New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

[buhuskies]

Just wanted to say hello! I have used these forums for other boats but tomorrow I am heading to a dealer to buy a new Sea Ray 185 Sport he has. She's got the 3.0 in her and that is fine with me. Basically she will be used as a pleasure cruiser for a few sun fanatics and we will be boating the lower Delaware River in NJ and possibly Barnagat Bay too, plus Lake George in NY. (Not into water sports at all).

The wife and adult kids are excited and so am I. This in not my first boat but it is about the biggest I can tow with my small SUV. I am looking forward to owning the Sea Ray brand!

 

[SteveRay]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

Thats a nice runabout....Congrats!

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

good luck
keep us posted on how it works out 4 U

 

[mrmushroomman]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

Good luck with your purchase. I'm sure you will love your Sea Ray as much as i do.

 

[buhuskies]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

I just got back from the dealer and purchased a boat. Only it wasn't the exact boat I went out to see there. Instead I got one (185 Sport) with the 4.3 V6 @ 190 HP because I read so many recommendations for that motor. Got it with a galv. trailer (w/ brakes) flip up bolsters on the seats, snap in carpeting and bimini top. I hope this 4.3 is a good motor for simple easy cruising which will be 75% of use. I also am having them install a factory Sea Ray depth gauge plus a VHF Radio and antenna and a color Garmin GPS unit too. Taking her to Lake George in a month.

I must say how impressed I was with the quality that was evident and especially the engineering and thought that went into this boat. High supportive seats, good placement and location, nicely appointed and sharply styled. I pick it up next Saturday! WOO HOO!!!

 

[nlain]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

Congratulations on the new 185Sport, I have the 2004 version with the 4.3L 190 hp, it is a great boat and I am sure you will be happy with it. 4.3L engine is a solid engine with plenty of power for that boat. It should serve you well.

 

[MikDee]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

Nice Boat, and I'm sure you'll be more the pleased with that 4.3 V6! I bet you won't be able to let off the throttle You'll be hooked like the rest of us, on speed, power, and dependability! Then probably take up water sports because it will just beckon you on Either way, Just make sure to go easy, & give it plenty of time to break in, and maintain it regularly, it will be well worth it. Good Luck Mike

 

[buhuskies]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

Had the new boat out and put about 4 hours on the meter this past Sunday. Love the boat! Smooth as a kitten.

Both the Speedo as well as Tachometer do not return to zero, both seem stuck in about the same place, somewhere between 10-20 mph on the dials. Also I noticed this boat does not control well at slow no wake speeds. Steering is a continual effort to correct and left alone the boat wanders back and forth eventually going well off course. However on the plus side, the new TKS (turn key system) of starting worked like a charm. She started within split seconds every time.

Also, the VHF radio the dealer installed was worthless with no reception and no transmission. I have a feeling the antenna they installed was not soldered correctly at the end. THAT should have been checked by the dealer before delivering the boat to me and likewise I should have known that before going onto the water. Overall, I love the boat but hope the gauges are not THAT cheaply made.

 

[SteveRay]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

The bow wander doesn't have much to do with the boat itself but rather with a single drive/prop set-up. Most boats with an Alpha or Sx drive will exhibit some sort of bow wander at low speeds.
This took some getting used to for me. I found that you need to train yourself not to oversteer or you will remain goin back and forth the entire time. Compensate a bit and let the boat correct itself. If you oversteer the boat neevr gets a chance to track straight. Don't forget you have a single prop spinning in one direction (righthand) where as the Bravo III and Duo-prop drives have counter rotating props which greatly improve low speed handling among other things.

Hope thats helps!​

 

[MikDee]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

Wander is common to every boat at slow wake speed, some more, some less depending on the hull. You just have to get used to it, and adjust youself to it. Just a heads up here, It can get worse if you overload the bow. My guess on the gauges is that they are just a bit stiff, & need to be broken in like everything else on the boat, I wouldn't be too concerned until if after break in, they still react this way. Just break her in right, & enjoy your boat, you'll be fine

 

[buhuskies]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

The boat is going back to the dealer today. I called and spoke to them and they think it may be some sort of electronic problem because the VHF radio they installed would not work either. It powers up but I could not receive nor transmit with it and they claim it worked at their shop.
So the Speedo and Tach are acting funny as is the VHF radio. They also installed a depth sounder but that seems to be functioning as is the GPS they installed although I ran the GPS off of battery on Sunday. (There is a hard wire to charge it though.) Something seems not right. Three things haywire needs some diagnosis.

Also, I tried not to correct for steering at low speed noticing it wandered then came back the other way and found it eventually went well off course. Really squirrely is how I would describe it and requiring constant awareness and attention in close quarters to docks, boats and narrow channels but like you all said, likely very normal.

 

[buhuskies]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

As it turns out, the tach was normal after all as when you turned the key on, the tach would go to zero and the VHF radio was working too but was a bit more complicated then radios I was used to. So the only real problem turned out to be a kinked or pinched speedo lead that the dealer quickly rectified. I am glad I bypassed the mega dealers in my State and went another 1/2 hour to a smaller friendlier Dealer across the border in PA for my purchase. These guys are also known to be a certified Sea Ray Master Dealer who must exceed in customer satisfaction and I can say from my experience with both their sales as well as service departments that this particular dealer (Peter's Marine of Allentown, PA) have earned it.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

now get out on the water and start having some fun

 

[buhuskies]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

now get out on the water and start having some fun

We are!!

Hit the Delaware about 6p.m. tonight and had a nice sunset cruise to Philadelphia and back (from Bordentown, NJ) and found this is an ideal time to boat. The ramp was far from crowded (no wait coming or going) and so was the River too. Everything worked perfectly and did I mention the SUNSET? Gorgeous on the water! I didn't want to leave and it was dark when we did come off about 9 p.m.... We're LOVIN' it!! (And I really do like this 4.3 V6!)

 

[ruf1967]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

Have you taken it out on Barneget Bay yet?

 

[FL~Boater]

Re: New 2008 Sea Ray 185 Owner

I realize this is a very old post. However, I just purchased a 2008 just like the one pictured, with the exception of color. I am very interested in how you have the VHF antenna mounted. If you happen to see this post, please respond or email me directly at keith.pringle@gmail.com. I would love to see some pictures of the type of mount, its location and the type of antenna you have. Thanks, and love your boat.