PURCHASE HELP! 52DA w/Mans vs 60DA

gtownboy112

New Member
Aug 19, 2009
6
Annapolis, Md.
Boat Info
40da 1999. E120, Autopilot, (3) 50w xenon underwater lights.
Engines
380 mercs
We are currently in the market for a new boat (finally), and it has come down to either a 2006 52' sundancer with the T-698 MAN engines OR a 2007 60' DA. My family's thought is that the 52 is a capable boat for extended cruising and quick weekend trips, and that the 60 is more suitable for extended cruising especially since the whole upper cockpit can be enclosed and also has the room to act like a "condo" wherever it is. The boat would be kept in Annapolis, but with either boat we would cruise the east coast from Maine to the Bahamas, so anyone's opinion on sea keeping ability of the 52 or 60 would be great! The 52 we are looking at has 205 hrs and the 60 has just over a 100 hrs. If anyone has input on either the 52 w/ mans or the 60 please share it would be greatly appreciated. Some questions that have been looming in my head is the "true" cruise speed of both the 52 and the 60, and the expected range at cruise speed. Also since the 60 has an enclosed cockpit (although you can open sunroofs and the rear door)- does this make it feel like your not really outside when cruising? Any input on the pro's and con's of these boats would be greatly appreciated. :huh:
 
Nice delimma to have! :thumbsup:
 
Well whatever the boat it will be the new "family" boat for the next 10+ years. Family of 6 with 4 adult children so it will get its use! Prices now are incredibly low I can't believe it. The 60 is asking 899 but it has been said the bank ( yes bank owned but in perfect shape) would most likely accept offers in the 800's. Hard to imagine a 2million dollar boat worth well less than half of that with only 100 hrs on it!
 
Yes, it is a shame that people are losing boats right and left. It's very fortunate for those boat shopping and horrible for those trying to sell their boat. I was fortunate and if it remains as it is for a year or so I may just upgrade now and get it over with.

Mmmmmm, a nice 40 footer with deisels! :smt038
 
Yes, it is a shame that people are losing boats right and left. It's very fortunate for those boat shopping and horrible for those trying to sell their boat. I was fortunate and if it remains as it is for a year or so I may just upgrade now and get it over with.

Mmmmmm, a nice 40 footer with deisels! :smt038

Yes it is truly sad and hard on those people. I look at it two ways. Those people who have lost their business or had other severe impacts due to the economic downturn I truly feel sympathy for if they lose their boat. On the other hand there are many people that in years past just overextended themselves on boats they should never bought in the first place and realistically could not afford. The lesson learned is live within your means and all will be well. As a rule of thumb I think people should only but a boat that they could be able to pay for all in cash. It is a depreciating asset so financing really does not make much sense. If someone could pay all cash but deems that it could be better invested elsewhere (i.e. securities) then I can see where the use of financing can come into play.
 
A 60DA in the 800K range is a steal! Both boats run Mans, the 60 has the 1100s (1051hp) With your stated cruising range of the enitre atlantic coast plus the Caribean, I have one question. (with no disrespect at all)

Why would you want a smaller (lighter) vessel and deal with ISENGLASS and an open cockpit when the weather and the seas come a callin' ?????????????

The 60Da is the flagship of Sea Ray, and if the survey comes out positive, well hands down the 60DA is the better vessel. (your beyond boat) Yes a very nice delimma!

GOOD LUCK
Rich
 
I know there's a couple of members here with 56's with MANs...hopefully they'll chime in at least as far as the engines are concerned.

Personally, I'd look for a 52 with Cummins over the Mans (actually, any boat with Cummins over Mans). I'm relatively new to oil burners with a couple of old CATs, but I do know that MANs require extensive- and very expensive- maintenance; including replacing injectors every 1000 hours. Parts are off the chart as well. I've also read a number of accounts of the D-28's dropping valves- suggest you do extensive homework on these powerplants. From all accounts I've seen, they require an open (and thick) checkbook...

You're upgrading from a gas boat- take your time and do your due diligence when making this decision. Up 'till now, you've not had to stroke a check for 30 grand for engine work- which is a real possibility with MANs...

Do you have a MAN servicing dealer nearby? You'll also want to consider that, if your intended use is extended cruising- particularly in the Bahamas- that locating technicians and parts is going to be a hell of a lot easier with Cummins or Cats.

Just trying to put myself in your shoes (sure wish I was!); I would consider the power every bit- if not more- important than the hull in making my decision.

Good luck, and happy hunting!
 
Last edited:
A 60DA in the 800K range is a steal! Both boats run Mans, the 60 has the 1100s (1051hp) With your stated cruising range of the enitre atlantic coast plus the Caribean, I have one question. (with no disrespect at all)

Why would you want a smaller (lighter) vessel and deal with ISENGLASS and an open cockpit when the weather and the seas come a callin' ?????????????

The 60Da is the flagship of Sea Ray, and if the survey comes out positive, well hands down the 60DA is the better vessel. (your beyond boat) Yes a very nice delimma!

