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Newer Sea Ray or Meridians 40' to 50'. Opinions on build quality?

Discussion in 'Sea Ray Yacht' started by btyson, Sep 25, 2017.

  1. btyson

    btyson Member

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    Would appreciate opinions from designers,mechinics, captians on this issue.
    Thanks for your input!
  2. StillLearning

    StillLearning Member

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    When you say newer - could you be a bit more specific.

    Owner/captain on two SR's - both late 2000's. Bare boat experience on Meridian (approx. 07 model) in the Chesapeake bay.

    you may be looking at newer models that what I have any input on.
  3. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    They are both decent quality volume production boats. Their overall quality is good. However, quality is a comparative measurement and you must measure against similar boats, not against a boat in that range built by a yacht company. But I think Sea Ray and Meridian are acceptable quality and good boats depending on your desired usage. Can't say if they fit your planned usage or now since you didn't state that.
  4. btyson

    btyson Member

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    Year ranges of 2010 or newer. 300 hrs on gas engines or 450 on Diesels. Leaning toward shafts vs paying extra for Pods. I would look at Sterndrives if not waved off from experts on this site regarding corrision problems. (hard to believe that sterndrives have not solved these corrision issues in this time frame.) Usage will be typically costal crusing in the Southeast (Florida).
    Again, really appreciate any opinions.
  5. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    For coastal cruising in FL, I would not consider stern drives under any conditions. Understand, I only had stern drives in NC and until 2012, but just not a good option for the ocean and salt water, in my opinion.

    I'm sure it will be no surprise that most of us would favor diesel. However, it really depends on how much you intend to use the boat. On a low usage boat, gas can result in big savings.
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I wouldn't touch gas in that size range. Also the searay is much better quality and a much better sea boat than the Meridian.....
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    There made by the same people these days.
    Or were, Understand Meridians have cut back production.
    We have managed them both. Most of the Meridians with Cummins/Zeus pods.
    Performance goes to the pods. Service and resale in the future stay with straight inboards.
    Idiots buy large boats with stern drives in Florida.
    Real big idiots buy large gas boats...

    Nuf said??
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    The 2 companies are both owned by Brunswick.....they are not the same company and Meridian is definitely built to a lesser standard than searay. Now quality is still better than most of it's peers at it's price point, but a Searay it isn't..... Sort of like Cadillac and Chevy.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    When I have worked on Meridians, I feel they are better than SeaRays of the same size and year.
    The SeaRay part numbers (printed stickers) are on all of the equipment.
    I have never held any SleRay to any fancy standard and consider them a pregnant Bayliner.
    I would think of them as Buicks and Pontiacs. Cadillacs in their dreams and will always be out of reach (of each) no matter how much they charge for their dancing pole glitter.
  10. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    That's funny but a polar opposite of what most people think.

    Bayliner the low end entry level boat line from the Northwest, needed a new name to upscale their products , hence Meridian. Sea Ray, the more premium product and innovator, has a continuous lineage as a better product and innovator, and has carried the majority of the profitability load for the Brunswick Boat Group.

    I think the engineering for the two come out of Sea Ray PD&E in Merritt Island, and a Sea Ray plant now builds Meridian. Respective price points/marketing decisions go the way of the Brunswick boat portfolio managers along with their bean counter partners in corporate HQ.
  11. Fletcher500

    Fletcher500 Member

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    We had a Sea Ray and it was great. Opinions are subjective, but I also agree that the build quality on the SR is better than a Meridian. There is a reason they cost more out of the gate, and have a better resale.

    As noted on this forum, I was in the market for another bridge Sea Ray, but we ended up going in a different direction.

    A lot of happy SR owners out there, both on forums and the docks.
  12. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I seem to have this manner about me.
    FM.

    All thru these forums, everybody luvs and recommends SeeRay. I have bit my lip many a time.
    I'm not a fan of Muts either and consider them similar in build techniques. Build a hull, pour in BIG engines and lots & lots of fancy stuff. Shake it all around like dice in a cup.
    Have the parking lot attendant hook it all together, bolt down the cap and polish the lights.

    SeeMuts

    Sorry I could not hold it back last night (or this morning either).

    I'm off to work on another pile of glitter; Hatteras.
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    The main thing you look at is what they look like when they're 10 years old. Searays look nearly new inside AND out if relatively taken care of. The Meridians don't weather the storm as well. Their layup is lighter, gel coat a tad cheaper quality etc. Searay's do stand the test of time a lot better than other brands in their class. While accessing things in the engine room takes a little bending around things, they have relatively very few inherent issues unlike the Mutts you keep referring to! hehehehe I've gotten on a lot of 10 year old Searays and did 1000 nm trip or delivery without having to really fix anything.
  14. Cruz

    Cruz Member

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    It's been well over a decade since Meridians were simply re-badged Bayliners. The 341, 391, 411, 441 and 541 are all post-that era and beginning with about the 2010 model year all (except the discontinued 411) were built in the Florida plants alongside Sea Rays (Meridian is no longer in production). The 391, 411, 441 and 541 are all good coastal cruisers in their own right. It is all about how they will be used and, as the point has been made, the beefier construct of Sea Rays will make them in many cases a more comfortable boat when the going gets rough. The fit and finish and quality of components used on the Meridians is in many ways lesser than what is found on Sea Rays in the same class but that does not mean it is "bad." IMO, the layout and use of space on Meridians is far better/smarter than similarly sized Sea Rays. I was once told by a high level Sea Ray executive - around 2010 - that 75% of Meridian owners came from Sea Rays because of the bang for the buck offered. To Capt J's point - layup and gel is definitely where money was saved on the Meridian helping to make it a price-point boat, so how well things may hold up in the long haul may be a different story. But I'd take a well-kept Meridian over a neglected Sea Ray any day.
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Sleray vs Meridian;
    I just of been lucky in dealing with better kept Meridians.
    I'd like to think we helped keeping them up.

    As far as the better ride (Sleray) when the going get rough,,, Poo.
    I've seen to many windows loos their seal and leak after a fast hop from StAug to Jax outside.
    To many battery chargers and E R components flying off the bulkheads from river wake (StJohns).

    Both model use common manifolds for grey water drains that have to be serviced from time to time.

    I do have to point out fairly, Our Meridian owners are smooth water operators.
    One makes the Bahamas once a year pending weather windows with no issues when he comes back a few months later.

    One of our older SDs (with big Cats) came back with no issues either after a long island trip.
    Found him outside heading back to jax in 6 footers as we were heading south before the 4th July party in StAug.

    Later he complained his teeth were loose when he saw us. Our mimosas were calm.
    Yes, we out weigh him double for the same length, but per H P, per speed, per seas, per teeth vs spilled drinks;;;; Pooo.
  16. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Are you sure about that? They still have an active web site with the 391 and 441 Sedans.
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Our best customer purchased the last 47 from the line. Identical from his previous ship (same model 47). He wanted the last of the best for his family.
    Sadly MMax screwed him again but he really likes the boat.
  18. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    Technically Meridian has been folded into Sea Ray. There are a couple of unsold 2016 441 models in dealer inventory on Lake Michigan. That's it. Meridian is nothing more than a website at this time.
  19. Cruz

    Cruz Member

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    ...and the website hasn't been updated in years other than to remove the 341 and 541 which ceased production prior to the end of the 391 and 441.
  20. Scott Felstad

    Scott Felstad New Member

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    Always digging....................................