Odd question- Why isn't the 500/52 DA more popular?

SeaNile

SeaNile

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2010
1,522
Chadds Ford, PA
Boat Info
2003 50 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins QSM11
Seems to me like the 03-07 (?) 42/44 is the most popular version of the DA possibly followed by the 460 with the ultimate quest being the 48. The late 90's 45DA is an awesome boat with a cult like following. Why isn't the 03-07 50/52 DA more popular? Seems like a killer layout with an entertainment area to die for, great QSM11 power with the MAN option. Interior is spacious, etc.

Am I missing something with this model?
 
SeaNile said:
Seems to me like the 03-07 (?) 42/44 is the most popular version of the DA possibly followed by the 460 with the ultimate quest being the 48. The late 90's 45DA is an awesome boat with a cult like following. Why isn't the 03-07 50/52 DA more popular? Seems like a killer layout with an entertainment area to die for, great QSM11 power with the MAN option. Interior is spacious, etc.

Am I missing something with this model?
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A good friend of mine had a 2005; I think it was only about a year old when he bought it. Great boat and it was truly impressive underway. He put it up for sale about 3 years later and it took forever for him to get it sold, with multiple brokers giving it a try over several years. He finally sold it for much, much less than he paid so the experience cost him several hundred $k. Of course, the market was awful at the time so that must have had a lot to do with it. I think the onus of MAN engines plays a little. Also, buyers in this range are likely more attracted to bridge boats. But, I suspect it's the berthing arrangement more than anything else. I believe buyers of boats that size expect at least 2 full staterooms instead of a master and a bunk room.
 
I agree with you SeaNile. You just don't see a lot of the 50/52 DA. We have one in our marina and it looks huge but I've never seen the inside of it. I always assumed it was a 3 stateroom layout.
 
The master with second stateroom being a bunk is maybe the killer? I think they are priced reasonably well when compared to the 48. Those 48s are beautiful and expensive!!!
 
SeaNile said:
The master with second stateroom being a bunk is maybe the killer? I think they are priced reasonably well when compared to the 48. Those 48s are beautiful and expensive!!!
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Personally I would go for a 2005 48DA if the only other choice was a 2005 50DA. One other thing that bugged me was the split glass/plastic windows compared to the 48's full hardtop. This may be a minor nit for most but bothered me and seemed cheap.
 
alnav said:
Personally I would go for a 2005 48DA if the only other choice was a 2005 50DA. One other thing that bugged me was the split glass/plastic windows compared to the 48's full hardtop. This may be a minor nit for most but bothered me and seemed cheap.
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Agree but the difference in price is significant....maybe 125k? If I could find an 05-08 48DA for under 300k I'm a buyer!
 
@SeaNile I always loved the lines of the 50/52, and the 510 before that. But the lack of suitable and private guest quarters put the boat on the “do not buy list” for us…. I do think that’s the big downfall that steers folks away. A boat that size should have 2 suitable staterooms with private heads - no excuse.
 
tc410 said:
@SeaNile I always loved the lines of the 50/52, and the 510 before that. But the lack of suitable and private guest quarters put the boat on the “do not buy list” for us…. I do think that’s the big downfall that steers folks away. A boat that size should have 2 suitable staterooms with private heads - no excuse.
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I think you are 100% correct. We'd love 2 staterooms but that's just not in the budget for us right now. Love the DA usable outdoor space for how we currently use the boat. We are set on the 2003.5+ styling and the 50/52 is checking a lot of the boxes for us.

In the NE boating is pretty much the last thing people are thinking about but I am always looking for the right "deal." If that happens to be a 50 DA then we are completely happy with that boat....for now.
 
I have a dock mate that just bought one. I told him the same thing - no way could I live with that second stateroom. I don't need a condo sized living room on my boat (which that 50 boat has). I want two properly sized, and properly separated staterooms.
 
