sedan bridge vs larger sundancer

R

royal flush

Member
Oct 2, 2008
84
Oregon-Columbia River
Boat Info
2008 36 sedan bridge
Engines
Cummins diesel
I currently own an '07 320 sundancer; Love the boat. However, it has become a little crampted and small when we camp out on the boat. We did a river trial on a brand new '09 36 sedan bridge and felt it gave us more space( wasn't as crampted) but not alot more-- but it was very difficult to dock due to the lack of visability at the stern; I also had a little bit of a problem with the height off the water .. We were thinking about a larger sundancer -a 38 or 40. I have a couple questions for people that may have been in our situation: When you have a sedan bridge do people tend to not congregate on the bridge where as with a sundancer everyone is on the same "deck"? Are sedan bridges that difficult to dock? Please answer with general feelings about sundancers vs sedan bridges..
 
Very good age old question - it has come up quite a few times on this board and the old SR board. I'll give you my take. Bridge boats are more "indoorsy" and 'dancers are more "outdoorsy." Much more congregation area in the cockpit of a dancer. I had more space in my 26 Crownline's cockpit that on this tub. BUT the indoor living and elbow room on a bridge boat is without equal (unless you go significantly bigger than your 320). You would likely have to go up to a 370 or 380.

As for docking, it's all what you get used to. I'd probably smack your 320 around trying to learn to dock it and you'd smack mine around the same way. Problem with the taller boat is wind resistance and how it affects your moves. Again, just something you have to practice at and get better with.

As for speed and economy, if you do go to the sedan, I'd recommend diesel. It's real expensive to run 36DB gasser at the speed you've grown accustomed to with your 320. If you dont mind cruising 20% slower, you'll be OK.

As for who's going to keep you company up there while underway, it'll be your family if you are travelling alone. If you're with a group of friends, the female of the species will stay down below, the males will hang with you up top (at least that's been my experience).

In the end, it's a very personal choice that can be argued forever. It's really just preference.
 
If you want the females in the cockpit with you, screw with the climate control. I used to open the front eisenglass on my 250 and turn on the cockpit heater coming home from dinner with guests. The ladies were always huddled around me at the helm.
 
I've owned two Sundancers and currently a own bridge boat. I would never go back to an express style boat. But, my opinion is based on the larger boats, I've never been on a 320DA or a 36DB.

As for docking, it's a learned skill that almost anyone can learn on any boat.
 
I've never been in the salon of a 40' class bridge boat with diesels.
The engine noise in the cockpit in my express is extremely loud. At least those who want peace and quiet go below.
I've always wondered how loud it must be in the salon with those screamin' diesels underfoot.
 
I just bought a 2006 38' Sundancer. I can't say enough good things about this boat. I have been on a number of bridge boats and don't like the ride. When you are below the diesels are very loud. That is my opinion. Its all a matter of choice. Good luck.
 
I have a 400 DB with Diesels, it is easy to dock in all situations after some practice. I do not have thrusters btw. I can see the port aft corner and base my docking upon that spot. We owned a 32' express for a few years before this one, NO COMPARISON, and we would never go back to a cave boat. The noise in our salon, cockpit and other areas does not bother us ever. In fact, my admiral usually likes to lay on the couch in the salon and read/nap while on long offshore runs (usually 200 miles between ports). This is our second bridge boat, but our first with diesels. I should have learned my lesson long ago and jumped up to a diesel bridge boat three boats ago. Would have saved some serious money. Just my .02
 
As stated, it's all personal preference. It's actually nice to run in a crowd with a mix of both. When we were tied up next to Stan in his 48DA to watch the Blue Angels a few weeks ago, it was great to have his back deck as a place to hang out and socialize. His margarita machine didn't suck either.

The social space on my flying bridge is similar to that of a dancer, but it is up a flight of stairs. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. I don't mind segregating the kids somewhere other than where I am. And usually when we're underway, the adults are upstairs with me and the kids are down below watching TV or playing Wii.

As far as salon noise, it's really not too bad. The hatches are well insulated and the carpet cuts down on the noise too. I'm surprised at the relatively low noise level because if you open the lazarette hatch at speed the noise is unbelievable.

Docking: there really is no problem once you get used to it. As 400DB said, you can easily see the aft port corner down the stairs and as long as your slip is wide enough, get as close as possible to the port and the starboard should be fine. Also, if there is a piling to starboard you can easily see that too. The visibility thing is overrated. You can't see the back of your car, but you can parallel park, right?

We use our boat nine months a year, going in the water in March. When we're in downtown Baltimore on a crisp late winter day with the salon shades pulled full open and the sun flooding in the windows it is remarkably pleasant. Similarly, when we're at anchor with a beautiful sunset cooking in the distance, we can all be sitting around the dinette table in air conditioned comfort taking in thee 360 degree panoramic view.

