Does Sea ray Really Care About Quality

[AKBASSKING]

OK soap box moment.

I was reassembling the instrument panel back on the console. The panel does not fit the console properly and the screw holes for the top of the panel are crap. The console also is not manufactured to properly fit the instrument. I had to use superglue and clamps to pull the panel tight.

Where the heck is Sea Ray's quality control and eye to detail? I know I have an older boat, but back in 1986, this boat cost 86K.

Today, there is better technology at manufacturing for sure, but for you guys that have spent 250K or 500K or more how do you see this?

Based on what I see so far, I am a little disappointed in the quality in the little things, like the screws and screw holes in the bridge console. Even the bridge its self is cheap.....

To some it may not be a big deal, but I consider the little things such as screw holes properly drilled and fitted and the things you can't see to be the real test of quality.

Ok nuf.....

 

[Summer Fun II]

Tom. Maybe you got the friday afternoon or the monday morning boat ??.:grin: . :smt043

 

[Prater]

I agree, I have seen this on my Sea Ray, my Formula and a buddies new Baja. I think it comes down to hiring with a lot of turnover. One friend went to work for a boat company and quit the first day after running a chopping gun.

 

[Daddubo]

Yea I have seen a lot of dumb things like the leaks from the windows yes seals wear out but why would they put the sliding part to the out side where the weather can force it self in. The shower sump didn't have a float switch so it had to run all the time when using the shower I put one in. In the engine compartment on the side shelves they have a lot if places that hold water pretty dumb since they are prone to rot. Wiring is willy nilly nothing marked. If you ever get a chance check out a Formula and see how they do things you will be impressed thru even align the screws on the rub rails.

 

[fwebster]

25 years ago, Sea Ray was a different company in a different industry. Back then the only production boats were little ones. Your boat was hand built one at a time without such things a 5 axis mills/routers for drilling and locating parts, automated cutting equipment for carpet and upholstery, and robots.

Besides, its a little late to complain isn't it?

 

[themorganjane]

JMO. I have a 2005 48DA. I have gotten to know the boat very well inside and out over the past 4 years. I have noticed over and over where 3 screws might have done the job, 4 or 5 screws are installed. I have noticed where something appears to have been drilled in the wrong spot that and a new whole was drilled and a new screw installed. Might have just been the guy who put this boat together, but I can say that the quality of the installation is superb. I have yet to find even the slightest area where a corner was cut. Is everything perfect, no. But nothing ever is. When I do a project I tend to overkill things. Just standing down in the engine room I can point several areas where they just overkilled things. Less would have been just fine. But they just did it the best way possible over and over. Not sure if this makes you feel better or worse but I can truly say that the only boat I will every own is a Sea Ray!

 

[AKBASSKING]

25 years ago, Sea Ray was a different company in a different industry. Back then the only production boats were little ones. Your boat was hand built one at a time without such things a 5 axis mills/routers for drilling and locating parts, automated cutting equipment for carpet and upholstery, and robots.

Besides, its a little late to complain isn't it?

Oh I agree Frank, everything was made by hand. I got that from a SR employee at the Miami Boat Show a few years ago.

Not really complaining, just an observation. When you look at the little hidden things, it actually shows quality......

I think if i bought a new 450 Sundancer at many $$$$, then I would expect and demand everthing to be PERFECT!

 

[fwebster]

Well, I didn't buy a new 450DA, but in the 14 years I've owned her, I've figured out about all there is to know about a 45. I've only found one criticism of Sea Ray's construction on my boat..........they only have 2 sku's of screws and bolts. Long ones and short ones. Ever tried to remove a windlass bolted to the deck with 8 inch bolts and locking nuts when the installer broke off the unneeded bolt end after the windlass was in place? What a pain!

 

[Turtlesboat]

So far my complaints are

1) I wish they would clean their mess as they build. Take a panel off and I have to spend 1/2 hour with a shop vac sucking up debris before I can do anything.

2) stop putting aluminum of any kind on a boat. It's ugly, doesn't hold paint, and I can't restore it worth a crap.

