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ocean 50 SS 04 MTU

Discussion in 'Ocean Yacht' started by Tiffeagle, Dec 24, 2016.

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  1. Tiffeagle

    Tiffeagle New Member

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    Buying a new ocean 50 SS, first time ocean owner coming from a cabo 35 exspress. I here so many negative comments from others about oceans. What are the facts, how was ocean quality in 04? We sea trialed the boat in 4 to 5 ft seas I was impressed. True fuel burn and cruis speed would be grate if anybody knows. Thanks
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Oceans quality is definately below Hatteras and Viking etc. I managed a 63' for decades. Mostly the lower quality is in electrical components used, the way they mounted and routed everything. They're not a bad boat, just not a viking, hatteras or Cabo. Sort of like the Searay's of Sportfish as Ocean did a lot of things well like layout. The hulls are laid up light, while I've never personally seen a structural issue with one, if you hauled the 63' I managed without putting 6"x6" blocks on the hull underneath the rubrail on the slings to disperse the hull flex, the hull would flex 6-9" and totally crack and screw up the varnish on the toe rail where the bow slings went.
  3. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    Ocean Yachts quality in the 2004 vintage was head and shoulders above the older product. The 04 50 with the Series 60 MTU's IMHO is a wonderful boat. I represented one for sale a few years back and had owners of older Oceans coming out of the woodwork wanting it. Problem was they couldn't sell their older boats.
  4. wiredup

    wiredup Member

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    va beach
    Like everything else, you get what you pay for. They are not vikings, but you aren't paying nearly the price as a viking. My father had a 2000 48' and we loved it, except for the engine package. We had the Cat 3196 which were horrible. Otherwise, I think they are a good value. As always, make sure you get a good hull, engine survey done. Good luck!
  5. praetorian47

    praetorian47 Senior Member

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    I read that Ocean quality is below Viking or hatteras, but really, what isn't? I just went from an 07 Carver 466 to an 88 55SS and the quality of the Ocean is a step up. The previous owner of my Ocean took extremely good care of it, so I got a better-than-new example in most respects.

    The question isn't whether the boat is as good as the best boats, but where it lies among the rest.
  6. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    More importantly, the question is will it suit YOUR needs, not everyone else's.
  7. praetorian47

    praetorian47 Senior Member

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    Exactly. I find comparisons helpful only if I know one of the boats being compared. I've never been on a Viking, and only been on a few older Hatteras, so comparing them isn't as useful to me. Comparing to a Carver or Searay, boats I've been on or owned, is much more helpful.

    For my Ocean, I have no creaks or vibrations underway, none. I've never experienced that before and it's really nice. The engine is loud, but that's all you hear! The woodwork is nice but 80's style. The only thing I'd take marks away for are the overhead cupboards in the cabins, they're covered in grey astroturf-like carpet that seems more at home in a van from the 70's. The bathrooms use mainly household items (sink, shower, faucets, mirrors, etc). It doesn't have the luxury appearance that my 466 carver had with granite counters in the heads and stainless sinks, but it's very practical and easy to update.

    I can't comment on the interior as the previous owner did quite a bit. I've a newer sectional from flexsteel, Corian countertops, new appliances and carpets, newer window coverings, etc. While it may not all be to my taste, it's all nice and may misrepresent some of the Oceans out there.
  8. Tiffeagle

    Tiffeagle New Member

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    Thanks for the feedback:)
  9. VetteLT193

    VetteLT193 New Member

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    We had a 1989/90 45 Viking then moved to a 1992 42 Ocean. In 1990/1991 Ocean upped their game with the 2nd Generation boats and from then forward they are very good. Ironically the Viking is the one we had issues with from heavy seas. We were in 8-10's off of Jersey and one of the pickup tubes cracked for one of the engines. Total PITA to get to but to Viking's credit they paid for half by just letting them know of the issue (this was 1993 or 1994 so out of warranty but under 200 hours and still pretty new). We had the Ocean in genuine over the hardtop 16+ seas and we only lost an antenna mount (same brand Viking uses)

