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

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

For trailering, the Stingray 185LX 2005 has the edge at 2 155 lbs dry weight versus 3 557 lbs for the Stingray 230SX 2005. 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 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005?

The Stingray 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Stingray 185LX 2005 and the Stingray 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005

Stingray

Stingray 185LX 2005

2005

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Stingray

Stingray 230SX 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

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

The Stingray 185LX 2005 vs Stingray 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Stingray 230SX 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 0,0 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

Model230SX

Model Year2005

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 - Detail52 in. (132 cm)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.04

Bridge clearance - Meters1.32

Bridge clearance - Inches41

Bridge clearance - Inches52

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise20℃

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (51 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.46

Draft [drive up] meters0.51

Draft [drive up] inches18

Draft [drive up] inches2

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 - Detail3557 lbs. (w/ 6.2L MPI engine)

Weight - kg977.49

Weight - kg1613.43

Weight - lbs.2155

Weight - lbs.3557

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

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

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1070 lbs. (485 kg)

Maximum capacity1850 lbs. (839 kg)

Maximum people7

Maximum people8

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity3 gal. (11 l)

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

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

For trailering, the Stingray 185LX 2005 has the edge at 2 155 lbs dry weight versus 3 557 lbs for the Stingray 230SX 2005. 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 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005?

The Stingray 230SX 2005 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 230SX 2005 from the same manufacturer?

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