Searay 190 vs 205, help needed :-)

Lazy Daze said:
FYI, the 185/190 sport, even though it's heavier, runs BETTER than the lighter 175 (both with the 3.0L). We can't always compare based solely on specs. The hull design was improved for better hole shot and if you've happened to run them, it's actually very obvious. With a light to medium load - 3 or 4 adults and pulling a skier - the 185/190 does quite well... surprisingly well. Now, if you start loading the boat up and want to compare it to the 205 with a 5.0L MPI V8... no comparison. But that's not even close to an "apples to apples" comparison, either. The 205 with a 5.0L MPI is a rocket ship.
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My 185 has the 4.3, really a great little boat and PLENTY of power from the 4.3 to do about anything you would want with that boat.
 
For what it's worth my TKS version starts first time every time. Haven't touched the carb. Just good maintenance. Nothing special.
 
I sold my Starcraft (3.0L) to a very heavy family. I had an extra prop and changed from the 21 pitch to 17 pitch. It planed much better but would top out at 35mph. My buddy has a 195 with the 5.0 liter TKS. Outside the fickle carburetor it is powered adequately. Oh very interesting and true what a previous poster said the 3.0liter is much louder than the 205. I guess the 205 outdrive sits deep in the water where the exhaust is cover.
 
searay205 said:
Oh very interesting and true what a previous poster said the 3.0liter is much louder than the 205. I guess the 205 outdrive sits deep in the water where the exhaust is cover.
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Exhaust is through the prop and both boats have their props pretty much the same distance into the water - not enough of a difference to make any noticeable change, anyways. The 3.0L, itself, is a louder engine than the V8. The 175 also has less sound deadoning material than the 190 or the 205.
 
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Alright, I saw the 205, the engine was in great condition, all maintenance was perfectly done.
Unfortunately esp. the polstry and the inner surfaces looked more used after a few years on saltwater than expected.
So I decided to first testdrive the 190 with the 3.0. engine that I already saw hibernating and that looked like new.
As winter returned, it will take some time ... We will see ...
 
I've got a 3.0MPI in my 185 Sport (same hull as the 190) and with a 17P prop it performs quite well. These are fast hulls that get on plane quickly. I pull tubes and skiers all day long with it with 3-4 sizable adults in the boat (I'm 240 and my partner is 220) and couldn't be happier.

The 3.0 noise comes from intake honk. The MPI has quite a different sound than a TKS so keep that in mind - but there are plenty of TKS videos out there that will fill you in.

Here's my "flaccid miserable dog" of a 3.0 planing out with 2 in the boat, a full cooler, full ski locker and such. Don't mind that tach - it was broken and has since been replaced with the proper one. The 17p puts it right at 4850 at WOT.

 
Thx a lot for your experiences and the great video! It's getting warmer in Austria now, so we will get the 190 out for a ride in the next weeks!
 
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That little poodle is noisy but acceleration was acceptable and did plane nicely. Had no idea they had a 3.0 liter MPI. So if the 5.0 TKS goes from 220hp to 260hp with MPI how much does the the 3.0 liter TKS gain going to the MPI?
 
searay205 said:
That little poodle is noisy but acceleration was acceptable and did plane nicely. Had no idea they had a 3.0 liter MPI. So if the 5.0 TKS goes from 220hp to 260hp with MPI how much does the the 3.0 liter TKS gain going to the MPI?
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Unfortunately nothing. It's still 135, however the fuel efficiency went up quite a bit, plus it is catalyzed so it's low/no odor. Some people have griped that the emissions hamper the performance, but I have been around 3.0Ls all my life and it is no different. They are not that common so a lot of people don't have experience with both.

The biggest gain is that it fires right up, is noticeably smoother than a TKS - especially at idle, has full Smartcraft capability and diagnostics, and it sounds quite a bit different - much deeper and lower toned. My iPhone amplifies it a lot - under normal cruising in my boat it is decently quiet - when you pin the throttle it booms a bit though. I've noticed that when I have my usual haul of junk in the bilge (life jackets, towels, toilet, full water tank for the transom shower, cooler, etc) it is much quieter due to less echo.
 
I had a 3.0 liter for 31 years. Had the mercarb carburetor. At my age got tired of waiting to see if the wife was going to give it throttle so it wouldn't stall while i was getting the kids ready to tube. She never did without me saying something, lol. Went fuel injection and LOVE it. I must of had over 3000 hours on the engine, original alternator, water pump, carburetor, radiator hoses. Replaced the starter once and manifold twice. All salt water. Mine had thru transom exhaust it was loud! Miss the smell of ether, lol. Funny i have catalysed engine also and sometime get a skunk smell. Very faint. Maybe its just my passengers!! Your boat definelty planed better than mine, I alway had the off idle stumble (accelerator pump).
 
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