2018 Larson LX 185 OB

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Richard Crowder

Think for a minute what Paul Larson, who started building wooden boats over a century ago – yes over a hundred years ago - in Minnesota would think if he could see the computer-controlled VEC® Composite Technology process used today to build his one-piece hulls with integrated stringer systems in use to manufacture Larson boats up to twenty-two feet.

This new for 2018 Larson LX 185 OB (outboard) is indeed manufactured using this innovative VEC® process. This model is considered “new” for 2018 due not only to the fact that its beam has grown a significant six-inches to seven feet, ten inches overall, thus necessitating changes to both the hull and the deck, but also the deck itself has been reconfigured for 2018.

This is a good looking boat especially if you choose the right combination of optional colours and graphics. The standard hull colour is white and includes a boot stripe and a below gunwale stripe in Black, Blue, Charcoal, or Red. Standard interior colour is White upholstery with Dark Grey highlighting and with Light Grey, Blue, or Red accents.

Now, go to your colour options section and check out the available hull colour band in Blue, Black, Red, or Grey or the stunning Impulse Hull colour band available in Midnight Sky, Dawn, Sapphire, or Quartz. Then check out what it looks like online and especially check out the interior and exterior photos showing the choice in red with the stunning driver’s helm and passenger consoles in the same brilliant red matching the upholstery red. Wow!

Seating absolutely fills every available space in the cockpit and bow. The driver and passenger opposite each have a high-back adjustable sport bucket seat with forward flip-up bolster. Aft of each of these, U-shaped bench seating fills the remaining cockpit space including across the transom. Storage is found beneath all seat cushions except for the under-seat space occupied by the standard portable cooler. Within the cockpit floor is a sizable storage compartment ideally suitable for watersports accessories.

The three sections of bow seating also feature fibreglass-finished storage beneath the seat cushions. The padded forward face of the driver and passenger consoles each serve as backrests to accommodate forward facing lounging in the bow. A deck-mounted eighteen inch stainless steel safety grab handle serves each side of the bow seating and again each side of the cockpit seating. Colour-matched upholstered coaming bolsters surround most of the bow area and virtually all of the cockpit seating area.

The molded driver’s helm with the available aforementioned colour coordination to match the hull sides and upholstery features a practical eyebrow to reduce windshield reflections. The dash is straightforward with standard large tachometer and speedometer plus a fuel gauge. A 12-volt accessory plug is standard as is a Bluetooth compatible Rockford Fosgate stereo with MP3/iPod port adapter, USB port, and four speakers. An in-dash depth finder is optionally available.

A classy sport tilt steering wheel is standard as is hydraulic steering if you choose the maximum recommended 150 horsepower outboard. Below this rating, hydraulic steering is available as a highly recommended option. Power from 90 to 150 horsepower becomes your choice of brand from Evinrude, Mercury, Suzuki, or Yamaha. The extended swim platform sections on each side of the outboard motor are commendably large and very use-able.

Other notable standard equipment on the LX 185 OB includes one pull-up bow plus four fixed mooring cleats, a lockable glove box within the passenger console, stern flip-down boarding ladder, removable ski tow pylon, Grey snap-in cockpit carpet, stainless steel cupholders and speaker grills, bow and cockpit covers, plus a painted Shoreland’r trailer with swing tongue, chrome rims, disc brakes, LED lights, and retractable tie-downs.

Notable available factory options include a fish finder, bow filler cushions, Marine Mat in Camel or Grey on swim platform, cockpit snap-in Marine Mat in Camel or Grey, cockpit snap-in Seagrass mat, bimini top, stereo upgrades, trailer upgrades or trailer delete should you not want a trailer.

Yes, if only Paul Larson could see today just how far his namesake Larson brand has come in the past century and the huge impact it has had in the pleasure boat market.

2018 Larson LX 185 OB Photo Gallery

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