What engines/drives/props

A

allatsea

New Member
Oct 1, 2020
8
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Engines
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Hi all, been in sailboats for 60 years - time for a change and more comfort!
Rather than taking a long time to go nowhere slowly, I now need to go distance quickly with a full load and stay overnight. I could trawl the forum for hours and still be none the wiser so here goes.... for either 370 or 380 Sea Rays, I see adverts with twin 5.0 mercruisers quoting a combined HP of anything from 420 HP up to 870 HP. Can I ask what combo I need to look for when searching the ads and what specific details in the engine bay would identify the higher output engines. Thanks
 
Obviously, Combined HP would be adding the HP of both motors.

generally, 5.0 motors are in the 240-260 HP range each for a total of 480-520.

5.7 motors 260-300 each

6.2 motors 320 hp each

The 7.4’s approach the high 300’s in hp while the 8.1 motors are where you’ll potentially be over 400 HP each.
 
allatsea said:
Hi all, been in sailboats for 60 years - time for a change and more comfort!
Rather than taking a long time to go nowhere slowly, I now need to go distance quickly with a full load and stay overnight. I could trawl the forum for hours and still be none the wiser so here goes.... for either 370 or 380 Sea Rays, I see adverts with twin 5.0 mercruisers quoting a combined HP of anything from 420 HP up to 870 HP. Can I ask what combo I need to look for when searching the ads and what specific details in the engine bay would identify the higher output engines. Thanks
Click to expand...

Keep in mind you are getting into a size of boat that can make sense to power with diesels. One set of the engines you queried were commonly used on smaller boats, i.e. twin 5.0s were a common on the 280, so not only will the performance be less than stellar, but fuel consumption will be extreme.
 
allatsea said:
Hi all, been in sailboats for 60 years - time for a change and more comfort!
Rather than taking a long time to go nowhere slowly, I now need to go distance quickly with a full load and stay overnight. I could trawl the forum for hours and still be none the wiser so here goes.... for either 370 or 380 Sea Rays, I see adverts with twin 5.0 mercruisers quoting a combined HP of anything from 420 HP up to 870 HP. Can I ask what combo I need to look for when searching the ads and what specific details in the engine bay would identify the higher output engines. Thanks
Click to expand...

And for the record...trawling this forum for hours is worth a mint if new to Sea Ray or power boating in general. I wouldn't suggest trying to short-cut the learning curve...
 
Thank you for the replies - appreciated.
And for the record...trawling this forum for hours is worth a mint if new to Sea Ray or power boating in general. I wouldn't suggest trying to short-cut the learning curve... Think that is probably the best advice that I must heed - thanks Stee.

For the last 5 months I have been idly looking at the adverts whilst off during the coronavirus and concluded that the Sea Ray of the early '90's was something that looked better than anything else in a classic way and would probably have a good network of suppliers as well as electrical, technical and mechanical support. So I have only got that far.
Another question please... I see inboard/outdrive on boats for sale but sense that V drive is preferable. However, at $17,000 as an option when new, are V drive 370/380 like hens teeth?
Thank you.
 
allatsea said:
Thank you for the replies - appreciated.
And for the record...trawling this forum for hours is worth a mint if new to Sea Ray or power boating in general. I wouldn't suggest trying to short-cut the learning curve... Think that is probably the best advice that I must heed - thanks Stee.

For the last 5 months I have been idly looking at the adverts whilst off during the coronavirus and concluded that the Sea Ray of the early '90's was something that looked better than anything else in a classic way and would probably have a good network of suppliers as well as electrical, technical and mechanical support. So I have only got that far.
Another question please... I see inboard/outdrive on boats for sale but sense that V drive is preferable. However, at $17,000 as an option when new, are V drive 370/380 like hens teeth?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
370/80 are big boats to push around with outdrives. I doubt they where even available. Most will be v-drive. Express version will be straight drives.
 
Quote "Yes, big blocks or diesels for sure" Unquote.
I'm pleased to hear that I am only likely to find a 'V' drive but I hadn't thought of diesels and yet my car is a big diesel!
Which diesels compare with the 7.4 and 8.1 gas engines please?
Thank you.
 
Guys, I am perplexed - I have been looking at a couple of adverts for 370 Sun Sport and 380 Sun Sport but both have outdrives. I then looked back at past sales and they were outdrives as well. Am I just unlucky at the moment that there isn't a V drive on the market or is the particular model that I am interested in mostly outdrives?
Thank you again.
 
allatsea said:
Guys, I am perplexed - I have been looking at a couple of adverts for 370 Sun Sport and 380 Sun Sport but both have outdrives. I then looked back at past sales and they were outdrives as well. Am I just unlucky at the moment that there isn't a V drive on the market or is the particular model that I am interested in mostly outdrives?
Thank you again.
Click to expand...
Sun sports are sport boats, so yeah they use out drives. I think we thought you where looking at 370/380 sun dancers which are cruisers and have V drives.
 
Golfman - thank you for that and apologies for my ignorance.... I had failed to make myself clear.
Out drives it is then - shame as I much preferred the concept of V drives on a least two counts.
 
allatsea said:
Golfman - thank you for that and apologies for my ignorance.... I had failed to make myself clear.
Out drives it is then - shame as I much preferred the concept of V drives on a least two counts.
Click to expand...
I guess it begs the question then, if you're looking for something to stay overnight on, why a sun sport which is more of a day boat?
 
Suggest you go to sears.com, owners club and join...its free and just state that you are researching the purchase of a Sea Ray Sport Yacht . Once you get on SROC, look for "Sea Ray technical information" and request "model archives" for a 380DA and a 380SS. You should be able to view a floor plan and option list for both boats.....and there is a decided difference.

A v-drive Sundancer with gas engine is going to burn around 30 gph of gasoline and will cruise in the mid to high 20 kt area. The I/O SS is going to beat you to death in the maintenance and repair cost area. Both out drives need to be removed and serviced 1-2 times a year.....if you are in the south in salt water, figure 2X /year. You also need to count on replacing one out drive about every 4-5 years.

The Sundancer is a great cruising boat, very comfortable ride at cruising speeds. Find a diesel version and your safety factor goes way up and your fuel burn goes way down. A 380DA with Caterpillar diesels will burn under 20 gph of off-road diesel with a pump cost of about 1/2 the price of gasoline.

This one is a slam dunk for me....... the 380DA with Cat Diesels, hands down.

Also, look at the used Sea Ray listings here on CSR. Some are very nice boats, usually maintained extremely well, for sale by owner with no brokerage commission.
 
Golfman - I understand your 'begged question' - but it would still be luxury by comparison to what I have been used to - sat on the rail with buckets of salt water chucked over for hours on end!
Frank, thank you for your words of wisdom based upon sound experience - fuel and maintenance were my 'two counts'. . . . I always seem to like what isn't good for me.
I will do as you say and have a look and compare and contrast before I do anything.
Best regards.
 
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