GOOD LUCK
Rich

I love the 48 you have, does yours have the zeus drives? You are right about the weather issue completely. I just wonder if you will not get that feeling of being "outside" on the 60. But yes when the weather picks up the 60 is ideal. I really like the new 54da sea ray has with the zeus drives, but it would cost well more than the 60 we are looking at. Have you heard any major negatives about the 60 or 52?
 
I know there's a couple of members here with 56's with MANs...hopefully they'll chime in at least as far as the engines are concerned.

Personally, I'd look for a 52 with Cummins over the Mans (actually, any boat with Cummins over Mans). I'm relatively new to oil burners with a couple of old CATs, but I do know that MANs require extensive- and very expensive- maintenance; including replacing injectors every 1000 hours. Parts are off the chart as well. I've also read a number of accounts of the D-28's dropping valves- suggest you do extensive homework on these powerplants. From all accounts I've seen, they require an open (and thick) checkbook...

You're upgrading from a gas boat- take your time and do your due diligence when making this decision. Up 'till now, you've not had to stroke a check for 30 grand for engine work- which is a real possibility with MANs...

Do you have a MAN servicing dealer nearby? You'll also want to consider that, if your intended use is extended cruising- particularly in the Bahamas- that locating technicians and parts is going to be a hell of a lot easier with Cummins or Cats.

Just trying to put myself in your shoes (sure wish I was!); I would consider the power every bit- if not more- important than the hull in making my decision.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

Are the newer mans a nightmare when it comes to service? The 60 only comes with mans, but the reason I like the 52 with mans is because the cruise speed is greater than the 52 with cummins. I'm pretty sure the 52 with cummins cruise comfortably around 22-24 knots, and the 52 with mans will cruise around 28-30 knots so I am told. After having an underpowered boat I don't want to make that mistake again, I would want to be able to cruise in the high 20's or low 30's.
 
I hope to have this dilemma in a few more years ;) Love the 480DA myself, but gosh if the right 60DA came up, it would be a no brainer for me. JMHO. Good luck.
 
Are the newer mans a nightmare when it comes to service? The 60 only comes with mans, but the reason I like the 52 with mans is because the cruise speed is greater than the 52 with cummins. I'm pretty sure the 52 with cummins cruise comfortably around 22-24 knots, and the 52 with mans will cruise around 28-30 knots so I am told. After having an underpowered boat I don't want to make that mistake again, I would want to be able to cruise in the high 20's or low 30's.

I would not expect a significant difference in speeds between the MANs and Cummins;
the QSM-11's are 660 hp ( I think), and the Man D-28's are 700 hp.. I'd double-check those numbers with Sea Ray.
 
I have a friend who has owned a 52DA/Mans for a couple of years, puts lots of hours on each year and has not had any major engine problems. We are close to Annapolis and I know he has a reliable and responsive Mans tech who is a distributor nearby. His 52 will flat get up and go; he smokes me cruising at/about 30 kts everywhere we go in company albeit at the cost of a very large fuel bill. The engines are powerful enough at idle that he can't seem to stay no-wake without running one at the time. This boat is extremely stable and I've never known him to be bothered by Chesapeake weather and seas, I would expect the 60 to be even more better in this regard. PM me if you'd like a hook-up with the owner for more direct questions, I'm sure he'd be happy to discuss.
 
Looks like the 60 has sale pending... was a choice made here? Fantastic looking - wish I had this choice to make right now! Come on Powerball!
 
The 60 is 20,000 lbs. more boat, and has a way nicer master. about a third bigger equals no comparison in my book.
 
Thanks, the 48DA is a fine ride.

No Zeus drives, standard Vdrives. Zues wasn't offered in '07, but you don't need them. I can walk this boat sideways with no problem, and feel good doing it. Wonder how the "joystick" captain's will manager when their "fly-by-wire" system craps out, and they have to dock the boat the old-fashion way..with seamanship! I'm with Frank W on this one. I love technology, but have the skills to back it up.

I'm not a sun worshipper so I hide under the hardtop all the time. The 60DA's roof slides open and when you open the rear sliders you should have no feeling of "missing" the outside.

I wish you luck,

Oh yeah, I was at the Norwalk CT show this past fall, and was on the 54DA. I told my dealer, "I've got to go, the itch is starting" LOL it's a bigger 48 with great cockpit room. I think nicer then the 58DA with that round table seating thing in the middle.
 
A little OT but a couple of comments about the MAN's. I was very interested in a boat that had the 850HP version which from a maint. standpoint is pretty much the same as the 1053HP.

At any rate, through the course of my research I went through the log books of 3000hrs on two boats with those motors. Over the 3000hrs there was one failure of a turbo. It was $7K to replace it. No other issues. However, the boat I was looking at just had the 1000 hour service a couple of weeks ago and the bill was $27,000 for the pair.

Very reliable and expensive to service was the net on the 3000hrs I looked at. FWIW

Good luck with your search.
 
Last edited:
Man o man i am in the wrong bizzzzzz 27.000 k ****tttttttttttttttttttttttt
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,942
Messages
1,422,696
Members
60,926
Latest member
dander88
Back
Top