See full version: Reviews sea ray 560 sedan bridge 2000
The captain’s slide/swivel helm seat provides comfortable command of a fully equipped, ergonomically superb dash containing every necessary instrument including a complete Raytheon electronics package. The lavish cockpit provides a complete boating and entertainment experience, with abundant seating including a circular sofa with a table which converts to a sun pad, wet bar and premium Clarion® stereo system. The fully appointed galley. here
It has it all - power, speed, and a revolutionary configuration. [displayForm Photos and description courtesy: Sea Ray Yachts more
The Sundancer 460 embodies all the celebrated qualities of Sea Ray's iconic Sundancer line. Its open floorplan and thoughtful amenities contribute to an overall sense of ease and flow, at once inviting and invigorating. Generous, interconnected social zones make the Sundancer 460 perfect for gathering with friends, while high-end finishes and a sleek, elegant profile instill pride. In terms of performance, an optional Zeus® propulsion system.
*Twin Cummins Zeus Drive Engines w/ Skyhook* Our 470 Sundancer is an instant classic. [links]
The guest staterooms down here are well suited for a large family or a pair of couples with children. The forward stateroom offers a queen-size centerline berth with cavernous stowage beneath, while the third stateroom has over and under berths. The guest head is accessible from both the forward stateroom and the hallway.
Skiddish Non-skid. As one who spends his life climbing around on boats, I'm more than cautious when moving around on the decks. But this one got me. Rounded on the corners and sloping forward rather steeply, like walking on ice, my feet went right out from under me even while being aware of how terribly slippery these decks are. I've never seen decks this bad; I could slide 3 or 4 feet easily. The non-skid on this deck is worse than smooth fiberglass. If that weren't bad enough, the bow railing extends beyond the bow by around two feet, so that as I slid toward the railing, expecting that to stop my skid, there was that yawning two foot space between the end of the deck and the rail. Grabbing the rail to keep from going overboard, it bent downward a good six inches because it's just hanging out over empty space with no support.
Regardless of what you call it, this style boat has always been popular, going all the way back to the 1920's. And it is one of the most difficult layouts to achieve successfully in a small boat because the impetus is to put too much into a too small space. It's one thing in a 42 or 45 footer, but something else again in a boat 37 or 38 feet long.
Aft cabin cruiser, tri-cabin, double cabin flying bridge (DCFB), these are but a few of the names applied to a small boat with three "cabins." But they're only three cabins if you don't count the galley, which actually make for four major interior areas.
The counter top is molded with an integral back board, splash board or whatever it's called, along with a high edge rail. This has the advantage of no ugly caulked seams to mildew or open up, no mica to loosen. No water to trickle down into the cabinets below. Plus it is very easy to keep clean. This is a galley in which one could actually prepare a meal without feeling like working in a phone booth.
Performance. This boat has deep propeller pockets to achieve a level and more forward engine installation, plus more headroom. While there were specification stickers on both engines, these little labels were completely blank so we don't know what the advertised horse power is. While it is certainly adequate, I wasn't pleased with the performance hit caused by the prop pockets. She's much too slow to get up on plane, pointing her nose high in the air, while having to advance the throttles nearly to full to get her there in a reasonable period of time. There are huge 30' trim tabs to help overcome this **. This is the price to pay for being able to get all this stuff in such a small space. She labors on getting going, and the cruise RPM is notably higher than boats without pockets. more
Summary For the size of the thing, this is decidedly a price boat that offers some reasonably good quality with engineering that is above and beyond what you'd get with most of the competition. I won't name names, but you could do a lot worse with most of the competition. Basically, you're getting what you pay for with some exceptions.
Just so you don't think this boat was designed for dilettante fishermen, I beat it up as much as I could in the 3-foot seas we encountered on test day and it passed with flying colors. It turns quite tightly without throwing anyone across the cockpit. On every point of sea, it ran smoothly and comfortably. That tells me that it could handle considerably more without a problem. [links]
No matter what your application, you'll find the Sea Ray 370 to be a fast boat, even with the tower. I found 36 mph running at 2,550 rpm to be a very comfortable cruising speed. If you want longer range, 2,100 rpm translates into a more efficient 27.5 mph. And few inboard boats will keep up with you and your 3116 Cat diesels on your way back from the fishing grounds at the 370's top speed of 39 mph. The only downside of this fine turn of speed is the turbo whistle, which I found fairly pronounced at higher speeds. more
You might expect fishing appointments to be lackadaisical when the focus is elsewhere. But this 370 leaves nothing wanting. Two live wells assure fresh baits and easy access to them at all times. The two large fish boxes lift out for access to rudders, etc. A tackle and rigging center with a sink allows typical cockpit work to proceed as on any dedicated fishing machine. About the only problem I encountered while fishing the Sea Ray 370 was with the switch for lifting the engine hatch. The engineers (in all their fishing wisdom) placed it on the transom gunwale next to the coaming pad. Three different people leaned against it while pumping on a fish and couldn't figure out why the bridge deck was rising by itself.
Those who drift-fish will certainly appreciate that when you shut down the power, the 370 ends up drifting beam-to. However, if you troll live baits, you'll probably want to run on one engine, bumping it in and out of gear. A 7-knot trolling speed (with both engines) shows a remarkably clean wake with nothing but surface turbulence extending back only to the second wave. here
Not everyone wants a mean, lean fish-fighting machine. Believe it or not, there are some capable anglers who do other things with their boats besides fish. Yeah, I know - go figure. But for those who enjoy sybaritic luxury and refinement but still want fishability, the Sea Ray 370 Express Cruiser warrants some investigation. more
As you'd expect from a boat of this ilk, the interior is a nautical Versailles. A beautiful big head with shower, a full galley, a dinette and settee area you'd be pleased to have in your home and even a round bed on centerline forward.
Sea Ray doesn't sell as many boats as it does by building ones that fall apart. The company does a tremendous amount of stress testing on its fiberglass laminates. Decks get end-grain balsa coring, but all hulls are solid. Construction consists of vinylester resins, heavy fiberglass woven roving throughout and Armorcoat gel-coats on decks and bottoms to resist osmotic blistering and retard chalking and fading in sunlight.
When this model debuted in 2008, the Sea Ray 580 Sundancer was hailed as a breakthrough boat for a builder that had been producing mostly conservative designs in the years leading up to her launch. Despite the fact that the nation’s economy was slowing down and boat sales were beginning to sag, Sea Ray was determined to push ahead with this $1-million-plus cruiser. It was the Tennessee-based manufacturer’s response to the success some European builders were having in the American marketplace, having lured U.S. yachtsmen with continental flair and luxury accommodations. After decades of playing it safe, the 580 Sundancer was a breath of fresh air for Sea Ray aficionados.
“The 580 Sundancer (called the 55 Sundancer in 2008–09) took the Sea Ray concept of elegance and sophistication to the next level when she was introduced in 2008,” writes Ed McKnew in The 2017 Powerboat Guide.
Extra thought was given to the helm layout, and the owner did not skimp when choosing electronics. A pair of Raymarine G150 color MFDs (connected to a 4-kilowatt Raymarine open-array radar) dominate the dash just ahead of the adjustable steering wheel, and they’re perfectly positioned for at-a-glance updates of navigation information. Closed-circuit cameras provide views of the engine room and cockpit. [links]