SeaRay Aqualabooza

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.

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.

Well, Capt. J You're a braver man than I.

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.

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"

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.