Sea Ray 175 Bow Rider Specs and Review [Video]

In 1995, Sea Ray rebranded its proven 170 Bow Rider LTD for the better-sounding 175 Bow Rider. This entry-level runabout was available with either MerCruiser sterndrive or Mercury outboard engines.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and discuss this vintage bowrider in detail!

Sea Ray 175 Bow Rider Review

Hull and Top Deck

Sea Ray introduced the 175 Bow Rider (175 BR) in 1995 as the successor of the proven 170 BR LTD.

The body of its forerunner was carried over without any major structural changes.

Regarding dimensions, the 175 BR was built on a 16.5-foot hull, built with an 18-degree modified-V design.

Fitted with an integrated swim platform, the overall length was 18 feet 2 inches with a beam of 7 feet.

Depending on the engine option, the dry weight averaged between 1,850 and 2,200 pounds

Figuring the weight of the liquids and some basic gear, you could expect her curb weight to be anywhere from 2,000-2,500 pounds.

Sitting on a matching single-axle trailer, the gross weight of the complete rig reached the ballpark of 2,500-3,000 pounds.

Her bowrider-style top deck was available in many variations, which is no surprise since the boat was being marketed with both outboard and sterndrive engines.

As a rule of thumb, each floorplan shared the same bow lounge but they had different cockpit layouts.

Comfortable and cozy, the standard cockpit seating plan of the outboard variant included two back-to-back lounger seats and a full-beam aft bench seat.

Designed with fishing adventures in mind, the optional “Fish and Ski” variant was engineered with two swivel bucket seats and two swivel pedestal seats.

This seating arrangement offered much more deck space and was also equipped with some extra features like a live baitwell, dual battery, electric trolling motor, and a ski-tow tripod.

The sterndrive model also came in two different variants.

Similar to its outboard variant, the standard cockpit seating plan housed two back-to-back lounger seats, but they were completed with two Hi-Low aft jump seats, which formed a sun lounger.

The sterndrive 175 BR with the optional layout was marketed as a different model under the name of 175 Bow Rider XL.

The “XL” seating plan included two swivel bucket seats, an aft bench seat, and a full-beam sun pad.

Another model-specific feature was the more powerful V6 engine option, while the base model had a smaller Inline-4 engine.

In the next section, we’ll talk about these power sources in detail.

Engines and Performance

Many Sea Ray runabouts were available with either outboard or sterndrive propulsion, and the 175 Bow Rider was no exception.

The outboard model came standard with a 2-stroke 90hp Mercury, which could be opted with 115 or 125hp packages.

Rated at 135hp, the standard power of the sterndrive version was the 4-cylinder MerCruiser 3.0LX Alpha I.

In contrast, the optional 160hp 4.3L MerCruiser Alpha I was exclusively available in the LX model.

In terms of performance, the 175 BR topped out at about 35-37 mph with the 115hp Mercury outboard.

Fitted with the standard 3.0L MerCruiser, her top speed averaged between 38 and 42 mph depending on the load and environmental conditions.

She also cruised at around 28-30 mph at 3500-3700 RPM.

Even though the standard engine was adequate with a light load, it was a little difficult getting onto plane with a large crew onboard.

Hence, the optional 4.3L 190hp engine variant was more often recommended for watersports.

Problems

It’s safe to say that the biggest design flaw of the 175 Bow Rider was its wood-based structural elements.

Some key parts of the boat including the floors, transom, and bilge stringers were built with a wooden core.

From the outside, they looked like they were made of fiberglass, but they really only had a composite outer shell.

Inside them, the wooden cores were prone to rotting due to frequent water penetration.

Specs Charts

The main specifications of the 1995-1997 Sea Ray 175 BR and 175 BR XL were as follows:

Outboard Model (175 BR OB)

Overall Length w/ Swim Platform	18’ 2” (5.54 m)
Maximum Beam	7’ 0” (2.13 m)
Draft (stern drive down)	30” (76.2 cm)
Draft (stern drive up)	12” (30.5 cm)
Dry Weight	1850 lb. (839 kg)
Est. Trailering Weight*	2500 – 2700 lb.
Fuel Capacity	20 gal. (75.7 L)
Dead Rise	17°
Std. Engine	90 hp Mercury OB (2-stroke)
Opt. Engines	115 and 125 hp Mercury OB (2-stroke)

*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)

Sterndrive Model (175 BR)

Overall Length w/ Swim Platform	18’ 2” (5.54 m)
Maximum Beam	7’ 0” (2.13 m)
Draft (stern drive down)	36” (91.4 cm)
Draft (stern drive up)	17” (43.2 cm)
Dry Weight	2050 lb. (930 kg)
Est. Trailering Weight*	2700 – 2900 lb.
Fuel Capacity	20 gal. (75.7 L)
Dead Rise	18°
Std. Engine	3.0LX Alpha I 135 hp

*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)

Sterndrive Model “XL variant” (175 BR XL)

Overall Length w/ Swim Platform	18’ 2” (5.54 m)
Maximum Beam	7’ 0” (2.13 m)
Draft (stern drive down)	38” (96.5 cm)
Draft (stern drive up)	18” (45.7 cm)
Dry Weight	2250 lb. (1020 kg)
Est. Trailering Weight*	2800 – 3000 lb.
Fuel Capacity	20 gal. (75.7 L)
Dead Rise	18°
Std. Engine	4.3L Alpha I 160 hp

*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)

Takeaways

Manufactured from 1995 through 1997, the Sea Ray 175 Bow Rider was a great beginner family boat. (To be more precise, this model was a rebranded 1994 170 BR LTD.)

This tiny runabout could be ordered with either 135-160hp MerCruiser sterndrive or 90-125hp Mercury outboard engines.

What’s more, Sea Ray marketed the 175 with a closed-bow architecture, and this version was often referred to as 175 BR CB or just 175 CB.

Due to their wood-cored construction elements, aged Sea Ray 175s are not considered a good buy.

If you are looking for an affordable used bowrider, you may want to invest in a newer, post-millennium model like the 176 BR or a late 185 BR.