Very good age old question - it has come up quite a few times on this board and the old SR board. I'll give you my take. Bridge boats are more "indoorsy" and 'dancers are more "outdoorsy." Much more congregation area in the cockpit of a dancer. I had more space in my 26 Crownline's cockpit that on this tub. BUT the indoor living and elbow room on a bridge boat is without equal (unless you go significantly bigger than your 320). You would likely have to go up to a 370 or 380.

As for docking, it's all what you get used to. I'd probably smack your 320 around trying to learn to dock it and you'd smack mine around the same way. Problem with the taller boat is wind resistance and how it affects your moves. Again, just something you have to practice at and get better with.

As for speed and economy, if you do go to the sedan, I'd recommend diesel. It's real expensive to run 36DB gasser at the speed you've grown accustomed to with your 320. If you dont mind cruising 20% slower, you'll be OK.

As for who's going to keep you company up there while underway, it'll be your family if you are travelling alone. If you're with a group of friends, the female of the species will stay down below, the males will hang with you up top (at least that's been my experience).

In the end, it's a very personal choice that can be argued forever. It's really just preference.

 

If you want the females in the cockpit with you, screw with the climate control. I used to open the front eisenglass on my 250 and turn on the cockpit heater coming home from dinner with guests. The ladies were always huddled around me at the helm.

 

If you want the females in the cockpit with you, screw with the climate control. I used to open the front eisenglass on my 250 and turn on the cockpit heater coming home from dinner with guests. The ladies were always huddled around me at the helm.

Now here is a thinking man! :smt038

Very interesting thread though!:thumbsup:

 

I've owned two Sundancers and currently a own bridge boat. I would never go back to an express style boat. But, my opinion is based on the larger boats, I've never been on a 320DA or a 36DB.

As for docking, it's a learned skill that almost anyone can learn on any boat.

 

I've never been in the salon of a 40' class bridge boat with diesels.
The engine noise in the cockpit in my express is extremely loud. At least those who want peace and quiet go below.
I've always wondered how loud it must be in the salon with those screamin' diesels underfoot.

 

I just bought a 2006 38' Sundancer. I can't say enough good things about this boat. I have been on a number of bridge boats and don't like the ride. When you are below the diesels are very loud. That is my opinion. Its all a matter of choice. Good luck.

 

I have a 400 DB with Diesels, it is easy to dock in all situations after some practice. I do not have thrusters btw. I can see the port aft corner and base my docking upon that spot. We owned a 32' express for a few years before this one, NO COMPARISON, and we would never go back to a cave boat. The noise in our salon, cockpit and other areas does not bother us ever. In fact, my admiral usually likes to lay on the couch in the salon and read/nap while on long offshore runs (usually 200 miles between ports). This is our second bridge boat, but our first with diesels. I should have learned my lesson long ago and jumped up to a diesel bridge boat three boats ago. Would have saved some serious money. Just my .02

 

As stated, it's all personal preference. It's actually nice to run in a crowd with a mix of both. When we were tied up next to Stan in his 48DA to watch the Blue Angels a few weeks ago, it was great to have his back deck as a place to hang out and socialize. His margarita machine didn't suck either.

The social space on my flying bridge is similar to that of a dancer, but it is up a flight of stairs. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. I don't mind segregating the kids somewhere other than where I am. And usually when we're underway, the adults are upstairs with me and the kids are down below watching TV or playing Wii.

As far as salon noise, it's really not too bad. The hatches are well insulated and the carpet cuts down on the noise too. I'm surprised at the relatively low noise level because if you open the lazarette hatch at speed the noise is unbelievable.

Docking: there really is no problem once you get used to it. As 400DB said, you can easily see the aft port corner down the stairs and as long as your slip is wide enough, get as close as possible to the port and the starboard should be fine. Also, if there is a piling to starboard you can easily see that too. The visibility thing is overrated. You can't see the back of your car, but you can parallel park, right?

We use our boat nine months a year, going in the water in March. When we're in downtown Baltimore on a crisp late winter day with the salon shades pulled full open and the sun flooding in the windows it is remarkably pleasant. Similarly, when we're at anchor with a beautiful sunset cooking in the distance, we can all be sitting around the dinette table in air conditioned comfort taking in thee 360 degree panoramic view.

Plus, I think bridge guys just like looking down on other people. But that's another whole story.

 

I can't see jack squat on my stbd side unless the piling is more than 12' high, because of the lounge. I can see the port through the clear isinglass and "ladder hole" (no staircase for me). I used to have the admiral guiding me verbally - it took a season or two to realize that as long as you can see one piling, you're fine. I wonder how the guys with hard tops over their aft cabins do it!

 

I went from a 41 dancer to the 36 bridge......I will give you MY opinion......

1. Know how you are going to use the boat. If you are dock people and looking for a condo? Looking to take day trips with friends/family/clients? Do you want to cruise and stay on the boat?

2. Do you have kids? Do you want a dedicated second stateroom?

I love the 36 Sedan...For me the only negitive is the entertaining aspect of being all together. I will also say the sundancer is more like a race car.

