Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 vs Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 vs Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 measures 23,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 at 17,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 tips the scales at 4 244 lbs - 2 144 lbs less than the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 at 2 100 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 Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 tops out at 300 hp. Engine specs for the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 aren't listed - confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 carries 50 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 230 SLX® 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model180 Sport
Model230 SLX®
Model Year2005
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam70 in. (2.13 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam - Meters1.78
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches70
Beam - Inches102
Deadrise19℃
Deadrise21°
Draft [drive up] - Detail18 in. (45.7 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detail23 in. (58.42 cm)
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] meters0.58
Draft [drive up] inches18
Draft [drive up] inches23
Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (88.9 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (96.52 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Meters0.97
Draft [max] - Inches35
Draft [max] - Inches38
Weight - Detail2,100 lbs. (953 kg)
Weight - Detail4,244 lbs. (1,925 kg)
Weight - kg952.54
Weight - kg1925.04
Weight - lbs.2100
Weight - lbs.4244
Length - Meters5.33
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet17
Length - Feet23
Length - Inches6
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in. (5.33 m)
Length overall - Detail23 ft. (7 m)
Length overall - Meters5.33
Length overall - Meters7.01
Length overall - Inches210
Length overall - Inches276
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard3.0L Alpha I MCM Stern Drive (135 hp - 101 kw)
Engine/s standard5.0L MPI ECT Bravo® III sterndrive
Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (79.5 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal21
Fuel tank capacity - Gal50
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMerCruiser®
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower260 hp (194 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Engine max300 hp (224 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity980 lbs. (444.5 kg)
Maximum capacity1,600 lbs. (726 kg)
Maximum people7
Maximum people10 / 1,400 lbs. (635 kg)
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee