sea ray wanna be

[delayed gratification]

Hello from land locked Oklahoma. I have always had small boats on inland lakes for skiing with the family (Malibu). The family is grown and my wife and I are contemplating coastal cruising and Great Lakes cruising as we approach retirement.We have chartered trawlers and have been guests on Viking Sportfishing yachts (56-64), Tiara 38 open,as well as express cruisers by Wellcraft, Formula and Cruiser. We have attende the Miami Boatshow the past 3 years and discovered the 48 sundancer during the last show. It has become our dream and goal to purchase in the next couple of years (used). I am interested in any feedback on the boat, including ease of handling with a couple in their 50's, reliability, seaworthiness in suboptimal conditions such as 5-6 ft following or quartering seas. We really don't want a bridge boat as we age and we do not do any serious fishing. We don't want to go smaller because of family and guests. Thanks, nick

 

[midway]

Welcome to Club Sea Ray.

 

[Hampton]

Personally, I think you have made a fine choice in dream boats. Several on this board have the same goal. It may be quite a bit of boat for your first 2-engine boat, but the bigger cruisers can handle much easier around the dock than the smaller ones. It's definately not too much boat for two people, but, it's an awful lot of boat to learn those docking lessons on. If you get some stick time (pilot talk) on your friend's cruisers, then you should do well. There are dozens of posts about docking on this site. Use the search function and good luck!

 

[standers]

Welcome to CSR. The 48 Sundancer is a great vessel and ours has been quite reliable. While I can't personally speak to 6 foot seas, I can tell you that she has not flinched in 4 foot Chesapeake Bay chop. The vessel is easily managed and maintained by the two of us.

Keep in touch. Who knows what the next couple of years will bring?

 

[delayed gratification]

Many thanks for encouragement.The 48 sundancer is a lot of boat for my limited piloting experience.Glad to hear 4ft seas not a problem. If I am in anything larger than 4ft, it will not be intentional. I would start smaller, but I really don't want to be trading up while retired and I am willing to wait for the ultimate boat for me. I know the 2009 is supposed to have zeus drive, and therefore easier to dock, but I am partial to the protected prop tunnels/pockets and I don't really want to be the new technology test boat. There seems to be a surprising amount of low hour 48's on Yachtworld,but from what I'm hearing on this site, this is probably from a troubled economy rather than a troubled boat. I am encouraged to keep dreaming. Again, all advice is appreciated. nick

 

[Pseudomind]

Many thanks for encouragement.The 48 sundancer is a lot of boat for my limited piloting experience.Glad to hear 4ft seas not a problem. If I am in anything larger than 4ft, it will not be intentional. I would start smaller, but I really don't want to be trading up while retired and I am willing to wait for the ultimate boat for me. I know the 2009 is supposed to have zeus drive, and therefore easier to dock, but I am partial to the protected prop tunnels/pockets and I don't really want to be the new technology test boat. There seems to be a surprising amount of low hour 48's on Yachtworld,but from what I'm hearing on this site, this is probably from a troubled economy rather than a troubled boat. I am encouraged to keep dreaming. Again, all advice is appreciated. nick

There will probably be some Internet-drugstore-keyboard-cowboys reply to these comments. But if I am going to do something I like to pay due diligence and learn it the correct way

Don't give up and contrary to what you "might' read here, there is not one damn person here who was born with the knowledge to operate a boat. I look at it this way look at practically any marina and all of the larger boats, must be a million boast in the USA alone and all of these people had to learn how to operate their boat.

Note I stated learned

I have operated smaller boast, but yes there is a difference between the smaller and the much larger.

What I have been doing is going out typically on Saturday mornings with a licensed captain and practicing face docking and docking in slips. She is standing right next to my side at the helm. When there are no events here in Jacksonville they have a free docking area here in Jacksonville for events with probably at least 100 empty slips available

It has been worth the two hundred dollars plus fuel cost to me. Reading, even using the simulator here is a far cry different then actually performing the actual maneuvering

Good luck and "Go for It" :thumbsup:

Once the dirt nap time comes it is to late, nothing will ever matter again at least to you :huh:

 

[chuck1]

There seems to be a surprising amount of low hour 48's on Yachtworld,but from what I'm hearing on this site, this is probably from a troubled economy rather than a troubled boat. nick

Nick - Welcome aboard, what are you calling low hours?

 

[delayed gratification]

Nick - Welcome aboard, what are you calling low hours?

I have seen several with less than 250 hrs, which seems to me to be reasonable use over a few seasons, but still relatively low hrs. for the Cummins. Diesels with less than 350hrs. seem like just broken in with (hopefully) any flaws corrected. Does that seem reasonable, or are there issues I may be overlooking?

Thank you Pseudomind.Lessons with an experienced skipper sounds like a good investment for the hull (and passengers).It makes sense to practice during low traffic times and avoid the stress of a crowded, busy marina. Not to mention the embarrassment of multiple people watching avery cool boat being very poorly handled:grin:

 

[chuck1]

Yes low hours, but you may find that the gen-set has high hours. You would be surprised how many larger DAs either sit at the dock or just run to a close cove and drop anchor. Another thought is with diesel at $4+ a gallon when your burning 20+ gallons an hour the cost adds up real fast!

