Not officially classics, but...

[my3sons]

I know the forum says ‘89 and older but to me these are classic.
Sitting at the beach yesterday with good friends and former Sea Ray owners, we found ourselves commenting on these beautiful boats. Not just the lines but the way they sit in the water and the running profiles. Gone are the days, at least for me of being able to tell a new Sea Ray from anything else out there. I’m sure the new ones are great boats but like the ‘89 and older classics, I can spot these a mile away.
If anyone here was running through Matanzas Pass yesterday in a “classic”, thanks for adding to our enjoyment.

 

[ZZ13]

The 02-07 Sea Ray sport cruisers are the best looking boats Sea Ray ever made, in my opinion. They are timeless. They sold a zillion of them. I had an 04 300DA and never got tired of looking at it.

 

[Strecker25]

Agreed. I’m partial, having owned two of the same generation, but I think the late 90s to early 2000’s were great looking as well. I’ve heard the 450 from this era describe as “muscular” which I think is perfect

 

[Fill Ess]

The 02-07 Sea Ray sport cruisers are the best looking boats Sea Ray ever made, in my opinion. They are timeless. They sold a zillion of them. I had an 04 300DA and never got tired of looking at it.

Not to get off topic, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on moving to a sedan bridge from the 300DA. Agreed that those are my favorite years.

 

[Blueone]

I am a little biased…. But completely agree

 

[Strecker25]

This was in our marina last year on a visit. Beauty

 

[Creekwood]

I am a little biased…. But completely agree
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Its hard to think of a 2004 as a classic, but I guess its 18 years old. That fact alone tells you that Sea Ray did a fantastic job. I like the look of the late 1990's Sundancers too (like mine - now 25 years old), but the ones like yours have really great lines.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Not to get off topic, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on moving to a sedan bridge from the 300DA. Agreed that those are my favorite years.

Phil, we moved from a 96 330 Sundancer to a 550 Sedan Bridge and never regretted it. More boat, more room, comfy cruising even in horrible weather. The boat handled like a dream and with those two big props it was easy to maneuver into my slip or up to a dock.

We spent a lot of nights on the boat and the Admiral loved the larger galley for cooking (did I mention she's a great chef!).

It was easy on fuel at cocktail speed, would run on plane at 17kts and WOT was 31kts.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Phil, if you want to see what a sedan bridge boat can do in a heavy chop watch these four videos in order.

 

[DaFish]

A bias opinion, but a late '90's 370DA is fun to watch as well.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I am a little biased…. But completely agree

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Me, too.

 

[ZZ13]

Not to get off topic, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on moving to a sedan bridge from the 300DA. Agreed that those are my favorite years.

Switched from upper Potomac River contained day boating of anchoring for a few hours and raft ups, to ICW destination cruising. Wanted a more live a board capability where you felt like you were living on top of the water not down in the water (sport cruiser cave).

 

[Fill Ess]

Phil, we moved from a 96 330 Sundancer to a 550 Sedan Bridge and never regretted it. More boat, more room, comfy cruising even in horrible weather. The boat handled like a dream and with those two big props it was easy to maneuver into my slip or up to a dock.

We spent a lot of nights on the boat and the Admiral loved the larger galley for cooking (did I mention she's a great chef!).

It was easy on fuel at cocktail speed, would run on plane at 17kts and WOT was 31kts.

Wow that is quite a jump! I'd like to be there someday but in the next year or two I'm thinking more like the 360 DB or the Meridian 341. I'm in a row of 35 foot slips but they might let me go up to 37' LOA since I'm the first slip. Thanks for your input!

 

[Gofirstclass]

It was a big jump and we hadn't actually planned on going that big. We were shopping went to the Seattle boat show. We both fell in love with a 500 Sedan Bridge but didn't like that particular boat. I found the 550 in Detroit and spent a couple of hours on the phone with the broker. They didn't want to take a boat on trade but they changed their mind after a few more calls. I had plenty of arrows in my quiver so I just kept lobbing arrows at them until they agreed to take my boat on trade.

I flew back to look at it, liked the boat, then flew home. I arranged for a sea trial, lined up two surveyors and got the dates all lined up. I went back to DTW for the sea trial and all went well. Another trip home.

After a couple of months of negotiations over the phone we finally came to agreement on the dollars. My wife and I flew back to DTW, sea trialed the boat again, then they pulled it out of the water, took it apart and loaded it on the trucks to haul it to Portland, OR where it would be recommissioned, equipment installed that I wanted.

We first looked at the boat in March. We first got to drive it in OR on August 2nd.

The wait was worth it.

 

[spikedaddy99]

Not to get off topic, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on moving to a sedan bridge from the 300DA. Agreed that those are my favorite years.

Phil, I as well made a big jump. 07 320 to 05 500 sedan. I still miss my 320, but the kids kept growing

 

[Woody]

I agree too, the style appeals to lots of people, I'm getting calls from strangers that want to buy my boat

 

[brewster16]

I totally agree that the previous generation of Sea Ray boats were MUCH more appealing. Muscular lines, gentle curved hulls, long bows. Today's boat styles do nothing for me. Totally generic and look like every other manufacturer. I don't get it.