What about this 36 Sedan Bridge?

[rondds]

the stubby early searay foray into bridge boat building guy chiming in here :wink:

firstly, i read the review in Boating Mag and they liked the boat. on the other hand they never really dislike any boat (b/c they are given test boats and do not want to trash any builder b/c they may not be given any more. i was surprised they were given a gasser to test by searay, but they felt that the 8.1s were a nice choice and diesel was not a must-have in this boat. whether that recommendation was programmed by brunswick, we'll never know. but i DO know that every test i have ever read in Boating in the 10 years i have been getting it, always featured a the boat powered by the mid to highest engine option offered.

in looking at the numbers their fuel consumption tests rendered, i'd say they are comparable to mine , but my boat is about 6000lbs lighter and runs carbuerated 7.4s. dont get hung up on comparing these consumption numbers with those of a 380DA. Dancers are lighter and narrower and will always be more economical than a bridge boat. not to mention that the weight distribution is more aft with a sedan bridge, which makes planing more strenuous and thus lowers your cruising speed and MPG.

as far as being more unstable, i think it depends on where you are sitting. if you sat on a chair perched on top of the radar arch of a comparably sized sundancer, you will get the same amount of movement, just by simple geometry. the further from the fulcrum, the more the point moves. it's annoying but it is not unsafe. while your body may move more measurably, i think it affects you less (from a motion sickness standpoint) b/c you are able to look out further on the horizon and not see the movement of the water itself.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, you are more at the mercy of the wind when docking than with ANY express-type boat. wind has kept us at the dock several times just b/c i was concerned about getting back in (no bow thruster). anyone with a gas powered inboard searay knows what a "thrill" it is maneuvering his/her boat in close-quarters. that is magnified both by the increased weight and the wind resistance bridge boats present.

as for the new 36, i think it is a beauty. that being said, i'm not crazy about a one stateroom design. even my old 340 (which is 2' shorter at the water line) has a second room, without sacrificing a stall shower (be envious dancer owners!) :smt038 . to me that is important, and it could be at resale time since many a prospective buyer will have the proverbial 2.4 children. interestingly , my boat was only made in 88 and 89. probably not a hot seller but there are always a handful to be had on boats.com. but the 88 had galley down and one stateroom, while in the 89 they switched to galley up and two staterooms.

then there's the whole debate of being isolated from your guests, blah blah. forget that. the bridge is so large and the cockpit so small, no one is going to sit back there. you will not be alone. being up there CAN BE a consideration when docking since you are fairly helpless way up in the sky.

 

[fwebster]

I have only been on one 36DB and I'm not qualified to comment other than to offer this opinion:

Sea Ray (and no one else for that matter) has ever had a good performing efficient bridge boat under about 40 ft. .......the diesel 370DB from several years ago is a maybe. The reason is because the boat is not long eough to allow for a proper center of gravity. The shorter sedan bridges all tend to be stern heavy, take tons of power to get up on the water, take tons of power to stay there and tend to be slow because of it. Do not for a minute think you can take fuel burn numbers from a gas Sundancer and translate them to a Sedan...it just won't work.

Finally, for what you have to pay for a new 36DB, I can find you any number of very nice 400/420DB's with diesel power that do not suffer from the basic design flaw of being too stern heavy.

 

[Converse48]

Sea Ray (and no one else for that matter) has ever had a good performing efficient bridge boat under about 40 ft. .......the diesel 370DB from several years ago is a maybe.

My palms are sweating as I begin to type a response that is slightly contradictory to Frank, but here goes...

My last boat was a 2003 36' Carver Sport Sedan:

With 8.1 Mercs, it got up on plane quickly, cruised easily at 24 knots, and over two and a half years we averaged 25 GPH. Of course, that GPH figure is an average across all speeds.

Now bear with me... I attribute this efficiency and performance to a fairly flat hull form which helped her get up on plane and run quickly. Of course, the downside of the flat hull form is that it is very bumpy and wet in any sort of chop and it doesn't bite the water at all at low speeds, further excacerbating the sedan bridge tendency to be blown about in the wind.

The other downside, of course, is that the Carver is somewhat goofy looking. In the end, we traded up to the SeaRay 44 for a whole host of reasons, but I would still recommend the Carver 36 to anyone looking for a <40' Sedan.

I'm not looking for a fight, just offering some real world experience with an actual <40' Sedan in a natural setting.

Lastly, rondds, I think the new 36 Sea Ray has two staterooms.

 

[rondds]

prodigal, you are absolutely correct! my bad. there is a second stateroom. i think i was confusing it with the fact that there is no pull out sofa in the salon. i remember asking a salesman at a boatshow if the salon sofa pulled out and he actually didnt know (we were not on the boat at the time and there was a big line so i didnt go back onboard to find out). my friend looked at a pre-owned at marine max last fall and he said the sofa didnt pull out.

whoops! sorry to misinform folks.

