Express Cruiser comparison

The hull on the 3900 Sovran was designed to take advantage of the IPS system. One of the advantages is that you gain space in the cabin. On the 3900 they use that space for a theater room (two couches facing each other with a TV on the wall) instead of a second stateroom. We only wanted one stateroom so the extra living space worked great for us.

During our sea trial on Lake Erie in November we were running in 2 foot chop at a variety of throttle settings. I'm not sure if you consider that "serious chop" but the boat handled great at all speeds.
 
quote:
Originally posted by j-d

Greg, Do I recall correctly MrsR is no longer for sale? We weren't in the market but I was looking at the ads and showing off how beautiful she is. I'd be hard pressed to part with one like that.

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She is still for sale but we plan to keep her until the right one comes along, which could be years. We are not actively looking as we love her too much. But, if someone is willing to pay asking price and we can find a 40+ footer we love we will do it. Otherwise, she is perfect for us right now.

The toughest part about selling her is we know her condition and we know how well she has been cared for. That's a big unknown going into another boat.
 
quote:
Originally posted by MrsRobinson

quote:
Originally posted by In the know

quote:
Originally posted by MrsRobinson
Call me a snob if you like, but I like quality and will pay for it.

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Then why did you buy a Sea Ray?

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I assume this is sarcasm? We purchased a SR because of the quality compared to the other boats we considered.

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No sarcasm at all. I have looked at a few different Sea Rays of different vintages and never have been impressed. Things I have found that I scratch my head at, in no particular order

1) Inadequate bilge pumps that discharge without a riser loop

2) Stringers stapled together and the staples exposed

3) un-seeled limber holes in stringers

4) Engine room configurations that are complete mental masturbation

5) Plastic thru-hulls

6) Generator mounted so low it was only a question of when it will rust out

7) Stringers only glassed half way

Sea Ray to me does a good job of selling the glitz, but when you peel back the onion, what I find is scary.

Not exactly what I would want to put my life in coming back from Hudson or Atlantis.

Of course, this is just my opine.
 
quote:
Originally posted by In the know

quote:
Originally posted by MrsRobinson

quote:
Originally posted by In the know

quote:
Originally posted by MrsRobinson
Call me a snob if you like, but I like quality and will pay for it.

Click to expand...


Then why did you buy a Sea Ray?

Click to expand...


I assume this is sarcasm? We purchased a SR because of the quality compared to the other boats we considered.

Click to expand...


No sarcasm at all. I have looked at a few different Sea Rays of different vintages and never have been impressed. Things I have found that I scratch my head at, in no particular order

1) Inadequate bilge pumps that discharge without a riser loop

2) Stringers stapled together and the staples exposed

3) un-seeled limber holes in stringers

4) Engine room configurations that are complete mental masturbation

5) Plastic thru-hulls

6) Generator mounted so low it was only a question of when it will rust out

7) Stringers only glassed half way

Sea Ray to me does a good job of selling the glitz, but when you peel back the onion, what I find is scary.

Not exactly what I would want to put my life in coming back from Hudson or Atlantis.

Of course, this is just my opine.

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Fair enough. For what we do, running up and down the river and an occasional trip into the Bay she is perfect and suits our needs.
 
quote:
Originally posted by TerryM

We spent last fall looking at most of the boats mentioned above. We thought for what we wanted in a boat the Tiara 3900 Sovran was the right boat for us.

We bought used 2007 model from Lakeside Marine in Port Clinton, OH in November and love it. I think Lakeside has a booth at the Cleveland show. If you'd like more info I'd be happy answer questions.

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Terry, We were surprised by how well the Tiara hulls go through the water. I've been on lots of boats in rough Lake Michigan waters. My bench mark was the 42 Bertram in terms of comfort in bad weather. Aside from the obvious advantages of weight for the Bert, the Tiaras are right up there when the weather gets bad. We now boat regularly in cold rainy spring and fall weather and think nothing of it. The air conditioned helm and the fine entry and flair make a world of difference when it comes to comfort. Enjoy your new Tiara. You are going to love running it. BTW, the dealer and factory support people are outstanding. Both teams maintain an ongoing dialogue with the owners. SBW
 
Not so fast Greg! I don't think that's "fair" at all.

Our previous boat was a 330DA.

1. Bilge pumps were adaquate and the hoses were safely routed.
2. Stringers were strong
3. Limber holes were sealed.
4. Engines were close together and space was tight, but the battery config was the best I've seen EVER and I could perform all the tasks I needed to perform.
5. Yes, plastic through hulls. Have you noticed that the stainless/chrome ones can ruin the look of the hull? If you want to impress me, sump it all to one through hull and stop obsessing about chromed bullet holes everywhere you look.
6. Gennie was high and dry.
7. Stringers were fully glassed.

Don't kid yourself, and don't let yourself be fooled: 330DA's are well-built, good looking, good handling, comfortable, quiet, well laid out, and very well equipped.

