2008 Sea Ray 330 Sundancer Review

[Ididntdoit]

About the only thing you said that really surprises me is " it sips gas" Outdrives or not. The rest can and should be dealt with fairly easily. You will find issues no matter what the brand is. The good thing is that you have a good relationship with your dealer so that helps, give them the time to fix it and continue to enjoy. SB

compared to a Meridian 381 i'm sure it does!

 

[swingdancer]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with issues. And I have to admit I can't come up with 38 but I'm so PO'd at Sea Ray I doubt if I'll buy another. And J. D. Powers did not get a satisfactory survey. As much as I really like this boat and it's layout, I'm really sorry we didn't keep our 320. After I got the bugs worked out on it, it was a very enjoyable boat. We just made the mistake at looking at the 330 and fell in love with it.

Suggestion on the Swim Platform speakers. Have you tried adjusting the Fade control on our Clarion. I'm told it will adjust those speakers.

I had the static problem with the batter charger bleeding into the cockpit speakers and
had Genset static in the cabin speakers. Was told result of to small ground wires. Filters did fix both.
Also have problem with anchor rope bunching up when raising the anchor. I think rope is to small and to light. Will probably go to full chain. 330 windlass is correctly wired but my 320 was backward.

Major bitch with me is the cabin speakers are seperate from the cockpit speakers so I can't listen to Sirius or FM in the cabin and the there's no FM antenna so I guess it doesn't matter since I can't get good reception on FM stations anyway. Worked great on my 320.

No instructions were sent with the IPod docking station in the clothes locker so I when I bought an IPod Nano I learned the hard way it wasn't compatable, Had to buy an Ipod Classic.

Have not put up my canvas yet so dk if there will be a leak problem, but now I'm going to get a bottle of 303 and spray it just in case .

Had 2 small drip leaks in the cabin after being for 24 hours in steady rain. Next time out in heavier rain and after running 2 hoses for 30 minutes can't make it leak.

Drawer refrigerator was defective and microwave just last week went out. Have owned the boat since March.

To many other small issues to mention. Very distressing to think that Sea Ray is putting out such poor quality in workmanship and that's all it is. That and some stupid engineering.

My dealer has also been fantastic in working on the issues, but they should be replacing or fixing things that go broke not things that are broke when the boat leaves the factory.

I know of 2 08 350's that also have major issues, one being bought by the GM at the dealership which I must say I thoroughly rubbed it in so it's not only the 330's.

And here's one last thing I doubt many of you have had a problem with. My generator would start all by itself. One day sitting at dock with friends and notice gen was running. Thought my wife started it and she did not. Kinda blew it off but the next weekend was told by a dock friend that when he walked by my boat on Wednesday the gen was running. He thought it odd and got into the hatch and shut it off. Come to find out Kohler had to send out a service notice. Seems there was a programming issue.

The 330 is an absolutely beautiful boat with lots of great features. But I'm sure there are other companies out there that make just as pretty a boat with much better craftmanship

 

[swingdancer]

We had a list like that. Overall I think there were 38 items on the punch list ranging from minor problems to major issues. At least you aren't dealing with a 2" list to port with yours.

I agree on the quality control on all the little stuff. So much money and good will could be saved on the front end during construction rather than the countless man hours the service dept has had to put into our boat on the back end, at considerable cost to someone. I guess it's called dealer support from the factory and job security for the service dept.

In dealing with all the warranty items, I have had the same experience with our service dept so far, nothing but help and quality work. The next owner will get one heck of a deal, a perfectly running boat without issues and the benefit of depreciation.

I also have the 2" list to port. How are you dealing with it and do you know why??

 

[scubat]

Unfortunately these are normal shake down issues with a new boat with this many systems on it. I went though the same issues with my personal 2008 330DA. I guess it does not bother me because I sell them and understand what is involved in building them and getting them dialed in. That is why who you buy the boat from is as important as what boat you buy. I feel bad for the people who buy lesser quality boats and have more issues with no dealer support!

If anyone has more questions or concerns with their new
330's, please feal free to PM me and I will do my best to help.

