Any knowledgeable Sea Ray owners

WTF's with the bashing... play nice boys....

Don delete this .. Shows alot SEARAY envy... U know who u are.. LOL...

Rob
 
quote:
Originally posted by Woodsong

Am I the only one that saw the oxymoron of the words "knowledgeable" and "sea ray owner" used in the same sentence??? hahaha- just kidding my sea ray ownering friends! ;)

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same (as a joke to our Sea ray Friends).

Don,
Chill out with the editing, give the post some space before you edit. I did not see his post as bashing but more like opinionated and ill informed.

Bud,
In your original post (before it was edited) you made a comment about Sea Ray having the best built boats between 1965 and 1997 (or 91). I will agree that older boats (when fiberglass started to replace wood boats) were much heavier and they used a lot more glass, but that was true for all manufactures. My understanding of that was they were not sure how much glass to use (being that fiberglass was a new product).

Down the road (all manufactures) learned more and engineered the hull design and amount of fiberglass to be much thinner. This is not bad, this is good, less weight, less fiberglass = better fuel economy and a less expensive boat to manufacture. Also, please note that car manufactures did the same with metal in that time frame.

Also the 32 years you mention as being “the best years” I find hard to swallow, I don’t remember the years in that time frame, but there was a time in that frame, where the boating industry was in the crapper and most production boats were built “cheaply”.

One other thing I will agree with, older boat (all manufactures) had much better peripheral equipment (switches, pumps, hoses, etc) the stuff that is mass produced today is CRAP, compared to years ago.
 
the Windy clipper gets it. you get it 110%

All I will add is before Brunswick bought searay, searay was still a very heavy boat. I dont know about the rest of the boaters out there, but I dont care what the cost of gas is, I rather a heavier more stable boat then better fuel consumption. Not all manufactures went lighter..

Formula is hand made and top quality. Guess I should have posted that last sentence in the formula forum?

Don I apologize for rattling peoples cages, (except for Hogans) Just kidding.
 
Darn my 2001 340 does not have a bow thruster. What am I to do as an incompetent newer Sea Ray, owner. bud I have operated the older Sea Rays and the newer ones. The newer ones are better in the handling department, speed department and the fuel efficiency department. They have nicer and more livable interiors. If 1990 boats were better than the newer boats they would command higher price. If you are a marine engineer then II am the tooth fairy.
I am no fairy, boy.
 
I didn't start this rumble!

But I have heard that older searay's are better and I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last week!

:)
 
Seeing other recent post's from the Bud Man, questions the validty of this post, Sorry Don, now I see where you were going.
 
I have an old Sea Ray, but I have no experience judging it against a newer model. I'm not sure about the weight statements. My old 300 DA weighs about 10,000 lbs and I see newer boats that seem smaller with a higher base weight. I know the beam changes the formula and you can't judge a 300 DA from 89 with a 300 DA today. It's more like a 320. I posted something similar on the "sea ray site I cannot mention" regarding the beam to see what other size boats have an 11 foot beam. I haven't checked in to see what the responses are since posing that last night.
 
Looks like an 08 310 has a 10'6" beam and a 320 has a 11'6" beam. I guess in today's terms that would mean my boat is roughly equal to a 31.5 footer. I'd love to try out a new 320 just to compare it's handling ability with my old garbage scow! :-) All I can say is that I'm out there on the water with the rest of them for a whole lot less money! Sure, I can afford a newer one, but I'd have a payment. No payment is more important to me than having new and shiny.
 
We've owned a 26 express, a 30 weekender and a 370 express all purchased new and enjoyed for several years. All had their pros and cons. I believe the 1986 30 express was the best built of the three. The stringers on the 26 were exposed plywood with tabs that did not always touch the hull. The 30 footer was in a showroom next to a brand new 28 foot Bertram and the build quality looked to be the same after poking around with a flashlight everywhere I could look. ( I know, they were not the same, but SR did a good job with this boat.) The 37 was a great party boat and in its day looked very upscale. It passed a survey with flying colors after years of cruising on Lake Michigan but was a PIA to own. We could never get rid of the leaks and were forever picking up screws in the bilge and wondering where they were coming from. The quality of materials was average at best and it was not a sea boat. We enjoyed buying and selling each of them. We have a Tiara now and have found for us the perfect boating solution--great ride in a big sea, good fuel economy and superior comfort in all kinds of weather. My 2 cents.
 
I submit that the older Sea Rays HAVE to be better because you see so many old ones around. Have you noticed that you don't see any old Newer models around? Obviously, they haven't lasted as long!

Seriously, I aslo have an old SR, but a much smaller model than most of you here. My little 1980 SRV-192 still has its original interior and it still looks pretty sharp, except for that burnt orange carpet! (What were they thinking??) I often get comments from folks who think the boat is closer to 10 years old, rather than its actual age of 28 years. And the mechanicals of the boat are all original, too, except for routine maintenance items and the steering cable. They did make them to last back in the day.

The funny part is that this engine, the 470, was a Mercruiser-built engine designed in the 70s in response to the fuel crisis of the day. Now, with fuel hovering in the $4-5 range on the water, it's efficiency has come back into vogue. It's kind of like hanging onto those really narrow ties. Someday...

