Stingray boats? Opinions?

[Sikiguya]

Hi,

A buddy of mine is thinking about this boat. I have read some reviews of Stingrays and they are decent. What is everyone's opinon on this manufacturer and boat? Is it on par with Sea Rays or Four Winns? $16500 out the door with a 5 year warranty.

Here is a video of the exact boat and color:

http://www.stingrayboats.com/product...185LS&action=8

Here is a build sheet of the exact boat:

http://www.stingrayboats.com/cgi-bin...l&serial=554I8

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

your links only take us to the home page. no it is not in the same class as Searay and Four Winns, more like Tahoe, Bayliner, Chapperal.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

your links only take us to the home page. no it is not in the same class as Searay and Four Winns, more like Tahoe, Bayliner, Chapperal.

Uuummm, Chaparral (that's the correct spelling) doesn't belong anywhere near the same sentence as Tahoe and Bayliner (two of the cheapest, bottom of the list, entry level boats made today).

Stingray is more value priced than Four Winns and Sea Ray and the like. Stingray's big claim to fame is their hulls are faster than everyone else's without using steps. The Z-Plane hull, that's their big marketing blitz. And the hull does work. Stingrays will be faster than most any other boat if they are the same size and same powerplants. But Stingray boats are also light, that helps them be fast too. So if you are using it on a lake or other protected place where there aren't huge waves, it's a fine choice. But if you want to use it in big water, I'd look for something else. They also tend to look plain on the outside, unless you get one that's all yellow or all red (YUK!).
That's my opinion.

 

[ken52]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

I owned a new 19' bow rider by Stingray, I believe it was a 1999. Had a 4 cylinder I/O with SS Prop. Was a great boat, good on gas. I didn't pull any skis or tubes. Only reason for selling was I wanted to get into fishing, crabbing etc and boat was not designed to do that propperly. If I remember correctly I paid around 14K for it. Cannot give any comparisons to the other boats, but I belive the Sea Ray is probable a much better boat. Hope this helps, enjoy it.

 

[Sikiguya]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

http://www.stingrayboats.com/products/models09/models.php?model=185ls

It is a 185LS..sorry.

 

[H8tank]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

I like mine.

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

Jim,

Thanks for posting this question here and bringing this forum to my attention.

As Jim mentioned, I will be sea trialing a brand new 2009 Stingray 185LS this Saturday. This boat comes with about every option you can add to the 185 including fiberglass floor, full bimini with enclosure, galvanized trailer and much more. Again, Out the door price is $16,500 and comes with the Volvo Penta 5 year warranty.

I am limited to this size boat with a swing tongue as I must be able to store this boat in my short garage for several reasons. Ordinarily I'd go for something with V6 power but everything I've read suggests this boat is competent with the 3 liter.

Here is a video of the actual model and color:

http://www.stingrayboats.com/products/models09/models.php?model=185LS&action=8

Here is the actual build sheet:

http://www.stingrayboats.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap?user=www&script=sticker.pl&serial=554I8

I'm not asking if there are better boats....of course there are. I'm most curious if this boat has any deficiencies that I'll regret down the road. Also, does anyone know if Stingray is financially sound? With so many boat builders going under I want some assurance they will be there to support me.

Craig

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

Stingray's draw backs are that they are more of a go faster hull, so slower speed handling is greatly improved with a foil or preferable tabs (smart tabs are generally the favorite option).

Stingray has not said it directly, but in various posts in their members only forum they have implied that they are financially sound and weathering the recession OK.

You should be fine on them being around to honor their warranty. Then again, the don't have Obama pledging the US government to back them like Chevy or Chrysler.

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

Sick,

Since I cannot get access to the Stingray owners site, can you possibly provide me some insite on how other 185 owners like their boats?

Thanks in advance.

Craig

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

We have a 1999 192rx cuddy with the merc 4.3 and alpha 1 outdrive. We love this boat. When I got it last fall it had set for 4 years with a cracked engine block because it had not been winterized. I found a used engine, rebuilt it and dropped it in the boat. The hull and interior were nasty with grime, dirt etc... After my wife and I applied some elbow grease it looks almost new. We run the boat in the Kanawha river once or twice a week and even took it to Smith Mountain Lake for a weeks vacation. This boat is solid. There are nicer boats on the market but with the Stingray you get good "bang for your bucks". When it comes time to get another boat I think Stingray will be one of the first ones we go look at.

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

I have a Stingray 180LX. Great boat and no major deficiencies. I did buy the Smart tabs and they are a must for these boats. They are fast and I can blow by any comparable boat of the same size and configuration.

