Current SR cruisers- form over function?

[dpmulvey]

Marketing and nothing else. There is no industry standard as to measurement. Try to get a sales rep to give you the LWL. They won't or they don't know.

Take Saint Max and an older 340. There is a LOT more than a foot difference there.

 

[Pseudomind]

1999/2007 330 Sundancer Hardtop. Does this mean you installed a hardtop on your 1999 330 Sundancer?

 

[ardeprint]

Thay have gone to overall size making a 330 really an old 310. This is how it has been in Europe for years I think...

 

[dpmulvey]

1999/2007 330 Sundancer Hardtop. Does this mean you installed a hardtop on your 1999 330 Sundancer?

Saint Max is a 1999. The engines are 2007.

I did not install the hard top. The original owner did. He was a fair skinned Irish fellow like me. After the first canvas pack wore out in NC sun, he decided to go to a hard top. Same shade. More bumps on my head! Much cooler underneath than canvas.

 

[Alex F]

If you think SR messed up design in sport cruisers like 240DA take a look at 450DA and 450DB. We descussed the 450DA few months ago, but I recently saw new 450DB in a magazine. Well, it looked very cool and spasious, which didn't feel right and too good to be true. As soon as I realized that they totally lost guest room I was shocked, but at least that explained why the salon and the cockpit seamed to be larger. I have no idea for what type of boaters SR is designing their new models. I wonder how many 450DAs and 450DBs will be sold.....I would guess, not a lot.

 

[Pietro]

I am with those not liking the latest Sea Rays. What else could I do being the owner of a Sea Ray with one of the best lay-out ever? …the newer 390s are just ridiculous in comparison..

I think the problem is not SR, but what the market requires today. In the past people buying boat were enthusiasts, today they are often just rich.
They go to a dealer with their wife, the man just asks for speed and the lady just loves any boat looking as her home. This brings to narrow, lighter and thus faster (provided the sea is calm) boats and to unpractical cockpits and interiors. (what about cockpits completely cluttered by sun pads?).

 

[88dancer300]

Thats right Peitro, Cant beat an 80s vintage Sea Ray..................

 

[shuizen]

I went to the boat show in Dallas and really liked the new boats. They are very nice. For the price of new we would get a yacht and not a cruiser though.

To replace my 270 and get a noticeable size upgrade I would have to go to a 330!

 

[katricol]

Pietro....those sun pads make me laugh every time I see one.

 

[bmac]

If you think SR messed up design in sport cruisers like 240DA take a look at 450DA and 450DB. We descussed the 450DA few months ago, but I recently saw new 450DB in a magazine. Well, it looked very cool and spasious, which didn't feel right and too good to be true. As soon as I realized that they totally lost guest room I was shocked, but at least that explained why the salon and the cockpit seamed to be larger. I have no idea for what type of boaters SR is designing their new models. I wonder how many 450DAs and 450DBs will be sold.....I would guess, not a lot.

Alex

I'm not sure what you were looking at but the new 450DB still has the second stateroom....

 

[Alex F]

Brina,

In the magazine it didn't show or stated anything about it, so that's what I was going by. I'll see if I can find the article. I just checked the SR specs sheet and now I understand where the confusion is. They simply don't advertize it and it's hidden from the layout image.

See the comperison between our boats SS and 450.



and here's 450DB



As you can see, the guest stateroom is simply not in the picture, which makes you think that it's just not there. Based on all the pictures for the model the only one that gives me a clue that the 2nd stateroom is actually there is the one that shows an entry to the main stateroom where a small part or just a trim of the door to the 2nd stateroom is visible.

 

[Moose]

I guess it's really what you want. Look around, if it doesn't fit your needs, you don't get it. My 04 260 is perfect for what I wanted a boat to be. I have a helm seat (single) that turns to enjoy the "party" too.

 

[indeep]

Our dealer had accedent with our 04 240da which forced us to get a new boat. I'm one of those crazy people who will only buy new and keep for a long time( we had the 240 since new in 03).
So we just bought a new 260da to get the same size as the 240. We take delivery this coming week, budget prevents us from moving up any larger then the 260.

 

[sbw1]

SR keeps changing "the look" so the boats looks out of date after a few years. Tiara keeps "the look" love it our hate it. And, when you compare the same size boats, both brands have a retail price that is very similar. Tiaras really stress utility and function over the glitz. In my view, they are more refined and less trendy. A ten year old Tiara still looks modern. A ten year old SR, and you say that was a "name a year" boat. And, then you have how they go through the water and how not much breaks on on Tiara in rough water. Sorry to say, but that's pretty much the straight story.