Rant: Sea Ray Engineers/Designers

Most boats don't have much access down there. People want salon and cabin space, so the DIY or mechanic pays the price. Buy a big sport fisher or a single engine trawler if you want more room. You can stand vertically in Nordhaven's 40.

Funny, I always praise SR for how they thought through design for maintenance issues. Barring a few items, things are pretty accessible.



I've been on some other boats recently wondering just how you would do maintenance or service them, or even get to various items.

Dude, if you're 6' 300#, I think you have pretty high expectations...Certainly don't look at a sailboat.


It is not a mater of high expectations but certain items which will eventually have to be replaced should be in a fairly accessible area.. I designed heavy road machinery equipment and if I did not take serviceability in consideration the owners would have screamed bloody murder. Serviceability was usually the top 3 requested item when discussing new designs when we did customer surveys on what the wanted in a new piece of machinery.

Yes I understand that it cost a little extra from the engine manufacture to move the water pump from the left side to the right side, would I be willing to pay a few grand extra for having longer wires, mirrored image engines, hell yes, because in the long run it is going to save me in repair costs, sweat, bloody, trips to urgent care, etc...
 
I think an anorexic dwarf could make a lot of money as a boat mechanic. I had to pay a skinny little guy to replace the water heater pressure relief valve on my 390 Motor Yacht. The water heater is behind the washer/dryer, and I don't know how he did it without removing everything.

The carpeted panel that's above and to the right of the washer/dryer comes out. This leaves about a 12" space that you can slide over the washer dryer to access the water heater.
 
I could have lunch with 2 friends in my bilge.

...I still pay people to fix it because it's hot as hell down there in the summer and I'm not home enough to do it myself!
 
+1. One of the reasons I work hard is I've learned that there are just some things I'd rather write a check for!

That's why my dealer has a mechanic named "Little Tim".
 
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Serviceability of machinery and equipment in heavy Road machinery, is a very different animal than a boat that is used by Joe and Sally every third weekend in the summer.

It is not a mater of high expectations but certain items which will eventually have to be replaced should be in a fairly accessible area.. I designed heavy road machinery equipment and if I did not take serviceability in consideration the owners would have screamed bloody murder. Serviceability was usually the top 3 requested item when discussing new designs when we did customer surveys on what the wanted in a new piece of machinery.

Yes I understand that it cost a little extra from the engine manufacture to move the water pump from the left side to the right side, would I be willing to pay a few grand extra for having longer wires, mirrored image engines, hell yes, because in the long run it is going to save me in repair costs, sweat, bloody, trips to urgent care, etc...
 
Oh the horrors of 1st world problems :)

I'm just happy to own a boat and at 6' 5" 265, I hate going into the engine bay but it was a huge factor in the purchase. I have many a bloody knuckle after a weekend in the bilge...still love it.
 
Oh the horrors of 1st world problems :) it.

Best post I have seen in a while. Keeps it in perspective. We gripe about some trivial !$&, myself included, while others are waking up this morning wondering if they will eat.
 
I think we have all complained about not enough space every now and then and sometimes more than that. Most of the time we do it is b/c we haven't figured out how we have to worm our way in, grab the tool to fix something and then get out after being in there for a while. I am only 5'8" on a good and about 176lbs and I find it difficult b/c I am not as limber as I once was. My now ex father in law is 77 and about 170lbs or less and he gets in and squirms around like it is nothing. My one mechanic is easily 5'5" and maybe 125lbs and he complains.
So it is what it is and we all have our moments..........
 
Tell me about it, an extra foot of wire wouldn't hurt, I know it affects the bottom line and there is a selling price point but geez-loueez cut the owner a break...

As we boomers age and as information becomes more plentiful and readily available, that extra foot of wire could make or break a sale.

Without boring you with the details, I met the owner of an LED company last night. He controls everything from raw material input to service after the sale. His company is black and flush with cash. The reason is when a major facility and it's parking lot was taking bids for a major lighting renovation, he got to put in two lights. The company went with a major name cheaper. When the major player's stuff started blowing a mile a minute a couple of years later, the only two non problems were his two lights. They called him back and the rest as they say is history.

Quality product. Good service. Extra foot of wire. Accessible for repair. It's all the same.
 
Know how to change the starter on a Cadillac Norstar V8? You have to pull the intake manifold, it's in the lifter valley, concealed...it's not just Sea Ray, and it's not just boats....
 
Know how to change the starter on a Cadillac Norstar V8? You have to pull the intake manifold, it's in the lifter valley, concealed...it's not just Sea Ray, and it's not just boats....


Know how to change the starter on a 91 Volvo 740. Well first you climb in the engine compartment beside the engine with a couple of wrenches. Bring a friend if you like!!!.... :smt043

Lots st to be said for simple.
 
Know how to change the starter on a Cadillac Norstar V8? You have to pull the intake manifold, it's in the lifter valley, concealed...it's not just Sea Ray, and it's not just boats....

Long gone are the days when you could sit on the inner fender to change spark plugs, but that is ridiculous.
 
I wish I would have thought to take a picture of our technician changing out an electronic controller in the chain locker of our boat the other day. It's the "brain" that controls the spot light's rotation, elevation and brightness. After 12 years, moisture did it in. It is located on the top of the locker and secured with three screws into the underside of the deck. He is six feet tall and trim but not skinny. The temps were in the low 90s with humidity about 95 percent. He spent 45 minutes upside down in the locker with no part of his body showing except for his ankles and feet. When they did not move for a while, I was about to go down to the dock to see if he was alright. As I was getting my boat shoes on he worked his way out of the hatch and checked the helm controller to verify the fix. All is well. Can't wait to get the bill.
 
I got in the engine compartment to change my batteries and burnt holes in my shorts from the leaking acid lifting out the old units. as Schwarzenegger said - "I'm not a contortionist"
 
At 5'11" and 180 lbs, I had a hard time getting to some things in my 300 Sundancer. Changing starters, aft bilge pump, and a macerator pump were probably the toughest things I had to get to in the bilge of that boat, but not totally impossible. But I did notice that as the years went by it became even harder. At 62 years old, the days of me wrapping myself around a motor to inch out a starter bolt are long gone.
Hopefully my next boat will have more room in the bilge. If not, my 16 year old son will be pressed in to more service, or my mechanic of choice will get more business from me.
 
My boat is smaller than many here, but I'm 6'3" and 265.
I had to literally stand on my head in the bilge to replace manifolds.
Cutting bolts with a grinder that's 2 inches from my face! LOVE IT.
I try to do most of my mechanical stuff myself, not just to save a buck, but to be well versed in how my boat operates.
 
I say again, the short production run on the 370 Venture still perplexes me. I understand lack of demand. I thought it would go gangbusters. Everything I see on 95 in the 35 - 40 foot range is multi engine OB these days.
 
Update on replacing the vacuum pump on the Sea Ray. It is done!:smt038

Didn't lose too much skin, only took 2 men, a women (The Admiral) and a baby to get it completed, that plus 12 hours and tearing the salon apart to get to the 18" x 4" access hatch, disconnecting the exhaust hose for the genny. Several interventions by the local Priest to exercise the demons which entered my body after saying a few choice words about the stupid engineer.

I enjoy doing the work for several reasons
1. I am a cheap rat Bast****
2. What better way to learn you boat and its systems.
3. The celebration of several cold ones when the job is complete and a good cigar!

But it is done and the head is back up and running.....:smt038:grin:
 

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