Opinions mid 200s's 48 Sedan Bridge or Motor Yacht for liveaboard??

Vmaxhp

New Member
Jun 12, 2015
3
Houston
Boat Info
Boatless
Engines
Boatless
Good afternoon all! I am looking at the Sea Ray 48 either DB or MY as a live aboard. For those with experience with either of these two boats, I'd welcome your input. Some of the key features for me would be spacious main berth -- room to walk around the bed. Ability to create a "movie room" atmosphere in the salon. Reasonable cruising speed and range. Holds resale value. Thanks for your feedback! Rick
 
We live aboard our 400 sedan bridge. We love living aboard. We have found we just need a little more room. We have also looked at the 48. There is more than enough room to comfortably live aboard.
Have you tried living aboard yet? It takes a special relationship to be able to do it.
 
My wife and I just got our 2002 480SD this year and it has been great. We have always loved the lines on the 480SD and we plan on using as a liveaboard when we get to that stage in our lives, strongly considering doing the Great Loop when we get to retirement and I think the 480SD is a great boat for that extended cruise.
 
Friends/neighbors of mine lived aboard their 480DB. They installed a huge TV in the salon. It blocked windows, but it was great for TV and movies and the cabin of the 480DB is plenty bright.

You realize that neither stateroom on the DB has a walk-around berth, right? (the 3rd stateroom is more suitable for kids or storage IMO)
 
Full disclosure. I have a 480MY for sale, and I love the boat, but I also have a good friend with a 480DB so I can compare and contrast.

As far as a master stateroom goes, this is by far the best feature of the 480MY. See pic.
YUNC0017.jpg

You simply will not find a better master stateroom in ANY boat under 60 feet long. True walk around with storage beneath, split head arrangement with vanity and dressing table, tons of closet space and even a chest of drawers. Simply stunning. The VIP in the 480MY is essentially the same as the master in the 480DB.

Also, the salon could easily be made into a "movie room" because the side windows can be shaded out with screens, although the same is true of the DB. Other nice feature of the 480MY is the enclosed, climate controlled helm deck. See pic.
YUNC0013.jpg
This is a true four season space that can be either indoors or out depending on your preference. We rarely run the AC but when we do, we are happy to have it! Big difference if that the helm is on the main deck so the captain can participate easily in docking without running up and down the stairs. Plus the helm is less detached from the social spaces on the boat vs a DB. Also, having a full windshield (with wipers) can make a huge difference in foul weather.

Downside of the MY is that it is an aesthetic departure from most Sea Rays and some will say it looks like a sneaker. See pic. The DB is a classic design that is hard not to love.
IMG_2831.jpg

The main functional advantage of the DB, aside from better looks, is that the swim platform, back deck, salon and galley are all on the same level. And most DBs have platform lifts with few MYs do. As such, there is a roughly 100k difference (if similarly powered) between the two models in price; mid/low 300s versus mid/low 200s.

Performance wise, both are powered by QSM-11s (except some older DBs could have Detroits or CAT 3196s) and both will move along nicely in the 22-24 knot range for a cruise. You can probably get a Detroit or CAT powered version, pre-2003, for less than a Cummins powered version. Ask Frank Webster if that's a good idea.

QSM-11s are not without their issues, there is a known point of failure based on the fact that the exhaust system is (for some reason known only to Cummins) not water cooled. Eventually, many of these engines will need new manifolds and/or turbos. Cummins claims to have improved the metallurgy on the new manifolds to make them less prone to failure. The fix is in the $30k range. Ideally, you will get a pair of QSM-11s with this issue already addressed, like mine perhaps! :) Did I mention mine also has new navigation system and autopilot? I digress...

I will say, based on direct comparison with my buddy in the 480DB, that the 480DB runs a bit more efficiently at a given RPM versus the MY. This is probably because the MY is a tad ass heavy and needs some tab to stay balanced where the DB does not. But overall performance in terms of speed is similar. Both carry the same fuel so the DB would have slightly better range.

The MY has better storage, including a huge "basement" below the galley. See pic.
IMG_0239.jpg
Also access to engine room components such as vacuflush pumps, A/C pumps, batteries, etc. are much better on the MY. BUT... there is no outside access to the engine room (see pic) so dirty oil and dirty mechanics need to go through the salon in the MY.
IMG_0259.jpg

Lastly, as far as "hold resale value" I think both are comparable at this point in terms of rate of depreciation. As stated, the DB is (or should be) a more expensive boat than the MY, so just be sure you buy right and both will hold their value. My unofficial math has the Sea Ray depreciation curve really starting to flatten out after ten years. So the bottom line is, as a LIVE ABOARD I would give the nod to the MY for reasons mentioned, but both are great boats. Happy to answer any more specific questions because I know both boats fairly well. Good luck!
 
Last edited:
Converse,
Great comparison, Open, honest and with very little bias. Heck, If the wife and I planned to live aboard, I would consider the MY over our DB.
I see your's is for sale as you mentioned. Hope your not getting out of boating. I personally wouldn't know what to do with the extra 10-20 hours a week I spend on tweaking my boat. :grin:
 
Converse,
Great comparison, Open, honest and with very little bias. Heck, If the wife and I planned to live aboard, I would consider the MY over our DB.
I see your's is for sale as you mentioned. Hope your not getting out of boating. I personally wouldn't know what to do with the extra 10-20 hours a week I spend on tweaking my boat. :grin:
I can't get out. Will never happen.
I'm looking to move up. Tell your friends!
 
We have the 480DB too, love the boat. As far as liveaboard, we are not there yet. Like Converse said, we'll be looking to move up prior to retiring.. Our boat gets pretty good range, and we've been out for several weeks on it at a time. Always had more than enough room for all of our stuff. Bathroom and showers are great compared to other boats. We have bridge air and hydraulic platform and use both constantly. Platform makes for a great private beach.... Regarding the great loop, only issue i could be the height of the boat. With our antennas and all we are at 22'. Best of luck with whatever you decide...
 
41de3ad00096906d3f6277276ff97760.jpg


But the DB gets this. Just saying.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,827
Members
60,931
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top