New boat. Sea Ray 38 or 40?

[3fouroh]

Good afternoon guys. I am trying to figure out which boat to choose. I am looking at 2006-2009 Sea Ray 38's and 40's. Which ever one I get will be a gasser.

Any thoughts, suggestions, experiences, things to look out for?

Thanks!

 

[Carpediem44DB]

Forty would definitely be the limit for gassers for me. Why not go forty and spare your self the twofootitis for a while anyway. Are you looking at Seadan Bridges or Express bridge boats?

 

[NorCal Boater]

Forty would definitely be the limit for gassers for me. Why not go forty and spare your self the twofootitis for a while anyway. Are you looking at Seadan Bridges or Express bridge boats?

If you are looking at bridge boats I would definitely NOT do gas engines. You will never be happy with the performance of the 40db with gas. If you are going the Sundancer/Express directions, gas would be OK if you are not planning on too many long voyages. Both of those boats are pushing the limit for gas.

I just looked up the 2007 380da and the 400da on the Sea Ray website. The major difference I see is the additional beam. That would be the selling point for me. Surprisingly both boats weigh about the same.

I would go 40 but looks like its going to be a matter of which one you like the best. "Go big or go home"

 

[3fouroh]

A few more details.

Yes it is between a Sundancer 38 and 40.

Trip to cove is 2 miles so very short runs.

It is settled that it will be a gasser.

I guess I am just looking for feedback if anyone has any experience with either of these boats and has any pro/con advise.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Instead of trying to pick between a 38 or 40, I'd be looking at both and looking at:

--which one has had the best maintenance and has the records to show for it,
--which has the better looking cabin interior
--which one your wife likes best
--which layout your wife likes best
--which one is already equipped with the things you want to add later like an outdoor grill, electronics, etc.

 

[juggernaut1]

I have a 2006 38 and am very happy with it.

Couple of differences - the 2006 and later 38 has a centre transom door and more deadrise (21 degrees vs 19 degrees for the 40). Check out the Boat Test reviews for each boat - which shows the 38 is slightly faster in the 3500 rpm to 4000 rpm zone which is where you'll be most of the time when on the plane. Galley and toilet appear to be larger in the 40 so this seems where they added the extra lenght of the boat.

I recently modified the original trim tabs to a larger size and now can plane down to circa 12 knots @ around 2800 rpm.

If you have any specific questions re the 38 - ask away.

I'd suggest personal preference re layout and size will dictate which boat you buy as they are otherwise similar in running gear and features.

 

[Rayvonne]

I was in the same boat when I was looking...excuse the pun. First looked at the 38 and then decided on the 40 (2005 390)
It is bigger and the galley has far more storage. I went desiels and all I can say is .... WOW! We use the boat far more due to better gas consumption and the reliability. diesels are FAR safer then gas! We are sooo much happier we went larger ! Just my 2 cents.

 

[mtnandy]

I will never go back to gas ! Know why ? Gas goes boom and diesel does not !

 

[Great Lakes]

We just went through this whole process after selling our 06 320. We looked at 380/390/40/420/440. 380 were def smaller after seeing the others, also the 380/420/440 all drafted more than the 390/40. That's huge for us being on Lake St Clair where some of the bays get skinny

We decided to go with gassers because 1. we're land locked sorta..so our long trips are maybe 2-3 hours of cruising. That only happens roughly twice per summer. 90% of our boating consist of heading to the bay thats maybe 15-20 minutes of cruising away. 2. most of the diesels we looked at were an extra $30-$40k and they were stripped of the other options we really wanted as well.

We decided on the 2005 390 8.1HO. It was $65k less than the comparable 2007 40da w/ diesels with the exact same options. We heard the resale will be hard but to be honest in our eyes it out weighed the $65k difference for the type of boating we do.

For us it wasn't a black and white decision of gas vs diesels. I'd def prefer to have diesels but it just didn't make sense financially for how we boat

 

[RollerCoastr]

we're land locked sorta..so our long trips are maybe 2-3 hours of cruising.

