Express vs Sedan Bridge

B

Boatdave

New Member
Sep 2, 2008
113
St.Louis
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 410 Express SOLD!
2005 Century 1701 Center Console
Engines
450 Cummins
Looking for opinions. I have my boat up for sale thinking about getting something smaller until the economy gets better but have since figured what's the sense of having that money in the bank when I could have another boat.
Love my Express but my Bride To Be wants to be able to see out of the cabin. (Amazing once the ring slips on that finger how things change!)My biggest issue is engine access and I have that.... I have my own thoughts but would appreicate hearing your thoughts on both.
 
You may want to ask "your bride to be" how she'd feel about being higher off the water if you boat in rough water.

This topic has been bantered around here quite a bit. Try a search. Clearly pros and cons to both designs. How you use the boat will likely be the determining factor. One of the great things about boating.....there is a design for everyone; unfortunately, no "one" design for everyone. Be a lot cheaper if there was! :thumbsup:

Generally speaking good looking young folks run express cruisers while the geriatric crowd runs the sedans. :wow:
 
Hmmm... how secure is the relationship with the bride to be......
j/k

As was said, do a search. Mine (wife, that is) also preferred a bridge boat. If I didn't fish the boat, I would have agreed.
Bridge boat= More light, more spacious, more of an "open feel". If I was cruising and had to spend a few days "inside" in bad weather, the bridge boat would win hands down.
For dayboating and "outside' entertaining, I think expresses get more points.
 
Small (under at least 40') bridge boats are in my opinion not great looking boats, and don't function well. (oh s***, just ticked off a LOT of nice people) Large express boats take away some of the advantages of a brie boat, because they are higher off the water than smaller dancers and express style . I'm going to shut up now because it really is all about preference and usage....now that iv'e put my foot in it!!!
 
katricol said:
Small (under at least 40') bridge boats are in my opinion not great looking boats, and don't function well. (oh s***, just ticked off a LOT of nice people) Large express boats take away some of the advantages of a brie boat, because they are higher off the water than smaller dancers and express style . I'm going to shut up now because it really is all about preference and usage....now that iv'e put my foot in it!!!
Click to expand...

Good call. Take five & reconsider. I think that my Boat has classic lines that are timeless. But then, I'm biased. I am 63 and stairs + ladders are not desirable now nor in my immediate future. "I'm going to shut up now because it really is all about preference and usage....now that iv'e put my foot in it!!!"

~Ken
 
Aerobaticflyer said:
You may want to ask "your bride to be" how she'd feel about being higher off the water if you boat in rough water.

This topic has been bantered around here quite a bit. Try a search. Clearly pros and cons to both designs. How you use the boat will likely be the determining factor. One of the great things about boating.....there is a design for everyone; unfortunately, no "one" design for everyone. Be a lot cheaper if there was! :thumbsup:

Generally speaking good looking young folks run express cruisers while the geriatric crowd runs the sedans. :wow:
Click to expand...

Damn!!!!!! All this time I thought I was young and good looking.
I believe everyone thats been on my boat off of a Dancer has said they liked the sedan much more. Of course most all of them were over 30.
I thought Bradenton WAS the geriatric capitol of the universe only second to Cape Coral.

Jack
 
Yeah Tob your right. I forgot about when the Snowbirds get here. I long for the the summer days when you can actually drive on 19 and get somewhere.

jack
 
Aerobaticflyer said:
You may want to ask "your bride to be" how she'd feel about being higher off the water if you boat in rough water.

This topic has been bantered around here quite a bit. Try a search. Clearly pros and cons to both designs. How you use the boat will likely be the determining factor. One of the great things about boating.....there is a design for everyone; unfortunately, no "one" design for everyone. Be a lot cheaper if there was! :thumbsup:

Generally speaking good looking young folks run express cruisers while the geriatric crowd runs the sedans. :wow:
Click to expand...

Holy Sh*t. I'm only 38. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?????
 
The last 12 went by pretty quick. Just had 2 kids, and am told the next twelve will seem like 2.

Kevin
 
Dave - my wife and I just went through this. We are 45 years old. The bridge boats are great for room and light. Amazing actually. We were considering a 40 Sedan Bridge. BUT - here is the problem. They are not sporty. We decided we like the sporty looks of a Express and so do our kids (9 and 12). The Express boats are Kool and you just feel good driving them and making them shine. But if its just about being practical then a bridge boat has an express beat hands down. That is why I think people call them Minivans because they are practical. btw - we have a minivan and a convertible.

If it were me I would get an express again and if I wanted more room I would get a larger express instead of a bridge boat.

( I hope the flames are not to hot from the bridge boaters)
 
jmunro123 said:
Dave - my wife and I just went through this. We are 45 years old. The bridge boats are great for room and light. Amazing actually. We were considering a 40 Sedan Bridge. BUT - here is the problem. They are not sporty. We decided we like the sporty looks of a Express and so do our kids (9 and 12). The Express boats are Kool and you just feel good driving them and making them shine. But if its just about being practical then a bridge boat has an express beat hands down. That is why I think people call them Minivans because they are practical. btw - we have a minivan and a convertible.

If it were me I would get an express again and if I wanted more room I would get a larger express instead of a bridge boat.

( I hope the flames are not to hot from the bridge boaters)
Click to expand...

You're damn right the flames will begin.

Sporty? SPORTY?! Oh COME ON! Sporty like that dinghy tie wrapped to the foredeck on your boat?!

image.php


This is like saying a Ford Pinto is "sporty" because it's a two door and has taped-on racing stripes and so is much better than that four-door Mercedes S-Class. This is sporty:

DSC_0028-1.jpg


I'll tell you what's "sporty"... when my "mini-van" bridge boat with over 1300HP of sweet diesel torque blows buy (at 26 knots cruise) those ass-heavy-nose-in-air express boats on the open water and I get to watch them bury their nose:

3b3bb907.jpg


Sporty... Maybe if I lean my antennas back at an angle I can look more "sporty"

On the serious side, if you do longer runs, I think the bridge is less stressful. The engine noise is less and you won't get soaking wet from spray in rougher water...

I will admit I like the looks of Nordhavns also...
 
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Gary beat me to it... I was going to say that I love blasting by those "sporty" 'dancers at 26 knots while they trawl along. I dunno, this looks pretty sporty to me:
2530953289_bd4ee7db21.jpg
 
Really... Mr. Frank H. cruises around at something like 18 knots... whoa baby! Hold on to your seats!
 
Gary-
Let's not confuse the sporty crowd with "knots". Everyone knows "miles per hour" is sportier. So let's refer to blasting by 'dancers at 30 miles per hour. That might translate better.
 
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