Sea Ray 19 SPX

With a length of just under six metres and an unladen weight of around 1250 kg, the Sea Ray 19 SPX is a typical trailer boat. To ensure that the road captain is on the safe side, the trailer should have a permissible total weight of 1800 kg, which single-axle trailers still allow. Where can the journey take you? To inland areas and coastal waters (CE category C).

An ingenious cockpit layout ensures fun on the water. The boat offers three sunbathing areas. The first is in the open bow, where a double bench with sporty, firm cushions ensures comfort. The co-driver's seat offers a seat/lounger combination facing the direction of travel. Last but not least, there is the rear area above the engine compartment.

Shortcoming: The handrail is missing here as a boundary to the rear so that there is at least something to hold on to. The swivelling driver's seat, passenger seat and rear bench as well as a small round table guarantee a cosy "coffee party". The sporty, ambitious carpool will be delighted with the waterskiing eyelet, the large box under the cockpit floor for stowing waterskiing accessories and the large bathing platform with long ladder.

With a length of just under six metres and an unladen weight of around 1250 kg, the Sea Ray 19 SPX is a typical trailer boat. To ensure that the road captain is on the safe side, the trailer should have a permissible total weight of 1800 kg, which single-axle trailers still allow. Where can the journey take you? To inland areas and coastal waters (CE category C).

An ingenious cockpit layout ensures fun on the water. The boat offers three sunbathing areas. The first is in the open bow, where a double bench with sporty firm cushions ensures comfort. The co-driver's seat offers a seat/lounger combination facing the direction of travel. Last but not least, there is the rear area above the engine compartment. Shortcoming: The handrail is missing here as a boundary to the rear so that there is at least something to hold on to.

The swivelling driver's seat, passenger seat and rear bench as well as a small round table guarantee a cosy "coffee party". The sporty, ambitious carpool will be delighted with the waterskiing eyelet, the large box under the cockpit floor for stowing waterskiing accessories and the large bathing platform with long ladder. Climbing out of the water is also made easier by a handle near the ladder.

If you want to make the fun of waterskiing or wakeboarding even more practical, order the "wakeboard package" with tower, wakeboard racks, biminitop, sea deck covering on the bathing platform, cruise control and special cover for the dashboard. Of course, just going out for a swim or to relax is also on the list of excursions. The necessary power for this is provided by a 3.0-litre MerCruiser with 137 hp. The "Emission Control" sticker is a particularly positive feature, which means that the engine works with an exhaust gas purification system (catalytic converter) and fuel injection system (MPI), just like in a car.

The spurt from displacement to planing speed shows that everything fits together: with trim down, the Sea Ray glides at lightning speed and without obstructing the view. The skipper travels economically from A to B at 3000 rpm at a good 20 knots. With the 113-litre tank load and a fuel consumption of 0.9 l/sm, the range is over 100 nm plus 15% reserve. This is a very respectable figure for boats of this open 6 metre sports version. Full-throttle pilots (a good 32 knots) manage around 30 nm less non-stop distance.

Water skiers and tube riders particularly look forward to the bends in order to get plenty of speed. Although we didn't have any skiers behind the boat, the Sea Ray has super-tight cornering behaviour in fast turns with trim down. There is no hooking or rocking, but the hull makes its rounds cleanly. The propeller only grabs air when the Z-drive is raised. The steering is always smooth here, as it is on the precisely manoeuvrable saloon courses. The test boat performs this manoeuvre safely and dryly (at around 28 knots) even in short, steep waves generated by a wind of around 4 Bft against the Main current.

In the harbour, tight turning circles and normal reversing behaviour allow the Sea Ray to manoeuvre well into the box or onto the jetty. On slow straight-ahead courses, the bow swings back and forth (yawing) as is typical of a glider, but rarely needs to be corrected. The same applies when the weight of an adult in the boat is shifted.

The driver can keep a cool head by folding up the seat surface of the well-padded sports seat and leaning against it with their bum. They can then look over the windscreen (safety glass) in the painted system frame and get a nice blast of wind in their nostrils. When seated, the sports seat impresses with its wide range of adjustment options, firm upholstery and good lateral support. The driving position is clearly organised, but we miss the compass that we require on coastal areas. The same applies to the windscreen wiper, which provides the necessary visibility in rainy weather or splash water.

The mechanic has a view of the engine and the necessary space to work when he folds up the sunbed. Underneath is the firmly bolted MerCruiser, an exemplary fire extinguishing system, clean installations and a complete protective coating. This neat workmanship is evident in almost every corner of the test Sea-Ray. This includes, for example, the rubber-protected edges on the driving position or the fastening of the fittings with thick through bolts and large washers. We were disturbed by the sharp corners of the windscreen when the centre aperture is opened.

We also criticise the lack of a hand bilge pump, the navigation lights, which are not approved throughout Germany, and the lack of a tarpaulin in the standard package. Sea Ray provides 6 solid cleats, 3 towing eyes and a sturdy rubbing strake as standard.

CONCLUSION

The Sea Ray 19 SPX is an easily trailerable bowrider that is just as suitable for beginners as it is for advanced boaters. The 3.0 litre cat engine is not only agile, but also "clean". The workmanship and installations are of a decent standard.


Shipyard.......................................... Sea Ray/USA
Type............................................. 19 SPX
CE category............................. C = coastal waters
Hull and deck........................ Plastic
Length overall........................ 5.94 m
Width......................................... 2.49 m
Displacement.............................. 1250 kg
Draught..................................... 0.88 m
Clearance height........................ 1.28 m
Fuel tank.............................. 113 litres
Sunbed passenger bench........ 0.56 x 1.10 m,
Stern........................................... 0.83 x 2.10 m,
Foredeck...................................... 1.40 x 1.73 m
Cockpit size forward...................... 1.40 x 1.73 m,
aft....................................... 2.09 x 2.46 m
Freeboard...................................... 0.45 m at stern entrance
Cockpit side height inside............ 0.85 m
Test motorisation MerCruiser.... 3.0 MPI
................................................... Cat Alpha One 101 kW (137 hp)
Possible motorisation.............. Petrol inboard 101 kW - 164 kW (137 hp - 223 hp)
Test propeller............................... 3 x 14.5" x 19"
Price (standard boat with test engine)... 29 900 €
Sales....................................... (test boat) Boote Pfister, Wahlweg 6,
................................................... 97525 Schwebheim/Schweinfurt,
................................................... www.bootepfister.de

Data sheet: Sea Ray 19 SPX

Shipyard: Sea Ray

Type designation: Sea Ray 19 SPX

CE category: C - Coastal waters

Material of hull and deck: Plastic

Length: 5,94 m

Width: 2,49 m

Displacement: 1,25 t

Price: 29.900,00 €