Sea Ray 190 Sport Specs and Review [Video]

Released as the successor of the proven 185 Sport, Sea Ray marketed its 190 Sport runabout from 2012 through 2015. This lively bowrider was built on a 19.5-foot fiberglass hull and utilized a traditional bowrider-style deck arrangement. It was phased out by the more advanced SPX 190 in 2016.

Sea Ray 190 Sport Review

Hull and Top Deck

Sea Ray Sport runabouts were built on well-designed V-shaped fiberglass monohulls, and the 190 Sport was no exception.

Manufactured from 2012 to 2015, this model was the entry-level Sea Ray in the fleet.

She measured in with an overall length of 19 feet 8 inches, had a beam of 7 feet 3 inches, while her draft was 37 inches with the stern drive down.

The claimed dry weight was 2,600 pounds, which increased to about 3,000-3,100 pounds with the necessary liquids and some miscellaneous gear.

Adding the weight of a single-axle boat trailer, you could expect the trailering weight of the 190 Sport to be roughly 3,500-3,700 pounds.

Thanks to its lightweight construction, this rig could be easily towed by a small truck or even a family sedan.

Another key advantage of this tiny runabout was its very small storage dimensions.

With the trailer tongue folded, the overall length was as little as 20.5-21 feet. This means that the boat could fit perfectly in a standard 22-foot-deep garage.

In terms of capacities, the 190 Sport could carry 1,400 pounds including 8 passengers and 26 gallons of fuel.

The sporty bowrider-style top deck featured a clean, practical layout. It was designed with a nice bow sitting area and a cozy cockpit protected by a wrap-around windshield.

This area housed two swivel seats with flip-up bolsters, an aft bench seat, and a full-beam sun pad above the engine compartment.

It was split into three separate sections, each supported by gas-assisted struts.

Like its larger brother, the starboard section of the sun deck hid a walk-thru passage to the swim platform.

You could find a large storage compartment underneath its portside section, while the center area covered the engine bay.

The seats and sun pad were covered in high-quality upholstery, and the deck was fitted with plenty of stainless-steel hardware.

Other standard features included mooring cleats, grab handles, cup holders, navigation lights, a cockpit drain, ski tow eye, a built-in insulated cooler, a Sony stereo system, and more.

Nestled in a glare-resistant gray area, the simple but stylish dashboard utilized a speedometer, tachometer, and a 4-in-1 multifunction gauge.

Engines

The standard power source of the Sea Ray 190 Sport was a MerCruiser 3.0L MPI rated at 135hp. It could also be ordered with the optional MerCruiser 4.3L MPI power option, which delivered healthy 220 hp.

Both enjoyed advanced technologies like a multiport fuel injection system and a remote oil filter.

The propulsion system was the standard MerCruiser Alpha I sterndrive.

Performance

Powered by the standard 3.0L MPI 135hp engine, the top speed of the 190 Sport was about 38-40 mph at 4800 RPM.

At this speed, the engine burned 11-12 gph while the 24-gallon usable fuel capacity gave her a fuel range of 80-85 miles.

Best cruising speed was in the neighborhood of 20-22 mph at 3000 RPM when the engine burned 4 gph.

Thanks to its greater fuel economy, the estimated fuel range at this speed was 120-130 miles.

Performance-minded captains appreciated the extra power of the 4.3L MPI 220hp engine option.

With this power mill, the 190 Sport topped out at around 50 mph while its planing time was around 3 seconds.

Due to its small, lightweight, moderate-V platform, the Sport 190 was intended for inland waterways and coastal areas.

Problems

The Sea Ray 190 Sport was known for its durable engines, well-designed layout, and high-quality features.

Hence, the only (very minor) problems with this boat were as follows:

• Slightly low windshield
• Non-integrated swim platform
• Lack of a dedicated anchor locker
• Grab handles were too far from the aft bench seat
• Carpeted storage compartments (they were hard to clean and prone to mold)

Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the main factory specs of the 2012-2015 Sea Ray 190 Sport:

Dimensions and Weight

Overall Length with std. swim platform	19’ 8”
Maximum Beam	7’3”
Keel to Top of Windshield	4’ 8 ¾”
Waterline to Top off Windshield	3’ 3 ½”
Overall Height from Waterline	6’ 4 ½”
Overall Height from Stern Drive	9’ 3 ½”
Draft (stern drive down)	34”
Draft (stern drive up)	17”
Dead Rise	19°
Dry Weight	2,600 lb.
Est. Trailering Weight*	3,500-3,700 lb.

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

Capacities

Fuel Capacity	26 gal.
Usable Fuel	24 gal.
People Capacity	8 persons or 1100 lb.
Maximum Capacity	1400 pounds, inc. persons, gear

Engine Specs

Engine Type (MerCruiser)	3.0 MPI	4.3 MPI
Std/Opt.	Std.	Opt.
Propulsion	Alpha I	Alpha I
Carburetion	Fuel Injected	Fuel Injected
Displacement (Liter)	3.0L	4.3L
Displacement (cid)	181 cid.	262 cid.
Cylinders	Inline-4	V6
Engine Stroke	4-stroke	4-stroke
Horsepower	135hp	220hp

These specifications are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Takeaways

The short-lived 190 Sport was the smallest member in the Sea Ray fleet from 2012 through 2015 since it was replaced by the SPX 190 in 2016.

The well-designed 190 Sport was built on a moderate-V fiberglass hull and featured a bowrider-style top deck floorplan.

This boat built its reputation on its simple but practical design, high-quality finishes, and durable MerCruiser MPI engines.

Many of them are still in good shape and are being offered on the used market for around $20,000-$30,000.

Its larger brother, the more spacious 205 Sport was also widely popular.