Searay 170 info, review, specs?

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Looking to get more info about a 1993 Searay 170. I tried searching online and couldnt find to much info, review & Specs. The link below is the one I was thinking of purchasing. Owner says that he does all the work himself but this summer he had to take it in to get the motor aligned and replace the gimbal bearing. Would this be a good buy? He was willing to go down to $5700.00 cad. Remember this is in canada so our price will seem a bit higher then USA



http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...rd-tower-for-sale-or-trade-W0QQAdIdZ229349157

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

Anyone?

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

You can go on the Sea Ray website and pull down specs on all their old boats. Here's a link to the one you're interested in:

http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company1729/1C1_27_74DERNPWQ699.pdf

As you can see, I have a little older, slightly bigger Sea Ray. I love the boat. It handles very well, doesn't use a lot of gas, very good build quality. Be sure to check the floors for any soft spots by stepping all around, look carefully at the engine- the cleaner the better, look in the bilge for signs of oil leaking. Tap the stringers where you can see them in the bilge- you want a hard "tap" sound, not a "thud". Same for the transom- tap all around the outdrive mounting surface, down near the junction with the bottom. Want good hard taps everywhere. Do the water test- he's willing to do it. Check the boat starts easily, idles well when warm, accelerates smoothly, gets up to wide open throttle- 4600 rpm (or close) for the 3.0 merc. Check the trim works up, down, clear up to trailering position (don't have the engine running when moving it up to trailering position). Make sure the upholstery is good, doesn't show signs of being out in the weather a lot.

What are you planning to tow it with? That trailer doesn't have brakes, and you're probably looking at about 2500-2700 lbs with a gassed up boat plus the trailer.

I also looked over on boattest.com, and here's a test on a newer model, but same length and engine

http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_video.aspx?ID=290

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

I had almost the exact boat for ten years - 1992 model. It ran like a top pretty much the entire time. That 3.0, although not fast or particularly powerful (I think my top end was 38 mph or so) was a great motor for economical operation.

The fit and finish of the boat was ok, although not spectacular. And definitely check for floor rot as Sea Ray didn't properly seal the edge of the fuel tank hatch on ours and water wicked into the floor and hatch, rotting them out. Also check for rot in the floor under the rear bench seat and in the rear seat supports inside the engine compartment.

This is not a big water boat (the 170 is actually 16.5 feet long) and there isn't a lot of freeboard and I had some larger waves roll right into the front a couple of times.

All in all, we loved it though and got lots of compliments where ever we took it. We got pulled over once by the marine unit for an inspection and the officer handed me his card and asked me to call him if I ever sold it.

Sadly, it sank at the dock in a storm several years ago so we took the insurance money and bought the Scout. A buddy gave me $1000 for the hulk and has since restored it and is using it again with his family.

The price he's asking seems high to me, though. We paid $10k in 1996 for ours. And actually, you should verify the HIN against Sea Ray's records to confirm the year. As I said, ours was a 1992 but we had the curved winshield that transitioned to the side glass without that frame you've got. Maybe yours is older than 1992?

Here's a pic of ours, although it was taken just after being raised from the bottom and wasn't looking her best...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

My uncle has used the '95 version of that same boat since new for nothing but watersports. It has performed very well for him.

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

Thanks for all the post guys. I am having second thoughts about the searay as this boat seems kind of too heavy and worried that it will be too slow. I love the wake bar and the Speakers. Also if you look at the picture I attached the skeg is worn right down on the searay. Does that mean that its been in shallow water or high hours on it? My second choice is the maxum in the link below. Just cant decide between the two.

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...boats-Maxum-1700SR-Reduced-W0QQAdIdZ226218137

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

Ooooo - didn't notice the skeg. It looks busted clean off, although the pic is a bit dark on my computer to see clearly. I'd steer clear in any case. That's some money to put right and the gear housing may be compromised if it took a real whack.

As for weight - I wouldn't really expect one boat to be must faster than the other - a 3.0 is a 3.0 and those boats are probably within a couple hundred pounds of each other.

Again, though, I'm surprised as the money people are asking for early '90s 3.0 boats. Maybe just the market in your area.

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

Ya over priced in western canada. Thats another reason why I am traveling 8 hours to get a boat. This boat in my city would be close to 10k.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Searay 170 info, review, specs?

Ya over priced in western canada. Thats another reason why I am traveling 8 hours to get a boat. This boat in my city would be close to 10k.

LOL - hear ya 2 fast. To get my Scout at a decent price I had to fly from Toronto to Wilmington, NC then rent a U-haul truck, drive to the middle of the state to meet the owner and do a sea trial, then load up and drive two and a half days north back to Canada. Still was cheaper than buying the same model an hour from my house.