How brand loyal are you ??

Brand loyal ??

  • Sea Ray only ...period...nothing but a Sea Ray

    Votes: 27 28.7%

  • would consider other brands but want a Sea Ray

    Votes: 53 56.4%

  • don't care what it is if the price is right and it has features I want

    Votes: 14 14.9%
  • Total voters
    94
  • Poll closed .
I have stayed out of the discussion so far but here I go.
as most know we are looking for the next boat (34'-37') mainly 84-89 340s but now considering early 90s 350-370 dancer or express.
I am loyal to the Sea Rays ( still own 2 right now) but feel we should look at others if for no other reason than comparison of design and features.
The admiral is in the Sea Ray PERIOD group.
Does my request to at least look at others and NOT like them seem unreasonable :huh:
I just hate the idea of shopping with blinders on.
 
moparlvr4406 said:
I have stayed out of the discussion so far but here I go.
as most know we are looking for the next boat (34'-37') mainly 84-89 340s but now considering early 90s 350-370 dancer or express.
I am loyal to the Sea Rays ( still own 2 right now) but feel we should look at others if for no other reason than comparison of design and features.
The admiral is in the Sea Ray PERIOD group.
Does my request to at least look at others and NOT like them seem unreasonable :huh:
I just hate the idea of shopping with blinders on.
Click to expand...

Jimbo... When the Admiral isn't happy then NOBODY is happy! Don't waste your time looking at other boats. :smt043
 
I voted Sea Ray only. This is based on loving the style, craftsmanship, performance and also the friends I have made by owning a Sea Ray. The boat club I am in is for Sea Rays only and if I were to ever go to another brand I could not be in the club any longer. There are other boats I like but the lifestyle is important to us. If I were to relocate and wanted a different style, I would consider other brands. At this point in my life, Sea Ray is my only option.
 
As much as I'd really like to have a Hatteras or Viking sportfish, they wouldn't be practical enough to suit the Mrs. She wouldn't do a ladder to get to the bridge and couldn't live without a swim platform as examples. Although I prefer the styling of a 560db to a 58db, my next boat will probably be the latter assuming we stay in this style of boat. There is no other manufacturer of a bridge, sport yacht-styled boat I'd want to consider at this point. Now if SR moves to carver style clorox bottles, continues to add more and larger hull side glass that turn their boats into floating aquariums or bends the bow so far down the nose touches the water, it will be time to think about a plan B. But for now, the history and entire ownership experience has too much going for it to toss aside.
 
I have always had a 'thing' for Sea Rays, since I was a teen working the marina docks in Northern Michigan. Took a long time until we decided to finally buy our 1st SR - a 300DA. We enjoyed it for 2 yrs, then decided to step up to diesels and sliding glass doors with a nice cockpit 'patio' to lounge in. Couldn't find the right SR, although we would have liked a 480DB. Couldn't make the deals work, so we got the Carver - luxurious inside and a nice, big ER to hang out in for me. Next boat ? Who knows, although we do like the Sedan Bridge style of boat, and there IS a really nice 52DB nearby....Doesn't stop me from lusting after a Hatteras 60 MY, which is way beyond us....or a Fleming...or....There's at least one boat for everyone, and I think dreaming of the next one is half the fun.
 
I consider myself brand loyal in all things. When I find something that works, I stick with it.

We purchased our current Sea Ray as a gateway to crusing and weekending as we recently became empty nesters. The size was bigger than expected, (we were looking hard at 340DA) but the price was right.

The thought at the time was we would determine within 2-3 years whether we would move up to a 450SB or go back to day boating. After two seasons, we absolutely loved the DA, spent a lot of time rafted up with larger bridge boats, and had pretty much decided to chase the 450DA instead. The only compromise on the "wish list" for the ideal boat was the galley ladder.

We went over to look at a 450DA demo and a trade and while we were there, the wife went on a Marquis 420SC and 500SC and fell in love. She loved it for many reasons, but the Sport Coupe layout - no ladder to the living area without a bridge - was the main reason. I loved the layout as well, but there were many other reasons (including styling) that I didn't like it.

We are planning a trip to look at the 45 Cruiser's Cantius in a couple of weeks which may be the ticket.

If Sea Ray added a Sport Coupe to the lineup, I would have a hard time refusing my wife's demands to buy it... LOL
 
jrseitz said:
Jimbo... When the Admiral isn't happy then NOBODY is happy! Don't waste your time looking at other boats. :smt043
Click to expand...


