brunswick Searay's vs pre 86 Searay's opinions

[searaychad]

I was only 11 years old when old Connie Ray sold to Brunswick.At that time all I knew about Brunswick was that they made pooltables and had turned Bayliner into a goodlooking but but basically a throwaway boat,and I was sorry to see Searay be sold to them.Any opinions on the difference in quality between brunswick and the original Searay company?

 

[BlewByYou88]

Quality didn't start going down until the ealry-mid 90's IMO. This is complete personal opinion here. I dislike that brunswick took over Sea Ray, and Mercury. I have read alot of the history regarding Mercury, and it really had a sad ending for Carl Kiekhaefer.

The Sea Rays really started to get a cheap plastic feel to them in the 90's, However they have made a comback in recent years with styling and amenities, but i feel they are falling off the wagon again, I really hate some of the lines on the newer smaller Sundancers.

Of course, I have found many quality issues regarding my classic, but I would take it over a mid 90's Sea Ray any day.

I have great respect to companies like Regal, that have managed to stay family owned an operated for years, even though they almost when under in the early 80's. That company is/ or was a zero debt company, take great care of their employees, and build a beautiful cruiser. I don't mean to talk them up so much, but when I was living in Orlando going to school, I went to the Regal factory for their tour about 10 times, the director new me by name. I was facinated by the building process.

I tried to take a tour several times at the Merritt Island Facility for Sea Ray, and was rejected everytime. Basically, if I wasn't buying the boat, I wasn't going to get to see them being built. That really burned me, but I remain loyal to Sea Ray because I have a crazy obsession with the classics. I loved the Teak, the lines, and the color. Not so crazy about swim platforms and windshields. I grew up with the boat I have now, and love it. I know its a hole, but I recieve nothing but compliments about her, and I love the freedom I get by how she can take me away from society.

As with anything, the quality will be what you make of it. Even the biggest pieces of junk can last years if given to the right caring person. I have never had anything fail on me that was well taken care of (knock on Teak) but I don't always play nice with my toys, which is why I am on this site. Things don't break themselves, we do, and we all help each other fix it! Sorry if this was long winded. I think I staryed a little from your original questions as well.:smt001

 

[1956olds]

Of course i too love the classics,If you want a broader opinion though you should have posted in general discussion.Sea ray as a whole has always been a good boat in my opinion .They had some problems when the hulls changed in 90s to cored hulld and decks,i belive that was a learning process.Which i think bayliner had at about the same time,Hmmm funny how searay overcame thier reputation error but bayliner lives with it still.I too think the newer boats are more style oriented ,there is a 330 in the showroom where i winter store and i walk by it and see that 1600.00 a month payment tag and say thats nuts. Glen

 

[andyr]

The classic Sea Rays were designed by people that boat. There are so many subtleties that I appreciate. The new boats emphasize style over function. And, in the early 90's they cut costs in hidden ways like using a thinner vinyl for the seats. I think they have gotten better but functionally, I'll take my 1989 300.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Growing up in Southeast Michigan, with a father that was a die hard Sea Ray owner from their beginning, I remember many tours through my teenage years of the original plant in Oxford, Michigan. It do recall it seeming more like each boat was a custom build at the time and less of an assembly line process.
Now, I personally prefer our current "solid" 1985 270DA over the 1988 pachanga we owned.
There were noticable cost saving corners cut in the Pachanga, especially as stated earlier in the vinyl. We had the interior replaced twice by Sea Ray because of tears in the first two years of ownership. The hull, floor and seat mounting issues we had I expect from their lack of hi speed, performance boat experience, not necessarily cost cutting. Overall, despite cost cutting changes, I'm sure they are still on the higher end of structural quality for pleasure (cruising) boat designs.
Just my thoughts :thumbsup:

 

[alwhite00]

I just went to a boat show last weekend and there was Bayliner, Fourwinns and Sea Ray there (among others)- All with numerous display boats that you could board from 21' to mid 30' boats - I had to wait in line to check out the Sea Rays - All the others you could just walk right on.
I also noticed that even though my 21' mid cabin is a 1986 Sea Ray uses the space 10X more efficently than all the others to this day. I boarded a 26' Bayliner that was more cramped than my 21' - Crazy. The new Sea Rays were really, really nice boats. (from the walk through) and still get the most interior room / storage per foot than all the others.

