Alumacraft MV Tex Special  2009 boat specs
Alumacraft
Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009
2009
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VS
Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 boat specs
Alumacraft
Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010
2010
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Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 vs Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 against a deep vee Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 at 16,0 ft versus Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 at 18,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 tips the scales at 675 lbs — 507 lbs more than the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 at 168 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 175 hp, the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 has a 115-hp advantage over the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009's 60-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeAlumacraft
MakeAlumacraft
ModelMV Tex Special
ModelTournament Sport 185
Model Year2009
Model Year201
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam74 in. (1.88 m) Bottom: 50 in. (1.27 m)
Beam97 in. (2.46 m)
Beam - Meters1.88
Beam - Meters2.46
Beam - Inches74
Beam - Inches97
Depth - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)
Depth - DetailMaximum: 43 in. (1.1 m) To Floor: 22 in. (0.56 m)
Depth - Centimeters53.34
Depth - Centimeters109.22
Depth - Inches21
Depth - Inches43
Weight - Detail675 lbs. (307 kg)
Weight - Detail1,680 lbs. (762 kg)
Weight - kg306.17
Weight - kg762.03
Weight - lbs.675
Weight - lbs.168
Width [transom] - Detail69 in. (1.75 m)
Width [transom] - Detail96 in. (2.4 m)
Height [transom]20 in. (0.50 m)
Height [transom]25 in. (0.63 m)
Length - Meters4.88
Length - Meters5.5
Length - Feet16
Length - Feet18.25
Length overall - Detail16 ft. (4.88 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 3 in. (5.5 m)
Length overall - Meters4.88
Length overall - Meters5.56
Length overall - Inches192
Length overall - Inches219
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.102 in. (2.5 mm)
Hull thicknessBottom: 0.100 in. (2.5 mm)
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max60 hp (45 kW)
Engine max175 hp (130 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal38
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,010 lbs. (458 kg)
Maximum capacity1,600 lbs. (726 kg)
Maximum people5
Maximum people6

Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 vs Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 or the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010?
The Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 2,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 or the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010?
For trailering, the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 has the edge at 168 lbs dry weight versus 675 lbs for the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 is rated to a maximum of 175 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 tops out at 60 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 measures 97" wide, compared to 74" for the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Are the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 and Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2009 and the Alumacraft Tournament Sport 185 2010 are built by Alumacraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.