Build quality

[Nmocean]

So I’m neck deep in this 04 280 da.
First searay I’ve owned and the last I’ve owned boats since I’ve been a kid and I’m 55 and this one is by far some of the worst build quality more wood in this boat than the mayflower. Unsupported wiring every place you look no metal clips all plastic ties. Very disappointed, one big fascade.

 

[hottoddie]

How long have you owned this boat? Did you have it surveyed and do a sea trial? Boat is 16 years old and may have been molested over the years. Your observations are not typical of the Sea Ray brand.

 

[Nmocean]

Yes it was surveyed twice surveys leave a lot to be desired. I always thought searay as a top brand but that has now changed lift your the cushions in aft cabin plywood, plywood in the engine compartment plastic ties instead of the rubber coated stainless steel clips unsupported wiring.

 

[Golfman25]

Seems kind of typical of a production boat, no? Better than most, but not a good as the Tiaras et. al.

 

[b_arrington]

Some of these observations seem quite out of the ordinary, but some things are actually normal.

I have intimate experience with 2 Sea Rays of about the same size, one a little older in 1998 270 DA and one a little newer in a 2006 270 AJ. In those boats the wiring has been be very tidy, supported, and well secured. I'm not sure your issue with wire ties. They are the standard practice for securing wires. My Back Cove (which has excellent wire management) and I'd say is up market from Sea Ray make extensive use of plastic zip wire ties. There are many areas of my boat where anchor points are glued to the hull and wires are secured with plastic ties. Stainless clips would seem to be out of the ordinary, only adding expense and weight.

As for wood, use of marine-grade plywood is an accepted good practice in boatbuilding. It has a good strength to weight ratio, is economical, and is highly water resistant. Using plywood allows for a precise fit of parts with a material that can easily be adjusted to make a tight fit - after all boats are essentially hand-made products. I'm not sure what you're seeing or expecting in this regard. I've found that in Sea Rays any plywood in areas that may be subject to moisture is well coated to protect it, or encapsulated in fiberglass and epoxy.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I have always been taken aback when digging deep behind the fancy trappings of the interiors on any of my boats to see plywood blocks seemingly just stuck to the hull or a bulkhead with epoxy and filler oozing out and the business ends of screws sticking thru i 1 inch plus. Just looks shoty. We all would finish each clued on block with a clean filet and actually use a screw that was properly sized in length. To see a couple of hundred screws holding the hull halves together that are clearly 1 inch too long again just looks like crap. The reality is though that spending the time to actually measure and size each screw and clean all the block joinery would add thousands of dollars to the build and weeks to the build time.
I have just learned to accept it and enjoy the parts of the boat i do find quality in.
Carpe Diem

 

[Juliery]

Nmocean, your experience is very different from my own. I have owned many boats over the last 40 years and consider the build quality of my 1993 290 DA to be well above average for a production boat. It's now 29 years old and in excellent condition in all respects. I had a thorough survey done before I bought it. The surveyor found no deficiencies in any category or system, whether structural, electrical, plumbing, upholstery or finishes. He rated the boat to be in "Excellent Condition". Yes, plywood is used, but all has been sealed or fully encapsulated. I had cores drilled from inside the transom and from the encapsulated stringers. Absolutely no issues. The hull and decks are solid. The AC and DC wiring is organized and neat, fully compliant with ABYC standards for guage, distribution, bonding and overcurrent protection. All is restrained at correct intervals and transits have loom and chafe protection in place. My boat predates zip ties but most marine electricians have no issue with their use.

To me, your complaints seem either poorly founded or trivial. You may be David Pascoe, reincarnated. My advice to you, Nmocean - new member, considering your apparent mistake in purchasing this boat before doing adequate due diligence (surprising, in view of your purported extensive experience) is to sell it and move on.

 

[stephens013]

I had a 1997 400DA before my current float, a 2001 510DA. All and all I found the quality and over all build exicutuion very good. Beats the heck out of the Chaparell I had.

 

[Stee6043]

Yes it was surveyed twice surveys leave a lot to be desired. I always thought searay as a top brand but that has now changed lift your the cushions in aft cabin plywood, plywood in the engine compartment plastic ties instead of the rubber coated stainless steel clips unsupported wiring.

You had it surveyed twice, both "left a lot to be desired", you bought it anyway and are now online complaining about it? I feel like something in your purchase checklist must have been missed, NM.

Go crawl around in a 15+ year old FourWinns if you think Sea Ray is sub standard. Shoot, check out a Bayliner too...

And I suppose after you compare the amount of wood and zip ties in the Sea Ray you should also compare how it rides out on the water.

 

[Chip S]

While Sea Ray is a production boat, they did some things very well. In 2004 Sea Ray was using 100% vinyl ester resin while most boat builders were using vinyl ester resin barrier coats with polyester resin or 100% polyester resin. That's why you never hear of the Sea Rays having blister problems. Most new boat buyers don't even know about resins or blisters. Sea Ray used the good stuff even though most people didn't know the difference.

 

[Getaway]

While Sea Ray is a production boat, they did some things very well. In 2004 Sea Ray was using 100% vinyl ester resin while most boat builders were using vinyl ester resin barrier coats with polyester resin or 100% polyester resin. That's why you never hear of the Sea Rays having blister problems. Most new boat buyers don't even know about resins or blisters. Sea Ray used the good stuff even though most people didn't know the difference.

Yes!!
Osmonic blistering is a non-issue on Sea Rays. My '88 268 spent it's life dockside with only antifoulant on the bottom (and most of that was missing) and never had a bubble in the gelcoat. Most boats wouldn't last a couple years unprotected before blistering.