Opinions on 480MY as a long distance cruiser?

DRLifer

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Sep 26, 2016
2
Hilton Head Island
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I've recently retired, and my wife and I are looking into the Great Loop as one of the first bucket list items to attend to. We're also likely to head into Lake Ontario from the Carolinas many other summers to escape the heat. A 2002-or-later 480MY is on the short list of mutually-acceptable boats (tried to talk her into the 400, but there was no going smaller once she saw the space in the 480). Several questions/concerns:

1) Why did Sea Ray stop making the Motor Yacht series - any fatal flaws? This happened before the 2008 financial crash, so that couldn't have been it.
2) Being on the large side, and lacking flexibility (another bucket list item to work on), maintenance access to engines and other equipment, through hull valves, etc. is an issue. Is the 480 any worse than other designs in this respect?
3) Were there any feature/design changes during the 2000 to end-of-production period?
4) Are there specific versions/options to avoid?
5) Are there significant items likely at the end of their useful lives on a 15-year old boat (e.g. batteries, fridges, washer/dryer, pumps, etc.) that I should expect to replace soon if not already done?
6) Is the original electronics package still adequate, or should I be on the lookout for versions that have already been updated (or recognize the necessity of having that added cost)?
7) Are there any specific issues with this model and age that a surveyor should pay particular attention to?

Any and all guidance appreciated.
 
We have a boat neighbor with one. The boat is awesome for space. It did not sell well, thats why it is no longer produced. As with any 10 plus year old boat, there will be stuff needed. I would double check overall height, might be an issue on the loop.
 
They are great boats for space and near coastal or ICW cruising. Built in Sykes Creek the yacht factory by true craftsmen. The only negative is that the bridge on these guys is way up there and coupled with a rounded entry they are top heavy and tend to roll a good bit in beam and quartering seas.

We have several 48 MY owners here so look them up and see what you can learn.
 
Before I decided on a 47DB, I looked a fair amount at the MY 480 - really liked a lot of things about it. In the end big thing that moved me off it was the swim platform access. Wasn't excited about my wife down there while we were docking. Younger folks might not matter. And I am guessing some of the MY owners on here can provide practical experience how they handle the topic.

We went with a 47DB - love the full beam master. But there will be people who express that they don't care for the step up in the Salon or the aft galley.

Guess what I am trying to say - what matters most is what fits you best.

That said, any boat you buy that is of that age will have the same potential issues. Failure rate is going to depend on both maintenance and what has already been replaced. We had to replace 3 of the 5 Cruiseair units. They were still original best I could tell.

I am boat shopping currently. When I look at a boat, I evaluate whether the electronics are ok for the foreseeable future or they need to be replaced. If they are not what I want - then I add the cost of replacing to my spreadsheet where I am determine what I am willing to pay for that boat.

I would not walk from a boat because I didn't like the electronics.

On any specific boat you are seriously considering - request (require) as much maintenance history that you can get.

Mark
 
Good friend of ours bought one August 2014 and the comments before are well noted. I've run the boat up the ICW as well as outside in the Atlantic. Good handling boat with good common sence. She will handle as in most cases more than the crew wants to handle. Great space for he & his wife along with their children and grand children.

As as far as The Great Loop is concern we have a 420AC and just finished the Loop this Spring. I've looked at lots of boats as most of us are always looking for the vest one and haven't found better space comfort or layout up & down for the money or Great Loop. Having a full walk around hull is great as the wife handle the bow lines with ease for the locks while I handled the stern line. Easy boat to handle and work with.

The 480MY swim platform does not go out on the sides as much as I'd like for stern side step access but is douable. My friends getting ready to add a aluminum side boarding steps which will enhance side access but with a short finger pier which you will find the rear access does come into play. It has not created a problem for us anywhere we've been over the past 9 years so it wouldn't stop me from buying one. There are things you can do.

Good ode luck and join the AGLCA for great info on the Great Loop!
 
We have the 480 MY John is referring to and I will let John's comments on the Great Loop stand as we have not made that trip but I would think the 480 MY would perform equally well as his 420 AC.

We have had the boat a little over two years now. I will say that from a space perspective the boat is very larger for 50 feet. We regular boat with 6 plus people staying over night and have taken several 10 day trips with 6 people and have never felt crowded. With the conditioning on the helm deck you truly have two living areas you can use regardless of the weather which is great when you have a crowd on board. The master stateroom is one of the reasons we purchased the boat as we were tired of climbing in and out of the forward v-birth on our old boat. If the electronics are original they will need updating but that will be true on any 10+ year old boat you purchase. As far as changes there were not many during the production run mainly updating to hardware, the helm layout changed toward the end of the run amounting to a different look not any important new features, the salon TV was moved from a cabinet to a exposed flatscreen ect.. I would suggest that finding a good, well maintained boat would be more critical than the year as most things can be updated or replaced.