 

[MonacoMike]

I think if i bought a new 450 Sundancer at many $$$$, then I would expect and demand everthing to be PERFECT![/QUOTE]

When you find ANYONE who can always deliver perfection please share with your friends here. $ do not guarantee perfection. I like the value, cost, and reputation Sea Ray delivers. I am sure some Baysinker owners feel the same, as well as the owner of a 10 mil 30 footer.

What is most important to me is how an issue is handled. When I hear of a serious customer service issue that is quite concerning. Problems are an inherent human failing. The quality must not be too bad it has performed it's function for 20+ years.

On boats my 85 seems to come from a different planet compared to my 97. The materials and design are very different while surrounded by similar looking gelcoat.

MM

 

[AKBASSKING]

So far my complaints are


2) stop putting aluminum of any kind on a boat. It's ugly, doesn't hold paint, and I can't restore it worth a crap.

I feel your pain!!!!:thumbsup::smt038

 

[r8nger]

No They don't!!!

All they care about is making $$
I own a 96 215 EC, and have worked on a 26,28 dancer,and a 2007 36 SB. And its all the same,. Take a speaker out , and it looks like they cut it out with a chainsaw.On the 36, the storage box hole to the left of the helm was not cut right , so they just filled in the gap with 5200, and angled the screws .Truly a PROFESSIONAL hack job. Screw holes should all be countersunk. How about the cheap duck horn, witch,by the way is the same as the Flamm ones sold at Autozone.(junk)I like thier boats,don't get me wrong, but I think thet should have tighter quality control.Make it a new marketting campaign.Do it all right, then, take one to the boat shows with nothing installed.Everything nice and chamfered, clean, cut out nice and neat.Take it to the next level.That is how you increase your market share in tough times!

 

[Summer Fun II]

Be careful Guys !!. :smt001
There's Baysinker PEEPS on here and they'll tell everyone OUR boats are junk and not theirs. :smt043.

 

[AKBASSKING]

:smt089

Be careful Guys !!. :smt001
There's Baysinker PEEPS on here and they'll tell everyone OUR boats are junk and not theirs. :smt043.

Not likly! That being said if a baysinker was on the water with every option and an empty burned out Sea ray, I would still take the Sea Ray!

 

[AKBASSKING]

Hey folks,

Don't get me wrong. I am not bad mouthing SR. It just seemed to me that when we buy a 30k car, we pay closer attention to quality than when we spend 300K on a boat. Maybe maybe not.

This is my first cabin/sedan cruiser. I picked SR for a reason; Their reputation for quality and craftsmanship.

The definition of that to me is every screw hole, every cutout and every door hinge is the best! I am sorry, but I am not finding that. It is just an observation. I can't afford a 450 Sundancer but if I could I would be checking out everything, like trash left behind. Hell 300K is a lot of money!!

 

[Summer Fun II]

Tom. I'm with you on that !!. I love my old girl . :thumbsup:
She may be a dirty old nasty girl but she's mine !!. :smt001

 

[chumbley]

I can see both sides here. There are fit/finish/quality/attention-to-detail things on my boat as well. Like when I pulled the icemaker the other day, and found that the bottom right screw wasn't screwed to anything, because the rough-in was so poorly done. At the same time, there are things that are impressive. Like their uncanny ability to hide trim screws for example.

You don't have to agree with AKBassKing, but let's not shoot him because he is asking SR to hold themselves to a slightly higher standard.

 

[OldSkool]

My old girl is solid as a rock and everything seems to fit properly. But she is small with no components like the bigger boats have. As for hiding trim screws, I can definetly atest to that after doing her interior. They must have double jointed folks installing the panels. Screws are hidden everywhere.
I will say that every screw I pulled was firmly fitted to what it was pull into.

The old girl is 34 years young and I know that more plastic/fiberglass panels are used today so construction quality may be less than back in the day.
I still believe that you are getting what you pay for in the long run with SR.

Just my opinion.

 

[impactg]

Be careful Guys !!. :smt001
There's Baysinker PEEPS on here and they'll tell everyone OUR boats are junk and not theirs. :smt043.

Quite alright. Have your fun... it is you guys' board after all.

For the record, I think SR's are fine vessels. :smt001

 

[Summer Fun II]

Just having a little fun with no meanness meant toward our fellow Bayliner owners/ members. :thumbsup: