Is it Really "all about the beam"?

Still amazed Every time I see one of those late 80’s 340’s,......looks like you could play volleyball on that thing!

The next year up the 340 became the 350 and lost, I believe 6 inches of beam and it's noticeably tighter.
 
A fellow boater once told me that enjoyment of your boat is all about maximum beam width (among other things of course). In this regard, we are looking to upgrade from our 225 Weekender to a 280 DA. Looking through the archives, in 2010 it looks like Sea Ray put the 280 on a diet and the beam width dropped from 9'5" to 8"10". From a trailering perspective I like the slimmer 280 but wondering if it makes that much of a difference when on the water?

Thanks in advance for all thoughts/input/advice.

John (Vancouver, BC)
The more beam the less rockin' n rollin', but the difference between the two boats your looking at is more than that. The older 280DA is about 2.5' longer along with the 7" wider, you're going to get more boat, it'll be noticeable. The heavier, older 280DA is also 21 degree deadrise vs 19 which will give you a bit better ride in rougher seas. Get the older larger 280DA is my recommendation.
 
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Beam is one part of the equation only. Length is the other (pertinent to this conversation), rather it is the ratio between the two that will significantly drive how your boat will perform . The real answer to your question boils down to how you boat and what you want out of your boat. If livability outweighs overall performance and fuel economy, you likely want a beamier boat. As sbw1 noted above, If you like to go fast and expect a seakindly fuel efficient ride you will want a narrower boat. If you boat in calm protected waters you may be ok going with a beamier boat without really feeling any sacrifice of performance.
I sorta agree - if you increase or decrease beam holding length constant.

Would think that's taken into effect by the designer when they were designing the parameters. House boat versus sun dancer.

"As sbw1 noted above, If you like to go fast and expect a seakindly fuel efficient ride you will want a narrower boat". If you like to go fast, sea kindly ride, and you want to extra room of the beamier boat - then make sure you have the length to support the beam.... Does that make sense?
He's comparing two small SR cruisers, why ya'll making it so complicated.:p

Here's my technical comment....narrow boat w/high deadrise will require more power than a flat bottom boat to get on/stay on plane, all else being equal of course.
 
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The yellow SR had some of the characteristics you described. You could really roll it with the trim tabs or when people would move from one side to the other. That is the downside of a narrow beam deep V hull. They are tender and lean into the wind without tab adjustments. The upside is the ride. This boat went through some big Lake Michigan seas relative to its small size. It was a dream running the inlet in rough seas into Grand Haven harbor. The Tiara also has a very fine entry with a keel and 13 foot beam which is kind of the best of all worlds. It has a good ride and plenty of space inside for a 32 foot water line. It was about the same length overall as my 370 SR Express. Don't have a pic of the SR in the slings, but if I did, the front of the hull would would be much fatter than the Tiara. It had more living space and head room than the Tiara. Its ride on Lake Michigan in a chop was punishing however. When the lake was flat, it was faster than the Tiara but less economical to run in spite of being a much lighter boat. Was a great boat for cocktails with guests. Hull design is all about trade offs.
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Had a 2005 260 with a 8'6'' beam. It was the most topsy turvy boat I ever owned, scary even. Always felt like to was going to roll over. Searay really botched the design on that one and so, I sold it after 2 years. My opinion,, always go up 10 feet when upgrading, bigger is better, beam is bigger and so, I'd recommend a 300 or 310, you won't regret it.
 
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I went from a 28 footer with a 10’ 6” beam to a 36 footer with a 14’ beam and will never go back.

You can stroll around in the salon and cockpit.
 
Beam is the most important, as long as it makes sense. I went from a 268 with an 8'6" beam to a 380 with a 13' beam.... Love it
 
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I've always wondered why there were a handful of Sea Ray models (late 80's, early 90's) that seem to have MASSIVELY more beam than any other vintage of those models. I see some upper 30's and lower 40's Sea Rays around me that look to have 2' more beam than late 90's through today equivalents.

I wonder if Sea Ray found the fine line between beam, weight, performance and had to back off on "super beaminess" after these models?
 
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View attachment 72360 I went from a 28 footer with a 10’ 6” beam to a 36 footer with a 14’ beam and will never go back.

You can stroll around in the salon and cockpit.

Ditto, We went from an 02 280DA to a Sabre 38 with a 14' beam. The ride is completely different for the better. That said is significantly heavier (2x+) and uses more than twice as many horses. The crazy thing is on plane at 21 knots we are burning less than 20 gph total.

