The elusive 2014 Sea Ray 510 is spotted

Appreciate we are not a big market down under, but the open fly does not work here. I get enough sun mowing my lawn and walking the kids to school, I try and avoid the sun when on the boat.
 
You can still put up the bimini top. And there is a lower helm. I think the main problem people are having is with the styling - completely understandable. Seems to be polarizing.
 
IMO, the big difference is that this bridge does feel and look like a patio. The way SR and other brands (e.g Azimuth) designed the bimini, it can't come close (in terms of look, feel and mostly functionality) to boats that were designed with a hardtop. With fully enclosed climate controlled bridge with a hard top it's a whole another large room on it's own level. My boat has a soft top, but I think that SR put in a lot of thought by making it flow very nicely making look and function like a hard top (even more on 44DB).

Despite the fact that I'm a fan of new and slick style, when I look at 480DB I feel more like home compare to the 510FLY. It seems like SR stepped back good 15-20 years in terms of finding the balance between style and functionality.

I know I keep bragging about the bridge, but I'm sure the feeling is the same among bridge boat owners that fell in love with their fully enclosed bridge by using it all the time. Obviously it's a bridge boat guys thing, but once you get the feel for a well designed and functional bridge anything like we see in the new 510FLY will look like a joke.

Just like any boater I'm always thinking what would be my next boat. By making an observation of what's hidden behind the design of Vikings, Azimuths and many trawlers having open bridge and lower helm (or pilot house) I see a huge difference. It's not often when we see very well design of lower helm blending nicely with a salon and not taking too much room on a 50'er. Just IMO, Azimuths need some improvement while Vikings made much better progress in that respect. With trawlers like GB, Flemming, Marlow, etc. of course we're comparing apples and oranges. But, this is where I can see myself making a compromise on "loosing" the fully enclosed bridge just b/c there's very well designed pilot house.

I think that if we look at the trend where folks with 40'er are looking for their next boat of a 50'er range (e.g many jumped from 400DB to 480DB or from 420/44DB to 500/520DB) the new 510DB will most likely be crossed off the list just b/c of the bridge design.

A full beam aft Master SR definitely a huge selling point. But, why make big improvement in one area and totally drop the ball in another area?

My advice in this case (of course I doubt that SR is listening), if you have developed very nicely designed and functional climate controlled bridge with a hard top, keep it and improve by making it look more modern (if you wish to be ahead of the game style wise). But, don't break it. For example, take very well designed and popular 520DB and just making more modernized, if you wish to compete with European models of this size. Add full beam master SR, makes sinks larger, add more storage, better access to some components that's hard to service now. Just improve on what's already a popular and proven design that's been selling for many years.
 
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Sea Ray basically pioneered the Sedan Bridge line being a cross of a sportfish, express cruiser, and motor yacht. I think the 510 is a huge step back just mimicking what has already been out in the euro cruisers for years.

The thing that always attracted me to the Sedan Bridge was the steps to the bridge instead of a ladder and the hardtop with sportfish style layout on the bridge.
 
Alex,
Interesting observation, the previous owner of your boat purchased a Fairline Squadron 58 soft top of course.
Looks just like the 510fly. Searay lost that customer because he didn't want "plain vanilla" any more, I love plain vanilla and the styling of Sea Ray boats right thru late 2000 work for me as my current boat does. Searay is just trying to catch up to that market sect as that is what is selling.
 
Don't forget the 510 Fly is available with a hardtop as well. This is from Sea Ray's own web site where they list the options:

"Hardtop, Fiberglass w/Lighting, Sunroof & Electrically Retractable Skylight (Requires Engine Upgrade)"

It sure would be nice to see a picture of a 510 with that hardtop.
 
Thanks Dave.

Yes you're right, he didn't want "plain vanilla" and may people look to get a lot more when upgrading and spending big chunk of money. I'm no exception. Fairlines are awesome, I wish they would be more affordable, though.....LOL

The example of Fairline Squadron 58 soft top brings to the point I made earlier where the lower helm is used in inclement weather. When you step in to a 60'er with lower helm, you most likely don't get the feel that it's taking too much valuable space. For this reason I can see how folks go for the "compromise" of giving up fully enclosed bridge and don't mind using it only on a nice days. It's very different in 50'er, especially where LOA is a true 50'. That's where you walk in to salon and see the lower helm in the middle of the "livingroom" and we're missing a dinette (of course I'm exaggerating, but that's the basic feeling I got few times when boarding European brands 45-50'er).

On the other hand, I've seen our mutual friend's 50'er Viking. It's a big 50'er, at least it feels very big. The way the lower helm is designed it fits/blends very nicely in the salon. I was pleasantly surprised. This is the key in boat engineering, it doesn't have to be huge, it just has to be designed properly where everything is placed proportionally making it look appealing and be very functional. That's obviously what every brand is tryingto acheave, but not all are suceseeding.