 

[fwebster]

Well, dry your palms off, I'm certainly not offended.....my previous post was loaded with qualifications and it was only an opinion offered in hopes that someone looking at the 36DB would look beyond the classy interior and cool touch screen electrical control panel.

I suppose an under 40' bridge boat can be offered that is more fuel and power friendly than Sea Rays, but there is a cost, usually in appearance, or performance or handling. As you incidicated, the Carver appearance tends to not be "yachty' (notice that I avoided your word...."goofy") and they have a pretty flat entry which will lead to a hard ride and poor handling in sea conditions. I moved a Carver for the guys at the marina a year of so ago in preparation for a hurricane, and that thing blew around like a hunk of styrofoam on the water.

Just be sure you sea trial a 36DB in all conditions before you write any checks..........Also, I'm not against buying new boat. Heaven forbid, without new boat buyers, us used boat guys wouldn't have anything to pick from. But, at the new cost of a 36sedan, one can find a very nice used 400 or 420 DB, both of which are very good all around boats.

 

[rondds]

i agree with frank. for the beating you'll take on depreciation, and the bloated price tag, i'd spend 30-40% less and get me a early 00's 400DB with oil burners. no doubt in my mind.

OR wait a couple of seasons and pick up the now depreciated 36. let the other guy take the hit!

 

[Converse48]

I also agree with the buy used philosophy... in most cases. I bought new this time because they were willing to cut a deal that was within 10% of what the asking prices on late model used versions of the same model. The final price was ~15% off the "boat show special". I never thought I would buy new again (I have bought two new sailboats :smt101 ), but I'm willing to take the hit particularly since they gave me my asking price on my trade and I didn't have to deal with selling my boat. Also, another factor was the the 5% Maryland tax advantage on the trade.

Bottom line, I would never advise anyone to buy a new boat... it's a horrible use of financial resources and a bad investment. But as Frank said: somebody's got to do it!

 

[sbw1]

My last boat was a 2003 36' Carver Sport Sedan:

With 8.1 Mercs, it got up on plane quickly, cruised easily at 24 knots, consistently ourunning our express freinds, and over two and a half years we averaged 25 GPH. Of course, that GPH figure is an average across all speeds.

Just looking at the pix of the two boats, part of the quick planning has to be the flybridge foreward bias of the Carver over the SR. This has to shift weight forward which should be good thing. We see lots of Carvers on Lake Michigan. People from Wisconsin like them because they are built there, and they usually have lots of space for living. There was a 28 bridge boat that was unbelieveable in this regard. It had an aft cabin, salon, forward berth and bridge.

 

[Kathyrau]

Thank you gentlemen for all of your feedback - I thought my post here had died an early death. All of you make great points and I appreciate your thoughts. Really good information!

Don't worry about me buying new - Sea Ray's price tags make that a no-brainer decision. My plan right now is to have a great time shopping, be patient, keep checking lots of boats out, and keep my ears open. Maybe next year at this time we'll be ready to buy and have done all our homework . . if I don't drive my husband and kids crazy before then.

Thanks again!

 

[JC3]

Kathy: You are on the right track. I spent almost 6 months(5) trips to Florida, numerous sea trials, and paid for two surveys. With Franks and some other very nice people helping me i finally found and will close on a 45DA that did very well on a very tough survey and at a better than average price savings. Listening to the advice here and be willing to really, really look, you will find the right boat for the right price. I would add that it is a REAL BUYERS MARKET right now. How much longer that will be the case is questionable. Good Luck, JC

 

[Skip]

Kathy,
From where I sit, having owned boats for 22 years now... The single most important factor is not the boat you think you want right now..it is the boat you imagine you will need 3-5 years hence. Since none of us are blessed with crystal balls, this is the dicey part. How old will your kids be in 5 years, how many friends will accompany them (and you) on weekend jaunts, how many hours will you put on the engines, what is your total cost pain threshold, etc. etc. etc. I screwed this analysis up pretty good when I jumped from a 260 to a 320. I should have waited and gone straight to a 420.
Live and learn...this would have been a hard jump, as the big boats are pretty intimidating at the helm until you get the hang of close quarters maneuvering.
If you enjoy hanging out at the dock, heck, nothing wrong with that, but maybe a big gas powered boat is acceptable to you in that case. We put 150 hours on the 420 last year, and I am a confirmed diesel owner...becuase we run the boat a lot, in waters that can get ugly.
We are only at the dock long enought to light the fires and cast off lines.
You owe it to yourself to do some really deliberate analysis on a number of variables (I have only touched on a few here) and once you have done this due diligence, make the best deal you can.
As to noise, go run a diesel boat. My 420 is quieter at the helm at cruise than either my 260 or 320 were. I think that with fuel prices what they are, and boat sales flat, we are in a buyers market for some time. Look at lots of boats, demo lots of boats, do the right analysis, and get what you need for now and the future. Time is most definitely on your side.

best regards
Skip

 

[JC3]

Skip, That was great analysis and darn good advice! :thumbsup: JC

 

[Skip]

JC,
Thank you sir. I missed your 450DA thread...deal done? Cat Power? All good, I am sure.

regards
Skip

 

[rondds]

none of us are blessed with crystal balls
Skip

huh, huh, huh, huh.


