Why?

NorCalGlenn said:
I'm half-way through a second Summer with my 190, which has 123 hours on it.

So far:

1.) Ingnition switch has had to be replaced.
2.) Stripped/loose strut attachment on the transom walk thru sunpad.
3.) One dead speaker connection on the so-called "Premium Rockford-Fosgate Stereo".
4.) Some delamination (looks like chipped fingernail polish?) on the top of the swim platform.
5.) Benchseat cooler lid has come loose.
6.) A million (well, at least a 8 or 10) small screws have collected in my bilge - who the hell knows where they're from.
7.) Sunpad cushions are starting to loose some shape.

I really like my boat, but with these issues (as well as my having three-foot-itis) I've been talking with a Cobalt dealer about getting their 220.
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Love Cobalts. I haven't had those kind of issues with my 2009 175 Sport. Only failure in the 4 years I've owned it has been both trim switches at the 2 year mark.
 
Oh, and my horn sounds like the Road Runner ... with a sore throat! LOL

I will say that my 2010 185 Sport (4.3TKS) had no issues in the one summer and 80 hours I put on it, but the Shoreland'r single axle trailer had some problems.
 
Converse48 said:
Seems like this thread begs an answer from SeaRay Corporate. :smt024
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I agree. SR puts themselves out to be the highest quality boat on the market, but when I look at many of the newer boats from all makers, the quality seems to be dropping off while the prices continue to rise.

Many of the above complaints have to do with parts and pieces that come from 3rd party suppliers. The way I look at these things is "every once in awhile you're going to have a part fail". I chalk stuff like that up to "Ship Happens" and just fix or replace the part. Not through-bolting deck fittings is inexcusable IMHO. There comes a point where saving a few bucks on each boat at the expense of customer satisfaction just doesn't make good sense.

SR, are you listening? I hope so.
 
I've also been looking at the 210 SLX and 220 Sundeck, but have no idea if jumping up from the "SPORT" class will make much of a difference? I am a Sea Ray loyalist (Brunswick, really ... I have a 1966 Boston Whaler Sakonnet) but I'm really impressed with the interior design and space ultilization of Cobalt's 200/210 bowriders. And from what I've heard and read, their quality and workmanship are higher. With that being said, I've never sat *in* a Cobalt, and have no idea if it's true. There are hardly any boat dealers (fiberglass sterndrive) in the Bay Area, which makes it challenging to research and shop beyond the internet.
 
I doubt SR will respond. They are damned if they do, or don't. Their lawyers will also advise against it. our boat is now 10 years old, and I spend a lot of money keeping her Bristol. I have also noticed some of these issues, but overall the boat is fairly solid. Would I buy a SR again...hmmm, not sure. Lots of other good alternatives out there.
 
NorCalGlenn said:
I've also been looking at the 210 SLX and 220 Sundeck, but have no idea if jumping up from the "SPORT" class will make much of a difference? I am a Sea Ray loyalist (Brunswick, really ... I have a 1966 Boston Whaler Sakonnet) but I'm really impressed with the interior design and space ultilization of Cobalt's 200/210 bowriders. And from what I've heard and read, their quality and workmanship are higher. With that being said, I've never sat *in* a Cobalt, and have no idea if it's true. There are hardly any boat dealers (fiberglass sterndrive) in the Bay Area, which makes it challenging to research and shop beyond the internet.
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DO NOT SIT IN A COBALT! It will cost you whatever they're asking for their boat! Truthfully, I like my Searay and it fits my needs. Cobalt boats are built to an amazing standard though. There really is no comparison. Like I said, one visit to a cobalt dealer and you'll be hooked. You'll have sticker shock, but you'll be hooked!
 
I spent a good 45 minutes on the phone with the guy at the Cobalt dealer (which is up near Tahoe) and he was really informed, and there was no "hard sell" whatsoever. I was impressed. I had called because Cobalt has special promotional pricing on their 200/220's right now, which is about $15K off of MSRP. They list the base model in that promo price, so I basically asked if I could expect the same type of discount if I custom ordered one - which would be pretty optioned out. He said that they always go deep off of MSRP, so yes, I'd see a similar price. One thing that's NOT included in their pricing is a trailer, and this dealer has custom trailer's built by a local 'boutique' builder - which would probably run about $4500 for a dual axle with dual axle discs, alloy wheels, etc. The the thing is, I'd have to be okay eating a bit ($) on the 190. Boats are (obviously) depreciating assets, and for me to have flipped two of them in three years is a bit nuts. Damn that three-foot-itis!

