Considering a 93' 550 Sedan Bridge

C

C_Ray

New Member
Apr 22, 2017
5
NY
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Hello all,

So I have been looking for a boat for 5 years now. I've seen about 50 boats or so since then. I finally found a 93 550 SB with twin DD 6v-92ta with a 1000 hours on them that I like.

Seems that info on these boats is scarce or I am not looking in the right places. I was wondering if anyone knows of the type of hull construction used on these boats? Is this model Balsa cored like the newer ones? Anything I should pay close attention to even before the survey? I'm using Blackstone oil sample kits to survey the engine internals, clean and dry on the outside, haven't heard them run yet as she is still on the hard. I've heard that at cruise she will burn about 50gal/hr, what about at hull/trawl speeds?

Overall from a first look she seems sturdy and well taken care of by a knowledgeable owner and is located in a nice pricey marina.
Since I started my search for a boat I seem to keep coming back to the Sea Ray brand in the end.
 
You can call Searay customer service and they can verify the core material. You will need the HIN. Others will have to answer the rest of your questions.


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GoFirstClass will probably be a wealth of information for you as he has this model, but doesn't have the Detroit diesels in his.
 
Good Morning C-Ray. I can't answer your question about hull material except to say I THINK the hull is solid below the waterline and cored above it. Best bet is to call SR Customer Service to get the full details on that.

We have owned our 550 since April, 2010 and love the boat. Plenty of room for entertaining (we've had as many as 22 guests on board) without feeling crowded. It's a very comfortable boat, very sea kindly and easy to get to like. We have dual helms but I've only used the lower helm twice, and that was more to see what it was like to skipper from down there. Doesn't matter if it's summer or winter, I drive from up top and that's where our guests like to congregate.

I don't know what your fuel burn rate will be because I have Cats. I do know that the fuel is one of the lowest costs of owning a boat unless you're doing a LOT of long distance cruising. I've never calculated closely my fuel burn rate. I didn't buy the boat for fuel economy and about the closest I can tell you is that I'm guessing we're getting somewhere around 1mpg at a slow cruise. The signature photo shows us at about 5-6kts and that's a very efficient speed.

If I'm running at WOT (30.3kts) I'm supposedly burning 65gph (~.5mpg) but I never run at that speed for obvious reasons.

Our boat is in the water year around, with our last cruise of the year usually being the Christmas boat parade in early December, and our first cruise of the year is usually New Year's Day unless the weather sucks.

If you want to see how she does in windy weather, go to YouTube and search for "Umatilla Days 1". Follow that short video with "Umatilla Days 2" then 3 and 4. #4 is interesting.

Get a pair of good surveyors to thoroughly check out the boat before you buy her. One to do the hull and equipment, one to do the engines. When I had my boat surveyed I met with the surveyors over breakfast and shared my expectations with them. I was new to diesels and new to a boat this size so I wanted them to make sure they told me what they were doing and keep me out of trouble. It apparently worked because Beachcomber has been a great, trouble free boat to own.

If you have any specific questions, fire away!
 
Gofirstclass,

First off, that's a beautiful vessel you got there! I like the videos, shows she handles the water really well.
Hopefully, she will be a liveaboard for me and my wife if my offer finally goes through. I have surveyors on standby and friends who have been mariners for the last 20 years helping me out.
The few owners I have spoken to have gave me confidence in these vessels. I'll keep this post updated if my offer goes through.

Thanks for the info guys.
 
If the boat is a SERP (first 4 of he HIN), then it was built in the Palm Coast facility, which means it has a cored bottom. Boat's of that era with SERF HIN were built in Merrit Island and are solid bottom. My understanding is that Palm Coast only made boats with cored bottoms.
 
I'll check out the HIN as soon as I get an answer for my offer. Thanks rondds.
 
GFC, ck your HIN. That never lies. Documentation might just be using the "main headquarters" address.

We need a Websterian Consult.
 
The Merritt Island plant, PD&E, the Sykes Creek plant and the never opened high bay yacht factory that was later sold are all physically located on Merritt Island in Florida. The "place built" box on the USCG doc for is for the location the boat was built, not the name of the factory. All Sea Rays built at the Merritt Island plant, the Syles Creek plant or PD&E, and even the few Bertrams built in the factory building Brunswick sold will say "Merritt Island" for the "place built" if the boats are documented.

Ron is correct….the 4th letter of the HIN # will tell you the factory that built your boat.
 
I just got an e-mail that my offer was accepted! I'm excited!
Now just a survey and oil analysis and I'll be a proud Sea Ray owner!
 
Congratulations C-RAY! That boat will make many memories for you and your family. JC
 
My HIN also starts with a SERY. So these are solid below the water line?
 
Probably not. You will need to contact Sea Ray customer service with your HIN# and ask.

I don't think it matters at this point because you have a contract accepted to buy the boat. You do need to instruct your hull surveyor to do moisture readings on the complete hull, deck, deck house, cockpit and bridge floor.
 
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