New Sundancer Announcement - Anyone have a sneak peak

unfortunately sea ray is following it's competitors in making fugly boats. These things are rivaling the old carvers.
 
I read yesterday that Regal is now #1 in sales in the express cruiser category.
 
Oh, Oh, talk about #1 and #2, is this thread getting mixed up with Monaco Mike's thread about who uses the potty on the boat?

I haven't seen a new boat in this race to look fugly that I would buy. I don't like the hulls that are all chopped up by windows (not portholes) and I don't like the interiors that look like they're straight out of a new apartment building.

Boats have lost the sense of being, well, boats!

Must be all the boat makers are trying to please the Millennials or the Gen X or Gen Y whatevers.
 
Gofirstclass said:
Oh, Oh, talk about #1 and #2, is this thread getting mixed up with Monaco Mike's thread about who uses the potty on the boat?

I haven't seen a new boat in this race to look fugly that I would buy. I don't like the hulls that are all chopped up by windows (not portholes) and I don't like the interiors that look like they're straight out of a new apartment building.

Boats have lost the sense of being, well, boats!

Must be all the boat makers are trying to please the Millennials or the Gen X or Gen Y whatevers.
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There is something to be said for the "nautical" look, which I guess I would interpret to being along the lines of a traditional wood-type interior (I kind of think of a Hinckley as the epitome of that interior).

That being said, what are we really reminiscing about? I got curious about some early 2000s model Sea Rays and was checking out their archive for boats they don't currently make. The interiors on some of those look like a porn movie set. A 2005 Formula 31 I looked at before buying my '07 DA was even worse if that's possible. I could literally hear the synth music and was expecting Ron Jeremy to pop out. Loved the layout of the SR 40 Motor Yacht, but that interior was some kind of post modern mess.

I guess if you just don't like contemporary design (lots of rectilinear shapes, grey fabrics, etc) a lot of the modern interiors won't work for you.

That being said, I'm more inclined to agree with you on the exteriors of these boats. I think swoopy and angular has been taken to absurd levels, although my hope is its a byproduct of some kind of engineering goal meant to include structural shapes like arches and whatnot so they can max out usable space.
 
mobocracy said:
There is something to be said for the "nautical" look, which I guess I would interpret to being along the lines of a traditional wood-type interior (I kind of think of a Hinckley as the epitome of that interior).

That being said, what are we really reminiscing about? I got curious about some early 2000s model Sea Rays and was checking out their archive for boats they don't currently make. The interiors on some of those look like a porn movie set. A 2005 Formula 31 I looked at before buying my '07 DA was even worse if that's possible. I could literally hear the synth music and was expecting Ron Jeremy to pop out. Loved the layout of the SR 40 Motor Yacht, but that interior was some kind of post modern mess.

I guess if you just don't like contemporary design (lots of rectilinear shapes, grey fabrics, etc) a lot of the modern interiors won't work for you.

That being said, I'm more inclined to agree with you on the exteriors of these boats. I think swoopy and angular has been taken to absurd levels, although my hope is its a byproduct of some kind of engineering goal meant to include structural shapes like arches and whatnot so they can max out usable space.
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I like some of the current interiors. They are clean and sleek. It would be nice if they could mesh the current interiors with the design of the mid-2000's.

I agree that a lot of the late 90's and early 2000's interior was terrible by today's standards. All that rouched fabric is awful.
 
What are they building these hulls out of, lead? 14k lbs for a 32ft day boat? That's almost what my 340 is (was) listed at ..with a full cabin, galley, beds, head, etc etc.

And FUGLY is right. HATE that windshield. Ugh.

None of the classic design elements that say "SeaRay" are incorporated here. Absolutely nothing says Sea Ray .. This could be anything from anyone. It's just another ugly boat for non-boaters. SMH
 
MonacoMike said:
Thanks, still sniffing the smelling salts...

MM
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I based that on the prices of the other 32 models in the current Sea Ray configurator. The outboards seem to add a lot of cost.

However, keep in mind that Sea Rays tend to go for significantly less than list. While it's a sample size of one, the 270 AJ I purchased new in 2006 listed for $110,000. The price before my trade in was $64,000, or 58% or the SRP.

At the time the next larger boat (290 AJ) was 2 feet bigger and had 2 engines. IIRC, the starting list on that boat was $220,000
 
M Prod said:
What are they building these hulls out of, lead? 14k lbs for a 32ft day boat? That's almost what my 340 is (was) listed at ..with a full cabin, galley, beds, head, etc etc.