 

Well Royal Flush, I can give you my $.02. I went from a 320Da to a 40DA to a 44DB and this past year considered a 48DA.....and didn't make the move. I haven't had any issues moving to the bridge boat and actually believe it's easier to dock than the 40DA. I think much of this decision involves how you use the boat. If you're typically a day boater or very short overnighters the DA series likely will continue to serve you well. If you spend days or weeks away on the boat then the DB series will be your best bet for livability. Either way, once you get into the 40' or above range, diesels are the way to go. For us, the fact that we chose NOT to move up to the 48DA (a great boat) speaks volumes about the 44DB (a really great boat)....but that's my opinion. I don't think you can go wrong in general, this is a very personalized decision based on your boat use patterns and style. Good luck.

 

WE went from a 460 Dancer to the 540 CPMY. The Dancer is a great boat for entertaining in the cockpit. There was a lot of room and people sat so they could talk to each other. If the day were rainy outside the inside got awfully small quickly. The bridge boat gives a lot more room inside, but less outside. Backing down the CPMY is a challenge as you can not see the port corner at all. While I think that Dancers are sexy, I would not go back to just just because of the submarine effect of being closed in. But we are all different that is why there are so many different styles of boat. Viva la Difference:smt038

 

Hi Wet Paint-I think we emailed back and forth last year; Could you further define your statement # 1? Are you saying that if we want a dock condo and do longer overnight trips we should get a sedan bridge? And we want to do shorter trips go witha larger sundancer? We are looking at an 09 36 sedan bridge that is a demo ( never been titled) that has every option that is possible to get on the 36 with the exception of diesels; We took it on a river trial and problems docking due to visability; I am sure I can learn though... The list price on the boat is 425k but they have now at 331k and I think they will take less --Please advise

 

A point that I didn't see mentioned is that if you have little ones or pets, think thru all aspects of a bridge boat. While you may get extra sleeping space, there are also lots of hiding out of sight on a bridge boat since t here are multiple levels. To know where your kids are means that you or your wife is going to be with them when you can't see them. On a Sundancer, everyone has to be in the cockpit with you or walk by you to get out of the cabin, so you at least know where everyone is.

Don't forget the "overhead" factor either. There is a lot more fiberglass to take care of on a bridge boat than on a Sundancer.

This is going to step on some toes, so I'm sorry .....but Sea Ray has never been able to produce an efficient Sedan Bridge under 40ft, with the possible exception of the 370DB with diesels. It is just the nature of the beast. Short bridge boats are so stern heavy that it takes lots of power to get and keep them up on the water and once you get them there, they are typically slow.

 

While you may get extra sleeping space, there are also lots of hiding out of sight on a bridge boat since t here are multiple levels. To know where your kids are means that you or your wife is going to be with them when you can't see them.

Is this a "pro" or a "con"?

 

All depends on the time of day and how tired you are !

 

This is going to step on some toes

Now look what you did Frank!

 

That's nothin'.... It's not a foot injury until you have the t-handle pull the webbing between the toes back such that they have to pull it back and stitch it up.

So that's a "con" of a bridge boat.. they have these big ass T-handles on the engine hatch that will put you in the hospital if you leave them up and kick them.

 

Sundancer guys don't have "T-handle toes"........wait, could be the next Michael Franks ditty!

 

Someone was curious as to how the guys with hardtops on their aft cabins can see to back in. We were fortunate to have a review camera on the boat when we bought it which is great. We added an engine room infrared camera to our E120 & E80 which can be viewed many ways depending on how you have them configured.

The aft cabin probably give you more space options for the length of the boat than any other configuration and any bridge boat should be diesel powered or you might as well by a trawler or a fuel tanker to go along with gasser in any bridge boat IMHO.

As far as engine noise, my wife likes to go below to the aft cabin and take a nap just about as often as she can since the vibration and hum of the kitty cats make her sleep well.

 

Oh well seems most of your responses were from DB guys, and they are great boats.

So for my $.02

320DA, 390DA Diesel, 48DA
........60DA (some day!)

I love the dancers, and the 48DA with it's large hardtop, cockpit A/C & heat bring the indoors out in less then perfect weather, no need to go below.

I'm not sure about the new 38DA but look into a 2004-2006 390DA (diesel) or the 40DA all with hardtops.

Good luck and as long as you have a boat it's all good..(until the next itis hits)

Rich

 

Royal.......In my opinion, you cant go wrong with a DA or DB....With that said, I have two boys 13 and 16 and they wanted their own dedicated beds....The bridge boat served that purpose for US. If I have a a friend or couple on board, they also have their own beds. We use the boat primarily on weekends away from the dock. The added openess of the bridge boat is a huge pluss at the dock. I also enjoy going up on the bridge and reading or just spacing out while the kids are watching TV or playing x-box......If I was looking again under 40 feet, I would go with the 36 Bridge again. However, my next boat will be a 48 Dancer. As far as docking goes, I moved to a marina this year and I have about 6" on each side at the water line in an individual berth.....I have no problems at all docking the boat....I always line up my port stern (which I can see) and dock. It is all about practice and confidence......I am sure the boat has a bow and/or stern thruster too..