Calling all 360 DA owners

We still love our boat and use it quite a bit - every weekend from about May through October and on and off through the winter. As Mark said, you can go back through this thread and see my posts about our 2003 360, which we've owned for 3 years now. I'm planning some upgrades for the Fall, time to pull it out of the water for the first time. Planning on installing NuTeak or Felxiteak flooring in the cockpit, one new TV, new bottom paint and new electronics. The original Pathstar radar/chartplotter is pretty useless as a chartplotter due to outdated analog software and charts AND TINY SCREEN, so I'm planning a full upgrade to a full digital HD system. The only real negative about our 360 is the very thirsty 8.1 gas engines - if I had known more back in the purchase days I would have gone slightly bigger (380?) with diesel engines.
 
Thank you so much for the feedback. I think it's a great model. I see that other recommendations include the 380DA w/diesels. May be more than our budget can handle, but quite a difference from my 1974 SRV300 that we had years ago!!!!
 
360 Owners,

Thinking it is time to upgrade from my 1998-2002 era 310DA to something bigger. The "generation" after my 310 is what I'm looking for. The 320 isn't as roomy as my 310 so not worth spending the $. The 340 has a lot of layout/design issues I don't like and isn't worth the upgrade $. The 380 is really bigger than I need and would involve a slip change - which I don't want to do. The 360 looks perfect - but they seem very rare.

Few questions -

Anybody know how the performance of the 360 compares to the 340 and 380. I've been plenty of 340s and 380s. IMO the 340s are fast, the 380s dogs. Hoping the 360 performs well?

In the 2002-2006 lifespan - what was changed?

How many did Sea Ray make? Seems to be dozens of 320s, 340s, and 380s around. Not sure I've even seen a 360 in person.

Anybody in Chicago that will show me one?

Any structural/hull issues or design flaws?

Thanks!
 
Farrbar, Here are a few answers
"Anybody know how the performance of the 360 compares to the 340 and 380. I've been plenty of 340s and 380s. IMO the 340s are fast, the 380s dogs. Hoping the 360 performs well?"

I would say right in the middle, I have been on 340's and 380's plenty, and the 360 is slower than the 340's and faster than the 380's (all with 8.1's) The sweet spot on our boat is between 3400 and 3650 RPM, where it gets right about .8 mpg. The speed is 24.5 to 27 in that rpm range. 36-37 mph WOT

"In the 2002-2006 lifespan - what was changed?"

Not much, 2003 was the first year for Smart Craft, if that makes a difference.


"How many did Sea Ray make? Seems to be dozens of 320s, 340s, and 380s around. Not sure I've even seen a 360 in person."

I don't know how many they made, certainly not as many as the 340's and 380's. But there are at least 5 or 6 in buffalo that I know of, probably more that I don't.

"Anybody in Chicago that will show me one?"

Can't help you there, but if you're in the neighborhood, I'll show you mine.

"Any structural/hull issues or design flaws?"

None that I know of, We use our boat alot, and take it on long trips, so we have been caught in the slop many times, and it handles it well. We love the boat.
If we sell it, we are going sedan bridge, if we don't sell it we are happy.

Good luck
 
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HI Farrbar:
The 360 is an excellent boat. I have one that I am currently SELLING. We love the boat. The only reason Im sell her is that I just inherited my mother who lost her husband. We are not spending the time with the boat like we want to. I cannot say anything negative about the 360's. If you buy one you love it.
 
Floridays said:
HI Farrbar:
The 360 is an excellent boat. I have one that I am currently SELLING. We love the boat. The only reason Im sell her is that I just inherited my mother who lost her husband. We are not spending the time with the boat like we want to. I cannot say anything negative about the 360's. If you buy one you love it.
Click to expand...

Would be curious to see the listing. Need to get a better idea what the market value is. I'm hoping to find one in Lake MI at a dealer I can trade my 310 in on.
 
My $0.02...... we really love our 360. Big pluses, include the deeper vee angle (which really shows up in rougher water...I don't think you'll find a boat in this size/style that does better in that regard) and the cockpit layout (I really don't like the wrap around seating in the newer models...compare it to the new 390, which is really the same size, and ours just seems to be a lot more roomy and comfortable).

