Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006
2006
View full specs →
VS
Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005
2005
View full specs →

Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 vs Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 vs Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 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 390 Sundancer 2005 measures 41,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 23,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 at 18,0 feet (2006). At 185 lbs and 193 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 carries a rated maximum of 135 hp. Engine data for the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 carries 275 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006. 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 390 Sundancer 2005 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 41,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSea Ray
MakeSea Ray
Model185 Outboard Sport
Model390 Sundancer?
Model Year2006
Model Year2005
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m)
Beam13 ft. 2 in. (4.01 m)
Beam - Meters2.29
Beam - Meters4.01
Beam - Inches9
Beam - Inches158
Deadrise19℃
Deadrise19℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail12 in. (30.5 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.3
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches12
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail30 in. (76.2 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86.36 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.76
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches3
Draft [max] - Inches34
Weight - Detail1,850 lbs. (839 kg)
Weight - Detail19,300 lbs. (8,685 kg)
Weight - kg839.15
Weight - kg8754.33
Weight - lbs.185
Weight - lbs.193
Length - Meters5.49
Length - Meters12.49
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet41
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in. (5.49 m)
Length overall - Detail41 ft. 0 in. (12.49 m)
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Meters12.5
Length overall - Inches216
Length overall - Inches492
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardMercury? 2-stroke - 115 hp (86 kW)
Engine/s standardT-VD-8.1 S Horizon MerCruiser? Gasoline Inboards (T-370 hp - 276 kw)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75.7 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail275 gal. (1,040.9 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1040.99
Fuel tank capacity - Gal2
Fuel tank capacity - Gal275
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeInboard
Engine max135 hp
Engine maxnot available
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,700 lbs. (771 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people8
Maximum peoplenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity70 gal. (265 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail42 gal. (159 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters158.99
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal42

Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 vs Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 or the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005?
The Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 is the longer of the two at 41,0 feet overall. The Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 23,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 or the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005?
For trailering, the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 has the edge at 185 lbs dry weight versus 193 lbs for the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005. 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.
What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?
The Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 has a documented max rating of 135 hp. Engine specifications for the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 is certified for 12. 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 Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 measures 158" wide, compared to 9" for the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006. 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.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 or the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005?
The Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 has the bigger tank at 275 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006. That 273-gallon difference translates to roughly 819–1365 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 and Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Sea Ray 185 Outboard Sport 2006 and the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2005 are built by Sea Ray. 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.