I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but I have to take issue with the land-locked comment! Every Great Lakes boater should visit Georgian Bay, North Channel, Mac Island, Grand and Little Traverse Bays and Lake Erie Islands at some point. Your gasser will get you to all of those destinations and back just fine - trust me!

 

[Great Lakes]

RollerCoastr, we've been to many great places on our boat but due to time constraints of our careers we can't dedicate that kind of time to boat trips. Hence my point on gas engines, "the type of boating we do". We are relatively land locked compared to ocean boating..but that's just my opinion I guess

 

[RollerCoastr]

Glad to hear it. It's ironic though: If you look at the hour meters of a big diesel SeaRay at the Ft Lauderdale or Miami boat show, it's likely to not have more hours on it than its sisters in the Great Lakes. Actually, I've seen many with fewer.

 

[NorCal Boater]

I don't want to jog this thread in another direction but....

When we went from a 340da with gas to a 52' CPMY with diesels our boating changed. The bigger boat was just a bit more of a production to get ready to go than the 340. It really had nothing to do with the engines. It was just easier to go for a "ride" on the 340. We would take people for a ride to get a cocktail or ice cream. We actually took the bigger boat out less often but went farther and stayed longer. Because the 52 cruised a 10kts and the 340 at 24kts, we could go farther in less time. Also when arriving at that watering hole there were times there was no space to park that much boat whereas the 340 was not as big an issue. I know for certain we put less hours on the bigger boat....it just wasn't due to gas vs. diesel.

Now, if we had gone from a gas 340 to a diesel 390 or 440 we might have used it more. Hard to say.

Shawn

 

[JVM225]

After nearly a season with my 410 I’m a diesel convert. Still a little nervous about the maintenance and repairs but other than that I love them. The fuel usage and handling are great. I couldn’t imagine the fuel burn and what it would be like to get this monster up and going if it had gassers. It handles really well around the dock for a boat of its size too.

 

[3fouroh]

I have all but decided on a 40. What should the price be on one of these 2006-2007 fresh water gasser in great shape?? I am not talking about what they are listed for on boat trader that never sell but the selling price.

 

[dtfeld]

3fouroh

Just going through the same decision process, and we are leaving to close on a 2001 410 w/3126's tomorrow. I narrowed it down to 2001-2004 380's and 410's. I too originally thought gas, but I eventiually opted for the 410 w/diesels even thought we are land locked. The 3 big factors I considered were; 1) the 410 had a second bathroom (wife loved that idea); 2) resale value. You only know the true cost of ownership until you sell the boat and I felt that a boat in this age range would retain more value, or more acurately, loose less, and; 3) fuel usage. I figured I'd save $1500 /year running the boat 50 hours and $2500/year @ 75 hours. That'll buy a bunch of boat burgers!

In the end...I would opt for the bigger, best kept boat you can afford, and more importantly your wife like too!

 

[Ezsteps]

I couldn’t imagine the fuel burn and what it would be like to get this monster up and going if it had gassers.

JVM, I was worried about being under powered with the gas also, I am amazed how well my 400 gets on plane and even tops out. I had a 310 with twin 350's (250 HP ea. if I remember right) and it was a dog when come to getting on plane. I can get on plane without the tabs if I want to in my 400. It would outperform the 310 everywhere. Although as far as HP goes I have an extra engine basically 2x250 on the 310 compared to 2x380 on the 400. I would have definitely gone with diesels if the right boat would have came along, but I was kinda leaning towards gas because of the type of boating I do. Short hops to the bays mostly. One trip to Cedar Point and Kelley's Island and one to Grand Bend, Ontario. Probably around 90 miles or so one way.

