New 510- Photos? Thoughts?

Chris R

Member
Mar 17, 2008
751
Bloomington, Il - formerly in Gig Harbor, WA
Boat Info
In between boats, now. Former boat: 2008 340 DA
Engines
8.1 Horizons w/V-drives
Looks like a lot of fun this past weekend at the SR Homecoming. We almost went, but had a other obligations pop up.

No matter, I was really interested in seeing some detailed photos and reading first hand accounts about the new model. I don't have the time to go through both threads (now totaling close to 85 pages); however, I skimmed a bit and saw some 510 shots from about 100 yards away, several people smiling at the helm, and some rear shots with commentary on a dock line.

Did anyone capture/memorialize any details - photos, commentary, etc.?

Much appreciated!
 
it had an atruim like feel over the helm
IMG_20120914_164838.jpg

it was 1 of 2 boats I ...at 6'6" didn't have to duck in
 
The most outstanding feature for me was the real sliding glass doors behind the front part of the cockpit that allows a true controlled temperature environment at the helm and front cockpit seating.

Personally, I think there is some tweaking to be done on the "atrium"...it was more like a green house, no privacy on the dock, and a lot of heat transfer thru the huge glass above the open space, and this was September in Tennessee......I can imagine how hard it will be to cool that area in 100 degree temps with 98% humidity in Florida in August.

This boat had a retractable sunroof panel in the hard top and a retractable sun shade over the exterior cockpit that allows the aft cockpit cover to be zipped in place when the shade is retracted.

Sea Ray long ago figured out the Sundancer hull and interior designs, so there are no surprises of note on this one. The interior has 2 full sized compartments so you no longer need filler cushions to turn the aft compartment into an area suitable for sleeping. The trade off is the salon is a little smaller than we have come to expect from a boat this size. I am still wrapping my mind around the "new" measurement scheme of total LOA for length, but my old 450DA (52 LOA) has more room and is a bigger boat than this 51.

The boat in Knoxville had 600 hp QSC Cummins engines coupled to v-drives and controlled by DTS controls. A neat feature for those of us with old style cable controls is that you can synchronize the engines and run on both throttles or you can dial out one control and run the boat with a single lever. This was the PD&E boat and not a production model and it had both bow and stern thrusters....and really didn't need either since its handling was totally predictable. Performance was smooth and adequate with 12-15 people onboard. My only criticism about the boat was that the steering is slow.....with power steering it could stand a lower ratio steering with fewer turns from lock to lock. For me to only find one thing on a boat to complain about is a rare occurrence.

An interesting note .......Sea Ray is working hard to quieten all of the boats with design, sound deadening, better mufflers, etc. This is the first boat I've been on that was designed with the quiet criteria in mind and it truly makes a difference. This is by far the quietest 50+ foot boat I've ever run.

If this is the Sundancer of the future, I am onboard!
 
Last edited:
Thanks Frank. Just what I was looking for. Yes, after DTS everything else seems a bit antiquated. Interesting comments about the interior roominess (or lack of). Looking forward to some interior shots...
 
to add one note to Frank's thoughts...
the glass panels in the roof DID have retractable sunshades
however we were last trip out so the sun was not high
looked like they should help with interior sunload on the climate control though

the steering was a bit slow but not lethargic by any means...we threw this boat around a little bit
and it seemed quite predictable in the steering

the ride was great over the 470's wakes and the books on the shelf had a potted plant arrangement
on top of them and nothing there ever moved in the least.

now take all of this info for what it is...from a guy never on a boat nearly that large.
 
Last edited:
For those who rode on this boat (or one like it), did you miss the "wind in your face" experience, sealed up in the cockpit? I can see if you lived in a cold climate, it might not be an issue. But I think I'd miss it.
 
For those who rode on this boat (or one like it), did you miss the "wind in your face" experience, sealed up in the cockpit? I can see if you lived in a cold climate, it might not be an issue. But I think I'd miss it.

No. There are electric opening windows in the center of the windshield and electric opening side windows. When open, I got as much if not more wind in my face as I do with my canvas open. You can have as much or little as you want. And if you dont want it, that frigid cockpit AC was reeeeally nice!!! :)


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone
 
No I didn't miss the wind in your face. That being said, I didn't get behind the helm.

This boat is a complete turn in how you enjoy a boat. It's all about quiet performance and roominess. The retractable rear canvas is a cool idea, seating is awesome and the interior is unbelievably roomy.

I agree with Frank on the "atrium" feel on this particular boat. But some nice shades and a better retractable cover for the roof panels and you've got a winner.

Mark
 
I apologize, I was really in love with the interior...so much so in fact that I didn't get many pics because I was soaking it all in. Really none of the cabin, but this is what I got.

8BD7E4D0-6F2F-47C4-ADF0-A3F6DBBF6D78-2075-0000022A6FAE6DB8.jpg

6279052A-C185-4D6B-97BC-5E7723BB173C-2075-0000022A7E2495EB.jpg

B68F33EB-F571-4100-9A73-067CE14AB404-2075-0000022A8A51D583.jpg

E2ACB3E9-84E6-4CCA-83D0-41A7E25F6B1C-2075-0000022A9548473E.jpg

5A40A65E-5509-40E3-8D9F-0FD40E3602D0-2075-0000022AA210EF86.jpg



Shaun
Sent from my iPhone
 
No. There are electric opening windows in the center of the windshield and electric opening side windows. When open, I got as much if not more wind in my face as I do with my canvas open. You can have as much or little as you want. And if you dont want it, that frigid cockpit AC was reeeeally nice!!! :)


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone

Oh, ok. I missed that there are electric opening windows in the middle of the windshield. I'm looking at the photo you just posted looking forward out the windshield of the 510, and does the entire window pane move outward? On my boat, there is a separate panel in the middle of the windshield that opens with a motor, but I don't see a separate panel on the pics of the 510.

edit: Is it in the roof? I see a rectangular panel that opens there in one of your pics where you're looking up.

View attachment 26788
 
Last edited:
Both roof panels open pneumatically as well. But there is a windshield piece in the center about 2' wide at the very bottom that opens. Sorry, although it looks like its the whole windshield, the pic doesn't show the bottom of the windshield, but it's there.


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone
 
Both roof panels open pneumatically as well. But there is a windshield piece in the center about 2' wide at the very bottom that opens. Sorry, although it looks like its the whole windshield, the pic doesn't show the bottom of the windshield, but it's there.


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone

OK, thanks Shaun. I couldn't have known without your first hand account. I'm still not sure I wouldn't miss being able to stand up with my face in the wind, but it's a moot point since I won't be placing an order for a new 510 for awhile. Now, if they'd had fireworks, I might have placed that order.
 
Is the glare from the white dash as bad as it looks in the pictures? Just me, but I'm suprised shoes of any kind were allowed aboard...
 
Is the glare from the white dash as bad as it looks in the pictures? Just me, but I'm suprised shoes of any kind were allowed aboard...

Thats the point...there is no dash! Forward of the instrument panel is open to below decks. Pretty awesome!
 
Is the glare from the white dash as bad as it looks in the pictures? Just me, but I'm suprised shoes of any kind were allowed aboard...


The 2 most popular boats were PD&E boats so they were going back to PD&E and were not being sold yet. Most of the other boats were production boats and will be thoroughly cleaned before being offered to dealers. Sea Ray isn't picky at these things, they just want customers to have a good time and see what they care to see. I usually wear soft sole boat shoes and always remove them when getting on a boat with wood floors or when I must walk over upholstery to get on smaller boats, but generally boat shoes saves the shoe removal exercise.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,877
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top