I was out in pretty large chop yeserday and had to keep it slow. If you want anything from the Stingray site just let me know and I'll get it for you.

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

I have owned a Stingray for going on 6 years now. It's a '95 656zp which was renamed the 220lx model. I haven't had any problems with it other than normal maintenance stuff. Most every boat you'll buy has same power plants and outdrives, either volvo or mercruiser, so the engines are the same across the board. The only differences will be with the hull construction. Stingray is a lighter boat and has a little rougher ride in choppy water than a SeaRay or other heavier boat, but it is a faster boat.

I like mine and it pull skiers and tubes with ease. I don't have any tabs or foil on my boat and haven't had any problems with it. I use a mercury high-5 prop so it pulls hard and jumps up on plane pretty quick.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

My read is that people really like the 180/185s. Those really into water sports tends to add tabs and get a lower pitch prop. Two-foot-itis is the other major problem you read about, wanting to upgrade to another Stingray.

I thought of another complaint. A lot of people hate the carpet in the ski locker because it does not dry out easily. I take a wet dry vac to it and have no problems.

Overall, I think you will find it a really easy to trailer, faster than comparable models, cheaper to run, good value for the price, comfortable boat, with a lot of versatility.

I have the 190 with a 4.3. The extra foot gets me a capacity of 8 adults over the 7 adults of the one you are looking at. Its light enough to tow easily, but good luck getting in into your garage.

I found it used with 14 hours on it, and have since put on an additional 100. Its a great boat and looks great too. I have had to replace a couple of screws that have vibrated out and had to fashion a way of replacing a couple of screws that were striped out. I pulled my outdrive this past year and my motor was still perfectly aligned. I plan to run this boat until one of two things happen: 1- one of my kids get into competition skiing like I was into when younger, in which case I will pick up a tournament ski boat again, or 2- my kids become large teenagers and we need to upgrade to a 22-23 foot version.

Right now if I were to upgrade I would seriously look at Stingray's 22 foot deck boat or the 22.5 foot open bow.

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

Thanks for the incite Sick,

Even if the Sea trial is satisfactory I intend on installing Smart tabs for sure. Maybe even a prop better suited for watersports.

Now whats got me concerned is all the talk about hot re-starts on the 3 liter being an issue.

Craig

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

Yeah, if you could get your hands on the new fuel injected 150 HP 3.0 you would not have that problem, but you probably wouldn't get as good of a deal either.

Really, I can't say how widespread of a problem that is. I have only seen it pop up on that forum a couple of times, and I believe that is the model of boat which they sell the most of. In other words, there are a heck of a lot more 3.0s out there than you hear about having that problem.

 

[Craigmri]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

Sick,

I haven't been able to find any of those 150hp Fuel injected fours here in the south east. Personally, I think that is the perfect set up for the 18 foot boat in a climate of high fuel prices. That is of course assuming they have it mapped out well and sorted.

The Volvo 3 liter carb'd model is a Demon carb. I understand they are an up and coming high performance carburetor brand but never knew they made a model for the boats. Are they highly regarded??

Craig

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

You might post that anonymously to the Stingray website. I can't say. I have one of the older Stingrays with a black outdrive on the back (merc). I think they went 100% Volvo in 2007?

 

[H8tank]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

No, either '08 or '09, mine is Merc w/Bravo I

 

[ziggy]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

fwiw,
my buddy has the 190. an 08 i think. it was new when he got it. i think he likes it only ok. he's a fella that likes speed. which i'm sure is the reason he got it. advertised 60+ mph w/220 fuelie v6, mercruiser alpha1 gen 2. it does 56 or 57 (gps)on a good day. he's added smart tabs to no avail. dynoed the engine to no avail. i don't know what he's gonna do. i just know he's disappointed that it won't do 60+ like advertised..

he had a '00 18' bayliner w/the 190 carbed v6 before. it'll do 54 or 55 (gps). i liked the chop handling characteristics of the bayliner better.. the stingray pounds more. my guess is he wishes he'd have stayed with the bayliner since he got no real extra performance from the stingray... he wants to blow away v8's...

my guess is, like in all boats i think. in the same model line, same power plant. some boats are faster than others. i think his bayliner was a good one and he accidentally got a slow stingray... bummer for him..

 

[htv]

Re: Stingray boats? Opinions?

I test drove a demo Stingray a couple of years ago that had 14 or 16 hours on it. That day was typical of our conditions here 12-15mph breeze with slight chop on a bulk-headed lake. Once I planed off it was way to bumpy for my liking not to mention it sounded like shaking a bucket of bolts. I was not impressed at all and wound up buying a Sea-Ray the same size and power for about $2,500. more.