I'm starting to shop for an 18-19 foot I/O and the Stingray 185LX is looking
interesting. I don't think it's in the upper half of the range
quality-wise, but then again can't find a lot of talk about it.

Anyone have experience with Stingrays? Even opinions.

Thanks
Nute

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:56:20 -0600, "Nute" wrote:

Anyone have experience with Stingrays? Even opinions.

I rented one once for an afternoon. It looked like 40 miles of bad
road and didn't run all that well but it was a rental boat after all,
and had probably been run hard and put away wet.

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:56:20 -0600, "Nute" wrote:

I'm starting to shop for an 18-19 foot I/O and the Stingray 185LX is looking
interesting. I don't think it's in the upper half of the range
quality-wise, but then again can't find a lot of talk about it.

Anyone have experience with Stingrays? Even opinions.

Thanks
Nute


I have owned a Stingray 2002 240CS for about 3 seasons now and it has
been just fine. As you noticed, it's not on the top end of the quality
line, more like lower end, but it is a very nice appearing boat,
handles really well, very seaworthy ( Atlantic off New England,) and
suites my needs just fine.

http://www.stingrayboats.com/product...hp?model=240cs

It's the little crap with this boat where the quality problems come
through...nothing structually major, just loose screws, screws that
are too long, some hardware thats a bit cheap. Little quality problems
that are fixable like some rain leaking in around windows and cheap
window screens. I had one seat come apart due to shoddy workmanship
but that was a pretty easy fix. All in all, I've had no major problems
and I really like the boat. For what I paid new ( about 36k for a new
24 foot boat 5L Mercuiser with galvanized tandem trailer and some good
options like full camper canvas ) it's hard to match another new boat
in that price range. Also look at the Rinker boats too. They are in
the same category. I think Stingrays are far better on quality and
design than Bayliners, but also well below Maxums.

My Stingray is sort of a Barbie boat since it has all the vinyl seats,
but it is nice on a sunny summer day to have those reclining cushy
seats. ( The ladies like that. ) and then I switch out the back seat
to a plywood seat with a tank rack to make it into a very adequate
scuba diving boat. The carpets snap in and out too ( nice option.)

If I was looking for more a a fishing boat I wouldn't want the vinyl
seats and a boat like a Parker or a Grady White would be a good way to
go. It's all good, you just have to decide what you want in a boat.

John C.

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:52:49 -0500, John Chaplain John
wrote:

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:56:20 -0600, "Nute" wrote:

I'm starting to shop for an 18-19 foot I/O and the Stingray 185LX is looking
interesting. I don't think it's in the upper half of the range
quality-wise, but then again can't find a lot of talk about it.

Anyone have experience with Stingrays? Even opinions.

Thanks
Nute


I have owned a Stingray 2002 240CS for about 3 seasons now and it has
been just fine. As you noticed, it's not on the top end of the quality
line, more like lower end, but it is a very nice appearing boat,
handles really well, very seaworthy ( Atlantic off New England,) and
suites my needs just fine.

http://www.stingrayboats.com/product...hp?model=240cs

It's the little crap with this boat where the quality problems come
through...nothing structually major, just loose screws, screws that
are too long, some hardware thats a bit cheap. Little quality problems
that are fixable like some rain leaking in around windows and cheap
window screens. I had one seat come apart due to shoddy workmanship
but that was a pretty easy fix. All in all, I've had no major problems
and I really like the boat. For what I paid new ( about 36k for a new
24 foot boat 5L Mercuiser with galvanized tandem trailer and some good
options like full camper canvas ) it's hard to match another new boat
in that price range. Also look at the Rinker boats too. They are in
the same category. I think Stingrays are far better on quality and
design than Bayliners, but also well below Maxums.

My Stingray is sort of a Barbie boat since it has all the vinyl seats,
but it is nice on a sunny summer day to have those reclining cushy
seats. ( The ladies like that. ) and then I switch out the back seat
to a plywood seat with a tank rack to make it into a very adequate
scuba diving boat. The carpets snap in and out too ( nice option.)

If I was looking for more a a fishing boat I wouldn't want the vinyl
seats and a boat like a Parker or a Grady White would be a good way to
go. It's all good, you just have to decide what you want in a boat.

John C.




Thanks for the comments, John. Nice looking boat you have there.

Nute

Wayne.B wrote:

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:56:20 -0600, "Nute" wrote:


Anyone have experience with Stingrays? Even opinions.


I rented one once for an afternoon. It looked like 40 miles of bad
road and didn't run all that well but it was a rental boat after all,
and had probably been run hard and put away wet.


A buddy of mine had 190rs? with a 4.6 V6. The hull they called a
Z-Plane. The thing would go 50 mph and flat water. And beat you to death
on any type of wave action.

Capt Jack R..

A buddy of mine had 190rs? with a 4.6 V6. The hull they called a
Z-Plane. The thing would go 50 mph and flat water. And beat you to death
on any type of wave action.

Capt Jack R..

I don't think the zhull makes much difference. I think thats more
marketing bs.
My 240cs will do 50 on flat water and is a solid ride in the waves.

Like any boat, trim tabs are what make the difference in getting on
plane and really help riding out smaller waves at speed.

John C.

John Chaplain wrote:

A buddy of mine had 190rs? with a 4.6 V6. The hull they called a
Z-Plane. The thing would go 50 mph and flat water. And beat you to death
on any type of wave action.

Capt Jack R..


I don't think the zhull makes much difference. I think thats more
marketing bs.
My 240cs will do 50 on flat water and is a solid ride in the waves.

Like any boat, trim tabs are what make the difference in getting on
plane and really help riding out smaller waves at speed.

John C.

I think you make a valid point, but my buddies 190rs would go pretty
slow and stay on plane. Of course it could go slower with tabs, no doubt
about that. The only thing I recall from riding in it is that even small
wakes were unpleasant.

The 240cs is most likely a very different boat, one that I have never
been on. Thus my comment was only aimed at my experiance with the 190rs
bowrider. And that is the onlt Stingray I have ever been on.

Capt Jack R..