Sea Ray 182 BR and SRX Specs and Review [Video]

Sea Ray marketed the 182 Bow Rider from 2001 as a sportier version of the deservedly popular 185 BR. These boats were almost the same, except that the 182 came standard with the more powerful 4.3L MerCruiser engine and enjoyed a sportier interior trim.

For 2003, the 182 BR was refreshed with red/yellow color schemes and rebranded as SRX.

In this post, we’ll review this short-lived Sea Ray runabout and its factory specifications.

Sea Ray 182 BR (SRX) Review

Hull and Top Deck

Often referred to as one of the most popular Sea Ray Bow Riders ever built, the second-generation 185 BR was introduced in 1997.

Just after the Millennium, the manufacturer released a special version of this model under the name of 182 Bow Rider (182 BR).

These boats shared the same features and almost the same body, except for the sportier interior and more powerful 4.3L standard engine of the 182.

They were almost the same size, but the transom deadrise of the latter was 19 degrees while the 185 BR featured a 20-degree V-hull.

Other dimensions including the 18.5-foot overall length and the 7.5-foot beam were completely identical.

Like many other Sea Rays in this era, the 182 BR was designed with (almost) wood-free structural elements.

Even though the transom still featured a little wood, other parts including the bilge stringers and floors were built exclusively of rot-free composite materials.

The claimed dry weight was a mere 2,650 pounds, which increased to about 3,000 pounds with liquids and some basic gear.

Depending on the features of the trailer, her trailering weight was in the neighborhood of 3,500-4,000 pounds.

Tailored to different customer needs, the top deck was available with three seating layouts.

Each of these shared the same walk-thru windshield and a molded bow rider seating with storage below but came with a different cockpit architecture.

The standard seating plan featured a swivel bucket helm seat, a port back-to-back lounger seat, and two Hi-Low aft jump seats, which completed the padded sun lounge.

For more cockpit seats and sunbathing surfaces, the helm seat could be opted for a back-to-back lounger.

The third layout featured two bucket seats, an aft bench seat, and a full-beam sun pad.

Compared to the 185 BR, the 182 BR utilized a sportier interior design with more supportive, better-shaped cushions and a grey/white color scheme.

The aft section was fitted with an integrated swim platform, reboarding ladder, grab handles, and a ski hook.

Other standard features included navigation lights, grab handles, beverage holders, mooring cleats, eyes, an anchor locker, and a snap-in carpet.

Besides a spacious floor ski locker, the deck also housed many smaller storage units under the seats and inside the side panels.

These were completed with a glovebox, which offered a protected space for the radio.

In terms of capacities, the boat could carry 27 gallons of fuel, 8 passengers, and plenty of gear up to 1,200 pounds.

However, its interior only ensured a comfortable cruise for 5-6 people.

Sea Ray marketed the 182 BR in the 2001 and 2002 model years and rebranded it as 182 SRX in 2003.

Compared to its predecessor, the SRX was refreshed with new yellow and red color schemes and some minor cosmetic changes.

Aside from these the 182 Bow Rider and SRX were completely identical.

Engines and Performance

The standard power source of the Sea Ray 182 BR and 182 SRX was a single 190hp 4.3L MerCruiser Alpha I MCM sterndrive engine.

(The same engine was also available on the 185 BR as an option, but she came standard with the 4-cylinder 3.0L.)

Thanks to this more powerful V6 engine, the 182 BR topped out at 48-50 mph while burning 15 gph.

Cruising at an economical speed of 22-23 mph kept fuel usage around 8-9 mpg, giving her a cruising range of more than 200 miles.

Specs Chart

The main specifications of the 2001-2002 Sea Ray 182 BR and 2003 182 SRX were as follows:

Overall Length	18’ 6”
Beam (Width)	7’ 6”
Draft (stern drive down)	36”
Draft (stern drive up)	18”
Dry Weight	2,650 lb.
Est. Trailering Weight*	3,500 – 4,000 lb.
Fuel Capacity	26 gal.
Usable Fuel	24.7 gal.
Dead Rise	19º
People Capacity	8 persons or 1,100 lb.
Total Weight Capacity	1,200 lb.

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

Disclaimer: Specifications in this chart are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Takeaways

The Sea Ray 182 Bow Rider and her successor, the 182 SRX were more sportier versions of the proven 185 BR.

The main differences between them included the 185’s steeper deadrise, simpler interior, and 3.0L I-4 standard engine.

In contrast, 182 models came standard with the 4.3L V6 MerCruiser rated at 190hp.

With this engine, they cruised at 22-23 mph and topped out at 48-50 mph.

Thanks to their durability and reliability, these boats are still popular on the used market.

This is no surprise since their asking prices remain below the psychological limit of $10,000.