If you are shopping for a Sea Ray Boat, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will share the most common concerns faced by boat owners.
We have searched through all the Sea Ray information to find the issues you might face with a Sea Ray Boat.
Before we start, check here how reliable Sea Ray boats are.
Sea Ray Boats makes a diverse line of quality sport boats, bowriders, and deck boats. They range in size from 18 to 65 feet.
Sea Ray Boats is well known for building consistent quality boats. They are strong and durable, especially when compared to mid-tier boats.
1) Wiring and Electrical Problems
One of the most challenging parts of the Sea Ray Boat to replace is the wiring. The wires under the deck through chases that are tight and into compartments that are closed.
When you are buying a boat, new or used, you want to ensure that you turn on all the lights and electrical items. You want to turn them on one at a time. You want to ensure that you take a look at the fuse box.
If you see a variety of fuse brands in the box, it means some, if not all, have been replaced. You want to verify that the wiring problems have been corrected. Take a good look at all the wires.
You want to make sure they are supported, straight, and well-loomed.
2) Foam Saturation Concerns
Sea Ray Boats have a common problem with the foam that is mentioned often across the forums. This problem is easy to fix but may be easy to miss.
One way to notice is the foam is saturated is to pay attention to how the boat floats. You want to remove everything from the boat, especially anything that is heavy. This allows you to see how the boat sits on the water.
When you do this, you want to check to see if the boat is almost level and if the scupper is far above the waterline. When the boat is in perfect condition, it should do these. If it does not, this is a strong indicator that there is a problem.
You want to use a moisture meter to check the level or the cored parts of the boat. Tap the areas that you think are saturated with a mallet to see if it has a different sound.
This is more likely for models built before 2002 because the engineering team at Sea Ray corrected the problem that model year.
3) Leaky Cabins
Another concern reported by boat owners in the forum is that cabin is leaking. This is a problem that is easy to identify by looking for watermarks. However, it is possible that there are leaks even without watermarks.
You want to check all the seams, leaks, ports, and hatches for leaks. The best way to do this is to spray a hose at full speed at the area where you believe there is a leak. After you do this, check the area for moisture that should not be there.
4) Drive Belt Breaking Down
While a broken drive belt is rare, it has been reported with Sea Ray Boats. A broken belt will shut down your engine quickly. In addition, when the belt is broken, it means the water pump or alternator will not work.
You are able to create a temporary solution with a fishing line or pantyhose. If you have a Sea Ray Boat, you may want to consider keeping a marine tool kit with you. This has an extra belt in it. You should regularly check your drive belt by inspecting, tightening, and dressing it when needed.
You also want to check the contact surfaces of the pulleys and pay attention to their condition. Corrosion can cause rough spots on the pulleys. This corrosion can quickly eat through a belt, even a new one.
You cannot just listen for the sound of the drive belt breaking because you will not be able to hear it over all of the noises your engine makes. However, the overheat warning light is going to come on. You may also can an alert on your voltage meter that the alternator is not charging.
5) Problems With the Engine
Another common problem with Sea Ray Boats that owners mention across the forums is problems with the engine. You may find that your engine is losing power and beginning to sputter and lose strength.
The first thing you want to check is to make sure you have not run out of gas. If that is not the problem, it could be that you have a problem with a filter or fouled plugs. Next, you want to check your in-line filter by removing it and cleaning out the debris. Finally, if there is any water, you want to drain the water.
Before you restart the engine, you want to be sure to vent the engine box. If this does not correct the problem, you could have bad gas. You may have purchased it bad, but it may have gone bad while it was in your boat.
When you leave your boat with an almost empty tank of gas for too long, condensation and water can build up in the gas. Therefore, if you are storing your Sea Ray for a long period of time, make sure it has a full tank of gas. If that is longer than three months, then you should use a fuel stabilizer.
If you have an older boat, the tanks can have debris that settles at the bottom of it. When the fuel drops, the debris gets moved around and causes problems with your gas.
6) Vibration From the Propeller
If you notice that the faster you drive your Sea Ray Boat that the vibration begins and then gets worse and louder. Then you may find that the engine races even when you begin to slow down. This is a fairly good indicator that there is something wrong with your propeller.
There could be a nick or a gouge in the blade, which causes an imbalance and vibration. There also could be something caught in your propeller. This could be a fishing line, towrope, or seaweed. Finally, you could have hit an object that caused the propeller to become misshapen.
Even when you have a propeller that looks perfect to the eye, it may still have some damage you cannot see that causes vibration. If this is the case, you should have a professional look at your propeller to determine if it needs to be replaced.
General Pros and Cons for the Sea Ray Boat
Pros:
The Sea Ray Boat is a well performing mid-range cruising boat that outperforms anything in its price point.
This is the ideal boat for small families or couples.
They have numerous lines within four categories: sport boats, sport cruisers, sport yachts, and yachts.
Cons:
- Vibration in the propeller, especially when it has gone bad.
- Concerns with the drive belt breaking down.
- Foam is becoming saturated.
What Do the Reviews Say?
Despite the problems, most Sea Ray owners are pleased with their boats.
“I enjoyed my Sea Ray for 3 years before selling it to go bigger… generally reliable and easy to get serviced and find parts for, and plenty of power for a 200 Sun Deck. Have it compression tested, and consider having the rest of the boat checked…”
[Source: thehulltruth.com]
What is the Resale Value on the Sea Ray Boats?
Sea Ray Boats has built a large number of boats since they have been in operation. The resale value depends on the year and line of the Sea Ray. Overall the depreciation is decent.
In 2015, a brand new Sundancer 310 sold for $213,767.
Today that same boat has an average resale value of $135,900. This is a 36% depreciation rate.
In 2015, a brand new 210 SLX luxury sport boat sold for $50,088. Today that same boat has an average resale value of $38,460. This is a depreciation of 24%.
In 2015, the brand new 50 foot L590 FLY ZEUS had a base price of $2,381,515. Today it has a resale value of $1,305,200. This is a depreciation of 45%, which is not that great and not as good as other Sea Ray Boats.
| Year | Price |
| 2015 Sundancer 310 | $213,767 (new) |
| 2015 Sundancer 310 | $135,900 (used) |
| 2015 SLX Luxury Sport Boat | $50,088 (new) |
| 2015 SLX Luxury Sport Boat | $38,460 (used) |
| 2015 50ft L590 FLY ZEUS | $2,381,515 (new) |
| 2015 50ft L590 FLY ZEUS | $1,305,200 (used) |
Sources:
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