Which model is my new Sea Ray?

socalsearay

New Member
Jan 21, 2018
10
Boat Info
240 Sedan Bridge
Engines
350 GM w/ Volvo drive
I just acquired a Sea Ray. It is approximately 25 feet long. The seller did not know alot about the boat, therefore, neither do I. It was advertised as a 1980 boat but I have my doubts. Most of the 240 models I've seen have a flush deck whereas this one has an engine cover which is not flush. I'm hoping to obtain some assistance in determining the year and model. The serial number is:
SER4257A1178-2400B7 68-9
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Here is the auction link until I take some photos.
332513420441
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-SEARA...XIgBJgWQNJnJXDvSfEESE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
 
I believe your boat to be a 1978 based on the serial #. I think the numbering scheme varied back before the mid '80's but the "7 and 8" at digits 11 and 12 should indicate model year.
 
Or possibly a '79. 11/78 manufacture date? Mine is registered as an '81 and ends in 1080.
I had contacted Searay several years ago trying to get more info on it. They couldn't tell me much more than when and where it was built. It was a custom build and there were no other records available for it.
 
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If the HIN is correct, it is definitely a '78. Regardless of when it is registered, it is still a '78 model. Just like cars - if you buy a leftover '17 in 2018, the car is still a '17. If it was registered differently, a mistake was made.

I didn't look through the links/pictures, but you can always download the '78 brochure from Sea Ray's site and compare that way, until you find the model that matches yours... which is likely what some of the guys did for you above.
 
If the HIN is correct, it is definitely a '78. Regardless of when it is registered, it is still a '78 model. Just like cars - if you buy a leftover '17 in 2018, the car is still a '17. If it was registered differently, a mistake was made.

I didn't look through the links/pictures, but you can always download the '78 brochure from Sea Ray's site and compare that way, until you find the model that matches yours... which is likely what some of the guys did for you above.

Thank you all for your assistance. I've looked through all the '77-'79 brochures I could find;however, they all showed, IIRC, a flush deck rather than a raised engine hatch deck. This "lower" deck results in a taller sliding door to enter the cabin, which is different than the '78 240 shown in the brochure. This is what confused me.
 
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None of the pictures I can see in your links show, definitively, what the engine area looks like. In those pictures, it's possible that what we're seeing around the engine (fiberglass floor) is actually a bilge "shelf", and not the actual cockpit floor. As mentioned above... need more pics.
 
Here is a photo of the door to the cabin. I will take some more pics showing the engine compartment, which is halfway below the rear deck. (and yes, I have some woodwork to do to bring it back to it's former glory)
bfneqa.jpg
 
Here are some pics of the cockpit showing the engine. The engine cover is missing. Another project ..
30nera0.jpg

2zz3sko.jpg
 
OK, I see what you mean about the engine, now. It sure looks like an SRV 240 Sedan Bridge. I can't tell from Sea Ray's brochure, though, if there is a dog house, or not. But obviously, there needs to be one.

I seem to recall being on a similar model - could have been a 22', maybe a 24' - from that era. I remember because I liked the engine access. The dog house did not cover that entire hole (forget about the area above the gas tank, I'm only referring to the big hole around the engine). Instead of a BIG dog house, there were removable (I think they were on hinges) panels immediately to the port and stbd of the engine. So the dog house was actually "skinny". It would flip up (or just totally remove?) for normal access to the engine. If you needed more access, then you flipped the extra little pieces out of the way.

At this point, though, whatever was done in the past is the past. You can make this any way you want to.
 
The small wood piece over the gas tank does not belong there. I'm not sure where it belongs, it's only there now to assist in walking around. I'm going to have to have all the hatches and engine covers fabricated. I've been looking online for examples of above deck hatches from other Sea Ray models as a guide.

As for the 240 SRV, here is a photo from the '78 brochure. The cabin door in this pic is shorter than my door plus the boat in this brochure has higher wood rails along the rear deck, which seems to indicate a raised flush deck rather than the lower deck (such as mine). I will keep looking for a match to my boat but so far, haven't seen another like it. I may add the interior shown in this brochure pic matches my interior design.

Thank you for your assistance.
2v9dctx.jpg

Here is a side by side comparison of my boat and the SRV240 in the brochure:
2vmsqo7.jpg
 
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I see what you're saying about the distance from the cockpit floor to the top of the gunwales. You know... you also have those "fish boxes" on either side of the gas tank, which got me thinking... Look at the 1979 brochure and the 240SRV Sundancer/Cuddy Cruiser. There was an option for a "cuddy bridge". But, read through the standard features... sure sounds a lot like your boat, right (especially the floor/cockpit design)? If so, you may have a late production 1978 240SRV Cuddy Cruiser with the Cuddy Bridge option. Or, I could still be way off base!

Either way, it is what it is and you can do whatever you want with it. In the end, whatever model it is makes no difference - it's just a name.

You got the serial numbers right off the back corner of the boat, right? If you want, you could contact Mother Sea Ray and see what they say about it.
 
I just acquired a Sea Ray. It is approximately 25 feet long. The seller did not know alot about the boat, therefore, neither do I. It was advertised as a 1980 boat but I have my doubts. Most of the 240 models I've seen have a flush deck whereas this one has an engine cover which is not flush. I'm hoping to obtain some assistance in determining the year and model. The serial number is:
SER4257A1178-2400B7 68-9
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Here is the auction link until I take some photos.
332513420441
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-SEARAY-CABIN-CRUISER-/332513420441?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=QLajqVXIgBJgWQNJnJXDvSfEESE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
It’s a 78
 
Like Dennis said, whatever model it is makes no difference - it's just a name.
Sea Ray couldn't tell me what a SDC was. I do however know it makes one hell of a platform for a cruiser/fish killer...
 

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