2000/2001 380DA thoughts, opinions, reviews

Excellent news!

I was thinking of you today! I was awaiting your reply here.

Did any issues turn up? Pretty much as expected?
 
fwebster said:
I have a lot of experience with the 380DA with Cat diesels. They are great handling boats and wirth Cat engines are extremely efficient. A close friend of mine ordered one new in 2002 and I ran it for his kids when he was not available. It was a total loss in Hurricane Michael in 2018, and was replaced with a new 44DA, or the family would still own it. the 38 DA with diesels are great boats, probably in the top 2-3 that Sea Ray produced in this size class, ranking 3rd to the 450DA and the 400/410DA. I am surprised that you found 3 in that close proximity to you because diesel 380DA's are usually snapped up within a few days of hitting the market.

I've been down your boat search rabbit hole several times going back about 20 years to the SRO forum, so don't take offense at these comments:

Most owners run this type of boat from a seated position, except with docking or perhaps anchoring. Having enough head room for a giraffe to stand at the helm is a pretty restrictive requirement. Besides, the Sea Ray canvas package allows for the bows in the top to be adjusted a little to accomodate for a tall boat driver.

Distance from home- Finding the right boat is more important than dealing with the inconvenience of travel to initially inspect the boat or deliver a boat . After all, a lot of Sea Ray owners, particularly those who own the 380DA, the 400/410 DA and the 450DA, keep their boats longer than they keep the wives or significant others. Travel to see a prospective boat then, to take delivery and run it home seems a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

One last point……..you have thus far just owned gas powered boats. I keep boats a long time….my first big boat was a gas 390EC that we kept for 9 years and them we moved up to a diesel powered 450DA. I had 2 kids in college and when we sold the 390EC the change in the cost of boat ownership and overall cash flow witht a Caterpillar powered boat felt like one kid graduated from a private school. Cat diesels are not only efficient to operate, their required maintenance is a fraction of what a gas boat costs. The only real maintenance requirements are annual oil and filter changes, a valve and injector adjustment at 250 hours, then cleaning aftercoolers and another valve adjustment at 1000 hours and 2000 hours………no corrosions issues with exhaust systems, no plugs and plug wires, no fuel coolers problems, and no horrendously expensive Mercruiser parts.

Frank, I have few boat friends with dieses who haven't had to shell out BIG $$ for either diesel repairs or worse yet, engine replacements, so I have to respectively disagree with your cost of ownership comment. If you don't believe me, just go to boatdiesel.com and read the horror stories. On the other hand, myself included, I have had my 40 DA gasser for 7 years and never had an issue. Plus I paid $30K less for my gasser than if I would have bought diesel. I can buy a lot of gas for $30K and never worry about cutting a $25K check to replace a motor.
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Tripsdad said:
Can’t wait to hear about you enjoying the new boat, but secretly hoping you upgrade at the end of the season so we get participate in season “2 of mrsrobinson buys a boat” over next winter. :)

Seriously though, Congratulations!!!
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Between mrsrobinson, harris and myself buying boats recently we have added a lot of stuff on here! Mostly questions and rants but it sure was a fun time. Sea trial for me next Thursday!
 
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