And FUGLY is right. HATE that windshield. Ugh.

None of the classic design elements that say "SeaRay" are incorporated here. Absolutely nothing says Sea Ray .. This could be anything from anyone. It's just another ugly boat for non-boaters. SMH
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Good point about the weight. My single engine 34 foot boat's weight is 16,000 lbs. But that's with a single diesel engine and light-weight foam core, vacuum-bag construction.

I like the idea of a windshield but not a fan of massive panes of glass. It looks less nautical to me.

I saw a new 320 DA in my harbor a couple times this year. I only knew it was a Sea Ray because I'd seen it at a boat show. I'm not fan of the changes in part because its just kind of blah - no distinctive brand queues. But the owners and their kids (and kids' friends) seemed to be having a good time. I guess I can see the appeal of more separated outdoor space on the bow, but still have sleeping quarters below. On the other hand, there's a mid-to-late 2000's 40-ish DA that also comes into my harbor. I ogle it every time until my wife smacks me in the head.
 
I don’t mind a windshield either but that flat massive pane of glass with the walk through cut out to the side ...it’s almost as if it was all an afterthought. Looks pasted on and not integrated at all. It feels like they came up with the shape of the boat and then just bolted in parts and cut pieces here and there to make it work. No forethought. It’s just a bad design that rendered a very ugly boat.
 
This is a disgrace to the "Sundancer" heritage. Sea Ray should have given this a new name - its more inline with the "Venture" series. This is a day boat with a cabin not a sport cruiser. In my own personal opinion a 320 cruiser should not have to deal with a v-berth I would take a mid 2000 320DA over this in a heartbeat.
 
How does close quarter handling differ between twin outboards and inboard twins?

I see the advantages to the twin outboards, any downsides?
 
FootballFan said:
How does close quarter handling differ between twin outboards and inboard twins?

I see the advantages to the twin outboards, any downsides?
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Outboards are going to handle more like stern drives than inboards due to the location of the prop relative to the hull. The pivot point will be different. Depending on the package, an inboard can have more torque and turn a bigger prop. Stern drives also tend to have counter rotating props that improve performance; not many outboards have that.

Frankly there's not a lot of down side to the outboards in terms of operation. The are simpler to service (access wise, generally), easier to winterize, can be tilted out of the water. They can also open up the interior for improved storage or living space. The huge issue for me is that they totally consume the swim platform. I don't know about others, but we live on our swim platform all summer. Especially the kids. I also carry a dingy on the platform. Outboards are a non-starter for the way I want to boat.
 
KevinC said:
This is a disgrace to the "Sundancer" heritage. Sea Ray should have given this a new name - its more inline with the "Venture" series. This is a day boat with a cabin not a sport cruiser. In my own personal opinion a 320 cruiser should not have to deal with a v-berth I would take a mid 2000 320DA over this in a heartbeat.
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Completely agree. When I saw the new 320 DA at the Newport show last year I said the same thing to the Sea Ray rep: Interesting boat, but this is NO Sundancer. Shoulda called it something else.
 
b_arrington said:
The huge issue for me is that they totally consume the swim platform. I don't know about others, but we live on our swim platform all summer. Especially the kids. I also carry a dingy on the platform. Outboards are a non-starter for the way I want to boat.
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This is exactly my issue with outboards. The stern is my beach platform.

What kind of surprises me is that Sea Ray abandoned the Venture concept with the outboards inside of a cowling which allowed for a normal swim platform. All I can think is that since center consoles became such a huge deal, having your outboards exposed is somehow "part of" the outboard ownership experience. It's like those visible disc brake calipers or something, a status symbol.

I can see outboards being useful in salt water or for trailered boats, or for people who boat someplace where you would never swim.
 
b_arrington said:
Completely agree. When I saw the new 320 DA at the Newport show last year I said the same thing to the Sea Ray rep: Interesting boat, but this is NO Sundancer. Shoulda called it something else.
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Agreed 100%. It seems all the brands are building boats like this - what ever happened to sleek lines and boats that look like, well, boats??
 
firecadet613 said:
I read yesterday that Regal is now #1 in sales in the express cruiser category.
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A Regal salesman said they doubled their sales with the outboard powered boats. The Regal VP of marketing said they were "at capacity" with regard to making the Regal 26 XO (outboard powered express cruiser). Like it or not, four stroke outboards are what's selling. If I can get Sea Ray to make a 260 Sundancer with a Mercury 300 hp outboard on the back I might be able to convince the wife to take out a loan. :D
 
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