    What I found is the build quality of the Viking might have been better but the overall quality of the Ocean was better for us as average boaters.
    Examples... the layout of the Ocean was heads above the Viking.
    --The fact we didn't get soaked in 1-3 foot seas on the bridge of the ocean was nice (Viking was WET).
    --Stupid things like engine room access were far better thought out on the Ocean.
    --Inside the engine room Viking had rubber mats laid in the bilge where Ocean has a raised floor over the bilge so you aren't sitting in water while working in there.
    --The Ocean was faster and burned less fuel.
    --Storage was far better on the ocean. Storage in the gunwales for example where the viking was just open. God forbid Viking give you a place to store lines and other necessities.
    --Things that were noticeably cheaper on the Ocean were things that really didn't matter. The cabinet handles and pulls were pretty cheap as an example.
    --Viking had a 'box' on the bridge to tie the bridge together, Ocean used a whole false floor so you didn't trip over the box all the time.
    --Ocean came standard with an aircraft style crossover in case a battery dies you could jump the other engine on the fly

    Overall the major components of the boat were the same or in some instances the Ocean came standard with better stuff (cockpit controls optional on the Viking, standard on the Ocean). Ocean simply focused on making a very usable yacht for the average person over Viking trying to keep their 'battlewagon' moniker. I personally thought the Ocean rode better than the Viking but that could be because it was so dry in comparison so we could open up the Eisenglass on the bridge.

    Through the years Viking has taken many, if not all, of Ocean's ideas so they are closer now than they were from a usability standpoint. Throughout the entire run though Ocean's standpoint was to build a boat that maximizes usability and that's why so many people like them. IMO the negative stuff that Viking/Hatteras owners spew about Oceans are because they spent a whole lot more money on them so they have to find something and the carryover stories from the 1st Gen oceans that had flat bottoms and were laid up in a factory with no heat which cause delam issues. All those problems were solved by 1991 yet they still stick.
  10. praetorian47

    praetorian47 Senior Member

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    Thanks for that VetteLT193. As an Ocean owner with no Viking experience, it's nice to read something like this since I can compare and understand the differences better. I've said in this thread already, my Ocean's quality is incredible. I can see a few things, like the lining inside overhead cupboards in the cabins isn't maybe as nice as it could be but that's the only thing I can see and is easily fixed if I care.

    I've very little running experience in my Ocean, just a few sea trials and some runs with the previous owner. comparing to my flat bottomed, overweight, underpowered Carver, it rode like a dream. I was shocked at getting on plane without tabs, the PO hardly ever used them, just to correct a list from wind and only rarely. He actually tested them in the winter each year just to make sure they worked as they were used so infrequently. I was impressed with how smooth it accelerated, and surprised at the torque put out when engaging the engines from neutral - better to hold on or sit down until you're used to it :)
  11. Prospective

    Prospective Senior Member

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    I have a 43' Ocean. I can't compare it directly to a Hatteras or Viking as I don't have personal experience although I've spent a lot of time researching and looking at pictures. But I can compare it to my 1990 Tiara which is another higher end builder. While I really like my Ocean, the cheapness with which it's put together has become pretty evident. I can think of numerous things that were done for cost savings and expediency that I didn't see on my Tiara or on other higher end boats that I've observed. For example, no access to fresh water or holding tanks and associated hoses. Had to take a sawzall to my entire master stateroom berth and sole in order to access head tank for a minor repair. Low budget raw water electric heads rather than fresh water vacuflush. Atrocious wiring, particularly a tangle of wire at batteries with no master switches and buss bars across battery terminals with floating fuses instead of an external battery distribution panel. Major DC terminations in the bilge and elsewhere all without covers. Wire runs behind woodwork that are simply wrapped in electrical tape rather than wire loom. Salon windows that are notorious for leaking due to poor or improper beading. Cheap external hull strainers rather than internal sea strainers with baskets. These are all shortcomings that I attribute to keeping the boat at a price point rather than using a more optimal solution.

    Ride is also an issue. My boat handles head seas very well but should based on it's displacement alone. But it's following and quartering sea performance is poor relative to my Tiara which was half the weight and 7 feet shorter. It gets pushed around badly due (I believe) to little aft deadrise, a narrow transom beam relative to mid-ship, and it's desire to run flat even without tabs which prevents you from being able to run is bow up stern down.

