Sea Ray 180 question

[loggerboots]

Hi All,

First post. I’m looking to buy my first boat and a listing for a "Sea Ray 180" came up on locally. The ad says 2005 but doing some quick research, actually looks like an older model? I looked up the model year catalog for 2005 (looks like there was only a 180 sport) and this color (kinda of a solid white) was not listed as an option. Only images I can find of a 180 that looks like this are 90s models. Can someone confirm whether or not this is a 2005 or not? Thanks!

 

[GypsmJim]

The HIN on the stbd side of the transom will show the mfg year.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I'm positive that's a mid-2000's boat. 100%.

I'm not sure what you mean by "this color was not an option". I think you're confused about the coloring options. All white was standard.

But, yes, the last two digits are the year.

 

[loggerboots]

I'm positive that's a mid-2000's boat. 100%.

I'm not sure what you mean by "this color was not an option". I think you're confused about the coloring options. All white was standard.

But, yes, the last two digits are the year.

Awesome thanks! I just went to sea rays website and looked at the model catalogs for that year. For some mysterious reason only the 180sp is listed. Looking at the brochure, they list the color options and there were several choices but none plain white. Knowing that that was the standard makes me feel better. Seller also sent me a pic of the registration and it as well as the HIN check out. So I think we’re good! Out of curiosity, what is it about the pics that tell you it’s a mid 2000s? they All look pretty s8milar to my uneducated eye.

only question I still have is why does the internet seemed to have been scrubbed of any reference of a mid 2000s 180br. I will continue to speculate but as of know I feel less fud overall. The boat is immaculate and I’ll likely buy it and I post a new boat day thread if I do.

thanks!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Awesome thanks! I just went to sea rays website and looked at the model catalogs for that year. For some mysterious reason only the 180sp is listed. Looking at the brochure, they list the color options and there were several choices but none plain white. Knowing that that was the standard makes me feel better. Seller also sent me a pic of the registration and it as well as the HIN check out. So I think we’re good! Out of curiosity, what is it about the pics that tell you it’s a mid 2000s? they All look pretty s8milar to my uneducated eye.

only question I still have is why does the internet seemed to have been scrubbed of any reference of a mid 2000s 180br. I will continue to speculate but as of know I feel less fud overall. The boat is immaculate and I’ll likely buy it and I post a new boat day thread if I do.

thanks!

Your welcome!

I've been into boating a l-o-n-g time and I see A LOT of boats, especially Sea Ray in my business. I can tell immediately just by a quick glance.

 

[loggerboots]

Bought it! I may never know why this 180br was manufactured in 2005 (even the owners manual is for a 180sp) but the boat was very clean, ran well, and the owner for the past 10 years obviously took great care of his stuff. Probably should have had it looked it but I took a chance (boat ran well, started right up, lived the past 10 years in a heated shop with light use). Anyway, My first boat!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Good! Does the owner still have the bimini top?

What do you mean by BR vs SP? It IS a 180 Sport. It's a bowrider style boat but it's actual name is a Sport.

 

[loggerboots]

Good! Does the owner still have the bimini top?

What do you mean by BR vs SP? It IS a 180 Sport. It's a bowrider style boat but it's actual name is a Sport.

Yes, I got the bimini top, never used by previous owner so it's in great shape! He also through in a ski rope, nice tubing tube, cover, and a few other goodies.

The model number on the coast gaurd sticker 180br, which is the model number for the older 180 bow rider. 180sp is the model number of the newer sport, which is mostly the same boat but came with (from what I can tell) some pretty graphics including 'sport' embossed on the seats and part of the graphics on the side of the boat and a few upgrades (like an hours meter on the tach, etc, that my boat lacks). According to sea-rays historic brochures/manual section on their web site, only model 180sp was available in 2005. However, the HIN, coat gaurd sticker, etc on my boat all say 2005 180br so I'm not sure haha. Occam's razor suggests they were still building it as a holdover side by side with the newer boat but I may never know.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Stickers can be removed. But, yes, there are sometimes mid-model year changes that aren't always represented by the literature. Focus on what you have and not the literature. In the end, it doesn't really matter what the model designation/literature says.

It looks like a really clean boat - enjoy it!

 

[loggerboots]

Stickers can be removed. But, yes, there are sometimes mid-model year changes that aren't always represented by the literature. Focus on what you have and not the literature. In the end, it doesn't really matter what the model designation/literature says.

It looks like a really clean boat - enjoy it!

Thanks again, and will do! Yeah, boat is very clean, super happy with it. I know the old saying and all, but so far so good Planning on inaugural launch tonight.

fwiw (in case anyone comes across this thread and has the same question), my boat is indeed (as Lazy Daze said) a 180 sport. I got the original build sheet from Sea Ray support and my boat is indeed a sport. Still no idea why it doesn't have the badging but maybe the sport badging and fancy graphics was a commonly ordered appearance package and mine is just a non-optioned boat. I Also found the engraved model number under the HIN and it is 180spbr (180 sport bow rider lol).

I guess the coast guard sticker is a typo/misprint or something, but my boat is definitely a sport and that was the only model 180 in 2005, confirmed. I'll move on from it now and enjoy the boat!