Meridian 368 vs Sea Ray 38 DA

Just Chillin

New Member
Jan 2, 2007
11
Dana Point, California
Boat Info
2003 41 PC
Engines
Volvo TAMD 75 EMC 480 HP
While out boat shopping I was looking at a 2005 380 DA with Cummins power, nice boat and a likely step up from my 1998 310, I have owned the 310 for 4 years and it has been a great boat. Well along side of the Sea Ray was a 2005 Meridian 368 also with Cummins power. I know one is an express and the Meridian is not, but I was very impressed with the layout of the Meridian and the price was the same as the Sea Ray. I later picked up a Meridian booklet and after reading through it was surprised to find out it was owned by the Brunswick Boat Group. My question is how does this boat compare to the Sea Ray in terms of quality and reliability, if anyone has any knowledge about this meridian I would like to hear.
 
Meridian continues to make improvements and is closing the gap betweem themselves and SeaRay. Make sure to take a sea trial as some Meridians are underpowered and sometimes topheavy. I can't speak for the 368 but Meridian makes some nice boats and provide a lot of boat for the money.

Mark
 
Are you SURE it was a 2005 380DA.....AND that it had Cummins engines?

The 380DA was discontinued in 2004 (build 2003) and I 'm pretty sure that the only diesels offered in the 1999-2004 380DAs were CATS.
 
Meridian continues to make improvements and is closing the gap betweem themselves and SeaRay. Make sure to take a sea trial as some Meridians are underpowered and sometimes topheavy. I can't speak for the 368 but Meridian makes some nice boats and provide a lot of boat for the money.

Mark


You are NOT serious!
Quality??!! Those boats can't last 5 years without major repairs. They only look nice. Theirs engineers decided to put 400A fuse on line with battery switch rated 300A!!!. Half of the boat is glued in together, so you will never be able remove some parts without destroying them.
 
I dock next to a large MM store that sells SR's, Meridians, Bertrams, etc. Now I am a SR owner but the guys around my dock don't seem to have problems with their Meridains and they use their boats under the right sea conditions. (They are not canyon runners like bluewater boats.) Over the last few years I have seen big improvements in Meridians with regards to materials and finish. Their boats can't fall apart that fast as you claim, I believe they come with a 10 hull year warranty. If you want to compare well built boats then you should be looking at a Viking or a Bertram. Collectively these guys wonder how a SeaRay or a Meridian will last more than 5 years. It's a matter of perspective and how you plan to use your boat. BTW if you hit something hard how thick do you think the side of your SR Hull is?

Mark
 
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I checked and the 38 DA had 370 HP Cummins, the Meridian had 330 HP Cummins, The only thing I'm not sure of is the 380 may have been a 2004, one listing has it as a 2004 and another as a 2005, go figure. But the boat was loaded, I was in it, it had a blue hull and less than 200 hrs on it.
 
I dock next to a large MM store that sells SR's, Meridians, Bertrams, etc. Now I am a SR owner but the guys around my dock don't seem to have problems with their Meridains and they use their boats under the right sea conditions. (They are not canyon runners like bluewater boats.) Over the last few years I have seen big improvements in Meridians with regards to materials and finish. Their boats can't fall apart that fast as you claim, I believe they come with a 10 hull year warranty. If you want to compare well built boats then you should be looking at a Viking or a Bertram. Collectively these guys wonder how a SeaRay or a Meridian will last more than 5 years. It's a matter of perspective and how you plan to use your boat. BTW if you hit something hard how thick do you think the side of your SR Hull is?

Mark
looks like they're happy meridian/bayliner owners- i hope they have all recalls done to their boats
if i wasn't under nda i would post some pics to show you those engineering marvels falling apart during first year of ownership
i am here not to bash meridians - sea ray is loosing quality in last 3 years
one thing i have to admit: meridian has better customer service than bertram boats
 
Semantics...but...the 380DA and the 38DA are two COMPLETELY different boats. The 380DA was made from 1999-2004. The only Diesels it came with are the CATs. The 38DA was introduced in 2006. It replaced the 360DA. I believe, but I'm not positive, that the only diesels it was offered with were Yanmars, and that was only in '06. In 2005-2006 there was the 390DA (which replaced the 380DA). It was later rebadge the 40DA and it does/did come with Cummins.
 
