What Sea Ray is this?

NateSeaRay

New Member
May 12, 2018
4
Boat Info
1990 Sea Ray SRV 240
GMC Savannah 1500
Engines
Mercruiser 350
Sorry in advance if this is the wrong section to post this in, I'm new to posting in forums (long time lurker).

I have the opportunity to pick up this Sea Ray from a retiree, but he seems to have very little knowledge of what he has. So, I figured someone here might know and chime in with some info.

It's said to be a 1986 Sea Ray "Adventure" (24'er). But, for the life of me, I simply CANNOT find this model or a lookalike that fully resembles it ANYWHERE online.

Full inboard, cuddy cabin, and that's about all I know of it. Does anyone know specifically what this is?
Screenshot_20180512-224939.jpg
Screenshot_20180512-224922.jpg
Screenshot_20180512-224933.jpg
 
On the transom on the right side there should be numbers and letters molded in. Can you get a picture of them for us or write them down and tell us? We can tell a lot from that.

It doesn't look like a Sea Ray to me but then again the picture angles aren't the best. If it is a Sea Ray I'm guessing it's a model from the mid to late '70s to early '80s.
Shawn
 
On the transom on the right side there should be numbers and letters molded in. Can you get a picture of them for us or write them down and tell us? We can tell a lot from that.

It doesn't look like a Sea Ray to me but then again the picture angles aren't the best. If it is a Sea Ray I'm guessing it's a model from the mid to late '70s to early '80s.
Shawn

Hi Shawn!
I picked it up, and it is a Sea Ray 240sf (That's what the title says).

He said there weren't too many of them made (1986) as it's said to be a sport fisherman type of setup. Fiberglass deck, fiberglass stringers, and seem in fairly good shape.

The Hull ID # is AV060005A585
Year: 1986
Make: Adventure (Sea Ray)
Model: 240SF
Engine: 5.7 350 (mercruiser)
Outdrive: Mercruiser (not sure on model)

This is the info I have so far, but the boat is now sitting in my drive, so I can get whatever info needed and pics as well. She ran, drove, steered, and purred well. Transom was solid (as far as I could tell with the hollow knock test), stringers are all glass and looked great, motor ran great at temp and didn't seem you use the slightest hiccup, and only minor issues here and there wth accessories (corroded bow light connection, and very old bilge pump that looks original from 86, lol).

Other than that, I'm at a complete loss as to how to find anything out about this boat. But, I got it for dirt cheap, so I can't complain too awful much.
 
I'm still a bit skeptical....
  1. the serial # indicates the boat is a 1985 not an '86 (.....585)
  2. I believe the serial # on all Sea Rays of that vintage started with "SEA....."
  3. I looked at the Sea Ray Archives on their website and no boat like that is listed http://www.searay.com/page.aspx/pageid/162289/Owners-Resources.aspx#Model Archives
  4. It just doesn't look like any Sea Ray I've ever seen.
Having said all of that I will still admit I could be wrong. If you really want to find out go to https://www.boatfax.com/content/view/1/1/
For $20 you enter the Hull Identification Number (HIN) and it will tell you instantly.

Let me know....my curiosity is peaked....
Shawn
 
Guys, the lines alone should tell you that isn't a Sea Ray, but the HIN number cements it!

This company (Adventure Boat And Mfg) is owned by Bill Steffens and is located at 733 N PULASKI RD in CHICAGO state of IL. It manufactured this vessel and placed your HIN or CIN on the hull. The Parent Company for this boat maker is (). Adventure Boat And Mfg has started making boats, yachts and other watercraft as of 3/29/1983 12:00:00 AM and went out of business on (10/31/1989 12:00:00 AM) in the following country: .
 
Thank you so much! I called Sea Ray, and they were extremely helpful (even though it was very confusing). It is indeed from the "Adventure Boats & Mfg Co." company from back in 86'.

They said all the Sea Ray badged stuff on the boat is because Adventure copied a lot of components and etc from Sea Ray (from 81 until their demise) and much of the components, accessories, and odds/ends are interchangeable/direct swap n bolt. So, their best guess is that the original owner had swapped back and forth with parts over the years because Sea Ray's are higher quality in most areas and so plentiful on the market, and then the SECOND owner bought it out of state and retitled it in his State (Michigan) and whomever did the inspection/title stuff there at the watercraft office made a HUGE error in putting Sea Ray on the title and bumping Adventure to the Model position with 240sf, leading to the mistaken belief for the past 17yrs it's being known as a "Sea ray" make, and the model "Adventure 240sf".

I'm in Ohio, so I don't know much about Michigan title and inspections, but it amazes me how the Watercraft office/BMV (or whomever) would make such a mistake. But, we're all humans I guess, hehe.

I had my doubts at first about it being a Sea Ray, but then when seeing the title listing it as such, and the owner insisting it was and that I was mistaken, I became very confused and thrown off and have him the benefit of the doubt because I'm not the most knowledgable about boat mfg and etc (other than my baby - 89 Sea Ray 220DA for all these years. I've never ran into a problem that wasn't already thoroughly covered on here. So, I gotta give thanks to the Sea Ray Club for unknowingly helping me in keeping my baby in tip top shape for the past 12yrs).

But, I am so thankful for the help, the guidance, and the instruction from you guys. Thank you guys so much! I can finally sleep now and not feel like I'm losing my mind! Lol
 

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