Looking at express cruisers (I think)

[wrvond]

We looked at a used 1999 Sea Ray Sundancer 270 yesterday, as well as some newer boats in this class. Do all these boats have an aft berth? With just the two of us, this seems like a real waste of space. At first I thought we could leave the V berth with the table set up and sleep in the aft berth, but I'm 6'4" and that ain't happening! Very claustrophobic feeling for me.
Second, it appears to me that pre-2000 models lack the wet bar that seems to be so common on the newer boats. Is this a true situation? My bride does not like the sink, etc. topside, so are we limited to older boats?
Thanks!

 

[Philster]

Express cruisers are about being a lounge.... and if it's an express cruiser, it's gonna have the stuff you mentioned. Express cruisers did get into vogue around 2000. I'm not saying look at Tiara, since the are very premium, but there are cruisers that are more 'marine' and more 'yachty' and less 'lounge cruiser'. Silverton, Tiara, and I'm sure others will be along with ideas. I'm offering some to check out, to see if that's what you had in mind. Their goal: Two adults sleep well. Fixtures, seats, sinks: Purposeful. Durable. Marine focused. They tend to be more sea worthy, too.

 

[redneck joe]

Price range, where do you boat, trailer or moored, kids (no) friends (not until you get a boat) dogs, etc.

 

[wrvond]

Philster, thanks, I will definitely look those up, just the kind of info I'm looking for.
Sorry Joe, I should have stated, there's just the two of us now. We don't have the kind of friends we want to spend the weekend (or longer) with. For family and friends we have our Tahoe Q3 I/O for a few hours on the river. Currently we ply the Kanawha and Ohio rivers with plans to go at least to Louisiana etc.

For used, I'd probably set a budget of $50,000.00 with a limit of $120,000.00 new. Of course we've just begun to look and don't really know what things cost yet.
I want to be able to trailer and keep it at home, there is a public boat ramp about a block from our house.

 

[redneck joe]

do not go new. Let others take the depreciation hit.

At 6'4" go and not liking tight spaces, go with what make you feel comfortable. You are same size as my bother and he really liked our 34' Bayliner.

Going used, $50K is good but have a survey by someone of your choice, not the seller/broker.

Long trips looks at fuel, tho in that size not too much diff so go big tanks aka range unluss LA is going to be a trailer pull then watch beam for regulations on the highways.

And for gods sake make some friends that you would want to spend a weekend on the water with. Can't imagine life without ours.

 

[JimS123]

Sundancers have the aft berth. Many other brands in the same class do as well. They are fine for families with kids. Sounds like an express is what you need.

If looking at SeaRay, they used to make an "Amberjack" model that might suit you.

If you have that much of a budget, don't go used. Sure, you might get a winner, but more often than not you'll get somebody else's castoff because they found out they couldn't afford it or really didn't want it. Likely then it wasn't well maintained.

If you buy what you want and keep it in the family, after a few years the depreciation really doesn't matter. If you find out you didn't like it and trade it soon, and thus lose the depreciation, at least you will have had a warranty plus the satisfaction that you had an unmolested boat.

 

[four winns 214]

It sounds like to me that you're planning to travel on the trailerable cruiser. If so, that aft cabin will likely be used for storage instead of sleeping. Bulky things like camper canvas, duffel bags with clothes, water toys. Storage is always at a premium in this class of boat.

 

[wrvond]

Camper canvas is definitely a "must have", but storage for it never occurred to me. A very good point!

 

[Scott Danforth]

many brands of express cruisers SeaRay as you know, Regal, Cobalt, Bayliner, Carver, Cruisers, etc.

your wish list is at odds with itself. trailerable, and large enough to not feel claustrophobic at 6'-4" in the cabin......trailerable is generally about 26' and shorter, or with a narrow beam (8'-6"). wider than that, you need permits

Aft berth almost always becomes storage. its generally where the PFD's, fenders, canvas, etc. get stored.

my suggestion
find one that the admiral likes
find one your comfortable in
find one with twins
find one that is in great condition
lastly - look to see if its trailerable.

 

[boatman37]

yep. my aft cabin houses my canvas, folding chairs, PFD's, and any other things that would clutter up the rest of the cabin. like was said though, to be truly trailerable you can't exceed 8'6" beam, which will restrict you to about 27' or smaller. the only downside i have seen to having the aft cabin is the helm seat is a little higher than it would normally be. other than that i see no negatives to it

 

[wrvond]

I was seeing the aft berth as a waste of space, but my thinking has been re-aligned. I can definitely see the storage value now. In fact, as much as my wife loves those plastic totes, I can easily envision what the aft berth will look like after she gets hold of it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I was seeing the aft berth as a waste of space, but my thinking has been re-aligned. I can definitely see the storage value now. In fact, as much as my wife loves those plastic totes, I can easily envision what the aft berth will look like after she gets hold of it.

it will be filled with purses, shoes, beach bags, wraps, hats, etc so she can accessorize depending on your stop...... dont ask me why I know.:facepalm: dont forget the tote full of makup

I have a tote full of beach shoes and one with spare clothes in it for when I get wet due to inclement weather

 

[Blind Date]

As already said space on trailerable cruisers is always at a premium and having that area to stow things is a plus. I had a rubber backed carpeted mat made for my aft cabin as often I'll remove the sleeping cushions to make the area even bigger and better for storing stuff. I slept on my Sundancer last weekend with my 3 younger boys and having that 2nd bed meant I didn't have to bother with the camper canvas. So I appreciate that space and not having it would make the boat a lot less functional. A smart design IMHO.

 

[redneck joe]

I was seeing the aft berth as a waste of space, but my thinking has been re-aligned. I can definitely see the storage value now. In fact, as much as my wife loves those plastic totes, I can easily envision what the aft berth will look like after she gets hold of it.

wee had a 34' 13' beam with a mid cabin (it is commonly mis-called an aft cabin as most are here) and we called it the closet; even tho it was a queen size bed.