Access in the engine room is good unless you need to get to the outboard side of the engines. This requires a bit more agility. All the seacocks, pumps and the sump are accessible through the walkway between the engines and have easy access. We find the swim platform easy to access and very safe during docking. There are good sight lines from the helm to the Starboard quarter and you can clearly see the person on the platform when they are standing on the starboard side. The easy access to the bow is also very nice for docking and anchoring especially as you age and are not as mobile as you once may have been. We have no encountered any thing I would consider a 480 MY specific issue nor have I heard of anything particular just to this model. I would ensure you have the engines throughly checked out and be ready to do some prop work as all of the ones we looked at were very over propped. In terms of handling we have had the boat in 6-7 footers on the Bay and she handled it just fine. I would agree with John that the boat will handle more than we are interested in handling so that has never been a problem. That said we boat primarily on the Chesapeake Bay so keep that in mind.

We have certainly not regretted our purchase decision and use the boat regularly from April through December and love every different season and the parts of the boat they highlight. Happy to answer any specific questions as needed.
 
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I've had my 480MY for four seasons and I love it. I will answer your questions below.

1) Why did Sea Ray stop making the Motor Yacht series - any fatal flaws? This happened before the 2008 financial crash, so that couldn't have been it.

Best guess is that Sea Ray buyers are not really "aft cabin" people. I think Sea Ray was chasing the success Carver had with aft cabins. The model is an aesthetic outlier versus other Sea Rays. It is somewhat accurately named "the sneaker" because, well, from the side it looks like a sneaker. The notions that it is top heavy is inaccurate. Sitting side by side with a 480DB, their is more weight aloft in the DB and the DB bridge is higher, amplifying motion. However, the MY is definitely ass heavy. Takes more power to get and keep her out of the water and she does need some tab to run most efficiently. QSM-11 power is more than adequate, there are QSM-11 issues (see below) to look for. Boat capable of mid-20 knot cruise.Having the helm on the same level with the back deck is very nice. Line handling is a breeze and sight lines are excellent from the helm. The enclosed helm deck extends seasons and the boat overall would make for a great looper. A 480MY, being less popular, can be bought at a great price.

2) Being on the large side, and lacking flexibility (another bucket list item to work on), maintenance access to engines and other equipment, through hull valves, etc. is an issue. Is the 480 any worse than other designs in this respect?

Simply stated, access to everything on this boat is outstanding. They did a really really nice job on this. I could go component by component, but it is truly amazing. When I was looking at mine and I first opened the ER door and saw the two vacuflush pumps just sitting there out in the open, I yelled "sold!". Fold the master stateroom mattress forward for access to power steering, rudders, etc. The water pump can be accessed by sitting backwards on the master head commode and opening that door. The only thing that has been tough is getting to the Cablemaster. Also, outboard engine access is very tight but workable (see below). Downside is that the access to the ER is through the salon so you need to be clean when working on oil changes, etc.

3) Were there any feature/design changes during the 2000 to end-of-production period?

Not that I know of other than color choices of the helm seat and location of the search light.

4) Are there specific versions/options to avoid?

No.

5) Are there significant items likely at the end of their useful lives on a 15-year old boat (e.g. batteries, fridges, washer/dryer, pumps, etc.) that I should expect to replace soon if not already done?

Fridges, likely. I think mine was replaced in 2012. I have replaced an A/C unit (there are five) and an A/C water pump. Batteries are easy to get to. Windshield gaskets can leak. See comment on electronic upcoming.

6) Is the original electronics package still adequate, or should I be on the lookout for versions that have already been updated (or recognize the necessity of having that added cost)?

The original package sucks. C-80? Boooo! I just replaced all mine with E series, including new HD radar and autopilot. If possible, try to find one with upgrades since it will likely not cost more than one with original equipment.

7) Are there any specific issues with this model and age that a surveyor should pay particular attention to?

Check integrity of windshield gaskets, any fresh water found in the bilge is likely coming from there, it can and will work its way all the way to the ER. Also look for the usual Sea Ray water intrusion around port holes issues. My boat had 4 or 5 cosmetic blisters on the hull. Also, get a super qualified Cummins tech to review the engines. There are known issues with the QSM-11 exhaust manifolds. Search the internet for this. There are other QSM-11 bugaboos too, like the water cooler bracket, trans cooler and original air filter breaking apart and being sucked into the turbo. Last year I spent 33k on new exhaust manifolds, turbos and exchangers. Make sure that you ask all the right questions about the QSM-11 exhaust. The techs were able to access the more difficult starboard side, but I honestly have no idea how. Somewhere on CSR the great GARY has done a write up on what to look for in QSM-11s.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.
 
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I love the 390 and the 480. Both out of my league though. To the owners and the OP. There seems to be a lot of steps in them. Yes/no? To the OP. If there are a lot of steps to negotiate and your knees are not what they used to be (mine certainly aren't) that is something you may want to consider.

My 2 cents.
 
The "steps" thing is legit. I have no problem with it, but my parents complain about it when they are aboard.
 
steps are a real thing. I have good knees and the steps get old real fast on our boat. You might want to keep the sun dancer as an option. Not to mention that the aft dock lines might be crossing and you step out onto that area when coming down from the bridge.
 