 

[At Ease]

Unfortunately these are normal shake down issues with a new boat with this many systems on it. I went though the same issues with my personal 2008 330DA. I guess it does not bother me because I sell them and understand what is involved in building them and getting them dialed in. That is why who you buy the boat from is as important as what boat you buy. I feel bad for the people who buy lesser quality boats and have more issues with no dealer support!

If anyone has more questions or concerns with their new
330's, please feal free to PM me and I will do my best to help.

You are kidding right? Windlass controls wired backwards is a normal shake down issue? That is just one of many. That is a product of poor workmanship and QC procedures by any boat manufacturer. Someone spending a quarter of a million on a boat deserves better. The time spent up front making a solid product is much less than several hours of troubleshooting and repairs by a dealer. Maybe we need a lemon law on boats as I feel for new owners of these boats with a laundry list of issues. In some cases it is not that easy to just bring your boat back to the dealer for warranty repairs. Time at the dealer is time never regained on the water. My 2 cents...

 

[kevin27]

I would be very concerned with the windshield and fittings leaking. This is a new boat isn't it? If Sea Ray bed the hardware correctly from the factory there is no way it should be leaking. My guess is that when they installed the fasteners they half a$$ sealed or not sealed them at all. These boats have cored decks that will absorb water and eventually get soft spots. That = expensive repair. I remember other Sea Ray owners, I beleive, on this site finding no sealer around hardware on thier boats. The only way to repair that is to remove the hardware and seal correctly or you will fight a losing battle. I have a 20yr old boat and have had to rebed some hardware but not like what you said. On older boats this is to be expected, but hell yours is new. For $250,000 I would be mad as hell. Sea Ray wake up, we don't need to buy your boats to stay alive. Your designs are very nice and have the potential great products, but the quality control sucks. This is the difference between a good boat and a GREAT boat.

 

[kevin27]

Just found this in a different thread. They are nice boats. That was going to be my next one. I searched for over a year and found the same problem with almost everyone. The deck in front of the windshield was "wet" and beginning to delaminate. In the cabin directly below the helm and below the "wet" deck was water stained, some so bad they went from the back mid-cabin sliding window all the way up the front of the couch. What was happening was rain and moisture was getting in throught he screws that attach the windshield to the deck and by the time people started figuring it out it was too late. So make sure you look VERY cafefully at these. I see your in Macomb Twp. I have a surveyor if you need one. I have most likly looked at all the 1990-1994 31/33's in our area.

 

[skolbe]

I have an 07 - 320 - my issues were shorter. But the majority where just poor dealer delivery practices. A few were S-R poor quality processes. As one friend stated that owns a 340 - the best day with a new S-R is the day the warranty expires. Because that is the day that everything will finally be fixed.

 

[JV II]

My new this year '07 had this punch list of problems:
1) Hatch leaking because the levers needed to be tightened. Tightened the levers myself.
2) Holding tank would not pump out easily - needed a new valve
That's all. 85 hours later, not a single new problem, leak, squeak, or rattle. I'm very pleased with the quality.

 

[skolbe]

I think a good experience is truly representative of the quality of the service manager. My dealership has great techs. But poor leadership that has changed 5 times in 2 years. The techs have all been there for years.

 

[sbw1]

Is there a lemon law on boats?

Even if there is, it's not the first approach to use. The relationship with the dealer is most important and using the dealer for service is better than going through the legal process. I drove an new model Acura a few years ago that would have qualified as a lemon. Honda gave me a brand new car after driving the "lemon" for 42,000 miles over 18 months. Honda did not charge me one dime. The dealer went to bat for me and I'm still driving Acuras.

 

[JAFI]

I also have the 2" list to port. How are you dealing with it and do you know why??

At this point the service writer and I have all most exhausted all possible scenarios that would create the list. Right now were waiting for the factory trouble shooter to come out and give it final try to find the possible cause.

We have looked at possible water infiltration, component misplacement, and now who knows. It's coming down to how much ballast to add, where and how.

