I want to love my boat ....but

skunkman

Active Member
May 27, 2014
452
Longboat Key
Boat Info
2014 330 DA sold
Current boat 2021 Formula 350CBR
Engines
Triple 350 Mercury Verado
I purchased a 330 DA new in July 2014. Since then I have had countless problems:
Critical steering warning
Engines going into safety mode
Leaking bow windows - rotting cabin ceiling
Broken transom shower
Broken generator
Broken stern seat
Faulty battery charger
Broken stereo

I thought all was sorted out but recently I had more issues:
Generator broke for 3rd time
Both fuel gauges non-functional
Transom shower broken again (or never repaired)

The repairs cost over $1500

Last time out I realized the transom shower still not fixed. During that outing I got caught in the rain. Water pours through the cabin door (door shut of course). This may be new or old since I always cover my boat and don't flood the cabin when I wash it down so this was the first time any significant water made it aft of the wind screen.
I love the lay out of the boat and we use it almost every weekend. I love how it handles.
I purchased new thinking I would be problem free this way.

Sorry to vent (especially on a forum dedicated to Sea Ray lovers) but I am just frustrated


BTW: When the cabin ceiling rotted Captain Rusty intervened and Marine Max repaired it at no cost.
 
Bummer. Makes me feel a lot better about not being able to afford a new boat of this size and brand!

Isn't your rig still under warranty? Hopefully they are taking care of you. If I had anything remotely similar to that kind of experience I think I'd be 1.) done with the brand and 2.) having some uncomfortable conversations with my dealer about getting a replacement boat.
 
The engine has an extended warranty. All the other stuff is 1 year which is absurd. I can't imagine what would happen if you spent 250k on a Ferrari and had this many issues. I'm pretty sure they would be bending over backwards to make you happy and definitely not dinging you with a $1500 bill to repair items that have broken before. Not apples to apples but not that much different in my opinion.
 
I feel your pain. My latest Sea Ray was/is nothing but problems. Oil leaks, no stearing, no shifting, no starting, genset can only be used once a day, batteries died because battery charger died,... I have a list of 70 issues, although some are repeats of the genset issue.

Dealer was great it responding and repairing quickly all issues, except genset. I fixed some things myself just because they were easy or I wanted them fixed my way.

I've bought 4 new Sea Rays, the first 3 were trouble free, this one not so much. I will have a hard time buying another boat powered with Mercs or with a Kohler genset.
 
I have the same boat and don't have problems with water getting into the cabin through the companion way door even when it rains. You should have the dealer address this issue. Regarding the Kohler I have also had numerous problems but thankfully none this year ( I'm sure I just jinxed myself).
 
almost supports buying a slightly used boat as a better decision than buying new.....if you buy a boat that is just a few years old the issues probably have been resolved by then.....

cliff
 
almost supports buying a slightly used boat as a better decision than buying new.....if you buy a boat that is just a few years old the issues probably have been resolved by then.....

cliff

I agree.
 
that's how it worked for our RV. we bought a higher end used 28' class c that had all of its "growing pains" addressed by the original owner. There can't possibly be a standard that is lower than the "standards" in the RV manufacturing industry. Truly pitiful.
 
BV, you said a mouthful in that comment about the RV industry standards. I worked for 10 years in the RV sales industry. We referred to them as "Wobbly Boxes". If people saw how most of them are put together they would never own one.
 
almost supports buying a slightly used boat as a better decision than buying new.....if you buy a boat that is just a few years old the issues probably have been resolved by then.....

cliff

Cliff, I'm not so sure about that! I bought a Boat with 33 hrs on it and new Tech like Axius! Unless your like "Frank" and know everything you still have a long term learning curve! At least with a New Boat you have the Warrantee to fall back on!
 
From experience with cars and boats some are built on bad days or weeks or months depending on what's going on in the factory. My 280DA was a disaster. Bought it used with low hours. Leaked everywhere. The engines were reliable but every other system was a heartache. Needed steering pins at 100 hours, blah, blah, blah.
The 330DA has been very reliable especially this season when I didn't trailer it to Charleston.
 
BV, you said a mouthful in that comment about the RV industry standards. I worked for 10 years in the RV sales industry. We referred to them as "Wobbly Boxes". If people saw how most of them are put together they would never own one.



I looked at the guts of the brand new forest river we purchased and immediately sold it. Won't make that mistake twice.
 
I THINK I speak for a good many of the classic owners...I am very thankful for my old 80's SeaRay. She is a buffalo that floats. Sure she has some small issues, but many of them do after 28 years.

Good luck with your girl, I'm sure they will step up and help get things resolved
 
I THINK I speak for a good many of the classic owners...I am very thankful for my old 80's SeaRay. She is a buffalo that floats. Sure she has some small issues, but many of them do after 28 years.

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard this around the docks, I'd be a wealthy man. There is a strong believe (which can be argued for days and hours and usually is) that newer boats, regardless of brand, aren't built nearly as strongly as they used to be. In an attempt to cut weight and increase speed, the builders have all decreased strength and durability. Back in the 80's, and to some extent the 90's, these boats were so overbuilt that they can theoretically last forever. Yea, we cruise at 20-22knts and can't even dream of 30knts. But our boat will probably still see the water every year when she turns 40yo. Can the same be said about a brand new production boat from ANY manufacturer? Is Sea Ray any different? I don't know the answer to that question, but it will be fascinating to see in 10, 20, 30yrs.
 