Oh, and to clarify - I'm looking at their 200 and 220 (not the 210, which is their older design).
 
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spfortjohn said:
In a good way or bad way? One would thing the quality should transfer throughout the entire line not just the high dollar units. Heck I am going to be moving up but unless things are better on the larger boats I will be looking at other brands such as Pursuit or Tiara
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I apologize for stepping in and dropping a bomb and not returning.

In my experience with a new cruiser from Sea Ray, there are a lot more systems aboard and all of them will require adjustment and maintenance. It overwhelmed me at first. My learning curve was steep, and it was very hard to learn how to properly operate the boat when the systems didn't work properly to begin with. I think every installed thing on my new boat didn't operate correctly from the start.
This is why CSR is so popular in my opinion. Think about what everyone does here. Answer questions about a boat not operating right. When you find answers it's a relief to know you weren't crazy, that the whatever you were trying to make work didn't.

So, I mean prepare your mind if you buy new. Sea Ray quality is not what it is billed as. That's my opinion, and not a very popular one around here. I defend my position by saying I bought Sea Ray because of the reputation it had. Everyone was so proud of their boats but, it didn't translate................at first! Now after spending the time and effort, I think my boat meets the quality it was supposed to have! The right materials are in the boat, "they" didn't take the time to fit and finish everything the way it was supposed to be.

An example on my boat would be how Sea Ray drilled overboard discharge fitting holes in the wrong place, realized it, redrilled them in the right place and just covered up the wrong holes. When I bought the boat, you couldn't tell. Now after 6+ years the fix stands out like a sore thumb to me. My dash has a dark brown spot on it where they fixed a screw up and is now showing badly.
Sea Ray should have to disclose stuff like this. But then they would have a bunch of boats that people wouldn't buy. It would shock you what happens during transport and just gets covered up. You buy a new boat and then wonder why it hasn't shown up at your dealership...........there was most likely a problem loading or unloading and it's getting fixed, while you wait wondering what the heck is going on. All the while being shined on by the sales guy.
 
Out of curiosity, I went to Cobalt's site and "built" my dream machine. A fully optioned A25 with a 496 HO w/ seacore and just about every option selected, including a tower. $170,000+! But hey, the throw pillows for the bow section are a bargain at $69!
 
I like Pursuit boats,the 26 is a nice size boat.

I've been thinking about biting the bullet and going back to a fishing boat that I can also cruise. Pursuit would be on the short list. I looked at a Scout 262 Abaco, very nice, but at 147,000.00 it is one expensive small boat.
 
I had a lot of the same problems with my 200 select that you have all mentioned, especially the use of self tapping screws where things should be bolted. When I raised this issue on this forum a few years ago I was generally rounded on by a few people for daring to criticise sea ray.

I've owned my boat for 7 years now, and have generally worked out all the bugs that have been due to sub standard build, and the boat has been mostly reliable except for these bugs. I've enjoyed my ownership but in my opinion a Sea Ray is not built significantly better than any of the other 'lesser' american brands.

My boat is now for sale, and I've bought a replacement boat (a used boat), but its not a Sea Ray, its a Windy 25, a european brand, who knows whether it will be significantly better than the sea ray, it should be, and it has a reputation for it, but time will tell.
 
julians said:
I've owned my boat for 7 years now, and have generally worked out all the bugs that have been due to sub standard build, and the boat has been mostly reliable except for these bugs.
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Therein lies part of the reason why I prefer a used boat that's been well cared for and well maintained. The bugs have been worked out and that saves me the time and trouble from having to find them and fix them.

Aside from that, the main reason I don't buy new (boats, cars, etc.) is I'm glad to let someone else take the big depreciation hit on new stuff.
 
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