One add I would make to the differences in model years...in 2005 Searay made a couple of upgrades to the interior....wooden steps down into the cabin and "solid surface" countertops in lieu of the molded fiberglass ones. And, of course, if you get the newer model you're more likely to get the newer Raymarine electronics.
 
We love our 360. Good interior headroom, plenty of space for guests and ovnernigts. The plastic stairs Down to the cabin are cheesy. I bought some new teak ones and the look is much better. I also had a teak table made to replace the plastic one in the cockpit. Yes, the electronics on mine were not that hot either.I thereefore mounted a nice touch screen gps, and then I use the factory installed radar in full screen mode which works out ok. Wish I had the big D's, but the 8.1 gas engines work well for this size boat. No thrusters , but she handles well without them in tight spaces. It has been a great boat for our family of 4.
 
Still trying to find one in Chicago but I'll be in Bellevue WA next week for work - anybody have a 360 in the area I can look at? I know there is a marina pretty close to where I'm staying. Seattle marinas no problem either. Would have to be early morning or evenings.....I do have to work unfortunately.
 
Thanks for the link. Really hoping for a white hull. I've seen a lot of blue hull 340s and 380s in Chicago. They are starting to chalk/fade. While I take good care of my boat (excellent on the mechanicals) I'm not the type that is constantly washing/waxing/buffing. White hides so many sins.

Much like Model Ts should be black - boats should be white!

(I should add that I still need to physically see a 360 to make sure I like the size/layout/ergonomics!)
 
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Can someone confirm where the 2004 360DA was built - I think I saw someone suggest it was Merritt Island where the bigger boats are built? Does this play into the overall "quality" of the build?
 
Correct, they're built in Merrit Island. The factory location comes into play on the larger boats when people are wondering if they have a cored hull. The sport yachts with cored hulls are built at the palm coast facility, the solid bottom boats are built at Merrit.
No matter where they are built, we like to believe,(and I do believe) we are getting the best quality and craftsmanship for the dollar spent in boating.
Take care
 
I printed out all the brochures from Sea Ray for the 02-06 360s. Not much changed other than some electronics. SmartCraft standard in 2003 being the biggest change. Is this system worth looking for an 03+ and paying a bit more?

I also noticed a bow thruster (which I don't need) was optional in 03 and in 05 there were optional gas engines - 8.1S HOs (which I might be interested in). The HOs bump up from the standard engine's 370 hp / 276 kw to 420 hp / 313 kw. Anybody have these upgraded engines? Is there a prop change also? Realizing I'm looking for a needle in haystack just trying to find a 360 I'm probably not going to have the choice between the standard vs. optional engines. I'd really love diesels too.....

I'd like auto-pilot - which is optional. Would most dealers have ordered it with that option or is that a rare one?
 
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I have mixed feelings about smartcraft. It's a nice feature, but along with all the electronics and sensors and connections that come with it also comes some grief in the way of false warnings and alarms, usually caused by bad connections. I have learned to unplug the connections and clean contacts and have had no problems for last couple of years. Some of the '02 owners had smartcraft compatable boats and opted to add it, so they feel it is worth it. On the whole, I like the smartcraft.
Auto pilot is optional, and I would say most of the 360's have it, unless it was ordered for inland lakes, then probably not. I use auto pilot all the time, and would not own another boat without it.
Take care
 
Has anyone replaced the old Clarion helm remote? I just purchased a newer helm remote that will work with the Clarion CMD6 head unit and enlarged the hole on the dash. The issue is running the cable down to the stereo unit. Sea Ray did an excellent job ensuring everything is very secure, and I can't see an easy way in routing the new cable without drilling a new hole on the starboard side behind the driver's speaker to get the cable down to head unit.

Anyone have suggestions or pictures they can share how they did this?
 
Hopefully I will be a new member of the 360 club. I made an offer for a 360 and am having her surveyed tomorrow. If all goes well she should be mine in a week or so.
 
Thanks. Yes, the boat is local. The survey went well. Just some minor cosmetic issues. Hopefully, we should close in the next 10 days. I am still amazed at how much room there is on this boat.
 
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