    Having said that, I like my Ocean. It's got a great layout, looks good, and I'm slowly modifying what I can to improve it. And I'm guessing I paid about $75-100k less than a comparable Viking of similar age/length. And the layout of the Ocean it light years ahead of other boats. The other advantage is I was able to avoid detroits and get more modern engines while I comparable 43 Viking would have most likely had Detroits. I will also say that the shortcomings (other than the following sea ride) don't apply to the hull. It seems to be very sound, the gelcoat still shines up well, and the metalwork and exterior teak are high quality. All in all I'm please with my choice. Given the price difference and the fact I'm a cruiser, not a hard core off shore fisherman, I think it was the right one. But if price were no object I would have preferred a higher quality builder which I consider Viking and Hatteras to be.
  12. praetorian47

    praetorian47 Senior Member

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    Interesting comments. My Ocean doesn't have many of your issues. On the heads, I have Galley Maid and they PO had the pumps completely rebuilt or replaced in the last 2 years. I agree that they aren't the prettiest, nor the most water efficient, but I simply despise Vacuflush. I've had more problems with vacuflush and would simply not have them on a boat of mine ever again. I had planned on replacing the Galley Maid heads, and probably still will, but I tried flushing some things down at the insistence of the PO, and I'm impressed. I flushed a full cigar and some other non-recommended items and it flushed no problem. I was impressed.

    The wiring I haven't seen too much of yet. I do know that the battery connections on my boat were cleaned up, so can't comment on what they may have looked like originally. The windows don't leak, but again the PO may have taken care of any issue in that respect.

    I like my Ocean, too. I haven't been out in a bad following sea, so can't really comment on that at all. My older 47 Marine Trader was terrible in a following sea. I kept expecting Obi Wan to whisper "Use the Force" instead of the steering wheel.
  13. Just Cruisin

    Just Cruisin Member

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    I just purchased a 1994 53 Ocean Super Sport this spring from down south. Ran her up north in ocean. Second day, had 8-10 footers trailing on the stern quarter. Handled unbelievable and tracked right on. No water on bridge and solid ride.
    Fuel burn is 46 gph at 23 knots at 1850rpm on Detroit 8v92's. PO had installed Sealand vacuflush heads and so far, no issue.
    Some corrosion on wire connections from salt but nothing that can not be fixed.
    Had looked at 93 - 95 53 Viking as well. Felt Ocean was much better laid out and had better fit and finish. Also about 80k less on average and you can do a lot with 80k.
  14. ocean50fisher

    ocean50fisher New Member

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    I've read this forum sporadically for years and never really posted anything but I think I can offer some good first hand knowledge on this topic for the original poster.

    My dad has had a 2006 50 since new which we have greatly enjoyed over the last 11 years. Ours has the series 60 mtu engines which have been extremely reliable and easy to maintain from an owner operator standpoint. Real world performance is 23 to 26 knots at 85% load burning 64 to 70 GPH depending on load and water/air temperature. Boat will do 8 knots at 4GPH trolling or chugging overnight.

    In all of our time of ownership we have yet to experience an Ocean quality issue where I had to fix something that was put together poorly by Ocean. That statement also goes for the new 40 that we owned for the 4 years prior. Although I will say that there is a noticeable improvement in fit and finish from 2003 to 2006 especially in the engine room.

    The ride in my opinion is best in class for that time. We also sea trailed a Viking 48 and bought the better riding boat. Layout is very spacious and also best in class from the time.

    The engine room is basically standup. I'm 6'1 and barely have to slouch. There is lots of room on the outboard sides of the engines as well even with the optional saddle tanks.

    My only complaint on the whole boat is the speed. If we had to do it over again we would have done c18s for more cruise speed. As a matter of fact I'm considering repowering with c18a's and adding a mezzanine since I won't be able to purchase a new one from ocean. I wish we could have gotten a 54 or 58 before they closed but the timing never quite lined up.
  15. Prospective

    Prospective Senior Member

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    Great first hand account. It helps confirm what I've kind of guessed at which is that in the mid-late 90's Ocean started to improve their hulls and into the 2000's they upgraded other materials and accessories to better compete with Viking and others. From what I've seen, 2005+ Oceans look to be much nicer than earlier boats from engine room fit-out to the quality of woodwork. You can see this with other builders including Viking. This culminated for Ocean with the Makiara. Not sure how many they made, perhaps just 1? But it wasn't enough to save them. Unfortunately, Ocean had pretty much ceased production by 2007 so that's a somewhat limited generation of boats. I really wish they could have stayed in business.