I guess I like 'em old because my SRV-192 is my newest boat, not counting the dink. My pride and joy is a 1977 Californian trawler, so I admit, I'm a bit biased. Can't honestly say which is best, b/c there are so many great features incoporated into the newer models. Plus, I'd gladly trade up with anyone who wants to swap my old boat for their newer one.

Al
 
Had a 1986 340SB since 1992. Great boat. Hard to beat the close quarter handling of those twin inboards. Because of wifes back problems had to sell it and get something easier to single hand at the dock if necessary. Now have a new RF246 Rosborough. Miss the inside room and queen size bed etc, but the Rozy also is a very nice boat. Ron
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

Actually Don, it's a FACT that it's your OPINION than its more of an opinion than a fact!

Click to expand...


Didn't I see you at a Democrat rally supporting NPR?
 
quote:
Originally posted by budwisr6

Are there any Sea Ray owners that own older searays, from years 1965-1993? Those are the years when searay was a GREAT boat.

looking to chat with some people who have vintage searays.....

Click to expand...


Do not own an old one per se. I have a 1999 330 Dancer. A fellow down the dock has a late 80's early 90's 330 Dancer. I have not been in his boat. I do like his helm seat and helm better than mine. I like the side entry to the cabin vs. the center entry of mine. However, I do not know the layout of his cabin, so I cannot make a valid comparison as to the pros and cons of either side by side. I find he has more room on top of the dash for electronics whereas I have more room IN the dash for the same. I suppose it is a matter of preference.

His exhausts are purely over the water line. I have underwater exhausts. He is MUCH louder than I however, he never has to worry about getting an underwater exhaust torn off. It's a trade that may or may not be of value depending on the individual.

Based on fueling stations here in Virginia, I like his fillups next to the platform as opposed to mine just above the gunwales and adjacent to the arch. They are a pain to reach. However, he does not have an extended platform, so getting the nozzle into the filler is a bit of an acrobatic act.

I do not know if an extended platform was an option on his boat. It needs one.

Anchor's are about the same. That's a wash.

Forward access is about the same. That's a wash.

His canvas is MUCH (~2 feet) taller than my hardtop. I do not know if this is a custom job or not. In any event, I like the fact I can stand up to drive without smacking my head.

I like the "U" shaped cockpit lounge on my boat vs. the straight facing seats on his. Mine converts to a sunpad. His does not.

His fuel consumption is about 10 GPH more than mine at the same speed. I am however running new 6.2L Horizons vs. His carbed 7.4's.

I think they are both nice boats for what they are intended to do. A lot has to do with the person and the disposable income at the time of purchase. I would take his boat in a minute.

HOWEVER, just let me win the lottery and give me a chance to buy an older 36 T top to restore and I'll see you in a couple of years!!!
 
Hey KiDa--Excellent re-cap. Personally, I miss the sound of those above water exhausts on my former 340SB.
Ron
 
I was coming into my purchase without a ton of on-hand money to spend on my future boat (kids ARE expensive ;-)!) and I have been looking hard for the best value for the money for my first larger cruiser. Now that we have settled on the 86 300 DA I look back and think I probably should have just stayed with this model in the 86-89 range in the first place. It's just really hard to beat the way it is so well equipped for the money. Also I have seen a couple of guys post about the advantage of less weight and thickness of glass and I actually have to disagree. I am not an expert, but I have test ridden several different versions of the late 80's 300 now and they all have in common a nice secure heavy feel in the water. In my situation, this is an absolute non-negotiable point for the future admiral. She is now going to be a first time boat owner and she does NOT want to be bounced around the way that some of the newer lighter models from other manufacturers do. I also personally am not looking to win any races with this boat, but rather am looking to get to my anchorage in comfort with minimal disturbance to the liquor :-))!!!
 
I owned a 1983 SR 270 Dancer. 10 Beam. Bought it in 1993, sold it two months ago. This was in the early stages of SR making this size style of boat. They touted it as having a foreward stateroom, a salon, and an aft stateroom. (Very overstated) I ended up removing much of the divider walls and folding doors and such. SR just got a little carried away with chopping up a small boat to make it read as though it was a yacht. The body style evolved each year. Got better. I never understood why in the world SR stayed with those horrible sliding/can't seal em up/leaking/aluminum track windows.

The boat was heavy, rode well, had good walk around space. Had a terrible camper top (couldn't see over the windshield) Had a low profile windshield. However . . . . . .

When the occasional deep scratch got into the gel coat, all it took was a DA sander and some polish. Thick gel coat ! Believe me there were a LOT of people on that boat at any given time. Very few spider cracks in the cockpit from excessive weight.
Over all, a boat from that era was still in the prototype stage (but in production) They were TANKS ! They were what they were for a 25 yr old boat.
The only real flaw SR had was lack of boater/user input. Handles weren't where they should be, things were made to look good but not always functional. Driver seat and function were secondary. SR is just too slow in catching on. Haven't really looked at any of the really new SR's. Maybe they have finally figured it out. Hope So.
 
you do realize that you would have changed the camper top?? camper top is the least of any issue..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top