Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 205 Sport 2011 vs Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 205 Sport 2011 against a deep vee Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 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 235 Weekender 2012 measures 24,6 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 205 Sport 2011 at 21,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 tips the scales at 477 lbs — 162 lbs less than the Sea Ray 205 Sport 2011 at 315 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 300 hp, the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 has a 40-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 205 Sport 2011's 260-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 205 Sport 2011 carries 37 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012. 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 205 Sport 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 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 205 Sport 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 205 Sport 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 21,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 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
Model205 Sport
Model235 Weekender
Model Year2011
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.43 m)
Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.55 m)
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Meters2.57
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inches101
Deadrise20℃
Deadrise19℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail19 in. (50 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (50 cm)
Draft [drive up] meters0.48
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] inches19
Draft [drive up] inches2
Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (88.9 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (95 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Inches35
Draft [max] - Inches37
Weight - Detail3,150 lbs. (1,429 kg)
Weight - Detail4,770 lbs. (2,164 kg)
Weight - kg1428.81
Weight - kg2163.63
Weight - lbs.315
Weight - lbs.477
Length - Feet21
Length - Feet24.58
Length overall - Detail21 ft. (6.4 m)
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 7 in. (7.49 m)
Length overall - Meters6.4
Length overall - Meters7.49
Length overall - Inches252
Length overall - Inches295
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]22 ft. 6 in. (6.86 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMerCruiser®
Engine makeMerCruiser®
Engine/s standard4.3L Alpha® I sterndrive with turn-key start
Engine/s standard4.3L MPI ECT Alpha® 1 stern drive
Fuel tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (190 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters140.06
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal37
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Horsepower220 hp (164 kW)
Horsepower220 hp (164 kW)
Engine max260 hp (194 kW)
Engine max300 hp (224 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,200 lbs. (544 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people8 / 1,120 lbs. (508 kg)
Maximum peoplenot available