Sea Ray Year-By-Year Buyer's Guide

[rlb2252]

I?m hot on the trail of purchasing my first boat. Had a deal on a 1986 22 foot Sea Ray Cuddy fall apart.

Now I?m hankering for a little more boat, like a 26 footer full cabin cruiser.
I?ve been studying boat from as far back as 1979 to as new as the late ?80?s. There are subtle differences between certain years.

Is there a year by year guide to Sea Rays that would better inform me of what changes--both cosmetically and mechanically--have taken place over those years? A year by year Sea Ray buyer?s guide.

Also, what does the DA stand for on some Sea Ray model, example "1986 Sea Ray 240 DA"?

 

[lkbum]

Re: Sea Ray Year-By-Year Buyer's Guide

DA stands for dancer as in Sundancer, this is the model that has the "mid" cabin under the helm. This has a lot more room than a conventional cuddy cabin. I think Sea Ray was purchased by Brunswick in the mid to late 80's and for a period of time they consoildated models and were made a lot cheaper than the late 70 early 80 models. This (late 80's) is also the time period when they started including the swim platform in their model length. For instance a 1984 240 Sea Ray Monaco (top end bow rider) had a hull length 2 ' longer than an 88 Sea Ray bowrider because the 88 had an integrated swim platform. They reverted back to the original system in the early 90's (I think).

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Sea Ray Year-By-Year Buyer's Guide

If your looking into a 26' Sundancer, be advised. You will find people list the 25' as 26, which is a big difference. The layout below decks were different, the motors can be different etc...

There are literally thousands of 268 Sundancers out there to choose from!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Sea Ray Year-By-Year Buyer's Guide

Sea Ray is one of the manufacturers (there are a few) that maintains archival materials online.

http://www.searay.com/Page.aspx/pageId/10532/Model-Archives.aspx

Year by year, model by model, you can get boat specs and brochures.

 

[rlb2252]

Re: Sea Ray Year-By-Year Buyer's Guide

Sea Ray is one of the manufacturers (there are a few) that maintains archival materials online.

http://www.searay.com/Page.aspx/pageId/10532/Model-Archives.aspx

Year by year, model by model, you can get boat specs and brochures.

Dude, Perfecto!

Thanks

 

[rbh]

Re: Sea Ray Year-By-Year Buyer's Guide

we have a 1985 270 da (sundancer)
it is 10 foot on the beam, as well it has twin 260 mercs, it is a fun boat because it is so big as well the 520 hp helps, BUT because it is so big thats another problem
first 10 foot on beam makes for the need of a wide load permit.
overall length 30 foot, not the easiest to manouver around the launch area.
estimated total weight on trailer "wet", fuel, water, food,, beer, etc
9000 pounds, you need a big truck with applicable GVW as well as the trailer
If you can get a handle on the towing and launching get the biggest one you can afford.
rob

 

[45Auto]

Re: Sea Ray Year-By-Year Buyer's Guide

I bought a 1987 300 Sundancer about a month ago. Make sure you do some research, they went to a balsa-cored hull in the early to mid 90's I believe and there was all sorts of problems for a sevaral year span till they got the bugs worked out. The hull on the earlier ones is solid fiberglass. You might be able to figure out when it changed over by comparing weights of different model years.