Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge Wanted

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Home at Last

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Nov 30, 2021
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Boat Info
Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge 2006
Engines
MerCruiser T-Cummins QSM-11
Hi there. I’m in the market for a 52 Sedan Bridge.
Anyone selling?
Thanks
 
I'd like to check one out. We love the 56DB and 580DB.
I always wanted the 550 Sedan Bridge.
 
Thanks. I saw this one. No davit crane. I can't imagine why anyone would order that boat without a way to get a dinghy onboard! I would have to install a Freedomlift or find some other solution
 
I thought they either had the davit or the hydraulic platform. Was the davit removed?
 
Tim Fila said:
I thought they either had the davit or the hydraulic platform. Was the davit removed?
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No, you could order it without a davit or hydraulic swim platform.
Makes no sense to me that you wouldn’t have it on what was a million dollar boat at the time
 
Home at Last said:
Thanks. I saw this one. No davit crane. I can't imagine why anyone would order that boat without a way to get a dinghy onboard! I would have to install a Freedomlift or find some other solution
Click to expand...
I have the davit option and have used it extensively. It is not as great as you would expect. It is a rarity to pick up a dinghy or tender in glass smooth water; things are choppy and rock n rollin. The davit has to pick up the dinghy from the side of the boat then swing it around. Whomever is in the dinghy (usually me) to hook up the davit is getting beat up and usually dinged in the head by the davit hook and weight. Frankly I don't know how they do if from davits mounted on the bow and not have to ride the dinghy up. If the davit boom could extend to pick from the aft of the boat it may be a different situation.
Because of the challenges with the davit I'm currently installing the Presto Marine davits. I'll keep the davit installed in the transom locker as I use it to pick the outboard motor off the dinghy to store in the cockpit during across open water travels.
IMG_2818.JPG
 
Interesting. Have you looked at Freedomlift? Any thoughts on their system?
I don’t think I’d be using the davit outside of a marina however, so it may not be as much of an issue for me
 
Home at Last said:
Interesting. Have you looked at Freedomlift? Any thoughts on their system?
I don’t think I’d be using the davit outside of a marina however, so it may not be as much of an issue for me
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Oh yes, I've looked at all of them and have had several of them. There is a thread from me going through the selections with other forum members from several months ago and how I landed on the Presto Marine XL500 lift. The installation isn't complete yet so more to follow. I think the message is don't pass up a good boat because of the OEM davit.
 
ttmott said:
Oh yes, I've looked at all of them and have had several of them. There is a thread from me going through the selections with other forum members from several months ago and how I landed on the Presto Marine XL500 lift. The installation isn't complete yet so more to follow. I think the message is don't pass up a good boat because of the OEM davit.
Click to expand...
The thing I don’t like about Presto is that it really mucks up your swim platform whereas the Freedomlift doesn’t. The boat I’m looking at is a 2007 with MANs, only 580 hours so it is a good find I think
 
Home at Last said:
The thing I don’t like about Presto is that it really mucks up your swim platform whereas the Freedomlift doesn’t. The boat I’m looking at is a 2007 with MANs, only 580 hours so it is a good find I think
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My issue with the Freedomlift or Sealift the mechanism is under water; we have warm salt water and the growth here is pretty bad. The 52DB doesn't have a traditional swim platform but rather the lazerette is extended back with the swim platform above. Consequently, the mechanism for a lift that mounts on the transom is rather specialized and requires significant reinforcement. And, expensive - Freedom lift or Sealift for my boat was closing on $38K plus installation; so figure in the range of $45K.
This is my Presto lifts mocked up on the swim platform -
IMG_6221.jpg
 
Yeah, we only used the lower helm a few times in 10 years we owned her. The few times we did use it were times when it was freakin' cold outside and we retreated to the lower helm to the warmer areas in the cabin. The boat had no fly bridge heat but did have 4 heat zones in the lower areas.

Perfect! I wouldn't turn down a nice boat if it had a lower helm but on the flip side I wouldn't reject a boat that didn't have the lower helm. Here's what the lower dining area looked like when it was set up for one of the dinner cruises we donated to a local charity. We usually did 2-3 of these every summer.

P8200189.JPG


P8200199.JPG
 
We used the Davit a lot and have a routine, no one has to ride the dinghy up we have a bow and stern line on it the wife and I handle the 12’ RIB with 40 Yamaha fine.
I’d rather not lose my platform with all that hardware.
Also have to heard great things about Freedom lifts. Heard of one breaking an arm off in rough weather and losing a tender and another arm breaking.
 
ttmott said:
My issue with the Freedomlift or Sealift the mechanism is under water; we have warm salt water and the growth here is pretty bad. The 52DB doesn't have a traditional swim platform but rather the lazerette is extended back with the swim platform above. Consequently, the mechanism for a lift that mounts on the transom is rather specialized and requires significant reinforcement. And, expensive - Freedom lift or Sealift for my boat was closing on $38K plus installation; so figure in the range of $45K.
This is my Presto lifts mocked up on the swim platform -
View attachment 117444
Click to expand...
I have a quote from Marquipt to install the davit system for $30k, maybe that’s my best option then given what you are saying about the Freedomlift. At least it will be new and shouldn’t give me any issues
 
We have had two boats with hydraulic swim platforms, one was very difficult to use, the other one a dream to use.

We have done a lot of bare boats over the years with all kinds of Davits (lower and upper), and assorted mounting options.

Convinced nothing is perfect in all conditions and all boats. Like so many other boating topics they all are a series of compromises.
 
I always thought Sea Ray went backwards when they went to a davit on the 500DB and 52DB. Granted, I'm in brackish water so I don't have the growth issues but I'm not limited to launching from one side with my GHS lift.
 
I have used the Marquipt davit on a 500 Sedan a few times, you're better off without it.

Depending on your ideal tender, I have been very impressed with using the Sea Wise davit on my boat. For a larger tender you would need the electric or hydraulic unit for sure. https://seawisemarine.com/. I like that I can used my entire platform still for boarding etc. and not have to trip over the dinghy.

Also, Seaweed Marine makes an interesting system that can be easily removed but also allows use of the majority of your swim platform. https://seaweedmarine.com/

These are a lot less complicated options.
 
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