Sea Ray 190 or 205?

[clement4]

I'm looking at both boats...mainly for cruising and tubing with my kids. The Sea Ray is 10k more. Worth it?? Would the 190 be just as good?

 

[doyall]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

It all depends.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

Compared to what?

 

[superbenk]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

I'm looking at both boats...mainly for cruising and tubing with my kids. The Sea Ray is 10k more. Worth it?? Would the 190 be just as good?

I think he's saying the 205 is 10k more than the 190, but there's a lot of details missing.

1. What year are they?
2. What engine/drive combinations do they each have?
3. Are we talking bowriders for both or cuddies?
4. How big is your family?
5. Where are you boating?
6. What condition are they each in?
7. Do they both have trailers in good condition?
8. Do you have a to vehicle that can handle either?
9. Stuff I'm forgetting...

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

If you check his other 3 posts, comparing a Chap 206 and a Four Winns to the Sea Ray 205. He got good recommendations and then disappeared. Clearly he has a yearning for a Sea Ray 205. No matter what is suggested. He should just get the sea Ray 205 and start enjoying it IMO.

 

[jkust]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

Yeah, just about anything will work for OP's intended purposes as evidenced by the crap boats we had in the 80's that did it all. I think small Sea Rays are subpar in every way, unless you get a Signature, except the engine of course but it's all about the money assuming perfect condition. If you are talking about a new 190, it is the lightest 190 in the entire class of runabouts/competition where heavy is a measure of a more expensive boat all else the same. Reading between the lines then, the 190 is too expensive for what it is when new.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

My SeaRay 190 was a signature and it was a blast.

 

[clement4]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

Sounding like a novice, but what is a "signature?"

I don't have a "yearning" for a 205. I am trying to be thorough to compare. I've never owned one, so I'm trying to learn. I just don't know if there is enough difference in a 19'8 boat (190) and a 21 ft boat (205) to pay an additional $10K...does it have other things that make it worth the price?

I'm looking to buy new. I would primarily keep it at a local marina, but I do have a vehicle large enough to tow (Toyota Sequoia).

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

As was mentioned in your other threads, you can get more boat for your money if you DON'T get a Sea Ray. Like the Chaparral and Monterey and Regal that were suggested.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

Take a look at both of them in person and see if you just have to have the 205 over the 190. I would consider two things when deciding if it's worth 10k to upgrade to the 205.

1. How many people do you plan on having on it on a regular basis? If more than 6 consider the 205. You'll want the extra room.

2. How rough is the water you plan in boating in? If it gets rough often get the 205, it will ride better.

Also if you get the 205 make sure it's got the V8. It's going to need it.

 

[jkust]

Re: Sea Ray 190 or 205?

My SeaRay 190 was a signature and it was a blast.

Well small Sea Rays used to be nice boats whether a signature or not. Some of the late 90's small basic Sea Rays were great boats. There was a sweet spot for Sea Rays (the small basic ones) where they still look contemporary and they still put some effort into them. The Signature line is what the Sport Line should be and there should be no Sport Line or at least the Sport Line should be substantially less money.

Some boat makers build or pre-economic turmoil, used to build all their boats as nice and as robust as they build their large cruisers. Sea Ray isn't one of them. Large Sea Rays are fantastic and competed with the other high end brands only at the margins while their small boats trade on the name and to the best of my understanding people's lack of knowledge. Used of course is a different story because price cures all ills. When I see a newer sport Sea Ray, I generally see a person new to boating and just didn't know any better if they are the first owner. I know about a hundred boat owners with all brands of bowriders as that's all we have to do here in mn in the summer. Sea Ray wans to put you into an overpriced Toyota hoping you move up to a Lexus...other brands put you in a Lexus and your move up is just a larger Lexus.

My local Sea Ray dealer...that does my winterizing...will even bash the models on their show floor. They now carry Bayliners instead. I'd buy a new Bayliner before I spend a dime on a new Sea Ray sport.