Smart and Stylish

The 195 Sport is an excellent choice for the entry-level boater, but also provides plenty of features to keep veterans satisfied too.

By Capt. Bob Smith

This year’s Sea Ray Dealer Meeting took place in San Destin, Florida where they announced the premier of its latest line of runabouts and cruisers for 2006. Having tested a few 2006 models earlier this year, I was anxious to see how the new 195 Sport would perform. This model comes with many of the same design features of the successful 205, so my expectations were high.

Both dealers and owners wanted something more to offer buyers entering into the Sea Ray lifestyle, without having to jump into a larger boat and break the budget. Along with a standard trailer, this 20-footer has the power and the portability to enjoy the water wherever you choose to go.

Bow Features

The bow on this boat is laid out with three innovative seats facing each other. A molded-in side step allows you to easily board from the dock without stepping onto the seats. The bottom cushion of the rear facing seat covers a padded storage compartment adequate for a small Danforth style anchor and line. Relax underway with molded-in armrests and grab rails for safety, and drinkholders for your favorite beverage.

The tinted three-piece wraparound windshield has a large fold-over walkthrough for easy movement to the bow and back to the cockpit.

Cockpit Layout

Seating in the cockpit is just as comfortable and functional as the bow. Our test boat had standard set up with two bucket seats and typical slide and swivel adjustments. There is room in the side pockets to store longer items and loose items for immediate availability while on board. The sound system is located inside the glove box on the companion side. The standard system has two speakers, but an upgrade bumps it to four, and it can feature the Sirius Satellite radio system. Both the companion pod and the helm station have open storage boxes under the dash for more small items such as lotions and sunglasses. Kneeboards, wakeboards, and bulky items are stored beneath a fiberglass deck lid with gas assist shocks next to the companion and helm seats.

Practical Helm

The helm on this model is simple and easy to work. Analog gauges monitor the performance of the engine, toggle switches control power, and the low-glare nightlights go easy on the eyes. The engine hour meter is a digital readout in the tachometer. Power up your portable gear or recharge your cell phone with a 12volt power outlet to the right side of the dash. The power assisted steering and sporty tilt wheel deliver great control.

Moving Aft

The main speakers are just behind the bucket seats, and are located in the side wall. Also placed here are drinkholders and grab handles for the bench riders. When you are ready to soak up some sun at anchor, the 195 Sport has a large pad to relax on behind the bench seat. It doubles as the engine hatch. I really liked the gull-wing design on this boat, which gives excellent space to check the engine, or to dry off lifejackets.

Our model featured the upgrade, which is a 4.3L MPI engine with 220 horsepower. You can bump the 195 Sport up to a 5L with 260 horses if you really want serious pulling power.

The 195 Sport has a short integrated swim platform and an extended swim platform for enjoying the water at anchor. With the sturdy grab handle and nested three-step boarding ladder, just about anybody can pull themselves back on board.

Specs and Performance

This brand new model measures 20’2” length overall, and has a beam of 7’6”. She weighs 2,828 pounds, and has a 30 gallon fuel capacity. With the outdrive up you can slip into 17 inches of water, which means you can easily walk up to your favorite beach. With the outdrive down you’ll need 34 inches of water below the boat.

Ride and Performance

We tested the 195 Sport in pretty choppy saltwater with two people on board. She jumped on plane in 2.9 seconds and was passing 30 miles-per-hour in only 5.6 seconds. Her best cruise was achieved at 3000 rpm running 27.1 miles-per-hour, which give the boat a range of about 117 miles with a full tank. Top speed was clocked at 51.6 mph turning 5000 rpm with the 4.3L MPI MerCruiser and Bravo III sterndrive.

With options like a wakeboard package, fish and ski package and L-shaped seating arrangements, you can maximize this sporty ride to your style of boating. Our test boat delivered a thrilling ride and the handling was nimble and precise. If you’re ready to join the Sea Ray lifestyle and want more than just an entry-level runabout, the 195 Sport is a great model to start out with.

Speeds measured with Stalker ProSports radar gun. Fuel consumption (gallons per hour) measured with Floscan digital fuel-flow meter on gas inboards, sterndrives, and outboards, TechMate electronic scan tool on gas EFI inboards, Caterpillar digital fuel-flow meter on diesel engines, or permanently installed fuel-monitoring equipment. Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity. Sound levels determined using Radio Shack digital decibel meter on A scale. 68 dBA is the level of normal conversation.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions