Why did you pick your current boat?

HomePort

HomePort

New Member
Nov 27, 2012
284
Rock Hall, MD
Boat Info
2015 Prestige 550 Fly
Engines
Cummins QSC 8.3 / 2x600CV + Zeus
I'm interested... why did you pick your current boat? Why the particular model? Why the particular year? What were you comparing it against? What was most important to you in your selection process? Etc.
 
We picked our 410DA because she were purty! Actually, she was pretty ugly when I found her. We thought we would go bigger after a trip to Monterey in the 320DA and had always said we wanted a 400DB. When faced with actually shopping for our next boat, we thought about what was important to our style of boating and decided that the cockpit space is very important. A 380DA was minimum since the Admiral wanted a full shower and fridge/freezer. My pet was diesels and since there are very few 380's with diesels, we looked at 400's, 410's and 450's. We found this boat and I was sold! I negotiated a smokin' price and she only had 220 hours on the CAT's. We fill the cockpit often and, the way we use our boats, the 400DB just didn't fit our lifestyle.
 
Our last boat was a 420DA, my wife wanted a 2nd head. Lucky for me, she wins.
 
I'll play!

We wanted a small boat to learn on.
I wanted a fly-bridge.
We wanted a roomy cabin.
I wanted twin screws.
We like the looks and reputation of Sea Ray. We were also looking at Trojans, Carvers and Silvertons. All with fly-bridges and aft-decks.
The boat was a few years older than we originally wanted to get but the age was a determining factor on the price and the survey came back above average.
This boat wasn't our 1st choice, nor is it a long term boat by any means, but I couldn't turn down the deal on it!

Cheers
 
Oh, and picking the brand for our first boat was because of reputation and finding this site and doing research! Now I am a boat club that allows only Sea Rays. The only one left that I can find!
 
I had a 270 dancer and wanted to move up. Sandy hit and helped me out with"selling" it. Then the search began. Started with 330da's loved the cabin room but hated the small cockpit. Absolutly dreaded the engine room and it was just to narrow beamed. Started looking at 380s and simply couldn't afford it. Then I ran into the problem of people trying to sell there sandy damaged boats and trying to hide the fact that they either washed off the blocks or were just flooded. After 2 month's of walking around boats I stumbled apon a 330ec. It was very beat up and neglected so I started searching them I finally found one and it had everything I wanted. Huge beam of almost 14 ft big bathroom, huge cockpit all the electronics I wanted and the engine room is to die for. I can comfortably sit down and work on virtually all sides of both motors and generator. Well one side of the genny. Tons of storage and alot more comfortable in rough seas. Needless to say I gave him my offer we negotiated a little and about an hour later I gave him my deposit and the process began.
 
This is so great. I love hearing how each of you went through the process of choosing your boat. Very cool.
 
HomePort said:
This is so great. I love hearing how each of you went through the process of choosing your boat. Very cool.
Click to expand...

Great inquiry! Great idea! Thank you! :thumbsup:



I'd be more than happy to discuss our criteria for our current boat search too! LOL!
 
Admiral knew nothing about boats, but thought it would be fun to go for the weekend and spend the night. I knew nothing about cruisers. We looked at several brands and settled on SR due to reputation and appearance. Thought we wanted a 240DA until we realized no gen. The summers here are far to hot to be w/o AC at night. We moved up to the 260DA and fell in love with it for our first boat. Got rreally lucky and found ours within 50 miles of us with almost everything we wanted on it. We have added other options to make it "ours" and have a ball pulling it to 1-of 4-nearby lakes on weekends.

We have spent some time this fall getting familiar with 42-44DBs and a 400 might work. We are a couple years away from moving up, but just like with the 260, the hunt is 1/2 the fun!

Bennett
 
My primary crew (Dad)was climbing in age. Not real good at staying awake on watch. Balance barely good enough to stay upright in the cockpit of our 43 foot Slocum Cutter. We put in roller furling, then the best autopilot available (Comnav), but eventually we needed crew. Crew made Dad uncomfortable, so he would start finding excuses not to go "if we didn't need him". So, time for the Dark Side. I figured if I could not sail, at least I would go fast. We were shopping by our budget, looked at a ton of boats. Finally landed on a Regal 1880 Flybridge. We had looked at several Sea Ray options too, but the Regal was imaculate. If slightly over budget. And big for gas motors. We only went to see the 380DA as a possible negotiating tool, but when we went aboard there was no other boat. Hard to explain as a former 'blow boat' guy, but I felt like the boat had been waiting for me to find her, and the admiral was all 'oohs and ahhs' down below. We are working our third year as 'Dark Siders', and we are still Sea Ray fans!
 
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We loved our Sea Ray, and I have nothing to say but good things about the product. This website is testament to that. CSR is the best boat forum on the web.

with that said, my wife and I changed brands because of particular aspects we got on the Beneteau 44. Very large galley with full height reefer, high shelves that don't require bending. Two full beam masters, and two heads. We travel with other people so completely separate living quarters were preferred. Large cockpit for my social wife who loves to entertain, and a garage where we can store water toys. A decent power package with the D6 Volvos, and 1.2 mpg at about 26 gph total.

Price point lower than a sea ray, but it does not have the fit and finish of a sea ray, and and the mechanical systems are better on the sea ray. I have upgraded some key aspects in that regard.

I am not comparing my boat to a SR because they are two different animals in regards to form, function, and price. It was a matter of weighing the positives and negatives for both brands.
 