Plus, I think bridge guys just like looking down on other people. But that's another whole story.
 
Last edited:
I can't see jack squat on my stbd side unless the piling is more than 12' high, because of the lounge. I can see the port through the clear isinglass and "ladder hole" (no staircase for me). I used to have the admiral guiding me verbally - it took a season or two to realize that as long as you can see one piling, you're fine. I wonder how the guys with hard tops over their aft cabins do it!
 
I went from a 41 dancer to the 36 bridge......I will give you MY opinion......

1. Know how you are going to use the boat. If you are dock people and looking for a condo? Looking to take day trips with friends/family/clients? Do you want to cruise and stay on the boat?

2. Do you have kids? Do you want a dedicated second stateroom?

I love the 36 Sedan...For me the only negitive is the entertaining aspect of being all together. I will also say the sundancer is more like a race car.
 
Well Royal Flush, I can give you my $.02. I went from a 320Da to a 40DA to a 44DB and this past year considered a 48DA.....and didn't make the move. I haven't had any issues moving to the bridge boat and actually believe it's easier to dock than the 40DA. I think much of this decision involves how you use the boat. If you're typically a day boater or very short overnighters the DA series likely will continue to serve you well. If you spend days or weeks away on the boat then the DB series will be your best bet for livability. Either way, once you get into the 40' or above range, diesels are the way to go. For us, the fact that we chose NOT to move up to the 48DA (a great boat) speaks volumes about the 44DB (a really great boat)....but that's my opinion. I don't think you can go wrong in general, this is a very personalized decision based on your boat use patterns and style. Good luck.
 
WE went from a 460 Dancer to the 540 CPMY. The Dancer is a great boat for entertaining in the cockpit. There was a lot of room and people sat so they could talk to each other. If the day were rainy outside the inside got awfully small quickly. The bridge boat gives a lot more room inside, but less outside. Backing down the CPMY is a challenge as you can not see the port corner at all. While I think that Dancers are sexy, I would not go back to just just because of the submarine effect of being closed in. But we are all different that is why there are so many different styles of boat. Viva la Difference:smt038
 
Hi Wet Paint-I think we emailed back and forth last year; Could you further define your statement # 1? Are you saying that if we want a dock condo and do longer overnight trips we should get a sedan bridge? And we want to do shorter trips go witha larger sundancer? We are looking at an 09 36 sedan bridge that is a demo ( never been titled) that has every option that is possible to get on the 36 with the exception of diesels; We took it on a river trial and problems docking due to visability; I am sure I can learn though... The list price on the boat is 425k but they have now at 331k and I think they will take less --Please advise
 
A point that I didn't see mentioned is that if you have little ones or pets, think thru all aspects of a bridge boat. While you may get extra sleeping space, there are also lots of hiding out of sight on a bridge boat since t here are multiple levels. To know where your kids are means that you or your wife is going to be with them when you can't see them. On a Sundancer, everyone has to be in the cockpit with you or walk by you to get out of the cabin, so you at least know where everyone is.

Don't forget the "overhead" factor either. There is a lot more fiberglass to take care of on a bridge boat than on a Sundancer.

This is going to step on some toes, so I'm sorry .....but Sea Ray has never been able to produce an efficient Sedan Bridge under 40ft, with the possible exception of the 370DB with diesels. It is just the nature of the beast. Short bridge boats are so stern heavy that it takes lots of power to get and keep them up on the water and once you get them there, they are typically slow.
 
fwebster said:
While you may get extra sleeping space, there are also lots of hiding out of sight on a bridge boat since t here are multiple levels. To know where your kids are means that you or your wife is going to be with them when you can't see them.
Click to expand...

Is this a "pro" or a "con"?
 
This is going to step on some toes
Click to expand...

Now look what you did Frank!

toe2.jpg
 
rondds said:
Now look what you did Frank!

toe2.jpg
Click to expand...

That's nothin'.... It's not a foot injury until you have the t-handle pull the webbing between the toes back such that they have to pull it back and stitch it up.

So that's a "con" of a bridge boat.. they have these big ass T-handles on the engine hatch that will put you in the hospital if you leave them up and kick them.
 
Hampton said:
If you want the females in the cockpit with you, screw with the climate control. I used to open the front eisenglass on my 250 and turn on the cockpit heater coming home from dinner with guests. The ladies were always huddled around me at the helm.
Click to expand...

Now here is a thinking man! :smt038

Very interesting thread though!:thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,219
Messages
1,428,826
Members
61,115
Latest member
Gardnersf
Back
Top