Sea Ray 185 Sport 2005

[PDACPA]

New to the boards and hoping to be a Sea Ray owner. I am looking at a 2005 185 Sport. The boat appears to be in decent shape and trying to schedule a visit. Anyone have any recent purchase/sale numbers? I looked at NADA and the seller is a few thousand above what NADA lists (and the forums here suggest that NADA is normally higher than market value).

Anything I need to check for on the particular model that might be a known issue?

Thanks again. These boards just make the itch to get one increase seeing all the nice boats!

 

[blackjack]

Welcome Aboard! I have an 05 185, and the only issues I have had have been with the trailer. The starboard side bunk rotted out after only 3 years, and the brakes were shuddering. Both easy fixes, the brakes were just an adjustment, and replacing the bunk was easy enough, with a piece of 2x4 pressure treated and a few hand tools. The speedometer stopped working, but that was a piece of wood packed into the hole that drives the speedo (theres a whole thread here on fixing this). As far as the boat itself goes, our family loves it. It's small enough that trailering and storing it isn't a problem, but large enough to pull skiers and tubers. We noticed it took a little longer to plane off than our old boat, but after putting a hydrofoil on the outdrive, that isn't a problem any more. I am totally satisfied with our purchase. I can't really tell you what a good selling price is, but my taxable value (since I just got the bill!) is $16,289.00. Hope this helps, enjoy your purchase!

 

[PDACPA]

Thanks for the info. Trailer issues are minor.

You confirmed that the size is perfect for storage and trailering as that is how we would be using it.

I have to say the tax man is being a bit aggressive as there are 2007 and 2008's selling for that amount!

 

[unlvrebel]

My first Sea Ray was the same boat. Bought it in July of '04. The first one that my dealer had on the lot. Family really liked it. It's been said in this forum to opt for the 4.3 over the 3.0. I had the 4.3. Of course, what we found out was that the boat just wasn't quite big enough. Boating on the Gulf/Intercoastal we had some pretty good chop to deal with. With the 185 we had to really baby it over the swells. With you being on the river, I'm not sure if that will come into play. Great first boat!

 

[jhild]

You didn’t mention the engine on that boat, but you ought to make sure it has the 4.3L. Some owners feel that that the 185s with the 3.0L are a bit underpowered.

“Market Rate” varies quite a bit from region to region, so be careful when you try to compare numbers. It’s all about supply and demand in your specific location.

 

[midway]

I have a 2004 185Sport which is the same boat, I boat in the river and sound in my area, I put a set of Smart Tabs on mine to help it handle the rough water in the sound. I have not had any problems with mine at all. I do have the 4.3L 190HP engine, I have run 50 mph by gps by myself and I have run 49 mph gps with myself, wife and the gear for that day. We quite often have 5 in the boat, 3 adults and 2 chillen, plus whatever gear for the day. I like mine a lot, so far it has done everything I want it to do. Look it over good, stick you head in all the holes and check the condition in the places you cannot see, check to see if the manifolds and risers have been checked, if it is a saltwater boat it is time.

 

[PDACPA]

Guess I need to update my profile. No Lake here. Gulf of Mexico. Unlvrebel is right on target where I am using it.

I am stuck in the storage (needing the smaller size) and needing a bit bigger for the chop of the Gulf.

The one I am looking at has the 4.3 :thumbsup:

I have been watching the boats on ebay and craiglsit and boattrader and none seem to be selling at the listed prices (or they do not meet reserve) or get relisted with a minor reduction. Sort of hard to guage the price to pay, hence my post.

 

[midway]

I will say that I do not run normal on plane speed when the water gets rough, I slow down to 15 to 20 mph, trim just right and stay on plane, that is with the Smart Tabs installed, I could not do that prior to the install. I would be careful when thinking about the gulf, do a lot of weather checking and be close enough to get back inside quick if the weather turns. Water can get way to bad for a 185 outside, you do not want to be stuffing the bow into high water. You also have to watch out for the wake from large boats, I had one sneak up on me in rough water and I felt like it stood my boat straight up, I know the bow went high enough I could not see water and I was standing up. I go in St Catherines on a regular basis and really do not have any trouble as long as I watch the water closely.

 

[unlvrebel]

Guess I need to update my profile. No Lake here. Gulf of Mexico. Unlvrebel is right on target where I am using it.

I am stuck in the storage (needing the smaller size) and needing a bit bigger for the chop of the Gulf.

The one I am looking at has the 4.3 :thumbsup:

I have been watching the boats on ebay and craiglsit and boattrader and none seem to be selling at the listed prices (or they do not meet reserve) or get relisted with a minor reduction. Sort of hard to guage the price to pay, hence my post.

I see that you are in Tampa. Where do you plan to boat? We used our 185 in the Bay and up and down the intercoastal. Spent a lot of time on Three Rooker and Anclote Sandbar. Not that you can't get there, but sometimes is will be a slow trip because of the roughness of the seas and the wakes from the bigger boats. I did not have trim tabs or Smart Tabs, but I hear they would be great for rougher water. Not much help with wakes, but would certainly be beneficial in some rough chop.

We have since moved up to the 220SD. It is truely amazing what a couple of thousand pounds will do for you. All this being said, if the 185 is your price point and you intend on using it in the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete area then don't let the chop/wake issue deter you. Just allow for some potential extra time when the sea breeze picks up and come on out to the islands!:smt038

 

[PDACPA]

Thanks for all the info guys. Honestly, we would not be that far off the shore when in the Gulf. We have a condo on Redington that we would drop anchor and just use to take the kids tubing or run up to Clearwater for lunch and would use it in the intercoastal or on the Hillsborough River.

A friend has a couple of Mako's 17 and 20 and I know what you guys mean bout the difference. The 20 has the trim tabs so that might be something to consider down the road.

We will never be far off the coast and bad weather it will just not come out of the garage.

I have looked at a 195, storage is my issue as I want to keep it at home so I can work on it.

 

[blackjack]

PDA- We will be trailering our 185 to St. Pete in a week (4th to the 11th) If you want to check out our boat while we are down there, let me know. This will be our first time using our own boat in the area, so I will let you know how it goes.