Sea Ray 180 Sport Specs and Review [Video]
The short-lived 180 Sport was the smallest member of Sea Ray’s Sport series from 2004 through 2005. This 18-foot bowrider utilized a moderate-V fiberglass hull, which could be opted for 3.0L or 4.3L carbureted MerCruiser gasoline engines rated at 135 and 220hp, respectively.
Sea Ray 180 Sport Review
Hull and Top Deck
Sea Ray revealed its Sport bowrider series for the 2004 model year.
This family included the entry-level 180 Sport, 185 Sport, 185 Sport OB, and the top-of-the-line 205 Sport.
As the name suggests, the 180 was built on an 18-foot all-fiberglass (no wood) hull featuring a moderate-V, 19-degree deadrise.
To be more precise she measured exactly 17.5 feet in length with the integrated swim platform while having a beam of 7 feet.
One of the key advantages of this model was its lightweight construction, which made her easily trailerable.
She weighed as little as 2,100 pounds dry and about 2,400-2,500 pounds loaded with liquids and some essential gear.
Sitting on a matching single-axle trailer, you could expect the trailering weight of the boat to be anywhere from 3,000 to 3,300 pounds.
Even with the extra weight of the optional 4.3L engine option, the total weight of the rig remained under the boundary of 4,000 pounds.
The rig was not only easy to tow but due to its small factory trailer with a swivel tongue, it could easily be parked in a standard garage.
Simple but practical, the top deck could be ordered in two versions.
Both of these shared the same deep, cushioned bow seating area and curved wraparound windshield.
What they differed in was the architecture of their cockpits and aft sections.
The standard layout featured a swivel helm seat, a swivel companion seat, and an aft jump seat on each side of the engine box.
This floor plan maximized free deck space but lacked any sunbathing surface.
Hoverer, this version could be opted with a back-to-back companion seat, which turned into a small sun pad.
The optional floorplan was designed with two swivel seats, an aft bench seat, and a full-beam sun pad.
Each of these layouts offered great comfort and seated passengers very comfortably.
According to capacity stickers, the boat was rated for 7 people or 900 pounds, while its total weight capacity was 980 pounds.
You could find plenty of gelcoated storage compartments under the seats and the sun bed.
They were completed with a ski/wakeboard floor storage, side storage units, and a glovebox.
The boat was designed with a plethora of high-quality features such as stainless-steel cleats and eyes, cup holders, snap-in carpets, navigation lights, a ski-tow eye, a bilge blower, a bilge pump, a horn, and a marine audio system.
Nestled under a tiny visor, the dashboard utilized numerous analog gauges including a speedometer, tachometer (with hour meter), outdrive trim gauge, voltmeter, fuel gauge, oil pressure, and water temp.
Captains appreciated the comfort of the hydraulic steering and the precise shift/throttle lever.
Engines
The standard power option of the Sea Ray 180 Sport was a MerCruiser 3.0L TKS inline-4 engine, while the optional power source was the 4.3L TKS V6 power mill.
These 4-stroke, carbureted, gasoline marine engines were rated at 135 and 190hp, respectively.
Both came standard with an Alpha I MCM stern drive propulsion, a 3-blade aluminum propeller, and a power-assisted steering system.
Performance
Even though the Sport 180 wasn’t the fastest boat on the lake, its performance was more than enough for most owners.
With the standard MerCruiser 3.0L TKS and a light load, her planing time was less than 3 seconds, and she could reach 30 mph in 7-8 seconds.
The minimum plane speed was in the ballpark of 15-17 mph at 2,400-2,500 RPM.
Running at WOT, the boat topped out in the mid-40s on the speedo.
Even though the standard engine paired with this Sea Ray very well, watersport enthusiasts preferred the extra torque of the optional 4.3L TKS.
This is no surprise, since this 190hp V6 engine provided a much better hole-shot acceleration, even with a large crew onboard.
What’s more, this engine propelled the boat up to about 50 mph.
Specs Charts
For your convenience, we’ve listed the factory specifications of the 2004-2005 Sea Ray 180 Sport:
Dimensions and Weight
Overall Length with std. swim platform |
17’ 6” |
Maximum Beam |
7’ 0” |
Overall Height |
4’ 9” |
Draft (stern drive down) |
34” |
Draft (stern drive up) |
19” |
Dead Rise |
19° |
Dry Weight |
2,100 lb. |
Est. Trailer Weight* |
3,000 – 4,000 lb. |
*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)
Capacities
Fuel Capacity |
21 gal. |
Usable Fuel |
20 gal. |
People Capacity |
7 persons or 900 lb. |
Maximum Capacity |
980 lb., inc. persons, gear |
These specifications are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.
Takeaways
From 2004 through 2005, the Sport 180 was the entry-level model in Sea-Ray’s offering.
Released as the smallest member of the Sport series, this boat was an 18-footer bowrider with 135 or 190hp MerCruiser sterndrive engines.
She built her reputation on high-quality materials and finishes, and reliable power sources.
Believe it or not, many of them as still in very good condition and appear on the used market for very reasonable prices.
Depending on their condition and engine option, the prices of used Sea Ray Sport 180 runabouts range from $5,000 to $15,000.