Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

[searayclassicglass]

Hello:<br />New to message board and it sure looks fantastic. Is there anyone out there who has had or currently has a '70s Sea Ray SRV240? I'd like to know your experience with them, what was good and bad, and what you liked and didnt like. <br /><br />Also, I'd really like to know how it handled in rough water. We plan on taking it diving. She seems to have a pretty deep V and a strong deadrise. I havent measured it yet, but I'd say close to 20 degrees. Anyone know what the deadrise actually is on this boat?<br /><br />Here's a description of my boat:<br /><br />A little bit about her: She's a '76 SRV240 cruiser, sleeps 4, head, fridge, etc. I've had her for about two years and now am just starting a serious resto on her.<br /><br />I bought her up from Atlanta. She was quite a find as she was a 2 owner boat and the last owner had her for 22 years. The main reason I got her is because she had always been in dry storage and never sat out in the water or in the weather. If you are looking for an older boat, I highly recommend this. Otherwise, youre in for a lot of rotted wood, and mine had next to none. <br /><br />She has 750 hours on her and has the original 233 Merc, a Ford 351, and the original type 1, 233 outdrive. Second best thing is that I got her for $5500. <br /><br />I then got a used, aluminum trailer from American Trailer Rentals in Tampa. If anyone needs a trailer, this is THE PLACE to go. They only keep the trailers for about 2 years, make sure they are ship shape, and then sell em for less than half price. I paid $2600 for mine and it is top quality, stainless and aluminum. No rust, even in salt!<br /><br />Only bad thing about her: She has a rotten transom; but this is the rule for older boats. If you have one, you probably have a rotten one too. I'll have the engine pulled and inside and outside transom rings pulled off next week. Then the engine goes in for a rebuild. The Ford had 233hp stock, and I'm hoping to get 280 out of her. Also, I've learned that I can bolt on a Alpha 1 lower and then she'll be able to handle up to 300. If anyone has a Type 1 drive, this is how to get more hp potential out of your boat. Simple. A rebuilt alpha lower is around $1100 to 1300. I've got a line on a good place if anyone's interested.<br /><br />Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to introduce myself. I'll be getting a web page on her soon and posting pics along the way.<br /><br />--------------------<br />Regards,<br />Kris

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

I had a 1977 and it was a great boat.The cockpit floor was a little thin and the orange carpet and checked interior had to go ,but I left the monkey fur on the cabin ceiling.Charlie

 

[dkwalker]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

a couple of us have old and abused srv 220 we've just taken on... I did see a totally gutted 24 footer, but it was a too far gone for my purposes. <br />I hope to take mine for a maiden voyage here in the next couple weeks but then I gotta spend my winter putting in a floor. <br />Ron in Texas and I'd both like to see your pics... I have a '77 and he has a '78. I bought a 1976 sales brochure off Ebay- it has all the models in it. I can send you a scan of the page for your 240 if you'd like.

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Hey dwalker:<br /><br />My floor in the cockpit is glass with no wood. It's plenty stiff enough. The floor in the cabin is wood and the center is rotted so I'll have to replace it; but the interior resto will be last.<br /><br />Where can I post the pics or do you want me to e them to you guys? I'd like to post them on the sight so anyone with interest can see.<br /><br />Yea, I know about them being too far gone. But mine has been excently preserved, and the only thing I need to replace is the rotten transom core. I'll be doing it this winter and will keep you informed. I'm also planning on posting pics of the resto and planning on detail posting of the repair. Any t rot you yours?

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Hey guys, something else. I have the original factory manual that came with the boat for mine; I'll send you copies if you want them. I dont have the engine part from Merc, but have the Sea Ray stuff. Got a wiring diagram alos that I can send.

 

[loghomer]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Hey fellas<br /><br />I just bought a 1976 240 srv at the end of Oct.Since it was already winterized I did not take it out for a spin. (I know always test it first)Anyway, this boat is in great shape. The guy I bought it from only had it for a year and just had a baby so he wanted out. But I found the owner before him who had it for 8 years and he gave me the whole story on the boat. I guess it had been stolen and on some kind of a list for over 10 years until some marina came acrossed it with no outdrive.Somehow they managed to get a title for it so its all legal It must have been hidden indoors somewhere so the interior is really great shape. I do see some soft spots in the transom though, but I got it for $2000 with a dual axle trailer, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Everyone I have talked to says these boats handles waves really well, and were built to last. I hope so!!!