Thanks to all for weighing in, and especially to those who took the time for a lengthy response. It's been very helpful, and certainly put our minds at ease.
 
Yes, he sold it in the spring of 2017. We were interested in it, but were not ready to make a move at that time.

It was a great boat!

Bennett
 
The steps thing was a HUGE factor for us in not seriously considering an aft cabin boat. Before we retired we make a pretty serious list of things we absolutely did NOT want and a boat with lots of steps was high on the list.

My lower legs, from the knees down, are not what they used to be.
That's what steered us in the direction of a sedan bridge model. Height of the boat was not an issue out here.

I wouldn't let old electronics keep me from buying a nice boat but I would factor replacement costs into what I was willing to paying for the boat.
 
Another thing we decided kept aft cabin boats off the list was the design of the side walkways. We frequently pass through locks and access to the sides to hang fenders was a MUST HAVE thing for us. When we looked at the walkways on the side of aft cabin boats (and the Bayliner 4788 and its brethren) we found we couldn't easily get access to the aft end of the sides to hang fenders. This could also be a problem with hanging fenders before docking. If you look at the photo of this 480MY and compare it to the pic of my boat you will see what I mean.

On the MY the walkway stops well short of the aft end of the boat.
6077413_20180430084114320_1_LARGE.jpg

Compare that to the walkway on the sedan bridge boats. It goes all the way back to the cockpit. We use that aft stanchion on the bow rail to hang a fender and another one off the aft cleat at the top of the transom. IMHO you can never have too many fenders out to protect the gelcoat from the walls of the locks.

AA-P7280156.jpg


Not being THAT familiar with where you boat I don't know if traversing locks will be a frequent occurrence to you. If it is, this may be something to consider.

Aft cabin boat owners, what say you on this?
 
OK, vote for the MY model here... first of all, you do not need to go out the back door and up a set of stairs to get to the helm from the living area. This is a HUGE deal when cruising long term or in bad weather. Unless you like sitting alone and hungry and desperately needing to go to the bathroom. :) Also, the MY has WINDSHIELD WIPERS which is absolutely huge. Also, the access to side decks from the helm is EXCELLENT. No steps to run up or down, everything is on the same level. As far as the deck not extending all the way back... open a back window or work from the swim platform. We loved our MY, and the folks who bought it from us love it too. Now, would I run inlets in it, or go to Bermuda in it? No, but for coastal cruising it is an excellent choice.
 
OK, vote for the MY model here... first of all, you do not need to go out the back door and up a set of stairs to get to the helm from the living area. This is a HUGE deal when cruising long term or in bad weather. Unless you like sitting alone and hungry and desperately needing to go to the bathroom. :) Also, the MY has WINDSHIELD WIPERS which is absolutely huge. Also, the access to side decks from the helm is EXCELLENT. No steps to run up or down, everything is on the same level. As far as the deck not extending all the way back... open a back window or work from the swim platform. We loved our MY, and the folks who bought it from us love it too. Now, would I run inlets in it, or go to Bermuda in it? No, but for coastal cruising it is an excellent choice.
I had to look up your Mckinna 57 Pilothouse. What a beautiful boat!!! JC
 
Converse, a few points in reply to your post....
first of all, you do not need to go out the back door and up a set of stairs to get to the helm from the living area. This is a HUGE deal when cruising long term or in bad weather. Unless you like sitting alone and hungry and desperately needing to go to the bathroom.
If the sedan bridge you're looking for has a lower helm you also don't need to outdoors and up stairs. The helm is just a couple of steps from the living area.
Also, the MY has WINDSHIELD WIPERS which is absolutely huge. Also, the access to side decks from the helm is EXCELLENT. No steps to run up or down, everything is on the same level. As far as the deck not extending all the way back...
Yup, same same on the sedan bridge. Big, wide windshield with a wiper on each piece of glass. Ya got me on the access to the walkway. We have to step out back and go up three steps. But the side walkway comes all the way back to the cockpit where those 3 steps and a grab rail are waiting for you.
As far as the deck not extending all the way back... open a back window or work from the swim platform.
Hmmm, I must be missing something about your "open a back window" comment. Are you talking about one of the windows on that upper cockpit area? Wouldn't that entail climbing up steps to get to that level from the helm? And going back down those steps to get back to the helm? And working from the swim platform? Nope, ain't gonna happen on my boat. All fenders are set in place and adjusted before we get into a lock and without anyone having to go outside the cockpit to do it.

Now I know it never gets rough and tumble on Chesapeake Bay (tongue in cheek reply there) like it does on the Columbia but I don't want anyone going outside the cockpit to make any adjustments to fenders or lines

I'm pushing your leg a bit on this. I know each boat has its advantages and disadvantages. When I mentioned those points in my earlier posts I was just trying to open the OP's eyes to things he may not have thought of, not trying to make fun of your Converse boat.

Smooth Water Boater, GFC
Now, before you take a shot back across my bow about rough waters, check out this video I shot a couple of years ago. It was taken about 20 miles downstream from where we keep our boat.
 

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