What's the big problem with the 47 Sedan Bridge?

[HomePort]

It seems like the 47 Sedan Bridge wasn't a popular or well received boat. At least, it doesn't seem like there are many out there. If this is the case, why?

Personally, I think it has the best interior design/layout of any of the DB's. Was the hull not well engineered? Was it under-powered? What?

- Port

 

[fwebster]

I had one next to me for 2-3 years and ran it several times. They are great boats and run well. I think timing killed it, not the design. It was destined to fit between the 44DB and the 52DB, both of which were some of the best sedans with huge followings that Sea Ray ever made. The 44 was based on the 42 and the 52 was a 48 on steroids, again hugely popular. Overlay that with the overall economy and inability to get financing and the 47DB didn't sell (nothing else did either, for that matter) so she just limped along until she was dropped.

Our dealer sold 4 of them and they are all still in the area.

 

[Ididntdoit]

I think it was a victim of when it came out and the boats that were above and below it size wise - many people either opt for the 48/52DB with three staterooms (yes, there was a 3 stateroom 47 option that devided the huge master) or they opted for the 44 (another great boat)

That said, a good fried of mine had a 47 and loved it. I was on it several times and ran it once. It was well powered and handled great. Some people question it as being ass heavy due to the v-drives but they must have gotten the hull right because it did not seem that way to me.

As you mentioned, the layout worked great for the "weekender" type lifestyle - some have criticized the salon layout, and I can see where they are comming from if they spend the bulk of their time "indoors". The salon/cockpit of this boat combine to feel like the cockpit of a large, modern, hard top DA (48DA, etc). AND you get the advantage of a large bridge.

If you use the search, there have been a couple of similar threads to this in the past with multiple (good and bad) opinions on this boat.

 

[HomePort]

Iddintdoit and fwebster,

I really understand what you're saying. It makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the explanation.

- Port