Semantics? the boat is a 380 Sundancer 2004 or 2005 with twin Cummins 370 HP, YW# 2184-1748520, I can't help you understand that, but it is what it is. And the question was how does the Meridian compare, it was not a 360Da or a 40DA.
 
The oyster snorting gig is Nov 2nd and 3rd... no practice allowed.

I don't know anything about Meridian boats but looking at the pictures, it appears they have the same cherry formica cabinets, cabinet latches, and carpet as my 480 DB. I'm sure as time goes on, we will see more and more shared components for these mid-range boats as they try to take advantage of buying power and cut expenses. Sorta the "Toyota vs. Lexus" and "Chevy vs. Cadillac" thing (remember the Cimeron? ha ha ha). Brunswick has a bunch of boat companies and they are all struggling right now and so I'm sure they have some holistic manufacturing strategy across these plants and will focus more on what market segments each targets by their designs. Likewise, a Honda civic is not of the same build quality as an Acura NSX. Where these boat companies were before Brunswick did these consolidations I'm sure will be improved on. I would expect Meridian to be more about the design of the motor yacht class and Sea Ray to be more about the express cruiser and cruising bridge boat class.

So back to your question and comments.. I don't think you can really compare the two boats without comparing what kind of boating you do and class of boat you want. The Meridian you mention has about 6000 more pounds added to it than the Sea Ray you mention. It's engines are smaller so the weight is being added above the waterline and so there is no way this thing will handle sea conditions as well as the Sea Ray and the cruising performance (speed and economy) is going to suffer. But if you are going to be hanging out more on the inland waterways like the Intracoastal or a lake and want it as a second home, then that may be the design you want. I see those style boats on the open water of the Chesapeake Bay from time to time and they are really weather bound or get their butts kicked if they venture out in anything over 10 knot winds. I don't think you'd be following Dominic across the Delaware Bay in that. They are just too tipsy for my taste and I don't think that class of boat is very attractive... but they do have a lot of room in them. But to each his own and I can't fault anyone for buying them. I think where the criticism lies is when someone buys this class of boat and then takes it out to the canyons fishing.

The way you can tell if a boat has Cat or Cummins is to look at the air cleaners. Cummins has blue and Cat's are PINK.
 
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those cummins are the same engines as in my boat. with those in a 380 (also my previous boat), you would have a heck of a cruiser - fast and efficient.

However.....
those cummins were not factory options on that boat. osd9 was trying to tell you to research if that is in fact what is in there (it's unlikely), and why they are there (was it repowered?). if they were added later, that could bring up additional issues.

you asked to compare the 2, and he told you he thinks the ad is wrong, and i agree with him. therefore, you are not making a valid comparison.

i have no knowledge of meridians, other than they look nice, and their reputation as the old bayliner hangs with them now, though it's probably a little undeserved. i can tell you that i looked at that same boat, and my salesman advised me to hold out for a 400db, even a few years older, because it was more sea worthy and would last longer. given that he had a 368 in stock, and did not have a 400db, and he could have made a sale right there, i was inclined to believe him.

on another note......
osd9 is one of the most knowledgeable ex-380 da owners here, and you drove him away.

let people help, and you'll get help.
 
It was not my intention to drive Dom away and I certainly respect his knowledge, I was simply trying to compare the two boats, and I do understand that the ad for the 380 may have misrepresented the engine as a Cummins when in fact it might have been a Cat, the broker did not have the key with him so it was not possible to lift the hatch. And to be honest at that point the manufactor of the motors was not a concern yet, I had never seen a Meridian 368 before and was looking for an opinion from someone who had first hand knowledge. I thank all the members who responded and certainly hope I have not offended anyone, I have desided to pass on the Meridian and will continue to look for my next boat.
 
FYI - the last 10 380DAs that were produced by Sea Ray had Cummins 370B engines. Very rare boat.
 
Thank you Bigal and Jims380DA for comformation of my sanity I was starting to wonder if sipping all that Italian homemade wine was killing the few gray matter cells I have left.
 
It is. We drink to forget, and it works.
 

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