Choices for a soon to be Sea Ray Owner

[Theresamarie11]

Hi, just joined your community here and I have a question(s).

My husband and I are looking at 2 sea ray 260s. One is a 2000 with 7.4MPI and trailer (200 hrs, great condition) the other is a 2004 with arch, 350 Mag MPI (60 hours) and in like new condition.

We currently have a 22.5' cuddy with 350 of a not to me mentioned brand (not Sea Ray), but we have loved it none-the-less.

The older boat (2000) with nice trailer we think will sell for around $35000. The older boat also has a bow thruster.

The newer boat (2004) without trailer will sell probably for $42.5K.

Option wise, besides motor differences, the newer boat has the arch, and the older one has the bow thruster, and the rest is the same. Amazing the layout is identicle.. even carpet color is the same.


What we want is an all around boat, something that can do both water sports (play...towables, kneeboard, etc.. not skiing), fishing, and just island hopping and overnighters. So we want a boat that has a little performance and does in between 35-45mph.

We think the 260 fits that bill and love the layout of the boat.

If we get the newer boat we'll have to get a trailer as we like to go to different places.

So my questions: Any opinions on which one will perform better? The 7.5 MPI or the 350 mag MPI. They are within 10 HP of each other. Which one will be more economical?

Also, any opinion on which one is the better deal? We have an opinion, but by no means is educated, but want to hear all of your opinions please.

Thank you for your help, and hope to be a Sea Ray owner soon.


Thank you,
Terri

 

[K-9]

the small block is less $ to keep up.

 

[beachcombersc]

Even with the trailer price subtracted( 3,800.00 + or -) I would take the newer boat. That is a small price gap for four years IMO.

Smartcraft can be very usefull as well...

 

[skolbe]

I owned a 7.4 MPI - 260 - if you are going to do watersports - you will enjoy the torque of a big block. I think the Arch is a nice touch to the 04 boat. The 350 Mag will be adequate - but you will be running at higher RPM's. Does the 04' have the new style Bravo III - if so - I would go that route. I can't remember which year the new Biii design came out.

 

[black pearl]

If you like the arch look, I would look at the newer boat for the price difference. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck.

 

[rondds]

WOW, bow thruster in a 260? Cool!
That's a tough one. The MAG is a great powerplant = had it in my previous boat - and it will be a bit more economical than the big block. The lure of the newer boat is tempting. Figure on paying about $3500-4000 for a trailer so you're talking close to $15K more for the 2004. BUT you'll get more at resale time, BUT the depreciation curve on the 2000 has flattened out more at this point.

Not sure what to say on this one. If the extra coin doesn't frighten you, I'd go with the newer boat and buy a trailer.

Looks like they are both the same "generation" and don't differ much in appearance. Do they both have the cherry interior? I'm partial to the cherry!

2000

2004

 

[fc3]

The 7.4's torque curve is going to fit your usage better. The small block will be okay, but it's going to be working darned hard for water sports. Horsepower is one of those things you have to understand for it to be useful. The smaller engine produces nearly the same horsepower, but not the same torque, and it's torque that moves the boat. How can that be that the HP is the same but not the torque? HP is torque multiplied by RPM and a constant. By spinning the smaller engine faster, it can produce nearly the same HP number, even with less torque. The problem is, when you try to bring the boat up on plane, the engine won't turn full RPM. It's going to be down lower in the RPM range where there is less torque. Will it be enough for your uses? Hard to say. My 26' non-Sea Ray boat had the small block and it was OK. But when we had a lot of guest aboard, it had a hard time planing.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Theresamarie11]

Hi all, thank you so much for your replies. So far the concensus seems the newer boat but maybe the larger engine might be better for my use. (smile)
Maybe I can take 1/2 of each boat.. the front end of the new and the back end of the older.

One of you (Skolbe) mentioned that a newer version of bravo III would be a swinger. Can you say why? We noticed that the bravo 3 on the older boat has something called an 'intercooler' on the drive that takes water from the cavitation (?) plate and pushes it up to a cap on the drive.

Is this a serious bravo3 issue?

 

[fc3]

We noticed that the bravo 3 on the older boat has something called an 'intercooler' on the drive that takes water from the cavitation (?) plate and pushes it up to a cap on the drive.

Is this a serious bravo3 issue?

That's a drive shower. Some drives tend to run a little hot. The shower sprays water over the drive to try to keep the temperatures down. This is very common on high performance boats. The requirement is debatable on other applications.

Best regards,
Frank C

 

[chuck1]

Are you sure the 260DA is going to be the right boat for water sports?

 

[Theresamarie11]

Are you sure the 260DA is going to be the right boat for water sports?

Hi Chuck1,
Well, for us we only want to own '1' boat. Water sports is our number 3 item, fishing 2 and island hopping and touring 1. We spend every weekend on the lake, and might do water sports a few times a year (and it's towing tubes or knee boards, not skiing). I know this'll eat gas, but it's not often. Our kids our almost (crossing our fingers) totally out of the house and we're 50.

With our cuddy today, it's just not that comfortable with we're 30-50 miles from launch and want to have lunch or take a nap or fix food. The cuddy is a great boat, it just has no room for those things. not to mention bringing along our 80 pound golden. In any case, you have a good point as it's a compromise for us.