With the admiral retired and myself semi-retired and the kids long gone from the nest, our boating needs were changing into something different than the first 30 years we were on the boat. We don’t entertain on the boat much, but do travel quite a bit with it and we wanted an improved living space and an elevated helm. She wasn’t “ready” for a trawler, but had to have something that let in some light and afforded being able to see out while inside on poor weather days. This boat fits us well right now, it drinks 6, eats 4 and sleeps 2 better than anything else we have had so far.

 
Our 360 DA was our first boat together 5 years ago, and my first boat period. My wife had a SR 260 during her first marriage, and considers SR the "Mercedes" of boats. She wouldn't consider any other brand, and had zero interest in boating. My dad had a ski boat when I was in high school, and later I had a friend with a 32 ft sail boat, so that was my boating background. The search for a Sea Ray began, and we initially targeted a new 340 after checking out the various models at the Seattle boat show. The 300 and 320 seemed too small, the 400 and up too expensive.

By chance our broker found the 2003 360 and we really liked the size, features, and price (80 to 100K less than new). The 360 has been a great boat for 5 years, but then we started thinking bigger for 2 main reasons: more room and privacy for family and friends, and a boat we could spend weeks or months on comfortably when we are retired. Key wishes were 2 staterooms and 2 heads, diesels, and the ability to hold a console dinghy. My wife hates the bridge boats (long story) and loves the large open cockpits on the dancers. We looked at 450s and decided they were too large (mainly due to moorage cost) and settled on a 420 DA. It took almost 2 years of looking, but this past November we bought a 2004 420 DA with blue hull, hardtop, new camper back canvas, and satellite TV. I installed a 32" flat screen in the cockpit and now we spend every weekend on the boat. The extra room and features has resulted in us using the 420 much more through the winter months than we ever used the 360. Can't wait for the spring boating season !
 
Great topic! I just closed on my boat two days ago, so I totally agree with those who say the hunt is part of the fun. About 2-3 months ago, I decided a boat would be a fun thing to add to our lifestyle come spring and summer. I've owned boats before, but it's been almost 30 years. I have a new Admiral and she loves the water, but really had no interest in a boat, but I know she loves the sun and the water, and I thought it would spur us to be together more, instead of me just leaving for half the day on Saturday and Sunday to go play golf.

I went back and forth between new and used, but ultimately decided on used because I felt that if we don't enjoy it or use it enough, I'd take less of a hit on depreciation, and if we really like it, I know we'll want something bigger in a couple of years. I ended up purchasing the specific boat I got (2008 195 Sport) because it met my needs, Sea Ray is know for quality, and probably most importantly, I really felt comfortable with the dealer that was selling it.

Now I just need spring to come so I can actually use it!
 
2007 48 Sundancer
Why I bought my current boat: We typically spend weekends on the hook with friends and a bunch of kids. Having the large open cockpit is a must. We typically do a 2 week trip every summer so we also need room. 2 staterooms, 2 heads, separate shower, a lot of cabin space with large windows. Never like the 1/2 glass and 1/2 clear plastic for a windshield, really like the full glass windshield. Having cockpit AC/Heat is a must which extends our season and make those hot days more comfortable. Needed a vessel that can carry our 11' tender, I have a hydraulic lift. I picked the 2007 becuase I didn't want the first year Sea Ray offered the 48 and it was in my budget. Also I have always wanted the 48 since I bought my first Sea Ray in 2008 and now I have it.
 
I owned an 1986 Sea Ray 21' cuddy for many years and have always liked the style and quality of Sea Ray. However after retiring I felt it was time to get a new pontoon and sell the 86. After looking for several months and considering what brand to buy I was about ready. My son, who owns his own 215 Sea Ray Express called me one night and said "Dad you are not ready for Loonie Pontoonie Ville, get another Sea Ray" and sent me the web link to a 225 Weekender for sale about 50 miles away. Two days later it was in my back yard!! I remain so grateful for his advice. A 22 Cuddy is the perfect boat for what we do. I must trailer everywhere and like to overnight on the water. I go by myself a lot and the 225 is very easy to handle. Fuel economy allows me to cruise all I want. This size handles wind and waves very well in my boating environment. The cuddy allows great storage or fishing rods and gear plus with the camper canvas package two adults sleep very well in this boat. This is the third cuddy I have owned, the first being a Four Winns.
 
We wanted a boat that could safely handle 3-8' waves if they were encountered which put us in the 35+ foot length range. While researching boats we determined that 45' was the longest length that I could safely handle by myself so we started looking.

Must haves were a price point less than $150,000, twin diesel, two bedrooms and if there were stairs to the bridge they had to be closed stairs (not a ladder.) Other than that we were wide open.

We looked at a bunch of sedan bridges and zeroed in on a 400 Sedan Bridge. On our way to see the sedan bridge, I mentioned to the broker I was curious about the aft cabin too but I hadn't put much thought into one. Our broker took us by to see a 420AC and the wife fell in love with the layout.

Since we all love to brag about a good deal, my 420AC was listed at $170,000 when we looked at it. I heard that the owner's company was about to be sued so I offered $120K with a closing two weeks later to "get it off the books" for him. He went for it and we got a great boat.
 
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Comfortable cockpit with air and heat; comfortable sofa and bed; wide decks with high railings for safe docking; all 12volt systems so no need to run genny when on the hook (TV and fridge work without 110v.); windlass system works without a hassle; shore power connections are easy to use and located in the cockpit; hardtop means no canvas hassles or leaks; nice ice box that allows for extended time on the hook; quiet genny used for making ice, hot water for showers, coffee, cooking; sea kindly hull that goes through Lake Michigan chop without the need to run windshield wipers all the time; electronics that make this an all weather boat; and, Crusader engines with robust components such as bronze water pump impellers in stainless steel housings. These are a few things that add value to my boating experience.
 
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