think it could be more than a couple hundred pounds more than a 3.0. The only true way to get the weight is take it to a scale and get it weighed. You will be surprised how much fuel, oil, and all the stuff you put on the boat adds up.
FLAScott185Sport
New Member
This is a very good question! I think that number is the weight of the boat with out the engine? If you download the manual off the Sea Ray Web it is showing it is about 5500 pounds.. I attached it. I was thinking of calling Sea Ray to clarify.
FLAScott185Sport
New Member
I am using a 2007 Tahoe with the 5.3 with 3.73 Gears. Full boat and 6 people in the truck tows it great. However it does drop from about 17MPG down to 9 MPG.
My Sea Ray guy said that the weight is for the smallest power plant and bare minimum of options. Basically a striped dry weight.:huh:
Since we are talking about a new tow vehicle "IMHO" you need to say below the 75% of what the vehicle is saying their tow capacity.
Hope it helps.
ruf1967
New Member
The Shorelander trailer itself is rated for 3100lbs. I'm figuring mine weighs between 2400 to 2800 or so. The 5500lbs weight shown in the manual is wrong. If the boat weighed that much, a bigger powerplant is needed as well as a double axle trailer.
lake anna boater
New Member
- Jul 11, 2008
- 51
- Boat Info
- 08 185 sport 4.3mpi
07 lincoln navigator
- Engines
- mercrusier 4.3 mpi
i just took the weight that the web said and then went to mercrusier to see what each engine weighed and added the differnce to that weight
unlvrebel
New Member
5500lbs???:huh: My 220 SD doesn't weigh that much. Are we sure that manual is correct?
Last edited:
- Oct 3, 2006
- 2,019
- Boat Info
- 04 SeaRay 185Sport, Smart Tabs, Mageln Meridian Gold GPS, Hbird Matrix 87 dept/ff/gps/cp, Uniden vhf
- Engines
- 4.3L 190HP, Alpha 1 1.81 ratio, 14 1/4X21 Turning Point Prop
I just checked the SeaRay site, my 04 is rated at 2650 lbs dry weight, the 06 and 08 are both rated at 2400 lbs dry weight.
Wow!! Did not even look at the number, no way a 185 could be any where near 5500lbs. Midways numbers sound more like it to me! The Dry weight on a 240SD is below 5000lbs.
Weave
New Member
That weight is definitely wrong....my 200 Sundeck dry is 3500lbs.
FLAScott185Sport
New Member
Yeah I know this wrong.. suprised they have not corrected it. So since I have the wake package I am thinking take the number on the website. Add another 200 pounds for the 4.3 plus 100 pounds for the tower and 25 gallons of fuel 25x7= 175 and 1000 for the trailer for a total of 1475 plus the boat. So I would assume I am towing about 4000 pounds.
What about stuff??? Tool box, coolers, skies, anchor, oil, etc, etc. I adds up in a hurry I est on the high side myself.
FLAScott185Sport
New Member
Well I have a 2nd battery, 350 watt amp, 4 tower speakers,2 anchors, wakeboard,tube, line, 8 jackets... normally a 60 qrt cooler. drinks in 2 inboard coolers.. Maybe another 350 pounds..
You should be fine in either but you will probably get less laughs in the Tacoma. Just joking but I have a hard time thinking of Honda for a truck. :thumbsup:
CommonCents
New Member
Wow - 9mpg? Off topic, but with the aerodynamic upgrades and cylinder deactivation technology, figured an '07 would be in the double digits.
My experience earlier this year on a fairly lengthy tow of my 185 Sport (4.3L) was an average just over 16mpg in an '02 Tahoe 5.3 by keeping it below 65 and messing some with the Tow/Haul button (engaged uphill and normal for the level/some downhill stretches). Since I was moving I had a good 175+ lbs in the boat and maybe a ton of stuff from the front seats back -- I'd say comparable to your load, albeit with a nearly empty gas tank in the boat.
To the original poster, if you are only buying a truck/SUV to tow with and maybe the occassional light duty for home projects, might do well getting something with a lot of torque and higher tow rating (like a 2001-2003 Tahoe/Silverado) on the cheap and spending the balance on something more fuel efficient (and probably fun to drive). We keep our Sea Ray in a boatel and find we only need the towing capacity when we fill up and trailer (rather than boat) to some of the farther off destinations. And for the money I saved buying a used Tahoe, I found a low mileage Prelude VTEC that is nearly as much fun as piloting my 185 sport on the river! BTW -- I figure 4500-4800 lbs is a safe estimate for a mildly loaded but fully fueled 185 Sport V6, and the magazine review I read criticized the Honda when towing ~5k (underpowered/handling). Bet a slightly used '06- '07 Tundra V8 would make an excellent tow vehicle/daily driver if you are leaning towards the Japenese makes...
Weave
New Member
You would be ok with either. I looked at both vehicles and also the Frontier. I liked the Ridgeline but felt that it was an SUV with a bed. Certainly well thought out and lots of storage, etc. Independent rear suspension is the other difference versus the "real" truck that do not have independent rear susp. I deal with a vendor who has a Ridgeline and asks me to trade all the time.:smt001
That being said the Tacoma is rated for 6500 lbs with towing package. I constantly get compliments on how smooth it is for a midsize truck and also how much power for a mid size.
Either choice will suit you well.
roostrs
Member
I actually had to contact Shorelander to get the weight on the trailer for my insurance guy. It is 600 lbs. Sea Ray lists the dry weight of the 195 at just over 2800 lbs. 185 with the 4.3 would be no heavier so 3300-3500 without gear should be a pretty good estimate.