I think there's some truth to the "they don't build em..."
the new labor pool and manufacturing practices are all aimed at reducing cost and improving efficiency. I'll take hand laid woven over a computer sprayed chop any day. A manually sprayed gel coat over machine sprayed.
All the peripheral system manufacturers follow same principles thus the long list of OEM equipment failures.

My Harley is a 1971, my bimmer 1992, my truck 2000. All are perfect. This little 18ft puppy I just purchased well, everything works and it runs without a hickup.

I I intentionally kept things simple but I wouldn't hesitate on a 30ft 1980's vintage SR in the future.
 
It has everything to do with lack of quality control. No more. No less. Consumers have been sung lullabies for decades convincing them accepting inferior quality, regardless of product is not only OK, it's proper that we accept it and worse.....manufacturers have grown to expect we accept it.

It's not hard, and in the long run it's far less expensive to do it right the first time.
 
almost supports buying a slightly used boat as a better decision than buying new.....if you buy a boat that is just a few years old the issues probably have been resolved by then.....

cliff

Not true. I have a 2010 350. I purchased it slightly used in 2012. It had fewer than 60 hours. The only reason I agreed to buy it was my dealer gave me a 3year cruiser warranty.
This season has been great, but in the first two years of ownership I had the following issues:

-Skylights leaked. Dealer had to remove and reseat them. Twice.
-AC was total crap. Last summer dealer finally removed it and put in a new unit. Problem solved.
-Water leaked into the cabin through a leak in the base of the windshield. Caused $5k in damage to the interior (middle of the winter, boat was on land at the dealer). SeaRay came through and covered the costs of repairs.
-Multiple air pockets in the gel coat requiring repairs.
-Dealer installed a brand new Raymarine HD radome at the time or purchase. Broke the first time out. Raymarine covered the cost of a new unit, but not the labor for replacement.
-Kenyon grill died. Folks at Kenyon were great and sent replacement parts for free.
-Fresh water pump had been replaced
-SeaRay totally screwed up the wiring of the audio and entertainment system. We have finally sorted this out on our own.
-Numerous other small items.

Bottom line, the QC isn't there for the cost of what you're buying. I've been to the SR factory. Some of the work is great, but from a mechanical perspective and attention to detail it's not always there.

The warranties in the marine industry are a joke. But this isn't just SeaRay.
 
It has everything to do with lack of quality control. No more. No less. Consumers have been sung lullabies for decades convincing them accepting inferior quality, regardless of product is not only OK, it's proper that we accept it and worse.....manufacturers have grown to expect we accept it.

It's not hard, and in the long run it's far less expensive to do it right the first time.

I agree but a buddy of mine has been shop foreman for SeaVee and anther large custom ship tender builder. Production manufacturing does not focus on quality as in the way we defined it 30-40 years ago. In this new economy quality is about meeting "acceptable tolerances" which today are defined by bean counters and management not engineers.

The mid sized companies like SeaVee are able to produce high quality product because their model is not volume driven nor a "value" market consumer. I bet they sell a handful of boats compared to today's SeaRay and thus all the manufacturing defects we're reading about in this thread w newer SR's.

I've visited enough boat manufacturers to see the difference in manufacturing processes like Dusky in Davie Fl, SeaVee, and many years ago Formula, Bertram Yachts in Miami Fl. Those shops were crowded with artisans not automation equipment. The market competed in quality not price or as we now say "value".

i believe those days are generally gone.
 
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^^^. Is "value" the new politically correct word for. Bullsh!t?!?!

[rant]

Listen up SR et.al. When a (pick your) sports team hires a new coach it's usually due to losing seasons under the tutelage of the old coach. The new coach does NOT continue the old ways. The first thing the new coach does is go back to basics.

SR et.al. I don't need a Millenium Falcon edition microwave. I use it to warm my coffee and TV dinners. Basic is good. Is VacuFlush really my only choice of toilet. Damn.... I get more choices in a mobile home. How about a 21st century battery charger, or at least the option to choose. Speaking of choosing, can I get the power plants I want as opposed to what you know is best for me? Rather liberal democrat on your part in my opinion. Merc and your (I use the term lightly) engineers have failed me enough for one lifetime. If you can't sell me a boat with other than Mercs, sell me an engineless boat. I'll have folks who care about quality finish out the power.

How how about this...... Lexus uses consumer feedback to improve their product. They consistently rank as one of the best autos to own, bar none. Yeah, I know you arrogant snots, boats aren't cars. You're right. Both are comfort transportation vehicles. The difference is Lexus figured that out years ago while you were (and it appears still are) suffering cranial rectal inversion.

Go go back to basics. Give me an ER I can get in and work in. Make the wiring looms intuitive. Throw the wires in PVC runs in some logical fashion.

I love you SR. Well...... I loved SR when it was SR.

What at are you going to do to keep me as a loyal customer? There are plenty of other suitors worldwide.

[/rant]
 
Dave I understand your fustration, and agree with your rant. BUT, as long as people keep buying boats that don't work, SR will keep building the same crappy boats. It up to the consumer to change things, simply by buying something else.....but what do you buy? It's my opinion all the manafacturers are building crap, and way overcharging for it.
They know i/o's are junk, but people keep buying them. No pain to change=what is easy for them to build.
 

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