Sea Ray 185 Outboard

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marke077

Cadet
Joined
Sep 13, 2008
Messages
13
Re: Sea Ray 185 Outboard

Hi, well the load will be pretty low most of the time, It will be run in brackish water (baltic sea) never had a problem with outboards, even though I didn't run them in fresh water after each use.. I am more and more leaning towards the Bayliner now.. The maintenance will be done at the marina where I will store the boat during the winter, I don't have to do it myself..
But I have no experience from I/O, any help to how to maintain them or links to help would be highly appreciated..
 
J

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: Sea Ray 185 Outboard

Bubba1235 said:
Just to toss out another option, take a couple hours and go look at the Yamaha line of boats. Thier line of jet drive boats have pretty much re-written the book on using a jet drive and they are compartable to an I/O in power, speed and efficency.

The boats themslves are very high quality (materials and construction) and there is the HUGE advantage that everything, boat, engine, jet, trailer are all built and warranted by Yamaha. (You don't getting involved with p*ssing matchs between the various OEM suppliers.)

One of the first things that will really make itself apparent is that with the use of jet drives their boats feel much more spacious than other boats of comparable length. And before anyone poo-poos jet drives, if you haven't driven one built in the last 3 or 4 years you really should, they are nothing at all like the monster rooster tail makers of the 70s.

As you said you want to water ski the jet drive is magnitudes safer than anything with a prop.
Click to expand...

I mentioned Jets as an alternative at the top. It wasn't too long ago when Jets were scoffed at as legit bowriders. Now it seems every Boating magazine I get can't say enough about them. My recent Boating mag described the acceleration 0 to 30 on a 20+ foot Yamaha (if I recall) as "Breathtaking". It seems they can't say anything bad about them either. The low speed handling or lack there of still deters me however. I would even accept the high gas consumption but it is hard enough maneuvering at slow speed in close quarters with an I/O. I could only imagine a jet must be much more challenging.
 
J

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: Sea Ray 185 Outboard

Bubba1235 said:
FYI: Gas consumption of the newer Yammies is right on par with an I/O for a given length/weight boat at the same speed. (In some cases its actually better than the I/O but in most cases all are pretty close in fuel consumption.)
Click to expand...

I saw your comment on gas mileage and was sure you were mistaken. If that and the slow speed handling semi-ease is true, a nice Yammie or Sea Doo would be on my upgrade list. See even after reading a few articles on Jets, my preconceived notions are hard to kill. I can't count the times I have had to remind the kids of the outdrive when jumping off the swim platform with our I/O so a jet would be great.
 
M

marke077

Cadet
Joined
Sep 13, 2008
Messages
13
Re: Sea Ray 185 Outboard

Ok, so I went to this boat fair and ordered a 2010 Bayliner 185 with the Mercruiser 3,0. Blue with the optional snap in floor mats, covers, both the one that is lower and goes over the windshield and the one you can sit under with sides panels.. and it has the extended swim platform.
I won't pull this boat up after each use and it will be sitting in brackish water. I will have the hull protected and painted with anti fouling.
One thing I worry about is since this is raw water cooled, should I get a heat exchanger system with freshwater/coolant for it or will it be ok to drive like it is?
The boat will be in the sea for about 4months and then taken to an authorized Mercruiser dealer for the winter..
 
S

Snobike Mike

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Messages
363
Re: Sea Ray 185 Outboard

Bubba1235 said:
Boattest.com did a hands on test of Yamaha's 242 limited (24' open bow) and at cruising speed (25 to 30 MPH) they seen 2.83 mile per gallon (27 MPH) and 2.77 mile per gallon (32 MPH). For the size, length and weight that is very comparable to an I/O of the same size.
Click to expand...

I believe you are mistaken on the "comparable to an I/O" comment.

My 4000 pound 21'8" bow rider (24' LOA) with a 5.7 Gxi will run well over 4 mpg at cruise (boattest had it at 4.61 mpg at 31 mph). That is more than 60% better fuel mileage than a Yami jet drive at similar speeds. My boat is 500+ pounds heavier as well.

And at WOT, the Yami is much louder as well at 101db vs 89 for my boat.

Jet boats are not all that they seem to be.
 
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