P.S. when PO of my boat had it, the bridge wasn't climate controlled. It is now and it makes a huge difference, IMO.
 
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I like the way it looks so they wouldn't lose a sale from me in that department but I have no idea about the functionality of something this size. It's not something that will be within my grasp so my opinion isn't worth much. haha. But if I were in that class; the thought of freezing or baking while operating the vessel doesn't appeal to me Some have mentioned the second helm but I would agree that I'd wouldn't want to lose the space for that. To me something like is all about comfort. Interesting thread though...
 
This has been a pretty interesting read, with quite a few different perspectives. I'll share mine....and they might be relevant to Sea Ray as we've already started looking to move up again. But then again the 510 is already out of the mold so I don't see much changing. As a 52DB owner there were a few things we looked for when we bought this one. Sea Ray styling was one of them. This being the 4th Sea Ray we've owned we obviously like the Sea Ray hull lines and interior outfitting. I actualy like the way the new 510 Fly looks, even with the hard top and its squarish furnishings. Does that mean I'd buy one? The short answer is no, but it has nothing to do with the way it looks. I think the Sea Ray did a nice job optimizing the lower helm from a form and function perspective, but, it takes up too much space. I like driving from the bridge, no matter what the conditions. As a matter of fact, the worse the weather the more I want to drive up there for visibility purposes. So, I neither want or need a lower helm station, but I understand the market and all of Sea ray's competitors use them. Going to the salon space....The 510 is dimensionally very close to my boat but the salon appears to be smaller (refer back to the lower helm). Same thing for the galley (also refer back to the lower helm). One of the other things we looked for when we bought this boat, and one of the things we compromised on, was a bigger master stateroom. The MSR on the 52 is actually smaller than the 44, but the second stateroom is much larger on the 52 and could be used as a master. I really like the full beam master and that's a must on my next boat. We debated the 58DB for this very reason so that one is still on my list. The bridge on the 510 does not look nearly as functional as mine. I like the 52DB layout much more than the 44. Visibility is as good or better forward and aft. I can't tell about visibility on the 510 but with a forward helm on a boat as long as mine I can't see aft visibility being very good. On both boats I was enclosed (except in hot weather on the 44 where I had to open some of the glass). A climate controlled helm, with polycarbonate glass at a minimum, is the only way I'd ever boat again. The 510 bridge being open just doesn't work for me. I want glass and AC/Heat. Now some will say the 510 is the wave of the future and us old guys will just have to get over it. Well, I don't think that's the case. Some traditional Sea Ray owners will buy the 510 and the 650. Others may go the trawler route. But for guys like me, who wants a boat with the looks and an enclosed bridge it just means we may have to change brands. I've been on the new Riviera 50 and the Maritimo M50 and 58. Their hard glass, fully enclosed, climate controlled, leather couched bridges are unbelievable. They make me think of what the replacements for the Sea Ray 52 and 58DB's should have had for major design elements, but Sea Ray didn't ask me. Maybe I'm a small minority of boater in this class boat, BUT....I've bought new before, I've got the resources to be in this class of boat and I'll likely be in the market for my next move up soon. Sea Ray (I hope) will steal some sales from Azimut and Fairlaine and Viking and Princess (and maybe that's where the market is) but this Sea Ray loyalist would have been REALLY excited to see the new Sea Ray's with designs more like I expected than what I see. Maybe I'll buy new and if I do I don't know think it will be a Sea Ray and if I buy used it almost definitely will be a Sea Ray, or maybe I'll just keep my 52 and go back to being a golf addict. All I know is the 510 Fly is a beautiful boat, but not my preferred style....Just my $.02
 
Oh....apologies for the ramble.
 
Alex F said:
My advice in this case (of course I doubt that SR is listening)........
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Seems like there used to be a fellow from Sea Ray corporate that was active on the site (not Rusty, someone else). Haven't heard or seen anything from him in a while.
 
Four Suns said:
You serious? That thing is so damn ugly and no one wants to offend anyone by saying so. Well here it is... "It's fugly"...

My "new boat list" is getting a smaller number of vendors... no AC on the bridge?! What a joke.
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Is fugly a contraction of two words?
 
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I remember the first time I saw curved windshields on the DA's (89 or so) and was told that's the new "euro look". I remember thinking "for petes sake, why are we trying to copy them?" but, I admit, it didn't take long for me to like that look. then came the forward arches which just didn't make a lot of functional or aesthetic sense to me at the time but as time wore on, I came accustomed to the style, especially when they integrated the hard tops, yet still appreciated the swept back look. I've just really struggled over the recent years with all the side glass in the hulls, it just seems to keep expanding and expanding to one day I think the hull is going to be a giant piece of glass.