 

[standers]

Another thought is with diesel at $4+ a gallon when your burning 20+ gallons an hour the cost adds up real fast!

C'mon, you're not going to ask the "wanna be" to cost justify boating are you? And if you are, let's get it right - the 48 burns 40 - 45 GPH at 25/26 knot cruise. :grin:

 

[jrirvine1]

I am interested in any feedback on the boat, including ease of handling with a couple in their 50's, reliability, seaworthiness in suboptimal conditions such as 5-6 ft following or quartering seas.

My boat is slightly smaller than the 48 (45’ LOA), but very similar in hull design. We have been in those conditions you describe in the Atlantic with no problem. It was only necessary to slow down to 18 – 20 knots and hit the tabs to maintain a smooth and dry ride.

I am (regrettably) in your age group and can confirm that you and your Admiral will have no problem handling a boat of this size.

Good luck on the search!

 

[chuck1]

C'mon, you're not going to ask the "wanna be" to cost justify boating are you? And if you are, let's get it right - the 48 burns 40 - 45 GPH at 25/26 knot cruise. :grin:

"cost justify boating" Can't be done :lol:, Now good family/friend smiles and memories - Priceless:thumbsup:

I was trying to be nice and explain how some people use larger DA. I would venture to say at least 50%+ use them more like water condos than cruisers. :huh:

 

[delayed gratification]

C'mon, you're not going to ask the "wanna be" to cost justify boating are you? And if you are, let's get it right - the 48 burns 40 - 45 GPH at 25/26 knot cruise. :grin:

Is that with or without a full cooler of beer? I may need to travel at "hull speed",but then I will have to singlehand the boat:smt001

 

[delayed gratification]

My boat is slightly smaller than the 48 (45’ LOA), but very similar in hull design. We have been in those conditions you describe in the Atlantic with no problem. It was only necessary to slow down to 18 – 20 knots and hit the tabs to maintain a smooth and dry ride.

I am (regrettably) in your age group and can confirm that you and your Admiral will have no problem handling a boat of this size.

Good luck on the search!

Thanks, The 420 DA is beautiful boat as well, and glad to hear it handles so well. I need to take a closer look at this model. I believe a new 43ft is going to be at the Miami show,but I don't know if that is still on schedule

 

[Bottom Line]

Delayed....good luck with the hunt. The 48 is an awesome boat. I have a friend who has one. He bought it last fall....used 2006...less than 100 hours on the mains...boat was always freshwater, in a covered slip...and he paid between 550K to 600K. I tell him it looks like a Farrari (sp?) on water. Any preferences on hull color? Where do you boat in Oklahoma? We boat on Table Rock...in Southwest Missouri.

Once you learn the characteristics of driving and docking a 48DA...it will be a piece of cake. My friend with the 48DA...says the hardest boat for him to dock was his 280DA....the bigger they are, the easier they are to dock.

 

[delayed gratification]

"cost justify boating" Can't be done :lol:, Now good family/friend smiles and memories - Priceless:thumbsup:

I was trying to be nice and explain how some people use larger DA. I would venture to say at least 50%+ use them more like water condos than cruisers. :huh:[/quote

That could explain some of the lower hours. You had a good point about checking the generator hours. Thank you nick

 

[delayed gratification]

Delayed....good luck with the hunt. The 48 is an awesome boat. I have a friend who has one. He bought it last fall....used 2006...less than 100 hours on the mains...boat was always freshwater, in a covered slip...and he paid between 550K to 600K. I tell him it looks like a Farrari (sp?) on water. Any preferences on hull color? Where do you boat in Oklahoma? We boat on Table Rock...in Southwest Missouri.

Once you learn the characteristics of driving and docking a 48DA...it will be a piece of cake. My friend with the 48DA...says the hardest boat for him to dock was his 280DA....the bigger they are, the easier they are to dock.

A low hour, fresh water boat, kept covered is ideal. I prefer the traditional white hull, but navy or pewter would not be deal breakers. Docking sounds encouraging. We are currently on a small private lake (Hiwassee). Table Rock is a beautiful lake for boating. Nothing that large or pretty in central OK. Only lake Texoma on the border, or possibly Grand lake to the east are large enough to accommodate larger 40+ cruisers. I am considering keeping it in the Great Lakes area for seasonal use, then dry storage most of the time, until totally retired, then??

 

[Jack380AC]

Delayed, welcome and good luck. I agree with your choice and all the good advice your getting.

The best "tips" I ever got when learning to dock my first big boat was from the delivery captain:
1. go slow, very slow
2. come to a full stop, then rotate (momentum scratches boats)
3. never hit the gas in forward, never. A little goosing of the gas in reverse is ok. A boat can dart forward with just a little forward gas but not so in reverse.

My first larger boat was far easier to handle/dock than my previous smaller boats. Enjoy.

 

[delayed gratification]

Delayed, welcome and good luck. I agree with your choice and all the good advice your getting.

The best "tips" I ever got when learning to dock my first big boat was from the delivery captain:
1. go slow, very slow
2. come to a full stop, then rotate (momentum scratches boats)
3. never hit the gas in forward, never. A little goosing of the gas in reverse is ok. A boat can dart forward with just a little forward gas but not so in reverse.

My first larger boat was far easier to handle/dock than my previous smaller boats. Enjoy.

Thank you for advice and encouragment. I will save these tips nick