Stingray 185LS 2006 vs Stingray 205CS 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Stingray 185LS 2006 or the Stingray 205CS 2008?

The Stingray 205CS 2008 is the longer of the two at 21,0 feet overall. The Stingray 185LS 2006 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 3,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Stingray 185LS 2006 or the Stingray 205CS 2008?

For trailering, the Stingray 205CS 2008 has the edge at 295 lbs dry weight versus 2 155 lbs for the Stingray 185LS 2006. 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Stingray 205CS 2008 is certified for 8. 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 205CS 2008 measures 93" wide, compared to 85" for the Stingray 185LS 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Stingray 185LS 2006 or the Stingray 205CS 2008?

The Stingray 205CS 2008 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Stingray 185LS 2006. That 14-gallon difference translates to roughly 42–70 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Stingray 185LS 2006 and Stingray 205CS 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Stingray 185LS 2006 and the Stingray 205CS 2008 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 2006 vs Stingray 205CS 2008

Stingray

Stingray 185LS 2006

2006

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Stingray

Stingray 205CS 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Stingray 185LS 2006 vs Stingray 205CS 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Stingray 185LS 2006 vs Stingray 205CS 2008 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Stingray 185LS 2006 at 18,0 ft versus Stingray 205CS 2008 at 21,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stingray 185LS 2006 tips the scales at 2 155 lbs — 1 860 lbs more than the Stingray 205CS 2008 at 295 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Stingray 205CS 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Stingray 185LS 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stingray 205CS 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Stingray 205CS 2008 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 Stingray 185LS 2006 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

MakeStingray

Model185LS

Model205CS

Model Year2006

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam85 in. (216 cm)

Beam93 in. (236 cm)

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Meters2.36

Beam - Inches85

Beam - Inches93

Bridge clearance - Detail41 in. (104 cm)

Bridge clearance - Detail50 in. (127 cm)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.04

Bridge clearance - Meters1.27

Bridge clearance - Inches41

Bridge clearance - Inches5

Deadrise19℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] inches18

Draft [drive up] inches17

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

Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (79 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.79

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches31

Weight - Detail2,155 lbs. (w/ 3.0L engine)

Weight - Detail2,950 lbs. (1,338 kg)

Weight - kg977.49

Weight - kg1338.1

Weight - lbs.2155

Weight - lbs.295

Length - Meters5.6

Length - Meters6.2

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet21

Length - Inches5

Length - Inches2

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

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 2 in. (6.2 m)

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Meters6.45

Length overall - Inches221

Length overall - Inches254

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (80 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (133 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal21

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardVolvo 4.3 CARB 190 SX

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,070 lbs. (485 kg)

Maximum capacity1,700 lbs. (771.1 kg)

Maximum people7

Maximum people8

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity3 gal. (11 l)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Stingray 185LS 2006 vs Stingray 205CS 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Stingray 185LS 2006 or the Stingray 205CS 2008?

The Stingray 205CS 2008 is the longer of the two at 21,0 feet overall. The Stingray 185LS 2006 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 3,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Stingray 185LS 2006 or the Stingray 205CS 2008?

For trailering, the Stingray 205CS 2008 has the edge at 295 lbs dry weight versus 2 155 lbs for the Stingray 185LS 2006. 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Stingray 205CS 2008 is certified for 8. 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 205CS 2008 measures 93" wide, compared to 85" for the Stingray 185LS 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 Stingray 185LS 2006 or the Stingray 205CS 2008?

The Stingray 205CS 2008 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Stingray 185LS 2006. That 14-gallon difference translates to roughly 42–70 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Stingray 185LS 2006 and Stingray 205CS 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Stingray 185LS 2006 and the Stingray 205CS 2008 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 2006 full specs ← Stingray 205CS 2008 full specs