Henry
 
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View attachment 72354 The yellow SR had some of the characteristics you described. You could really roll it with the trim tabs or when people would move from one side to the other. That is the downside of a narrow beam deep V hull. They are tender and lean into the wind without tab adjustments. The upside is the ride. This boat went through some big Lake Michigan seas relative to its small size. It was a dream running the inlet in rough seas into Grand Haven harbor. The Tiara also has a very fine entry with a keel and 13 foot beam which is kind of the best of all worlds. It has a good ride and plenty of space inside for a 32 foot water line. It was about the same length overall as my 370 SR Express. Don't have a pic of the SR in the slings, but if I did, the front of the hull would would be much fatter than the Tiara. It had more living space and head room than the Tiara. Its ride on Lake Michigan in a chop was punishing however. When the lake was flat, it was faster than the Tiara but less economical to run in spite of being a much lighter boat. Was a great boat for cocktails with guests. Hull design is all about trade offs.
View attachment 72353 View attachment 72352

Here is a pic of my 370DA which supports your comment about looking “fatter”...
 

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Ditto, We went from an 02 280DA to a Sabre 38 with a 14' beam. The ride is completely different for the better. That said is significantly heavier (2x+) and uses more than twice as many horses. The crazy thing is on plane at 21 knots we are burning less than 20 gph total.

Henry
How are you liking the Sabre so far?

I’m picking up my new Back Cove tomorrow. I’ll be going from 8.5 foot beam to 12 feet - much different ride.
 
A fellow boater once told me that enjoyment of your boat is all about maximum beam width (among other things of course). In this regard, we are looking to upgrade from our 225 Weekender to a 280 DA. Looking through the archives, in 2010 it looks like Sea Ray put the 280 on a diet and the beam width dropped from 9'5" to 8"10". From a trailering perspective I like the slimmer 280 but wondering if it makes that much of a difference when on the water?

Thanks in advance for all thoughts/input/advice.

John (Vancouver, BC)
Yes. It's all about beam. You'll notice the most when walking from corner to corner on a narrow boat, the boat will lean a lot and make sitting not very comfortable. Or someone steps on to the boat you feel the lean. Wider boats have less movement at the dock or at anchor and I think a much heavier solid ride so Go wide .
 
When I had my 250 all my friends and dock neighbors had narrow beam boats as well because of the slip width. One of the stupid-boy-tricks we enjoyed (we've matured since then) doing was all rushing to one side of the boat just as a friend was maneuvering into a slip. Scared the living **** out of him. That trick doesn't work with a wide beam boat.

So that there is all the reasons you need to go wider :)
 
Same here with a 2003 260DA - 8'6" Beam it would noticeably rock side to side but on the 340SDA with a 12' beam it is barely noticeable. When people enter and exit the boat I usually hear them now rather than feeling the boat move. One other factor is the gross weight - the 340SDA is probably double the weight and holds it place in the water quite well.

-Kevin
 
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When I had my 250 all my friends and dock neighbors had narrow beam boats as well because of the slip width. One of the stupid-boy-tricks we enjoyed (we've matured since then) doing was all rushing to one side of the boat just as a friend was maneuvering into a slip. Scared the living **** out of him. That trick doesn't work with a wide beam boat.

So that there is all the reasons you need to go wider :)
One of the tricks our boys used to play on neighbors when we were at a transient slip next to a narrow beam boat was to run back and forth in cockpit of our 300 WE at bedtime when our aft curtain was up and they were unseen. Our 300 wouldn't move much but they could usually get the less beamy boat next door rolling so much that the owner would come up from down below to see what was causing the big wake. The boys would hide and then do it again when the bewildered neighbor would go below again. It was funny to watch. Some people never grow up.
 
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One of the tricks our boys used to play on neighbors when we were at a transient slip next to a narrow beam boat was to run back and forth in cockpit of our 300 WE at bedtime when our aft curtain was up and they were unseen. Our 300 wouldn't move much but they could usually get the less beamy boat next door rolling so much that the owner would come up from down below to see what was causing the big wake. The boys would hide and then do it again when the bewildered neighbor would go below again. It was funny to watch. Some people never grow up.

I like your boys style. BTW, I had a 300 WE as well. Great boat.
 
With such a great response I cannot thank everyone individually for their responses. Just want to say we really appreciate all the feedback and will definitely use it to assist us in our ongoing search for our next Sea Ray. There are some great boats other than SR out there but having access to this pool of talent from all over N America is a definite factor in wanting to remain a SR owner.
 
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Here is a pic of a beamy 32 foot boat. It carries a 13 foot beam from the end of the queen sized bed up front all the way back to the transom. This does a couple of things. Adds living space down below plus cockpit space up above. The fine entry and flare eliminates pounding in head seas and knocks down the spray making it a seakindly dry boat in rough blue water. The modified V makes it stable, fast and economical with gas or diesel power. Its keel makes it track without wandering. Overall good design. Good sea boat. Good party boat.
 

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