Your thoughts on the 540 CPMY

Shoyrtt

Shoyrtt

Alamitos to Avalon
SILVER Sponsor
Jul 16, 2020
1,891
Alamitos Bay, CA
Boat Info
1999 450 Express Bridge, 9’ Achilles dinghy w/15hp Suzuki EFI
Engines
Caterpillar 3126TA
I remember I had posted a question about this model a year or so ago, but I can't seem to find it. It seems to be quite rare as far as a Sea Ray produced boat. The information I have found seems to suggest there were problems with the 3196 Cats when they were produced and one of our former CSR members "Mr. Salt" had his boat repowered under warranty to C-12s.
A new listing for a 540 CPMY just came up on Yachtworld in Vancouver. It just so happens this is the boat that I found a video of that was made in 2019 when it was sold to its current owners with the same broker. Here is the current listing on the Broker's site for 449,000 CAD (around $350,000 US):
https://calibreyachts.com/brokered-...2002-sea-ray-540-cockpit-motor-yacht/#details

The YW ad:https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2002-sea-ray-540-cockpit-motor-yacht-7148096/

And here is the 2019 Youtube video:

A 2007 article:
https://www.yachtingmagazine.com/sea-ray-540/

A 2001 article:
https://www.boats.com/reviews/pushing-plush/

Another 2001 article tested with optional equipment:
https://www.boatingmag.com/boats/sea-ray-540-american-smooth/

and a 2000 article with the prototype:
https://dicksimonyachts.com/blog/bo...-cockpit-motor-yacht-review-up-the-lazy-river

This is the only 540 CPMY listed for sale at the moment that I can find. I have never seen one of these boats in California. On the YW ad, it states the engines have 3600 hours on them with the starboard engine being rebuilt in 2020. Let me know your thoughts on it.
 
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That's a beautiful boat with an ideal layout. It's a LOT of boat for $350K

I'm kinda curious as to why it wasn't a big seller.
 
That is THE boat I really wanted before I COMPROMISED and went with the Carver 506. They are as rare as hens teeth for sure. I have friend with one right here in the Nor-Cal Delta. His does not have the pilot house, it has the full lounge instead. I saw the one posted two years ago but passed on looking at it as we really wanted the pilot house version and the purple velour lounge was off putting. This one seems to be priced reasonably though. The hours are a bit higher than we typically see but that means the boat was used regularly and from the looks of it was not abused. I have had several opportunities to be aboard my friend's, I even installed one of my custom remotes on it. I tell him as often as I see him that I want first right of refusal should he wish to sell. I have even investigated converting the lounge back into a pilot house as all of the mechanicals are already in place. So those are my thoughts.
Carpe Deim
 
The beam seems narrow for a 54' boat, or is that just me?

Looks similar to the Cruisers Yachts 4450. I'd be curious to know what market/boat they were trying to compete with.
 
Carpediem44DB said:
That is THE boat I really wanted before I COMPROMISED and went with the Carver 506. They are as rare as hens teeth for sure. I have friend with one right here in the Nor-Cal Delta. His does not have the pilot house, it has the full lounge instead. I saw the one posted two years ago but passed on looking at it as we really wanted the pilot house version and the purple velour lounge was off putting. This one seems to be priced reasonably though. The hours are a bit higher than we typically see but that means the boat was used regularly and from the looks of it was not abused. I have had several opportunities to be aboard my friend's, I even installed one of my custom remotes on it. I tell him as often as I see him that I want first right of refusal should he wish to sell. I have even investigated converting the lounge back into a pilot house as all of the mechanicals are already in place. So those are my thoughts.
Carpe Deim
Click to expand...
I had some "inside intel" that these boats were notoriously bad handling in anything but a calm seastate. Probably, why the such short production run. Any knowledge on this from your perspective?
 
ttmott said:
I had some "inside intel" that these boats were notoriously bad handling in anything but a calm seastate. Probably, why the such short production run. Any knowledge on this from your perspective?
Click to expand...
The claim from the early articles was Sea Ray was building one 540 CPMY per week. Combing through old for sale ads and talking with my broker, they are extremely rare it seems and I doubt they even came close to building that many boats in the short run from 2002 to 2003.
 
ttmott said:
I had some "inside intel" that these boats were notoriously bad handling in anything but a calm seastate. Probably, why the such short production run. Any knowledge on this from your perspective?
Click to expand...
I know that the guy who has the one locally bought it up in Eastern Canada, bro
brought it down the coast and then had it shipped to the West coast and brought it up from So Cal to the Delta on its hull. He never offered any feed back as to how it handled various conditions. Next time I see him, Ill have that discussion with him. Last year he was going to buy a 65 foot Marquis, I think, up in Canada but the border lockdown hassles queered the deal so he decided to hold on to the 540 for now and dump a major wad into remodeling his house instead.
CD
 
Really nice.

To bad you’re not looking for a 2000 580 ss
Looking to sell mine
 
I haven't seen many motor yachts with the open back like that. Usually they are squared off with no lounge space. This looks more like a sedan bridge.
 
Every time I see a new post on this thread I am tempted to do something really drastic and go look at her. I know what that would lead to so I’ll be strong and stick with the plan we are on. In 6 years if life goes as planned we will be in search of on of these in the PNW with plans of exploring the region and perhaps leaving it there as a second home.
 
Another one has come up for sale in New York at 499k. Not a lot of details on the listing and only one picture.
https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2001-sea-ray-540-cockpit-motor-yacht-8379297/
SeaRay540CPMY.jpg
 
From the look of the upgrade list it sure looks like the owner kept up with things.

I love to look at the side windows and the salon.
 
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