Boating USA — March 2018

BOATINGMAG.COM | MARCH 2018| 47

C

CERTIFIED

TEST

RESULTS

the outboard burned

9.4 gph, achieving 3.1

mpg. At its 43 mph

peak, the outboard

spun 6,500 rpm and

burned 20.9 gph. The

sterndrive topped out

at 45.8 mph at 5,100

rpm, burning 18.8 gph.

Low speeds, however,

favored the outboard.

At 1,500 rpm, the stern-

drive burned 2.2 gph at

5.7 mph; the outboard

burned only 1.8 gph

while running 6.8 mph.

PRICE

The sterndrive version

of this Sea Ray is less

expensive, listing at

$56,060 with its Bravo

Three sterndrive, a

$2,000 upgrade over

the base-model Alpha

drive. The outboard

version retails for

$61,267, of which

$9,667 went to the

upgraded Verado 200

Pro (which includes

power steering and

other goodies) over the

base Mercury 150.

X FACTORS

Other considerations?

The outboard proved

quieter by 4 dBA at

cruising speed and

10 dBA at full throttle.

An outboard can also

be fully trimmed out

of the water to avoid

corrosion, is less prone

to internal corrosion,

doesn’t require venti-

lation prior to starting,

is easier/less expensive

to service/winterize,

and can more easily be

upgraded or replaced.

The sterndrive’s

greatest advantage is

positioning. It tucks the

prop under the swim

platform, so it isn’t in

the way for tow sports

or while hanging out at

the cove. Sterndrives

off er clear sightlines

aft, while you can see

which way an outboard

is turned by looking

at it. —Jeff Hemmel

PHOTOS: (FROM TOP) COURTESY SEA RAY BOATS (2), COURTESY MERCURY MARINE (3)

SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATION

rpm knots mph gph^ naut. mpg stat. mpg range range n. mi. s. mi. angle levelsound

1000 4.00 4.60 1.00 4.00 4.60 180 207 0 54

1500 5.91 6.80 1.80 3.28 3.78 148 170 0 58

2000 6.95 8.00 2.50 2.78 3.20 125 144 2 62

2500 7.82 9.00 4.00 1.96 2.25 88 101 5 66

3000 11.64 13.40 5.30 2.20 2.53 99 114 6 69

3500 17.12 19.70 6.40 2.67 3.08 120 139 4 74

4000 22.07 25.40 7.70 2.87 3.30 129 148 3 77

4500 25.03 28.80 9.40 2.66 3.06 120 138 2 79

5000 27.63 31.80 11.60 2.38 2.74 107 123 2 79

5500 30.59 35.20 14.40 2.12 2.44 96 110 1 79

6000 33.00 38.70 17.70 1.86 2.19 84 98 1 79

6500 37.37 43.00 20.90 1.79 2.06 80 93 2 78

MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEED

SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATION

rpm knots mph gph^ naut. mpg stat. mpg n. mi. range range s. mi. angle levelsound

1000 2.78 3.20 1.40 1.99 2.29 89 103 0 69

1500 4.95 5.70 2.20 2.25 2.59 101 117 2 69

2000 7.56 8.70 3.60 2.10 2.42 95 109 5 76

2500 14.99 17.25 4.10 3.66 4.21 165 189 3 77

3000 21.07 24.25 5.60 3.76 4.33 169 195 2 79

3500 24.98 28.75 7.10 3.52 4.05 158 182 2 83

4000 29.89 34.40 9.40 3.18 3.66 143 165 2 83

4500 32.24 37.10 12.70 2.54 2.92 114 131 2 86

5000 36.84 42.40 15.60 2.36 2.72 106 122 1 88

5100 39.80 45.80 18.80 2.12 2.44 95 110 1 88

MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEED

SEA RAY SPX 230 OB (OUTBOARD) SEA RAY SPX 230 (STERNDRIVE)

Outboard

It costs more,

but it is lighter,

ran quieter and is

more corrosion-

resistant.

Sterndrive

It costs less, al-

lows for a broad

swim platform

and delivered

better effi ciency.