Searay bashing?

CARGUY

New Member
Dec 17, 2008
7
No. California
OK, I'm new here but not new to boating. I've been away from serious boating for several years now but I'm thinking about getting another small cruiser (34-37'). I've been looking at older sedans and have run across several nice Searays in my price range. From what I've seen, I'd certainly consider a SR but a lot of boating sites that I've visited have had plenty of SR bashing. I can't seem to get any specific issues but there seems to be a lot of people that look down on SR for some reason. I thought the best place to get a response would be from Searay owners so...what say you?
 
Jealousy... Sea Ray, typically is the manufacturer that sets the bar for the others to try to equal or beat and although SR's are not perfect,(read some of the posts here), they are well designed and constructed albeit a bit pricey. If you get one, you'll probably get another, resale value is generally good, notwithstanding today's deflated market.
 
Sorta like the Ford/Chevy arguments. Sea Ray is one of the best if not the best on the market. All manufacturers have had some type of problem throughout the years and as the other poster said a little jealousy on the part of the bashers, most of them really wish they had one.:grin:
 
Sorta like the Ford/Chevy arguments. Sea Ray is one of the best if not the best on the market. All manufacturers have had some type of problem throughout the years and as the other poster said a little jealousy on the part of the bashers, most of them really wish they had one.:grin:

Ford/Chevy??. I would think it is more like BWM to Chevy or Ford. I think of my Sea Ray as the BMW of boating.
 
Searay Bashers find that one thing that they do not like regarding Serays and then they hate the entire boat. I am sure that not everyone is totally please with everything on their boat. Searay I will say gives you the 95-98 percent solution as opposed to other manufacturers who do things in the manufacturing process just ot save money.

Craig
 
Sea Ray is the largest boat builder. They sell the most boats. They build the widest range of boats. The build boats from small runabouts to good sized yachts. Some people like to knock the biggest player because it makes them feel smarter. Whatever makes them happy. I, and quite a few others, don't bother with those sites, and they are poorer for it. I'd rather have one FWebster or Four Sun than a thousand of their "experts".

Best regards,
Frank
 
I thought this was going to be a thread about learing to dock :huh:...

It is just like anything else in life. Opinions are like a$%holes, everybody's got one. I have only owned my boat for a season and a half now. I can tell you two things for sure. Everyone that I have met who opted for another brand of boat always starts the conversation with "I looked at SR first, but found that I liked (insert various reasons here) better about (insert other brand here)". There are some valid reasons given that people choose other brands. SR, after all, isn't the only manufacturer that makes nice boats. In most cases, cost is the primary reason for not choosing a SR. They do tend to be a little more expensive than other brands. The underlying theme is that SR started out on the top of their list, and the boat that they ended up with was a second, or third choice.

In MY opinion, SR boats are the most stylish. Whenever I pull into a marina, or bring friends to my boat, people are impressed. It just flat out feels good to see and feel how others react. It is akin to pulling up in a really nice BMW. Whenever I am on my boat, I am proud of it. I have never regretted my decision to own a SR.

Besides that, we SR owners have this forum. Where else can you get advice like this from the best bunch of floating screwballs in the world.

Go shopping, look at all of the brands, and buy whatever boat makes you happy. If you end up with a SR, just be prepared to hear comments from everyone who didn't buy a SR telling you why they were such a smart shopper (implying that you weren't because you didn't consider the reasons that they thought brand X boat was better). Of course, you will see the doubt in their eyes as they try to sell you on their story. If you end up with a different brand, I wish you the best of luck, and happy boating.

Michael
 
I'd say the Sea Ray is more like a Nissan or Acura/Honda. :grin:

Doug

Eww. My wife had a nissan before we were married. It was a piece of sh** that we got rid of ASAP. Thing was so crappy that the rear view mirror was useless at any speed over 50 MPH. The engine's buzz would vibrate the mirror so much that reflected image was very blurry. The dealer said, "They're all like that." I've no experience with Hondas, but I know someone with an Acura TL and it's an econobox with leather. The engine buzzes and vibrates the car like a truck. Actually, the engine in my truck, a Navigator with nearly 300,000 miles, is smoother.

On the other hand, they're inexpensive, unlike a Sea Ray.

Bad analogy.

Best regards,
Frank
 
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I've only been a boater since 2005.. before that had I no experience other than a 12' jon boat on a mississippi pond as a young boy. I really had no idea about brands. I started doing research about a year before going to my first boat show and it didn't take long to narrow the choices to about 3 brands. It seemed pretty obvious to me the fit and finish, layouts, features, etc all pointed me to Sea Ray. Around the marina I get compliments on (now BOTH) of my SeaRays... I hear terms such as classic looks, fit and finish, well thought out layout, handy features from everyone that wants to look.

There have been some owners with issues, but I don't know of a product that doesn't have some. I do know SR stands behind their boats and will try to work with you. And if its an older boat you are looking at then this board is a great resource. There are several knowledgeable and willing to help guys.

Best of luck on your search!
 
The one advantage we have here is that CSR is a brand specific site. Some of the guys here know Sea Ray boats better than many of their factory guys. You will get to know the players here pretty quickly....for example, I don't comment on things I don't know about or have done or seen done on my own boat. Can "other sites" give you that level of information quality?

You want to learn about Sea Rays? Ask your question here, not on a site inhabited by a bunch of "experts" who's total basis for knowledge is whatever they read in last month's boating magazine.
 
I think the word is Justification. Many of those that don't Like SeaRays have "justified" themselves into whatever they are boating in. Many say SeaRays are too expensive for the same thing in brand "X". Well, the reality is that typically Brand "X" simply doesn't match up to the features, fit, finish, resale, overall material quality, components, cutting edge design that other brands trend to immitate, etc.
It costs more to kick a boat out the production line with the above, hence the price and resale value.
The bad wrap we get as SeaRay Owners is if we act like a snobby BMW owner thinking we're better than others or look down our noses because we own SeaRays. What makes me cringe sometimes is when we as SeaRay owners are hated because we own SeaRays.

We can Justify owning SeaRays because they are a great value in the get what you pay for category. The ones that don't like SeaRays(personalities aside) justify they can get wet on the lake the same way we can in there Brand "X" for much less $$$
 
When I got into boating, the best place, I thought, to look for boats was at the lake. Not living on the coast, this is where all the boats were....of all kinds. After walking miles of docks, and seeing every (thousands) imaginable choice, I ended up owning SR. Good solid boat, with innovative features usually 2-3 years ahead of the competitors. Ever notice they weigh about 15% more than the other brands? They don't have lead keels.
 
That’s just wrong, so if you own one you are automatically labeled a “Snob”?

No more than any other SeaRay owner that acts that way. I didn't say all, I said "like a Snobby BMW owner thinking they're better". I'm not saying all BMW owners say or act as if they're better. The problem is if you own a brand that is considered top of the heap or close to it, any comments or attitude from that position comparing to other brands reflects poorly on the rest of the owners with a "Hey I'm better than you" stigma.
 

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