LK

 

[88dancer300]

I am partial to the 80s sea rays myself. They are really built well. I am at the tail end of a total restoration on my 88 sundancer 300. What a boat! (lots of restoration photos in my photo album) I was at the Boston boat show last weekend, and was not impressed with the funtionality, layouts and overall quality of the newer boats. Not to mention no payments on mine.

 

[Iprof]

I was only 11 years old when old Connie Ray sold to Brunswick.At that time all I knew about Brunswick was that they made pooltables and had turned Bayliner into a goodlooking but but basically a throwaway boat,and I was sorry to see Searay be sold to them.Any opinions on the difference in quality between brunswick and the original Searay company?

If you joined this site to bash Bayliner why not go join the bayliner sight or is it the newer Sea Rays that you want to bash maybe try posting this in the General section. I have owned both Bayliner and Sea Ray, my Bayliner 2755 was 21 years old and sold it for $12,500.00. It showed the same quality as my 1988 300da, in fact the Bay was better in some areas than my Sea Ray. Bruinswick saved Sea Ray just as they have many manufactures, if not for them then you would find a lot less boat builders out their including Sea Ray. :smt013 You might want to do some research on Bayliner and when they were bought by Brunswick.

Ken

 

[1956olds]

I dont see any bashing going on.I do think there would be if posted under general discussion though.I wasnt comparing the two boats either,i happen to own a 93 2655 and for the price it is a good,safe value for boating .I may even use it a few times this year if gas goes too high and it doesnt sell soon.I was just wondering why when brunswick fixed problems with both boats ,bayliner still gets bad pr.No boat taken care of properly is a throw away boat.

 

[88dancer300]

No Bayliner bashing here either. I had a 1984 28ft Contessa. It had a 10 ft beam and lots of room. The only downside to this boat was a single 305 volvo. It was severely under powered. Otherwies....pretty good boat.

 

[Old Vet]

Not going to bash ANY brand boat here...but being in the business of tearing boats apart and reupholstering/refinishing boat interiors....it becomes apparent pretty darn quickly which brands are put together better...and which manufacturers pay closer attention to detail.

We haven't had a go at every brand of boat yet...but quite a few.

But we're still waiting for our first rehab job on a SeaRay....any SeaRay of any year. Unless SeaRay owners around here are going elsewhere for the type of service we provide....maybe the "Rays" ARE simply built and put together somewhat better than alot of the others out there.

Actually....we have done one job on a "Ray".....a 1985 25 footer. We built them a new rear transom bench seat...that was non existent They got tired of using folding deck chairs.

Other than that....nada. :huh:

So....I've always been a SeaRay fan since we first started boating back in the late '80's with another brand. Now I've bought our first one and look forward to getting our first full season out of it.

Hope I'm not disappointed with my purchase...don't think I will be.

 

[ChuckW]

I was at the Boston boat show over the weekend speaking with a Sea Ray dealer. He was talking about his recent visit to a SR plant where they have two production lines running down the center of the factory floor. On one side are SR hulls on the other side are Bayliner hulls. The factory mgt was claiming that by running the Bayliner production alongside the SR production they were seeing an improvement in quality on the Bayliner side.

I then asked the obvious question, were they seeing a reduction in quality on the SR side? He laughed, then got pensive. Seemed I struck a chord he couldn't answer.

 

[CV-23]

I'm very happy with the build of our 1990 270DA 454 Bravo1. We looked at 92,93 and 94 and went with the 1990. 1990 was the first year for the 270 update and works perfect for us with lots of room everywhere, Mike.

 

[fwebster]

Sea Ray was a lake boat company in the early 80's. In the mid to late 80's they offered larger models and more of them. The company and their engineers learned a lot about the effects of big water, salt air, and durability. As a result, we now have real rub rails instead of aluminum strips, fiberglass seat bases instead of plywood boxes, heavy gauge vinyl, stainless steel windshield frames instead aluminum ones, etc, etc.

For me, no thanks on the older models.......I much prefer the post-Brunswick boats.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Sea Ray was a lake boat company in the early 80's. In the mid to late 80's they offered larger models and more of them. The company and their engineers learned a lot about the effects of big water

I'd have to disagree with the "learning" because of the "big water". Anyone who has spent alot of time on the Great Lakes and Salty water would tell you the Geat Lakes rough water conditions are much harder on craft structually.

yes they started making larger craft but that is a whole different issue structurally.

