Older ones - How do they Handle? (SRV-20)

[boonsur]

I'm looking at a 1979 SRV-20. It looks like a good boat, for the price.

I'd like to know a little about how the older hulls perform, especially in choppy water. I just got rid of a Stingray, partially because I couldn't take it out in rough weather. I was planning on a bigger boat, but things changed financially, so I'm looking at cheaper options.

Are these things wave-bashers, or are they better for skiing in flat waters?

Also, what other characteristics are stereotypical of this vintage?

Any "notorious" problems I should watch for (sorry, haven't had much time to browse this website).

TIA.

 

[OldSkool]

I have a 76 SRV200 with 5.0. I've had the thing completely out of the water when on plane and hitting a "big boat" wake. She sat right down and kept on getting it like nothing ever happened. Very stable at 2800LBS with full fuel cell and captain on board. I love this boat as it handles great and rides well. The only thing that stops me from doing full on plane in choppy water is the admiral. She likes to cruise.

The other thing I like is that it's not loaded with electronic equipment that requires a laptop to program or to diagnose a problem. I'm not apposed to laptops as I use one all day every day, It's that not everyone has one and the factory authorized programs that go with them. (Enter the dealer technician).

Can you attach some pictures? What price range?

 

[chumbley]

I absolutely loved my SRV. Quick on plane, fast, handled like a dream, took rough water and wakes extremely well. Very solid capable boat, in my opinion. Mine was a bit newer than what you are looking at though.

 

[boonsur]

This boat has the "closed deck" (not a bow rider, nor a cuddy). Will it plane-out O.K. without weight up-front? (Normally when we're skiing, we have people sit in the bow, but can't do that on this boat). How bad is the bow rise and/or does it tend to "porpoise" with a lot of people in the rear?

BTW, what does the SRV designate? And is it -20, -200, or -2000 (I've seen it a couple different ways)?

 

[kybishop]

The old Sea Ray's of the 70's and early 80's are heavy well built deep V bottom boats. One thing they do very well is handle rough water, slicing through the tops of the waves with that deep V.

We have a 1976 Sea Ray 195 and we were running about wide open in a storm on the Ohio River. Very large waves and when you looked behind us our wake was broken as we were just touching the tops of each swell.

We also have a 82 SRV 210 Cuddy, a 78 240 Weekender and a 82 260 Sundancer. The bigger and heavier, the smoother the ride.

They will porpoise depending on wave conditions and weight, but only momentarily or if your weight distribution is just very stearn heavy. The smaller the boat, the more this tends to effect them. I imagine just about any boat could potentially do this when loaded badly. Trim tabs help a lot here.

But, the classic Sea Rays love rough water. At least ours have.

They are heavy boats and depending on boat size, how many people, how big they are, prop, gear on board and engine size, they can plane out pretty darn quick or be on the slow side.

I have not noticed much bow rise but I think it may be due to the styling, the curve of the deck downward. Seems to offer great visibility. This never seemed to be an issue.

Our 76 195 has the 233 hp ford 351 and has pulled 2 barefoot skiers at one time and 4 skiers at once on another occasion. But, I know at times with a lot of people and coolers etc, shifting some of us up front helped.

It would be a SRV 200, not 20 or 2000. I thought the SRV stood for Sea Ray V hull/bottom.

There is discussion concerning rough water and what does one consider to be rough. Here is a link.

http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7844

Good luck.