Sorry, couldnt resist!

 

[Kathyrau]

Skip good thoughts. I do love to do research (that's why this forum is so great) so I totally agree with you.

I have no idea if it is a buyers market in our area. Our overall business/economic situation here is very rosy. Unlike many areas, our housing market and employment market are doing very well right now which is a key indicator of consumer confidence and buying. I do know the boat show here was booming. It will be interesting to see the market evolve this season.

I think we have the "buy big" down -- we were shopping for a 22 ft boat when we bought our 300DA! :smt001

 

[ylwjacket]

I walked through a 360 again on Monday at the dealership. For a 36 foot boat, it sure has a ton of space inside. Finish is top notch. Separate head and shower is really nice.

Just looking at it, though, I wonder if it's top heavy.

Also, this one at the dealer is used, barely, and has a price of something like 350k.

The accoutrement is top shelf to be sure, but you can buy a 480 sedan for that, almost. I know for a fact that can buy a 450EB for less than that. :thumbsup: Not as new or "nice" maybe. But, different strokes for different folks. Not-so-used 400DB's with diesel engines are certainly available for numbers like that. You can get hem new enough to add warranties if you like.

I think that is the idea behind the 'go large" statement.

It is absolutely beautiful, but is very expensive.

 

[Petep]

Kathy, when you were shopping for a 22' you bought the 300DA ....This is the point that Skip and others make. When I read that you may spend over 379K for a 36' gas boat I just wanted to point you at two boats here at my dealer (as an example);
45' Sea Ray 450 Express Br... 2003 US$ 405,000
45' Sea Ray 450 Express Br... 2002 US$ 385,000
These boats both have Cummins 6cta's, the '03 has only 60 hrs. and was a demo boat. These boats won't sell for this amount either! Your talking the same dollars for a WHOLE different class of boating experience. List to the guy's on this one! They all look so nice at the boat shows (the brand new one's)- What will they be like to own & run as your boating experince level increases..get ahead of the curve!

 

[Overextended]

36 Sedan

I was able to sea trial the 36 sedan and have been aboard a couple as we are seriously considering the boat to replace our 320 DA. Cannot afford the 44 Sedan or any 2004 42 Sedan Sea Rays and I am not interested in buying anything older than 2005 for used. Was entertaining getting either a Meridian 341 or a 391...but the depreciation seems to be much larger on those boats than any Sea Ray that I have ever seen. Funny thing though the 341 (similar in size to the 36 Sedan) seems to have an order for every boat coming out of the factory.

The Sea Ray 36 Sedan seems to be a slow seller now (maybe because of price). Sea Ray is offering a 15,000 rebate and dealers seem to be more flexible on margins than before (fall). I think the 36 Sedan handled well during our sea trial (very rough water that day). The gas engines had tons of power and the boat cruises well at 23 mph with a burn of 31 GPH (cannot afford diesels).

Some folks say the hard top makes the boat look top heavy, but I do not feel that way. I also think the vast majority of weight on the boat is very low to the water line...I do not think a "rollover" situation is possible as the hard top seems to not weigh much.

Seriously thinking about plunking down a deposit and wanted to get some more conversation started about this boat. Should I leave Sea Ray and get a Meridian where I know my resale is not as good? Should I get the Sea Ray and take advantage of the deals out there b/c they are a slow seller? What do others think of this boat on Sea Trials? Has anyone on the board purchased one yet?

Let me know, as great minds need to help me.

 

[ANYTIME]

Re: 36 Sedan

Should I get the Sea Ray and take advantage of the deals out there b/c they are a slow seller? .

I think the dealers are ready to deal, :smt024 so go ahead and get your best price. :thumbsup:

You can probably get any boat show discounts that may have been available, plus, you would be getting a beautiful boat. The only thing we would have added to the one we were looking at would have been the Satellite TV system so we could keep up with our favorite shows while overnighting aboard.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Converse48]

Flettis, I think ssyates is right. You can get a good deal right now! The willingness to put down a deposit seems to really get the dealer's attention, and if you can work two dealers off each other, that can be a big help too. Good luck!