Like with any product, once it goes corporate it's about investors and making the best product you can with the least amount of money. I know you can go out and compare any Sea Ray from the 70's to mid 80's to a newer one finding many more stress cracks in the gel coat of the newer boats. That's visible industry wide.

Opinions probably have alot to do with whether or not you are a hands on do-it-yourself type person or just like to use a boat. Like someone posted before - it's how you take care of your boat - and knowing it's limits.

 

[Getaway]

Opinions probably have alot to do with whether or not you are a hands on do-it-yourself type person or just like to use a boat. Like someone posted before - it's how you take care of your boat - and knowing it's limits.

Agreed completely. After finally finishing up the structural rebuild of my 268DA, I appreciate the glass layup of the main hull of the older SR's. My boat lived in the water all it's former life and there are no blisters, cracks or delamination of any kind on the main hull (never barrier coated). I know that newer boats cannot take that kind of water contact for the length of time mine has.

Also, I know my 268 is more of a true 27ftr with ample living space, storage etc. The newer model 270's have the true space of the older 250DA's.

I have nothing against Brunswick at all. They build a good product and they saved a lot of boat companies. They have even made some makes of boats better than they were. The real question is do you like to pay the long $, buy new and not have as much maintenance (hopefully).

..Or, save the $$, and do with the upkeep of an older vessel. I myself like to take the classics and spruce them up :grin:. It's a pride thing. I get nothing out of pulling into the harbor with the most expensive boat. I like to pull in with a nice classic that I restored myself! (hands still dirty and epoxy under my fingernails:thumbsup

 

[Summer Fun II]

Bruinswick saved Sea Ray just as they have many manufactures,

You are wrong my friend Sea Ray sales saved Brunswick when everything was going into the crapper. . :thumbsup:

Sea Ray sales were up while Bayliner & other Brunswick brand sales went down hill fast remember that ??.

Thats when Brunswick stock as trading at $1.20 a share. :wow:

Then Sea Ray came on board with Brunswick and the stock shot up to $18,60 a share. :thumbsup:

 

[OldSkool]

Not going to bash ANY brand boat here...but being in the business of tearing boats apart and reupholstering/refinishing boat interiors....it becomes apparent pretty darn quickly which brands are put together better...and which manufacturers pay closer attention to detail.

We haven't had a go at every brand of boat yet...but quite a few.

But we're still waiting for our first rehab job on a SeaRay....any SeaRay of any year. Unless SeaRay owners around here are going elsewhere for the type of service we provide....maybe the "Rays" ARE simply built and put together somewhat better than alot of the others out there.

Actually....we have done one job on a "Ray".....a 1985 25 footer. We built them a new rear transom bench seat...that was non existent They got tired of using folding deck chairs.

Other than that....nada. :huh:

So....I've always been a SeaRay fan since we first started boating back in the late '80's with another brand. Now I've bought our first one and look forward to getting our first full season out of it.

Hope I'm not disappointed with my purchase...don't think I will be.

When I redid my interior in my 1976 SRV200 I used 3 sheets of plywood and 12 yards of vinyl. The interior came out with very little problem and the gun walls and mounting areas were still intact so reinstalling the panels went right back in the original screw holes. The interior was original as you can see by my profile pictures. The carpet on the floors had been replaced but the vinyl really was still in good condition. I wanted to change the colors otherwise the original interior could have lasted a few more seasons.

The only problem a encountered was the engine compartment needed complete replacing so I built a new one from 1/2 and 3/4 marine plywood. I had 2 panels that were starting to rot but the rest were in good shape. It was easier to replace the panel wood than strip the old ones and recover them. I did use them as a template for the new panels and drilled the same mounting holes back in the new panels.

 

[88dancer300]

I,ll jump in and say I have to agree with Getaway. There a lot of newer boats out there, just not for me. I enjoy the older Rays as well. I take a lot of pride restoring my old sled, and I have to admit, its pretty cool when people look at my old girl and compliment on it while the others just float by unoticed. I,m not knocking any other vessel, Im just a fan of the classics.

 

[jitts3]

I have some experience with older ones and none with the new. But in muy opinion I like the older boats. To me the new ones look like they are just melting onto itself. There are no straight lines anymore.