I do like that they aren't sweeping the bow further down into the water as some of the newer models seem to compromise seaworthiness for styling. Plus, I'm not sure if I've ever seen a SR interior that I didn't like, and I think I could say the same for the 510 from what I can see. time will tell, may get used to it, may not. Right now, the fact is the boat, to me, is no longer "unmistakably sea ray" from the look of the lines regardless of the whole bridge design and all the side glass.

upgrade alternatives? 58Db or a sportfish. Maybe as the center consoles get bigger and bigger and start to take a bigger bite out of the sportfish market, we'll see the traditional sportfish manufactures start to integrate the cruiser-sportfish looks together more (they way Riviera has). that might be interesting to see because I cant imagine the sportfish market straying to far away from their traditional designs. if they could just integrate the cockpit-to-bridge steps.
 
tc410 said:
Seems like there used to be a fellow from Sea Ray corporate that was active on the site (not Rusty, someone else). Haven't heard or seen anything from him in a while.
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I'm still here, usually multiple times per day. Just listening, mostly. We're certainly watching this thread and we appreciate all the feedback', both positive and negative; I especially appreciate BMAC's well-articulated critique. And believe it or not, we are making some adjustments on the fly (see what I did there?) in response.
 
Brian
When I hear mention of offerings form Maritimo and Riviera I think sportfish. I know they they are probably more so classified as "convertibles" but they are borne of the sportfish class (tuna towers, outriggers, etc). I don't think SR has ever been in the sportfish business, other than the late '80s 440 Convertible (I think that was the designation). And they didn't sell a whole lot of those. Matter of fact I don't think I've ever seen a 440 owner on this board or its predecessor.

SR has clearly chosen a pathway more in the direction of the SPORT BRIDGE than the convertible/sedan bridge. I can certainly see why current DB owners may favor a design akin to the overseas builders. Is there room for both types of bridge boats from a mega-manufacturer? That's going to take market research to figure out.
 
searay40dad said:
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a SR interior that I didn't like, and I think I could say the same for the 510 from what I can see.
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I do agree on that point, I like the interior conceptually, I just don't like the space that the lower helm takes up in a boat that I feel is too small to accomodate it. I love the full beam master, although I question how much the performance will suffer by moving the center of gravity back by going to Zuess/V-Drive configuration. The real struggle for me conitinues to be giving up the "three-seaon" livability of the bridge, and as some have pointed out, the molded stairs vs. ladder concept.

I seem to remember seeing some early versions of the 480DB ('98 or '99?) that had a more euro-style bridge option with a sunbed aft and a bench style helm seating configuration. Maybe a resonable accomation for the 510FLY would be to offer the current Med-Style bridge layout, and also a more traditional style layout, similar to how they offered it on the 480. Time would tell what customers preferred. In the case of the 480, customer choice became pretty obvious.

PS - Thanks SeaRayCorporate for making your presence known :)
 
bmac said:
.....I like driving from the bridge, no matter what the conditions. As a matter of fact, the worse the weather the more I want to drive up there for visibility purposes. So, I neither want or need a lower helm station......
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I think a lot of bridge boat owners would agree with you, Brian. Excellent point on visibility in poor conditions. Bridge is where you'll get best visibility which translates in to safety. Try cruising at night from the lower helm with the lights on in the salon, admiral doing something in the galley right next to you and it won't take too long to realize that these thing simply don't mix. You as a captain need to be either up on the bridge or a pilot house with no lighting ruining your vision.

bmac said:
.....A climate controlled helm, with polycarbonate glass at a minimum, is the only way I'd ever boat again. The 510 bridge being open just doesn't work for me. I want glass and AC/Heat....
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I guess hard top is implied in your "glass and AC/Heat" statement. This is exactly what I have on my list. This goes back to the point above. Give me fully enclosed/glassed climate controlled bridge and I'll be the happiest captain. One perfectly setup bridge and no need for lower helm down below to take up valuable space.

bmac said:
..........I've been on the new Riviera 50 and the Maritimo M50 and 58. Their hard glass, fully enclosed, climate controlled, leather couched bridges are unbelievable. ......
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We had the opportunity to tour Maritimo 50. The WOW factor was HUGE. Talking about the dream bridge setup. No canvas, no plastic no hassle on any of these items. Don't get me wrong, I love mine and similar with hard plastic enclosure, but it still a big PITA when there's a storm coming. In order to protect this huge investment you need to take it all down. The bridge on Maritimo 50 is so well designed, it's VERY functional and to top it off, you get the sliding doors to take to "the second floor patio". That was some icing on the cake. I can tell you that we simply loved almost every little thing on the boat. My wife loves it and it's definitely making the list of future candidates for the upgrade.

Going back to 510FLY, IMO if SR took totally the opposite approach and went after Maritimo in regards to the bridge design, I think the positive comments with would be flying here non-stop.

Just my opinion.

P.S. Is having two tables on the bridge really necessary?....just saying....
 
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