 

[record hunter]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

I have a 1979 Sea Ray the 228 its 24ft 6 inch I have it for 10 years with a small bridge up top. I like the boat I have had it in some rough water the biggest maybe 10 ft seas. In seas that big you are goung to take a beating no matter what I have alot of weight in mine It goes into it pretty good the only thing is going down swell its alittle scary.Not the best going down almost lost her this summer but she got me home She is my baby and she always gets me back So yes it is a good boat .I had to replace my transom last winter took engine out all wires transom plate and cut all rotten wood out and a porton of the floor replaced with 2 pieces of 3'4 ply and reglased and refoamed the floor it was a big job but did it right. Made a new engine box and re texured the floor.My tank is in the middle 72 gallon. had to make a new floor for that always glass everything never rely on paint. Good luck and happy to see other Sea Ray lovers .Just to let you guys know the best rough water boat made is a Radon there is several made .

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Recordhunter: 10' seas!!! I would never want to be out in those conditions with her! I was thinking of 6 footers being pretty rough. But if I were caught out, and that is entrirely possible, I think she would handle it. <br /><br />I'd really like to get some more info on your transom job. Sounds like you did it just as I have it planned. Did you use glass or epoxy? It will be a month or so before I start. The outer skin is perfect so I have no problems there. What did you get the wood out with?<br /><br />Most square stern boats have a tough time steering in a following sea; at least I have read that. Got to surf here down and not get the beam turned parrallel to the crest. Definitely heady stuff.<br /><br />How did you almost loose her last year?<br /><br />Oh, did you have to replace your tank; and if so, how hard was it. I need to look at mine, I dont smell any leaks but I'm sure after all these years it's pretty corroded and will leak eventually.<br /><br />LOGHOMER: Welcome to the club! I'm excited to keep in touch with you guys on all we learn on our projects. Mistakes especially!<br /><br />I've had her out in some steep wakes on a large lake, maybe 3 foot, not much. She seemed to "slap" though. I've noticed that the deck/hull joint is riveted with no screws or glassing. I dont know what, if any, adheasives that they used. I dont see any evidence of any squeexing out. I've been toying with the idea of glassing the hull/deck joint while I have her apart. Rivits are the cheapest and least desirable joints you can have. Mine, fortunately, are not corroded.

 

[record hunter]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

It was early this morning when I posted reply. I meant to say I have a mercruiser 228 in a srv 240 sea ray 24 foot 6 inch. My tank had a leak 5 years ago it is aluminim.1 tiny hole took her out cleaned sanded and bought a epoxy to paint over never had any problems since but will change one day soon .My transom I used a 4 inch grinder and chisels .The grinder I used a cheap ryobi bought some 50 to 80 grit discs and took it down to the skin. It was so long I will try to remember what I did I made sure skin was clean wiped it down with aceitone had my 3/4 sheet marine ply all ready to go all cut I did not cut out the transom hole until after I was all done. If you have a fiberglass store near you they can tell you if I,m right about my procedure. You need to make up a thick peanut butter mixture like of epoxy and I believe I used q cell it is just a thikener mixed it all up and trowled it on but before I did I spread some fiberglass resin with catalist on the ply then trowled the epoxy on the ply and put some on the transom skin made sure I had enough on . I had to mix a couple batches You had to work fast I rushed but when I was all done I feel as though I could have taken my time alittle more. I screwed from the out side through some existing holes and built some wedges from the inside You want to make sure you do not have any voids and wedge it off in several spots If you have any large bumps in the glass you should either grind bump out or the ply in that spot so it will all sit against your transom flat after that was done I put another piece 2/3rds across the back starting from the middle 1 piece so you have another 3/4 around the transom plate I had 2 thicknesses there . I did the same method between the two resin on both then the epoxy with thickener trowled on and screwed from the inside though. I then reglassed all the corners with matting and glassed over the entire back and gell coated with white color Because I had to cut away a foot of floor to get all the way to bottom Then when all that was done you have to rebuild the floor and fill with closed cell foam. All this brings back bad memories wow alot of work Call your fiberglass store if you have one. I will check post and try to be of some help if you need it .This is a great forum all the guys out there are great After I was all done I cut out the transom cutout and drilled the holes look carefully at your cut out and look at how the holes are drilled write it down .After you cut out re glass the raw wood. to tired to go on good luck

