Thoughts about 370 Aft Cabin model in the 1997-2001 year range

[Creekwood]

Friends of ours are looking to get into boating after spending some time on the water with us. However the DA is not for them since they want a mobile cottage and are looking at 36 to 41 ft AC style boats. I was shopping with them last weekend and many in that size had berths that are too small for them (he's a big guy at 6'4 or so). Looking at the 370 AC it looks like it might have the space they would need but not be too much boat in other ways ($ and experience). They looked at a nice newer Carver 36ft that was almost perfect except the beds were very small and short (even compared to my boat)

Any words of wisdom from those that know these boats?

 

[Sea Ray Mark]

I just picked up a 1997 370AC this year and I'm very happy with it. I'm 6'4" and don't have any problem with the bed in the master stateroom but the head room in the salon is just a bit tight. Overall it seems to be a good layout and it's very comfortable. If head room is a problem you may want to tell your friend to check out the Cruisers 3750 Aft Cabin. A friend of mine has one and it's definately taller inside then my Sea Ray. It's also a very nice boat. Mark

 

[Creekwood]

Thanks for the feedback Mark. How is the cruise speed with the gas engines? Does it get on plane reasonably quickly?

 

[Sea Ray Mark]

I can't really comment on the cruise speed since I'm still working out the bugs on my boat. I had the props done this year and found that it gets up on plane pretty well but I have to run it at 3700 RPM to get an 18knt cruise speed. When I pushed the motors up to full throttle they topped out at 5300 RPM which I know is way to high, I have to pull the props and have a good bit of pitch added to them which will bring the top end RPM down and the cruise speed up. My boat had the motors upgraded to the 380hp Horizons in 2001 which I don't believe where available in 1997 so you have to pay attention to the horsepower rating of the boats you're looking at. Mark

 

[Carver370]

If they are willing to go a little older they should start looking at the 370/405/406 Carver Aft Cabin, 355/356 Carver, 400/404 Carver Cockpit Motoryacht, any of the Cruisers Aft Cabins, and start looking to Silverton.

The interior use of space in the Carvers and Cruisers make them look a lot larger than they are. I dock across from a 1997 370 Sea Ray Aft and my boats interior is head and shoulders larger and more open feeling. Performance is a lot different as well. I cruise 32/3300 RPM and get 21 mph burning about 32 gallons per hour with the 454 Crusader engines.

This is a 1998 405 Carvers main salon.

And Master berth which is huge.

 

[Rivertender]

Friends of ours are looking to get into boating after spending some time on the water with us. However the DA is not for them since they want a mobile cottage and are looking at 36 to 41 ft AC style boats. I was shopping with them last weekend and many in that size had berths that are too small for them (he's a big guy at 6'4 or so). Looking at the 370 AC it looks like it might have the space they would need but not be too much boat in other ways ($ and experience). They looked at a nice newer Carver 36ft that was almost perfect except the beds were very small and short (even compared to my boat)

Any words of wisdom from those that know these boats?

Did your friends buy the 370?

I am looking for a 370 owner to ask some questions about the boat.

 

[Creekwood]

Did your friends buy the 370?

I am looking for a 370 owner to ask some questions about the boat.

Nope. They decided that boating was not what they would want to do. WHat it would take to get them into something they wanted was money they would rather spend on their house, so they built their dream house on an acreage instead.