Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012 vs Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 measures 52,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 32,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012 at 19,7 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 tips the scales at 367 lbs — 341 lbs less than the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012 at 26 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 765 hp, the Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 has a 545-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012's 220-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012 carries 26 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2008. 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 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012 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 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 52,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2012 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
Model185 Sport
Model52 Sedan Bridge
Model Year2012
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam7 ft. 3 in. (2.21 m)
Beam15 ft. 3 in. (4.65 m)
Beam - Meters2.21
Beam - Meters4.65
Beam - Inches87
Beam - Inches183
Deadrise19℃
Deadrise15℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.43
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches17
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86 cm)
Draft [max] - DetailInboards: 51 in. (130 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters1.3
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inches51
Weight - Detail2,600 lbs. (1,179 kg)
Weight - Detail36,700 lbs. (16,647 kg)
Weight - kg1179.34
Weight - kg16646.83
Weight - lbs.26
Weight - lbs.367
Length - Feet19.67
Length - Feet52
Length overall - Detail19 ft. 8 in. (5.99 m)
Length overall - Detail52 ft. 3 in. (15 m)
Length overall - Meters5.99
Length overall - Meters15.93
Length overall - Inches236
Length overall - Inches627
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters15
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches3
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeSemi Displacement
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMerCruiser®
Engine makenot available
Engine/s standard3.0L MPI ECT Alpha® 1 stern drive
Engine/s standardT-Cummins MerCruiser? QSM-11 with ETS - T-640 hp (477 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (98 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail500 gal. (1,892.5 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1892.71
Fuel tank capacity - Gal26
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Horsepower135 hp (101 kW)
Horsepowernot available
Engine max220 hp (164 kW)
Engine maxT-765 hp (570 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,200 lbs. (544 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people8 / 1,100 lbs. (499 kg)
Maximum peoplenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity140 gal. (530 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail68 gal. (257.4 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters257.41
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal68
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailSingle axle, painted
Trailer - Detailnot available