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Recordhunter:<br />Why did you have to cut out the floor? Is it because you could not fit the whole length of the plywood into the bilge? I forgot that our boats just have two small hatches into the bilge. <br /><br />Cutting the floor scares me a little. I was hoping not to have to do any cutting of the floor at all. My boat has a aluminum piece around the inside of each opening that the teak hatches sit on. Oh...now it dawns on me; you did not cut this section, you cut 1 foot away from the transom and did not have to cut the hatch openings?<br /><br />I guess you had to cut the floor to get the whole length of the new transom ply into the bilge. <br /><br />Cutting the floor seems almost the hardest part because you would have to do finish glass work on top. Am I projecting too much difficulty into this.<br /><br />Thanks for your help!<br />Kris

 

[dkwalker]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

www.geocities.com/dkwalker/boat2<br /><br />'Classic Glass- this links to the pics of my boat and at the bottom is a link to Ron's project in Texas. He's all ready doing his floor so we'll be expecting more pics from him soon.<br /><br />My floor has a couple of soft spots/bubbles and also right around the step down at the forward end of the floor (where the gas tank is set in) there is a lot of rot in the vertical wood there. The hatch/walkthru-windshield set up is poorly gasketed on mine and it's caught a lot of water over time.<br /><br />Also there are two seams that run lengthwise in the floor that have cracked. I'm interested in the what my autopsy will reveal when I get to pulling that crap up. To me, it's pretty clear the floor was redone poorly at some point. I can't otherwise explain what I'm seeing on the surface.<br /><br />This weekend I should have time to scan the pages from the brochure I have. I'll post it at my geocities page and you can nab it there or send me your email and I'll send it right to you.<br /><br />Everyone has responded positively about the Sea Ray's being great boats on the water. I've seen a few up and the Columbia River and they look like a nice "ride". There are two that live in the marina where my current boat is based and they drew my eye, too.<br />I'm eager to go out and burn up this 1/2 tank of gas I have- easier and more fun than trying to pump or siphon it out. 'Not to mention I don't have anything to catch 30+ gallons and store it.<br /><br />Like many of us, I don't have a shop to work on mine inside... one guy has mentioned hanging a tarp off the side of his house to tent his project in. I'll probably have to do the same. We'll get lotso 'liquid sunshine here in P'NW during the coming months -it's all ready started!!!

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Hey dkwalker:<br />I've got an original sea ray manual that actually came with the boat. I can scan it in and send it to you if you want. <br /><br />Just got on your web page and went to Ron's also. I sent him an email; I really want to stay in touch with you guys.<br /><br />I'm going to post some pics as soon as I get a web page started, but I could send you some now if you want.<br /><br />Oregon....excellent place. I graduated from Oregon State and loved my time there. Spent much time in the Cascades, coast range, Bend, etc. Havent been back since 94, though. Where do you live in OR?<br /><br />One thing I really love about this boat is it's style. Very original, sleek, and "sexy". I dont like the style in the 80s. Too boxy.<br /><br />Is your floor all wood? Mine is glass. TAlk at you soon.<br />Kris

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Dave:<br />Here is my email address:searayclassicglass@hotmail.com

 

[record hunter]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

I had to cut into the floor so that I could go all the way down into the bottom of the deep v .The one piece of ply was very hard to get in I remember You might want to cut it in half and work half at a time. My tank was pretty easy to get out .I just had to pull up the middle floor and there it is Some sea rays have it foamed in mine is not. Take some pictures and post them would like to see what you got

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Guys:<br />I'll post some pics this weekend. I also started a web page where I plan on posting the resto job and other srv facts/history. The link is: www.geocities.searayclassicglass.com I'd like to include your links if it's ok. I'll have to pull her out of the barn this weekend so I can get some shots of her. I'm also going to get a rough measurement of the deadrise and post it.

 

[searayclassicglass]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

Sorry, the correct url is: <br />www.geocities.com/searayclassicglass/SRV240.html

 

[dkwalker]

Re: Anyone with Sea Ray SRV240 Experince?

http://www.geocities.com/searayclassicglass <br /><br />try this link--- it works.