Stingray 185LX 2005 vs Stingray 230LX 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Stingray 185LX 2005 or the Stingray 230LX 2007?

For trailering, the Stingray 185LX 2005 has the edge at 2 155 lbs dry weight versus 3 224 lbs for the Stingray 230LX 2007. 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 185LX 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Stingray 230LX 2007 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 230LX 2007 measures 96" wide, compared to 85" for the Stingray 185LX 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 185LX 2005 or the Stingray 230LX 2007?

The Stingray 230LX 2007 has the bigger tank at 57 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Stingray 185LX 2005. That 36-gallon difference translates to roughly 108–180 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Stingray 185LX 2005 and Stingray 230LX 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Stingray 185LX 2005 and the Stingray 230LX 2007 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 185LX 2005 vs Stingray 230LX 2007

Stingray

Stingray 185LX 2005

2005

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Stingray

Stingray 230LX 2007

2007

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Stingray 185LX 2005 vs Stingray 230LX 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Stingray 185LX 2005 vs Stingray 230LX 2007 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 230LX 2007 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Stingray 185LX 2005 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stingray 230LX 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Stingray 230LX 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stingray 185LX 2005 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

Model185LX

Model230LX

Model Year2005

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam85 in. (216 cm)

Beam96 in. (244 cm)

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches85

Beam - Inches96

Bridge clearance - Detail41 in. (104 cm)

Bridge clearance - Detail53 in. (135 cm)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.04

Bridge clearance - Meters1.35

Bridge clearance - Inches41

Bridge clearance - Inches53

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise20℃

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] - Detail36 in. (91 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches29

Draft [max] - Inches36

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

Weight - Detail3,224 lbs. (1,462 kg)

Weight - kg977.49

Weight - kg1462.38

Weight - lbs.2155

Weight - lbs.3224

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

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 8 in. (6.9 m)

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Meters6.91

Length overall - Inches221

Length overall - Inches272

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.9

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet22

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches8

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (80 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail57 gal. (216 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters215.77

Fuel tank capacity - Gal21

Fuel tank capacity - Gal57

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1070 lbs. (485 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people7

Maximum people8 @ 1,850 lbs. (839 kg)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Stingray 185LX 2005 vs Stingray 230LX 2007 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Stingray 185LX 2005 or the Stingray 230LX 2007?

For trailering, the Stingray 185LX 2005 has the edge at 2 155 lbs dry weight versus 3 224 lbs for the Stingray 230LX 2007. 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 185LX 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Stingray 230LX 2007 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 230LX 2007 measures 96" wide, compared to 85" for the Stingray 185LX 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 185LX 2005 or the Stingray 230LX 2007?

The Stingray 230LX 2007 has the bigger tank at 57 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Stingray 185LX 2005. That 36-gallon difference translates to roughly 108–180 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Stingray 185LX 2005 and Stingray 230LX 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Stingray 185LX 2005 and the Stingray 230LX 2007 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 185LX 2005 full specs ← Stingray 230LX 2007 full specs