Rule number one, if she ain't happy
You ain't happy
And if she ain't happy long enough
You're gonna be unhappy with half your stuff


JEFF FOXWORTHY - TOTALLY COMMITTED LYRICS
 
mistercomputerman said:
Rule number one, if she ain't happy
You ain't happy
And if she ain't happy long enough
You're gonna be unhappy with half your stuff


JEFF FOXWORTHY - TOTALLY COMMITTED LYRICS
Click to expand...

been there done that...3 times so far
Guess it's a Sea Ray for us :wink:
 
If you like the Cantius 45 you'll love the new Sea Ray510DA....better go take a look...

Registered said:
I consider myself brand loyal in all things. When I find something that works, I stick with it.

We purchased our current Sea Ray as a gateway to crusing and weekending as we recently became empty nesters. The size was bigger than expected, (we were looking hard at 340DA) but the price was right.

The thought at the time was we would determine within 2-3 years whether we would move up to a 450SB or go back to day boating. After two seasons, we absolutely loved the DA, spent a lot of time rafted up with larger bridge boats, and had pretty much decided to chase the 450DA instead. The only compromise on the "wish list" for the ideal boat was the galley ladder.

We went over to look at a 450DA demo and a trade and while we were there, the wife went on a Marquis 420SC and 500SC and fell in love. She loved it for many reasons, but the Sport Coupe layout - no ladder to the living area without a bridge - was the main reason. I loved the layout as well, but there were many other reasons (including styling) that I didn't like it.

We are planning a trip to look at the 45 Cruiser's Cantius in a couple of weeks which may be the ticket.

If Sea Ray added a Sport Coupe to the lineup, I would have a hard time refusing my wife's demands to buy it... LOL
Click to expand...
 
bmac said:
If you like the Cantius 45 you'll love the new Sea Ray510DA....better go take a look...
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah! I would if I could... The 510DA is more boat than what is practical here, not to mention the budget. Even though it has the "atrium" effect, it still has the ladder to the galley/living area. It's not the closed in "cave" feeling that so many anti-DA people speak of. We don't mind that at all. It's the walk-in/walk-out that's on the wife's wish list, but she doesn't want a bridge.

Hence, the interest in the Sport Coupe and Cantius.

We'll stick with the 40DA until we find the perfect balance of compromises.
 
We really like our Sea Ray and a 2006 300DA would be nice. When we were shopping, I was looking for the biggest boat/cabin under 30ft that could be trailered. The 1990 270DA & 280DA were it! Huge boats for the money/quality. We did not need twins where we boat and twins in the 270 are tight. The 280 is a cool boat with 350's. I do like Formula as a company also. Their Cruisers are very nice and love their Offshore fast boats. Our boat neighbor has an '89 27ft with V6 twins. It's built very well but the Sea Ray style and interior is far superior on ours. I would always shop others just to satisfy my curiosity on quaility, fit and finish, Mike.
 
Brand Loyal? You bet! A friend of mine just purchased a 2005 Meridian 411-Loaded! While the layout is fairly nice, there are certain features I couldn't get past. Strangely, the designers placed the ignition toggle switches at knee level on the dash. First time running the boat, the toggles were inadvertently depressed and both engines died-While cruising at speed! WTH? I love the Sea Ray quality and build. Vinyls are top notch as is the fit and finish. If I bought another boat it might be an Azimuth or Marlow, but we are now talking a different type of boat!
 
I have only owned Sea Rays, because I like the people who make, sell and use them. However.... I have a dream to go slow and long. To do the Great Loop, and travel to Bermuda and the Caribean. Sea Ray does not make a Trawler... Yet... As always, in life, our dreams change, and I am if nothing else, I'm flexible. So as for today, I am true blue Sea Ray, but tomorrow who knows...
 
sfergson727 said:
I am very brand loyal, having owned only two brands of boats my entire life...Sea Ray and Boston Whaler. I've owned seven Sea Rays and five whalers. Here lies the problem though. In the last five years, Sea Ray has not designed a boat that I would want, so when it is time to move on from the 340, there is a good chance it will not be a Sea Ray.

I would consider an older 420 - 480 DA, or DB but that's about it. Other than that, I'll be looking at other manufacturers.
Click to expand...

Scott-
I agree with you completely! The newer styles seem too cold for my preference. I just like the styling up to the mid 2000's. :) The reason I ended up with my 460!
 
Less after today's news of Rob leaving.
 
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