Stee6043 said:
I have a dock mate that just bought one. I told him the same thing - no way could I live with that second stateroom. I don't need a condo sized living room on my boat (which that 50 boat has). I want two properly sized, and properly separated staterooms.
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That's a challenge with the DA models. Outside is amazing and inside is a significant compromise. Then you goto the DB which has an amazing inside and outside area is compromised.
 
SeaNile said:
That's a challenge with the DA models. Outside is amazing and inside is a significant compromise. Then you goto the DB which has an amazing inside and outside area is compromised.
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Yeah, and the smaller you go the more "aesthetic" compromises are made I feel like. A 52+ DB looks super sharp IMO. The 40 somethings, however, not my bag. Still better than a motor yacht though :):)
 
My belief the boats built by SR during that 03-07 timeframe are some of the best recreational boats ever built. All boats during that era were high quality.

Thinking specifically about your question, I think it falls into segmentation of the market on sizes. Maybe people have moved up in size to the high 40's in length, then when they are ready to move larger the 50/52 does provide enough of a jump in size.
 
I personally love the 500/52 DA layout, especially the cockpit. There is just two of us, and guests would have to use the bunk room......which isn't my problem!
 
This is one of the reasons I loved the 450DA. We have homes in Tennessee and Panama City Beach and have friends in both places. Having a boat with no second stateroom has allowed me to limit our entertaining to day boating and avoid the question "Can I just stay on your boat?" question.

As to the why is the 52DA not popular question, I think it has more to do with volume and pricing than anything. This boat was a replacement for the older 500DA and it came at a time when the banks were under extreme pressure to properly manage loan portfolios. Individual boat loans were almost nonexistent and floor plan interest rates were sky rocketing with horrible restrictions. Sea Ray saw thew writing on the wall and cut production volumes on bigger boats. They amortized the cost of mold development and construction into the anticipated volume on new boats. The net result was the 52DA was well over $1.0 mil and sales volumes were very low. Skip ahead several years and there are very few used 52DA out there and even fewer for sale.

These this was not an enclosed hardtop boat like the 48DA and most buyers wanted that feature.

None of this has to do with whether or not the 52 is a good boat…….they are great handling boats, particularly with MAN power. They tend to be expensive due to the initial cost structure, there aren't many on the market because there weren't that many produced and the later model designs on the 540DA had features the 52DA did not.
 
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When I was last in the market (2012-2013), I exclusively focused on the 50/52 mentioned, and the 04 550 with two full size staterooms. I had two friends at the time that had the 50/52 and two others with the 48. The 50/52 helm/cockpit area is almost twice the size of a 48', great for entertaining. I prefer the single helm seat. The double seems crowded. The 50/52 bunk stateroom became storage for rear isinglass. On the 50/52 guests always slept on the convertible sofa. For me, I had two teenage daughters at the time and didn't think the bunk room was big enough for even them. The 50/52 rear salon sofa was difficult for me as I would constantly stand up and smack my head on the roof, which has a drop for the helm above. At 6' I don't have that problem often. Good thing it was padded.
 
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Brett H said:
At 6' I don't have that problem often. Good thing it was padded.
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We seriously looked at one for an upgrade several years ago. The lack of salon headroom and having the guest quarters right up against the master cabin were immediate deal killers. Was hard to walk away because the rest of the boat was beautiful.
 
Also, buyers in this range are likely more attracted to bridge boats.

Alnav hit it for me, DA are nice up to maybe 34’, beyond that I want a bridge boat, with a proper sliding door, salon. Not living in a basement at that price, looking out tiny portholes.
No criticism against them but if i hit the lottery, just saying.
 
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has allowed me to limit our entertaining to day boating and avoid the question "Can I just stay on your boat?" question.

Get a 250 like mine and easily avoid hearing that question. :D
 
Pirate Lady said:
Also, buyers in this range are likely more attracted to bridge boats.

Alnav hit it for me, DA are nice up to maybe 34’, beyond that I want a bridge boat, with a proper sliding door, salon. Not living in a basement at that price, looking out tiny portholes.
No criticism against them but if i hit the lottery, just saying.
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In that case have you considered a proper house boat?
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