 

[Scott1]

Its true.....fit-n-finish of sea ray boats is not all that good....for what they charge now. Cut corners and hasty assembly. I have a real problem taking boats in to dealers for work too. Id much rather do it myself, know its done right, and be done with it....than rely on delbert at the dealer.

 

[scubat]

You are kidding right? Windlass controls wired backwards is a normal shake down issue? That is just one of many. That is a product of poor workmanship and QC procedures by any boat manufacturer. Someone spending a quarter of a million on a boat deserves better. The time spent up front making a solid product is much less than several hours of troubleshooting and repairs by a dealer. Maybe we need a lemon law on boats as I feel for new owners of these boats with a laundry list of issues. In some cases it is not that easy to just bring your boat back to the dealer for warranty repairs. Time at the dealer is time never regained on the water. My 2 cents...

Nope, not kidding At Ease. For a production boat, Sea Ray probably has the least amount of problems at delivery than any other manufacturer. We take in trades at my dealership of just about every other competing brand out there and I am amazed at the quality issues I see in these boats compared to Sea Ray. It would make you appreciate your Sea Ray, trust me! I agree these items should not make it past Sea Ray QC but they do. It is a sad reality of the boating industry in general especially in comparison to the automotive industry. Granted, fiberglass is a much different animal to deal with than Steel and boats have much different systems than cars but it still does not excuse a lack of quality from the factory.

 

[Four Suns]

I drove an new model Acura a few years ago that would have qualified as a lemon. Honda gave me a brand new car after driving the "lemon" for 42,000 miles over 18 months. Honda did not charge me one dime. The dealer went to bat for me and I'm still driving Acuras.

At least my the cars I've owned are on your "approve list". whew....

 

[At Ease]

Nope, not kidding At Ease. For a production boat, Sea Ray probably has the least amount of problems at delivery than any other manufacturer. We take in trades at my dealership of just about every other competing brand out there and I am amazed at the quality issues I see in these boats compared to Sea Ray. It would make you appreciate your Sea Ray, trust me! I agree these items should not make it past Sea Ray QC but they do. It is a sad reality of the boating industry in general especially in comparison to the automotive industry. Granted, fiberglass is a much different animal to deal with than Steel and boats have much different systems than cars but it still does not excuse a lack of quality from the factory.

I do appreciate my Sea Ray, probably more because I am the second owner. I was just at a dealer yesterday and picked up a brochure and at the end of the brochure, they really hammered home the great QC on Sea Ray boats. That must be marketing bull*&%$. It is impossible for me to understand systems wired backwards if they are being tested. It doesn't make sense that a boat should leak and have undersized ground wires, etc. Just frustrating to know. I guess I will always buy used...

 

[Red Stripe]

Among the funny but not so funny punchlist items when my beautiful, new Sea Ray was delivered... the steering wheel was factory installed upside down. How do you miss that :huh: and what does that say about basic QC?

 

[swingdancer]

At this point the service writer and I have all most exhausted all possible scenarios that would create the list. Right now were waiting for the factory trouble shooter to come out and give it final try to find the possible cause.

We have looked at possible water infiltration, component misplacement, and now who knows. It's coming down to how much ballast to add, where and how.

Thanks.....I have now informed my dealer and Sea Ray Customer Service of the issue.
We shall see how they handle it.

 

[Scott1]

Among the funny but not so funny punchlist items when my beautiful, new Sea Ray was delivered... the steering wheel was factory installed upside down. How do you miss that :huh: and what does that say about basic QC?

Lets just hope they (QC) devoted the majority of their attn to more critical items during assembly. Still no reason for something as silly as this to happen. Ive been through a couple different boats and the reason Ive always moved on to something else was I was not happy with fit-n-finish. Something that would have taken seconds to do correctly was overlooked. I hope this doesn't happen with our first sundancer.....b/c there really isn't anything else besides them in my catagory.

 

[At Ease]

Among the funny but not so funny punchlist items when my beautiful, new Sea Ray was delivered... the steering wheel was factory installed upside down. How do you miss that :huh: and what does that say about basic QC?

Thanks for taking care of that...