 

[JVM225]

JVM, I was worried about being under powered with the gas also, I am amazed how well my 400 gets on plane and even tops out. I had a 310 with twin 350's (250 HP ea. if I remember right) and it was a dog when come to getting on plane. I can get on plane without the tabs if I want to in my 400. It would outperform the 310 everywhere. Although as far as HP goes I have an extra engine basically 2x250 on the 310 compared to 2x380 on the 400. I would have definitely gone with diesels if the right boat would have came along, but I was kinda leaning towards gas because of the type of boating I do. Short hops to the bays mostly. One trip to Cedar Point and Kelley's Island and one to Grand Bend, Ontario. Probably around 90 miles or so one way.

Interesting. My previous boat was a 300 Sundancer and it was a rocket. It jumped out of the water up on plane and liked to cruise at 3100-3200 RPM (secondary’s closed) which translated to 29-30 mph.
A buddy of mine had a 240 and he was always amazed at how much quicker my 300 was both out of the hole and at cruising speed.
He still kicks himself in the butt for not jumping on it when I decided to sell.
It was a bit of a slug out of the hole when I first got it but I changed the props and it became a different boat.
Only used the tabs if I had to compensate for extra weight on one side or the other. Never had to use them to get on plane.
The boat had no genny or arch so that lightened it up a bit.
I added a counter rotating drive to the port side (2 OEM standard rotation drives made docking a challenge), fuel flow meters and then repowered it before the 2012 season.
Man do I miss the performance of that boat........
If it had a genny and separate shower stall I’d probably still have it.
This one is no slouch for its size and it handles much better in tight quarters around the dock than my old 300. The diesels burn just a fraction more fuel in a boat that weighs twice as much as my old one, so that’s a nice benefit. The diesel genny only sips fuel.
Can’t beat the creature comforts in the 410 either. It’s a nice step up.

 

[RollerCoastr]

I had a 330DA with big blocks. She would jump out of the hole, but it was a jump: bow high, a squat, then she'd get on top of the water and scoot.

I know what you mean about the 400. She just goes. Tabs aren't a must, but I put them all the way down as a habit. She responds immediately to the throttle with no fuss. I've had more than one passenger utter "wow". It's not as seamless as an EC, but people come aboard with low expectations.

Diesels plane fine too, but since a diesel 400/410DA never gets the bow as low, there's less "wow factor".

 

[Ezsteps]

Interesting. My previous boat was a 300 Sundancer and it was a rocket. It jumped out of the water up on plane and liked to cruise at 3100-3200 RPM (secondary’s closed) which translated to 29-30 mph.
A buddy of mine had a 240 and he was always amazed at how much quicker my 300 was both out of the hole and at cruising speed.
He still kicks himself in the butt for not jumping on it when I decided to sell.
It was a bit of a slug out of the hole when I first got it but I changed the props and it became a different boat.
Only used the tabs if I had to compensate for extra weight on one side or the other. Never had to use them to get on plane.
The boat had no genny or arch so that lightened it up a bit.
I added a counter rotating drive to the port side (2 OEM standard rotation drives made docking a challenge), fuel flow meters and then repowered it before the 2012 season.
Man do I miss the performance of that boat........
If it had a genny and separate shower stall I’d probably still have it.
This one is no slouch for its size and it handles much better in tight quarters around the dock than my old 300. The diesels burn just a fraction more fuel in a boat that weighs twice as much as my old one, so that’s a nice benefit. The diesel genny only sips fuel.
Can’t beat the creature comforts in the 410 either. It’s a nice step up.

JVM I should have explained my 310 better. It was a 98' (wide beam and heavy), had carburetors, and Alpha 1's. So it probably could have been set up better. I only bought it because I was looking for something inexpensive to see if we were ready for the marina life and we loved it. I got it from a bank in a short sale for $36,000 in 2013. Cleaned it up, put on a Garmin 740s radar combo package for $1200, new starboard side long block (2014) $3800, and few other things. Sold it in spring 2016 for $49,000 and bought my 400. I'm sure with some tweaking of a few things it would have performed a lot better. I wasn't being fair with the 310 review, but I love the 400 way way better.