I've seen ads lately about the L class yachts they are building....I had to laugh out loud...it's their "L"ipstick on a Pig line.
Don't like Searay? Some body must like them to have them use the facility. I find a lot of BS doesn't pay the bills!
Searay used to own that factory and were the ones that built it and consolodated manufacturing to their Palm Bay facility but it truly lacks the height to do flybridge boats inside, the bridge part has to be done outside. They sold it to Bertram. Guess, since they're selling a good amount of the flybridges they're buying it back.
I don't what your talking about paying the bills, but I did like Searay when they made a good product, that was back in the early 70's. I guess they are O.K. for puttering around a lake somewhere if the Seas don't kick up over two feet. I wouldn't take one offshore for all the Money in China. Well, I might if I had a Coast Guard Cutter following me the entire trip and no more than a 1/4 mile behind.
Searay still makes a very structurally sound boat. I've had 52' and 58' sedan bridges out in 6' seas and pretty much ran at cruise....unless bow straight into it. They're definately not a SF in ride, but they ride a lot better than many others in their class.
Do you know of any you can name that have come apart? I took a 1998 45' Sedan Bridge from Fort Lauderdale to St. Croix, caught a 150lb Blue Marlin off of Provo. I took a 58' SB from Boca to CT, another one from DE to Toledo, Ohio.....and many others everywhere in between.....no issues.
Nonsense. I've run a bunch of Sea Rays. They are built better than many other popular production boats. The 1999 48' Sedan Bridge with 2x 660hp Caterpillar 3196TA's is a powerful, capable cruiser. Recently ran from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta and back, that's over 2,500 miles up and down the west coast of Mexico running 24 hours a day, and that 15 year old boat needed nothing but diesel fuel.
I've told this story before, Capt J, but because I like you I'll repeat it. It was shortly after the CEO of Saturn cars, was put in charge of Sea Ray. Maybe a year after she had been appointed, I found myself in Naples for a week. Two days of business, then some down time for me. I was wandering around and came across a Sea Ray dealer who had some dockage. and one of the boats in the water was a 58' something, it had a aft section, which in VERY loose terms could be called cockpit, and a flybridge. It was a very Sea Ray interior, lot's of glitz and wow factor for the Ladies. When we got to where it counts...the Engine Room, the hoses single, not double clamped. The only double clamped hose I saw was the exhaust hose. Then, I looked up on both sides of the ER and saw these huge black boxes that were butted up against the bottom of the gunwales. They ran the length of the ER and beyond. The salesman saw the confused look on my face and asked "What's wrong?" I replied "what are those huge boxes on either side?" Then came the shocker "Those are the fuel tanks." The only two tanks?" "Yes" came the reply. This was a stand up engine room, and I'm 5'8" and the bottom of the tanks were above my head. That meant at the very least, ALL of the fuel was at least 4 feet above the CG, which in my stupid little Brain makes the boat inherently unstable and something I wouldn't go out into a Sea in under any circumstances. And I've never heard of one breaking up. But there has to be some reason why their resale value doesn't hold up.
IMHO, Sea Ray and, yes, even Bayliner, are good value boats. They deliver what they promise. I see a lot of older model boats from these two brands and they are still out there giving a lot of boating pleasure to their owners. As long as the buyer remembers what parameters the boat was built for, no problem. I don't expect a TIMEX to stay waterproof like a Rolex, but it certainly lasts long enough for what is paid in the first place.
Thanks Kafue...I agree with you...I'm certainly entitled to my opinions, and I wouldn't buy either brand you mentioned, for the masses both are acceptable boats. I guess I've been around boats too long to settle for something I know is going to require constant maintenance...and before anybody jumps up my shorts, all boats regardless of their make require maintenance. I just don't feel like dealing with dumb engineering designs, and poor quality standard equipment, knowing from get go I'm stuck with a sub standard boat. So for all you Sea Ray huggers, I'm sorry for ruffling your feathers. I kind of giggle every time I see one of those Scion qubes...I can just imagine those Jap engineers laughing their butts off every time one is sold in the U.S. "Dumb round eyes, dey buy anyting we make!" Sometimes I want to walk up to some one getting out of one...and grabbing their shoulders and yell "What were you thinking!" Same thing with "some boats"
You are entitled to your opinions. So please don't take it personal when others disagree. I don't know what you mean by "sub-Standard boat". If the boat performs to the ideal that it was designed for and is at the right price, then what makes it sub-standard? By comparison, people pay a premium for an Azimut and some of the very well marketed boats and have nothing but heartache. A Bertram name deserved a top price with the expectation of quality and integrity, but delivered the opposite. Unfortunately, Bertram are not the exception. There are too many "good names" out there that are guilty of similar. So to name Sea Ray, which is an icon of US boat building (maybe a person should travel outside the US to see that this is not an exaggeration) is not justified, but then, that is just my opinion! At least the Sea Ray boats I have seen and used are solid for what they are meant to do. What is sub-standard about that?
Mounting the Gas tanks so far above the CG that it becomes unsafe, you don't call that sub-standard? My Father was a Flight Engineer, as a matter of fact the very first one National Airlines hired when they required a third person in the Cockpit. I learned enough over the years, to be able to look at something and tell you it wasn't engineered properly. I was the one chosen to help him go through the course when National bought their 747's. In addition to my regular school work, I updated 10 volumes of manuals and helped him study. I've forgotten more about 747's than most Pilots know. For example, the current Thread on the fuel problems on Post's. It was p*ss poor engineering from the beginning. If for some reason I couldn't live without Post, I'd tear the boat apart and fix the problem and do it right the way it should have been in the first place. Stuff like that there's no excuse for. I'm not a big fan of Azi-mutt's either.
Name the CG issues regarding this Sea Ray model? Easy to sit in your arm chair making "expert" claims on engineering. Now back the claims up with evidence that this design resulted in problems related directly to this "problem". Once again, I would ask that you consider your comments before you hit the ENTER button. It may affect others who would consider you are qualified to make a judgement like this.
Add my name to the list of SeaRay huggers. I'm a past owner of 48' Sedan Bridge. My brother owned a 54o Express. I've posted about my experience in the past... http://www.yachtforums.com/index.ph...-or-searay-58-sedan-bridge.21126/#post-176685 Another owner posted as well... http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/searay-information-reviews-wanted.320/#post-1524