1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

[Friscoboater]

I have been looking around the past few weeks at boats and I have run across several 92-96 220 and 240 model bowriders and ALL of them have rotten stringers inside the ski locker. It seems that they are not encapsulated, but instead just tabbed to the hull. Does anyone know if this is a common practice for Sea Ray? We really have liked these boats, but after seeing all these, I am nervous.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

Not sure where tell you to look, but I have seen mentioned on another board that Sea Ray had BIG problems with their "cored" decks and hulls. And it seems as if it was in the 90's. Maybe a Sea Ray owner's forum would have info?

 

[nlain]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

In the 80's there were problems with rot in most all manufacturers, I just went to CSR, a SeaRay specific site I am a member of, and searched there for rot, found a lot in 80's, did not find one in the 90's. Not saying it is not out there but I did not find any. The boats you are looking at probably were not well taken care of which can destroy any boat. I think the build quality of SeaRay is good, they are considered one of the better boats out there. Just be sure you get a survey on whatever you get to be sure all is well.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

A lot of manufacturers liked to use the stringers as a mounting point for things. They would screw right into them for wire clips, bilge mounts, etc... They would not seal the screw holes, this would let water in and over time they rot. Had this happen to my previous boat, although not a sea ray.

It sounds like it might be a trend with them in your area at least.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

I haven't been in the Lil' Ray since the Spring. Maybe I should uncover it and take a look around.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

My '88 SR 19' Sorrento suffered from a lack of consistant quality. Some of the boat was made real well, with lots of glass and chop over plywood. Some of the boat had just resin over the plywood. Internal stringers were protected by foam, but I do not remember if they were glassed. I know the keel was not glassed.

Specifically, the seal in the floor of the ski well failed allowing water into the keel area. This rusted the fastener holding the scribed plywood keel to the floor of the ski well. Consequently the keel fell over, delaminated and needed replacement, along with the ski compartment walls and floor.

There seemed to be a void in the floatation foam which also was used to stiffen the strakes on the front port side of the hull. The strake then cracked, allowing water to enter the hull, and bubble up thru the floor of the skiwell.

The rest of the hull was real solid. I did need to replace the rear section of the floor due to rot in the area w/o chop over the plywood. There was a layer of glass under the plywood floor, which protected the foam.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

Frisco as you have probalbly noticed from my sig that I have owned my Ray for now on over 10 yrs and I'm the 2nd owner I have only one complaint with mine and that's the 3.0LX which I believe is a good lil power plant but not enough, as for the build quality everything has a good fit from the wind shield alignment with the hull lines and all the wiring which was ran very neatly nothing out of place, all the trim is attached in a sound fasion and straight no out of place screws and or mounts all done with what seems to me to be a crew that took pride in thier work as for below deck mine has never been pulled or is showing any signs of needing it anytime soon fully encapsulated and gelcoated covered with carpet (something I don't like)no leaks of any kind always dry (except for the kids in and out) all in all holding up very well and as for the hull and the noise from the waves it seems to a bit quiter than other rigs I have been on if that means anything.
I to have looked at the same rigs you mentioned (larger open bows) but noticed the PO'S neglect and the rig has suffered due to that you can just tell when they have been left uncovered for extended periods of time exposed to the elements (fad and rot) Good luck and keep looking be patient!!!! hope this helped

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

It has helped guys. Thanks again.

 

[superpop]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

I suspect that because of the size of boat you are looking at, you are having a harder time finding one that has spent most of its off water time in enclosed storage. If you think about it, most boats under 20 feet will fit in a standard garage and a lot of owners store these size boats in the garage. A 24 foot boat is big and there are not many folks who have indoor storage for something this big, thus they tend to sit out side more and inevitably get some water damage. Just a theory on my part but it seems to make sense.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

Our SeaRay is looking sound, except for the couple hundred pound paper-weight that's sitting in the aft bilge.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1990's Sea ray build quality ????????

Frisco..I think I could point to my boat as a reference to what you are finding. I have a 95 monterey 210 as you know, and I've also been in a 95 Sea Ray 210. VERY similar boats IMO. I think they are good solid, middle of the road boats.

HOWEVER, the comment that an earlier poster made about stringers being used as mounting points and not protecting those points, I think is spot on. My boat has 2 stringers running the length of the boat, and they were basically tabbed up the sides and onto the hull. No protection over the top..just some paint. For example, my gas tank hatch had stainless screws all the way around it, screwed into the stringers. Nothing protecting the screws, and I'm sure the rot process started the first day a wet swimmer came back in the boat.

Maybe come out my way in hot, dry, AZ. I found my neighbor a 92 Monterey 180..all original, solid as rock. Good luck and Merry Christmas