what size cruiser?

CliffA

CliffA

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2009
4,712
Lake Norman, NC
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 340DA
Name: 'Happy Place'
4.5kW West. Generator
Purchased Nov. 2014
Fresh Water Use
Engines
Twin Merc. 6.2L (MPI)
640 hp (Total)
Raw Water Cooled
V-Drive Transmissions
i went to the boat show in Charlotte, NC this past w/e...i spent some time in the Sea Ray area....i have no experience regarding the size and accomodations of cruisers...my 215EC is technically a cuddy cabin...i am 6' 1" and i can move around comfortably in the cabin with my head tilted down... i was under the impression that a true 'cruiser' (even the small ones) would offer enough head room in the cabin where someone my height could easily move around in the cabin....i started off looking at the new 240 DA....it was very nicely appointed but i could only stand straight up in the cabin in the first foot or so at the bottom of the stairs from the deck...to go any deeper in the cabin and access the V berth i had to tilt my head down almost as much as i do in my 215EC cabin...although the aft cabin is a nice feature of the small cruisers that i wish i had in my 215....i then looked at the 260 DA...this was also a very nice boat but not a whole lot more unobstructive head room than the 240 DA...i did not get a chance to look at the 330 at the show...that is much too big for me to consider right now anyways...

as i dream about moving up to a larger boat someday, what size boat should i consider that offers enough room and height in the cabin to move around comfortably?...i would like to be able to trailer the boat also, but these two features (room and trailerable) my not be realistic on the same boat....eventually i want to just start looking at various cruisers to get an idea of the layouts and space and weight/size, but i thought you guys could give me an idea where to start...

thanks.
Cliff
 
good luck with that...I am tall too
may I suggest....:lol:
 
CliffA said:
as i dream about moving up to a larger boat someday, what size boat should i consider that offers enough room and height in the cabin to move around comfortably....but i thought you guys could give me an idea where to start...

thanks.
Cliff
Click to expand...

sure thing. 480 Sedan Bridge
 
410 DA. Two state rooms, two heads and two great CAT diesels
037.jpg
:smt038
 
Even the 300 will not allow you to walk in the cabin to the bed without bending you head. A boat to pull with a trailer in my state ends at the 280DA. the 310 you need a permit. In my 280 DA I can stand at the kitchen (I'm 5'10") but that is it.
Good luck
 
Cliff,
As many will tell you go as big as you can so you are not upgrading every few years. From my personal experience i went from a 20 ft open bow to a 25ft cruiser and thought I would get years out of it, sleeping on it with the family on weekends and extended vacations plus I wanted to trailer it to explore different bodies of water and keep the expenses down having to rent a slip, pay for storage, etc...

Well, one year later i upgraded to a 340 DA because we needed the space for cruising with family and friends plus needed the more room to be comfortable at night. I never used my trailer with the 25ft'er, loved the boat until it was time to get sleep and entertain. The bigger boat is actually easier to handle once you get use to it.

Save money by buying a good used cruiser with the room you need rather than going new with a smaller boat you will need to upgrade too soon. In the end you will save money and aggravation. And you will be able to stand up inside...

PK
 
Cliff, if walking around(inside) is your priority, a small dancer is not in the cards!
You'll have to move to a Saden Bridge to stay in the Sea Ray family, and 30' or less, still isn't going to afford
room for "jumping jax".
Consider a much bigger Sea Ray or jump ship! The "pocket trawler" by C-Dory is an outstanding vessel to consider.
Good luck with your search.
 
I hate to do this but!

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship." - Yoda!

Everyone fears the size of the boat, so they buy a boat they think they can handle, but in the end, they realize they can handle the bigger one.
 
SR400DB said:
400 DB, two state rooms, two heads, OUTSTANDING Cummins Engines and NO CAVE
Click to expand...

Do you mean no nice cool place to hang out when it's roasting in your boat?
 
Ka1oxd said:
I hate to do this but!

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship." - Yoda!

Everyone fears the size of the boat, so they buy a boat they think they can handle, but in the end, they realize they can handle the bigger one.
Click to expand...


Daaa,, Wait....Whaaaat???
 
Sink you won't, buy bayliner, YOU WILL!
Crap! How did I get sucked into this YOda stuff?
 
I'm quite happy with my 41 foot Dancer. Then I saw a 325 foot yacht with a helicopter in Marina del Rey. For almost a second I was jealous. I realized that I can take out my boat alone, the mega-yacht owner can't. He needs over 30 people running around on his boat. He can keep it.
 
Actually head height is why I have a 97 270DA instead of a 200? 260DA. I could not stand anywhere comfortably on a 260. The 270 is a great boat.

MM
 
Hey what about one of these? A Bayliner 266 Discovery. Full cabin headroom and you can still trailer it with a decent size truck. It's not a SR but it is still Brunswick :huh:

imagejpeg


imagejpeg
 
HUMPH said:
Do you mean no nice cool place to hang out when it's roasting in your boat?
Click to expand...

Roasting my a$$. My A/C works great inside and we have windows to see out. That being said, the hotter the better for me.
 
That is why I went looking for a 84 to 89 340. I am 6' 3" and have more room in my boat than most newer ones. I checked SR for the current models and to get the interior room and beam that I have, it would have to be a 400. But that money I do not have. I have want I could pay for in cash! No loans, no payments, and a good running boat!
 
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