Prosideus
Active Member
- Jun 5, 2012
- 635
- Boat Info
- 1995 220 BR Signature
Prior Boat:
400 Sedan Bridge 1996 Cats 3116
- Engines
- Mercruiser 5.7
So I am wondering what is going to become of the sea rays that have Man engines in them as they age.
I have a 1996 400 DB with 3116 Cats. I love the cat engines. Mainly because they are easy to maintain and are all mechanical. I am looking at possibly upgrading to a 2005 550 sedan bridge.
However, the best I can tell, sea ray only made this boat with Man engines. Fast forward another 5-10 years and these boats begin to age and the maintenance costs becomes very costly compared to the continued devaluation of the boat. The engines require MAN certified techs that are rare in existence compared to CATS, Volvo, and Cummins.
So what happens to these great big boats? If a premise is that they move down in price to a market that will buy them, why would someone sign up for that? I know there is always someone with the money to make this discussion a non issue, but I am thinking that is the exception. I hate spending money and love the DIY aspect of what I have. That changes if I move into a boat with MAN engines.
Thus I am forced to consider an older boat with Something other than MANs, or wait for these newer boats to depreciate to get into something other than MANs. Seems that there is an era of sea rays that are in no-mans land for me (no pun intended).
Just wondering if others are wrestling with this?
I have a 1996 400 DB with 3116 Cats. I love the cat engines. Mainly because they are easy to maintain and are all mechanical. I am looking at possibly upgrading to a 2005 550 sedan bridge.
However, the best I can tell, sea ray only made this boat with Man engines. Fast forward another 5-10 years and these boats begin to age and the maintenance costs becomes very costly compared to the continued devaluation of the boat. The engines require MAN certified techs that are rare in existence compared to CATS, Volvo, and Cummins.
So what happens to these great big boats? If a premise is that they move down in price to a market that will buy them, why would someone sign up for that? I know there is always someone with the money to make this discussion a non issue, but I am thinking that is the exception. I hate spending money and love the DIY aspect of what I have. That changes if I move into a boat with MAN engines.
Thus I am forced to consider an older boat with Something other than MANs, or wait for these newer boats to depreciate to get into something other than MANs. Seems that there is an era of sea rays that are in no-mans land for me (no pun intended).
Just wondering if others are wrestling with this?