 

[Sweet Dreams]

Hi Chuck1,
Well, for us we only want to own '1' boat. Water sports is our number 3 item, fishing 2 and island hopping and touring 1. We spend every weekend on the lake, and might do water sports a few times a year (and it's towing tubes or knee boards, not skiing). I know this'll eat gas, but it's not often. Our kids our almost (crossing our fingers) totally out of the house and we're 50.

With our cuddy today, it's just not that comfortable with we're 30-50 miles from launch and want to have lunch or take a nap or fix food. The cuddy is a great boat, it just has no room for those things. not to mention bringing along our 80 pound golden. In any case, you have a good point as it's a compromise for us.

Sounds like you picked a good size for what you want. We just upped from the 215WE and although we are still working on the learning curve, I think it is the best size for us too. I had to give up skiing, but...I am getting too old for it anyway. lol. Good luck.

 

[chuck1]

Was in the same place, but the kids/young adults still do the water sports skiing. Might be why they used to joke that I had the only 240SD cruiser(Grin)

 

[Theresamarie11]

Was in the same place, but the kids/young adults still do the water sports skiing. Might be why they used to joke that I had the only 240SD cruiser(Grin)

Sounds like you picked a good size for what you want. We just upped from the 215WE and although we are still working on the learning curve, I think it is the best size for us too. I had to give up skiing, but...I am getting too old for it anyway. lol. Good luck.

Thanks guys for comments.. everything is a compromise. I forgot to mention that we're both 6' tall and my kids are all over 6'. So anything smaller really gets to be vertically cramped. In fact, the mid-cabin berth is barely long enough to my surprise. I would have thought for an 8.5' boat the berth would be longer than 6' long. But I tested one of them out today, and I just barely fit length wise.

 

[Bridog]

Bravo 3 drives had corrosion issues prior to 2003. I believe in 2003 they added more annodes and it seemed to help. I had a 2004 and it had the improved drive. I say get the 2004.

 

[keokie]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I'd get the 2000 hands down. The bigger motor will make it feel like a different boat. Take them both for a spin heavily loaded and you will get my point. Also, this extra performance will cost no perceptible difference in fuel economy.

Less money, bigger motor, trailer. Easy for me.

 

[Theresamarie11]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I'd get the 2000 hands down. The bigger motor will make it feel like a different boat. Take them both for a spin heavily loaded and you will get my point. Also, this extra performance will cost no perceptible difference in fuel economy.

Less money, bigger motor, trailer. Easy for me.

Thanks Keokie, you're in line with my hubby. He agrees on the older boat and bigger motor. I do like the looks of the newer boat (arch and cherry interior). Besides that, sitting in them you couldn't tell which boat you were in, they are that identicle. A tough decision for us. to make I hope by this weekend. Being on lake champlain, our season isn't all that long and if we're going to get another boat it would be good to get some use of it.

 

[Theresamarie11]

Bravo 3 drives had corrosion issues prior to 2003. I believe in 2003 they added more annodes and it seemed to help. I had a 2004 and it had the improved drive. I say get the 2004.

Thaks Bridog, the drive does have some corrosion, but not bad as it appears to have been cared for. We're a bit crazy so will probably do a lot of trailering as we don't spend much time in the same place. So hopefully, corrosion is a secondary issue. But you can certainly tell the older drive needed to be cared for. Do you know of any other B III drive issues?

 

[Bodkin Creek George]

Go with the the MPI motor. It is far superior and the performance is great. Not to mention the re-sale value when you bump up, and you will bump up. You wouldn't
buy just enough water to go in the Sahara Desert so why skimp on a power plant.
George

 

[sebagoman007]

Maybe this is overstating the obvious, but whichever boat you go with GET A PROFESSIONAL SURVEY FIRST.

I bought a 2000 260DA with the 7.4L/BIII used in 2005. It had been wet-slipped in salt water. I was shown a 2 year old survey and decided I didn't need to do it over. BIG MISTAKE. I have had serious corrosion issues with the lower unit leading to replacement (bearing carrier was almost rotted away) and this year I spent well over 3K to replace the gimbal ring and associated parts. It now lives in fresh water for the relatively short New England boating season and I think I finally have all those issues corrected. However, as someone else posted previously the early BIII's were notorious for rapid and ugly corrosion in salt water use. Some things to have thoroughly checked out before you plunk down your $$$ are;

1.) Is the Mercathode system working properly?
2.) Does the boat have a salt water history?
3.) Did the previous owner(s) use the proper sacrificial anodes? (aluminum for salt, magnesium for fresh)
4.) Check very carefully for signs of corrosion on the outdrive. The bearing carrier I mentioned above is only visible when you pull off both props.

I sure don't mean to terrify you with my horror story, but I'd hate for anyone else to be faced with what I was. All of that aside, we absolutley love the layout and utility of the boat. We don't do much of any watersports, but cruise and overnight just like you describe. It's an all-around terrific boat.

By the way, I vote for the big block engine too. Even with 6-7 guests aboard I never have any trouble getting this big heavy boat to plane off and run with minimal drama.

Good luck in your research!!

Cheers,