What are the best boats Sea Ray has built and Why?

MonacoMike

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2009
14,721
Indiana lakes and Lake Michigan
Boat Info
2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
Engines
85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
The ‘59 Cadillac is revered by many enthusiasts as the best car they ever built. Some folks believe their CTS is the best Cadillac ever. What are the best boats Sea Ray has built and Why?
MM
 
My favorite is the 92-94 310 amberjack. I love the lines and the WIDE open cockpit! As a day boater you can't get any better.
 
The one that fits it's owners specific needs-physically and financially. The love formed from that match makes it the best boat SR ever made. A loved boat lasts longer than a well built one.
 
Being a new boater, i've been told the 2001-2002 310 Sundancer was very popular
:huh: Thats what i heard after i bought it from other boaters
 
the white and colored ones with the stylized S R emblems on the side.
:grin::smt043
 
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This could be an interesting thread! Being new to Sea Ray I would say the 22' Pachanga would be a great choice for a large sport boat with offshore capabilities. When it comes to Cruisers, They need seperated between the IO's and Inboards. A single motor 270/290 DA has a lot to offer and look great on the water....for twins the 300DA would be hard to beat with 350's or 6.2L. When it comes to Inboards...the 340DA and 350DA seem like the staple of Sea Ray's business over the years. Just my thoughts and 6 months as a Sea Ray Owner.....I'll be a 90's owner for a while, Mike.
 
The 2001-2009 280DA and the 240SD of the same era are two of the best all around layouts that Sea Ray has ever designed. The early 90's AJ's were great layouts too.
 
I've gotta go with the 240SD as it was such a great all around boat for us. Handle the roughest lake water, carried a lot of people, great for towables and skiers and if I had of ever gotten around to getting the camper canvas I'm sure we would have slept on it.

I love my EC for the way we want to boat.... for now. :smt001
 
PACHANGA - It was ahead of it's times. I started with 22 with a 496 now I have moved up to a 27 with Twin 502's.
Rides like a dream in rough water and will hit 75 when needed.:grin:
 
Hate to say it, but your not going to get many straight answers on this. Everyone will side with their own boat. After all, thats why they bought it, right? I was partial to my AJ before going to a sedan bridge. And I will tell you that those are the best they ever made. I know I am wrong, but will tell you that anyway.......

Best all-around may have to be the older 268 though. best comprimise for size, engine and weight. The newer 290/310 are in there as well. Of course we all knwo that the best ever made is the 1983 340 Sedan Bridge though.... ;-)
 
i HAVE TO AGREE, THE PACHANGA WAS INDEED THE BEST BOAT THEY BIULT...DAMN WOULD THAT BOAT FLY. I RODE IN A 22 FROM THE BOX, IT WOULD RUN AT 84MPH T WAS CRASY...I JUST LOOKED AT A FEW ON LINE AS PROJECT BOATS, BUT DAMN THERE'S ONE IN MINT CONDITION STILL FOR 34,000 DOLLARS, ITS A 27 FOOTER, BAD ASS BOAT...
 
I would have to go with a 2001-2009 240SD, but I reserve the right to change that as soon as I find my next Sea Ray.:thumbsup:
 
I,ve had 11 different SeaRay's but the one that stands out as the most for the money was a 1995 400 express. For what that boat cost and the for the way it ran, with gas motors, that would be my vote. What a great boat. I sold that boat in 97 and bought a 400 DA and knew I made a mistake the first time I drove it. ( winter purchase).
 
I vote for 48 dancer


I am leaning that way too. What a sexy boat! I don't have first hand knowledge on the performance but it seems pretty good for that much boat. I still will like the performance of the 410DA if I get the damn thing!
 
Yes, The 400 Express had great dock manners. It was not injected so I could set the idle where I wanted it, not where Mercury wanted it to be. The Express was a direct drive so it was a better balanced boat. The layout on the dancer was better but the express was a better "running" boat. Since then I've had a 410, a 420, and a 44 all dancers so I didn't hate the 97 400, I just really liked the 400 express.
 
Yes, The 400 Express had great dock manners. It was not injected so I could set the idle where I wanted it, not where Mercury wanted it to be. The Express was a direct drive so it was a better balanced boat. The layout on the dancer was better but the express was a better "running" boat. Since then I've had a 410, a 420, and a 44 all dancers so I didn't hate the 97 400, I just really liked the 400 express.

BB.........
I'll let you know during the summer how I feel about my 400EC. My father-in-law has a 37ft Sundancer. Nice boat but he likes my 400EC I think a little bit more.
:thumbsup:
 

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