Stingray 185LS 2005 vs Stingray 250CS 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Stingray 185LS 2005 or the Stingray 250CS 2009?

For trailering, the Stingray 185LS 2005 has the edge at 2 155 lbs dry weight versus 5 025 lbs for the Stingray 250CS 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.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Stingray 185LS 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Stingray 250CS 2009 is certified for 1. 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.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Stingray 250CS 2009 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Stingray 185LS 2005. 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Stingray 185LS 2005 or the Stingray 250CS 2009?

The Stingray 250CS 2009 has the bigger tank at 68 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Stingray 185LS 2005. That 47-gallon difference translates to roughly 141–235 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Stingray 185LS 2005 and Stingray 250CS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Stingray 185LS 2005 and the Stingray 250CS 2009 are built by Stingray. 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.

Boat Comparison

Stingray 185LS 2005 vs Stingray 250CS 2009

Stingray

Stingray 185LS 2005

2005

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Stingray

Stingray 250CS 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Stingray 185LS 2005 vs Stingray 250CS 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Stingray 185LS 2005 vs Stingray 250CS 2009 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Stingray 185LS 2005 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Stingray 250CS 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stingray 185LS 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Stingray 185LS 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stingray 250CS 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeStingray

Model185LS

Model250CS

Model Year2005

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam85 in. (216 cm)

Beam102 in. (259 cm)

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches85

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail41 in. (104 cm)

Bridge clearance - Detail77 in. (196 cm)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.04

Bridge clearance - Meters1.96

Bridge clearance - Inches41

Bridge clearance - Inches77

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise21℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail18 in. (46 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail19 in. (48 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] meters0.48

Draft [drive up] inches18

Draft [drive up] inches19

Draft [max] - Detail29 in. (74 cm)

Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (89 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail2155 lbs. (w/ 3.0L engine)

Weight - Detail5,025 lbs. (2,279 kg)

Weight - kg977.49

Weight - kg2279.3

Weight - lbs.2155

Weight - lbs.5025

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 5 in. (5.6 m)

Length overall - Detail25 ft. (7.6 m)

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Meters7.62

Length overall - Inches221

Length overall - Inches3

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters7.6

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet25

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (80 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail68 gal. (257 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters257.41

Fuel tank capacity - Gal21

Fuel tank capacity - Gal68

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardVolvo 5.0 MPI 270 SX

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1070 lbs. (485 kg)

Maximum capacity2,265 lbs. (1,027 kg)

Maximum people7

Maximum people1

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity4 + 1

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity25 gal. (95 l)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Stingray 185LS 2005 vs Stingray 250CS 2009 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Stingray 185LS 2005 or the Stingray 250CS 2009?

For trailering, the Stingray 185LS 2005 has the edge at 2 155 lbs dry weight versus 5 025 lbs for the Stingray 250CS 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Stingray 185LS 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Stingray 250CS 2009 is certified for 1. 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 Stingray 250CS 2009 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Stingray 185LS 2005. 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 Stingray 185LS 2005 or the Stingray 250CS 2009?

The Stingray 250CS 2009 has the bigger tank at 68 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Stingray 185LS 2005. That 47-gallon difference translates to roughly 141–235 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Stingray 185LS 2005 and Stingray 250CS 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Stingray 185LS 2005 and the Stingray 250CS 2009 are built by Stingray. 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.

← Stingray 185LS 2005 full specs ← Stingray 250CS 2009 full specs