KB

 

[chrissrv195]

Ours is a 79' SRV195 with the Mercruiser 260 (Chevy 350 V8) also with the closed bow. It gets on plane pretty fast & sits very level & low in the water. While under way I can sit normally in the seat & still be able to see through the windshield & over the bow. The 30 gallon fuel tank is located inside the closed bow, so I think this helps a bunch to counter the weight of the engine & keeping the nose down while accelerating & on plane. I don't like rough water ( I'm still a fairly new boater), but what little rough water I have been in it seems to slice through well. Trimming down a little will also help keep from getting beat to death from larger waves (this will push the front end further down into the water so you don't bounce off the waves). As far as what issues to look for, be prepared to find some wiring issues, some rotten wood...the normal stuff. It seems like a lot of older boats have had everybody & their brother into the wiring, either "fixing" problems or "modifying" the original electrical system & some point in time. Seats are normally worn or faded, etc. Just make sure the boat is mechanically sound, engine & outdrive, & the structure of the boat is good & solid. An old boat with a new interior is great, but if the outdrive or engine is in rough shape it'll do nothing but cause headaches & cost big bucks to fix. We got lucky finding ours & are just about done getting it looking & performing how we want. It has took some time & money, but I enjoy tinkering on it just about as much as I do actually using it. One things for sure, while I would enjoy having a nice new boat, I really love the looks of our "classic" & there isn't another one like it or in as good of shape around where we live. Whether you buy a newer Sea Ray or older one, this forum is the place to be. Everybody is extremely helpfull & fun to communicate with, & you can get a lot of info here that would be hard to near impossible to find elsewhere. Good Luck in your search! :thumbsup:

 

[OldSkool]

I can amen everything that Chris and the other said. Mine also has the closed bow with fuel cell under it. It does help when it is full. My trim is always completely lowered. I love the way it comes out of the water and gets up on plane. Almost feels like a launch. Not high and out of control but flat and powerful.

I believe my prop is a bit small as I have the need for speed but it's probably a good safe prop for me.
15X17pitch. It runs out at about 4800-5000 rpm. I have over sped it on smooth water up to 5300. I don't do how much it will take as I backed her down but quick.

She does throw a big wake when off plane but the grand kids love it on the tube. Only a splash when she's on plane though.

Check the picture of my son-in-law screaming like a little girl. Absolutely the best money I've ever spent. :grin:

 

[chrissrv195]

Ours has a 14x19 Michigan Wheel prop on it. When we first got the boat, it had a (?) x 21 stainless steel prop on it. I can't remember what the first number was. It was beat up pretty bad. The 14x19 also came with the boat, so I put it on. I've had the boat up to 42 mph with that prop & that's the fastest I've pushed it so far. I still had throttle left, but I don't want to push it & screw something up. Originally, I was going to have the stainless rebuilt, since it was a "hotter" prop & stainless looks cool (I think). I decided not to after talking to the prop shop since they recomended not using a stainless prop on an older outdrive. They said that the stainless prop is heavier than a regular prop (I was surprised at how heavy it was) & it causes more strain & wear on older outdrives. I don't know if that right or not, but it makes sense to me, so I used the 14x19. I'm kinda off topic here but it might be helpfull info for older boat owners.....or maybe not! :grin:

 

[KRB64]

kybishop and I spent a lot of time in that model boat. On the Ohio you felt like an ant but you never felt inferior or inadequate with the SR. Its sitting in the barn now waiting time & money for a restore.

Like they said earlier, the fuel tank sits up front but thats all unless you have a really heavy anchor in the locker there. Theres room on the sides for stuff but you'd have to fashion access panels. We usually put the cooler (or porta-pottie) in the space between the windshields for weight.

I think the 70s and early 80s (not sure when things stated to change) were some of the "best built fiberglass boats in America" (that was their ad line then).

 

[OldSkool]

Chris, What RPM are you running at WOT with the 14X19?

 

[chrissrv195]

I'm ashamed to say, but I've never had it wide open yet. I'm sure it'll handle it, but I'm just not comfortable pushing it that hard yet ( I know, quit being a puss & do it). We are thinking about going out on it tonight after work or tomorrow morn before the lake gets busy, if we do I'll make a note or get a picture of what RPM it's at while doing 35-40 mph.

 

[OldSkool]

Thanks Chris, I still am trying to decide on the right size prop. The boat launches well out of the water but I would like some more top end. I be honest, I don't know my top speed as my pick up broke and I need to replace it.