(my apologies for the hijack)
 
Same thing with my SR SLW.

Looks like Brand bashing...again.....

I heard good and bad stories about many brands, including SR, Carver, FW, and yes...even Maxum (my marina neighbor got out of boating at the end of last summer after a really bad experience with a Maxum).

Like Greg mentioned, at the end what is important is to have a boat that suits your needs.
 
No brand bashing, these are things I have seen with my own two eyes. Heck, people have bashed my boat and the number one complaint from guests is that outside of the leaning post and cooler, my boat has no seats. What they fail to realize though is that it was done on purpose.

As for the battery config/wiring being the best you have ever seen, well I am going to guess you have never seen, amongst others, a

Intrepid

Invincible

Out Island

Tides

To each their own, and everyone needs a boat that suits their needs, but IMO, for what Sea Ray markets, they fall short on what they deliver. Admittedly though, I have never come across an express cruiser that I like.
 
quote:
the fine entry and flair make a world of difference when it comes to comfort. Enjoy your new Tiara. You are going to love running it.

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OK, not so fast... Let me clarify something here...

But beforehand, let me say I'm a huge fan of the Sovrans, it's my dream boat in many ways actually. Love the cockpit, love the cabin...

However, the Sovran series is designed in a complete different way from the Open series. In fact, the Open hulls have a much finer entry and flair based on my observations. The Sovran series shows no flair at all, and is in fact quite a convex surface - not unlike that of my friend's Cruisers 3672.

If I was an ocean boater with frequent open water trips, and ride quality was a big factor, I'd stick to the Open hulls. Just another example where generalizations are not appropriate.

Here's an Open versus Sovran hull from a comparison I saw online a while ago:

9tiara40comparison.jpg


9tiara40bowoninside.jpg
 
Ernesto, that is really interesting? I would love to hear the actual design explanation difference? Now, I'd be confused about what boat I hear that good ride is all about? Maybe I'll get some info at the NY Show?
 
Glad to see these pics. I personally have never liked the 'bubble' look of a Cruisers though it does afford more cabin width.
 
AS a guy that has beat the living snots out of every searay he owns I have no problem standing behind the product. For a northeast boater that puts over 150 hrs a year my boats move no matter what ... Yes we broke some stuff... But wouldnt change a thing other then the dealer network... And thats been fully covered and recovered. Searays customer service is 2nd to none...

Ok stepping down off the pulpit...

Rob
 
" In fact, the Open hulls have a much finer entry and flair based on my observations. "

I would not classify that open hull as having a fine entry or flare.

This is what i consider fine entry and flare

flare.jpg


oi.jpg


hunteri.jpg


Oh, and lets not forget this one

QM1.jpg
 
Thanks SBW1.

Ernesto, thanks for the pictures. We looked at hull design during the buying process. Since we are based on Tennessee River we decided we were ok giving up some (or all) the flair for increased interior room.

We might have made a different decision if were we basing the boat on the ocean/gulf but I doubt it because the wife loves this boat.
 
The Tiara opens do have fine entries, finer than many of the boats mentioned here. The hulls deflect any spray right back into the water and the wipers are seldom needed. I could have been clearer as I was thinking of the open series. However, I did a 125 mile run from Frankfort Michigan to Grand Haven in a quartering head sea consisting of 3s-4s with a Sovran running along side of me for 40 miles. We were both running comfortably at 23 knots. He split off and ran across Lake Michigan. I continued on and made Grand Haven at the sun was setting. We were the only boats on the Lake the whole way home. Nothing broke and the hull certainly did not pound. The Sovrans are very good sea boats and very nice for cruising. The look of the hull sort of defies logic, but it does work.
 
Actually, you'd be surprised at how dry the Sovrans with their convex hulls run. Much drier than my 40 foot Sea Rays with a flared hull. You really can't tell from ernesto's photo's but the entry point where the boats are bottom painted are very similiar. And remember, Tiara's run bow high.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

"Volume usually means they are doing many things the right way"

not sure i can agree with that... there are many cases of high volume manufacturers botching up simple things

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People make the market and if a product sells, it's meeting a need. The flaws in high volume products show up pretty fast, and the market sorts out the winners and losers.
 
No one has mentioned Larson at least not that I saw. There cruisers seemed to be bigger inside than most others and they offers some great deals. They have both a 350 and 370. There is even a new 370 "dayboat" a little different lay out than the regular 370. These are great boats and all have a 5 year all inclusive warranty.
 
Had a bridge boat, visibility was great. Now have a 33' express, love it; BUT the visibility is poor--- lots of framing and when the bow is up vision is blocked.
 
The market is small, measured in dozens of a given model in a given year. Quite a few less than "volume" would reveal anything quickly enough for it to really matter very much. That and the market has undergone some pretty radical changes in the past decade. In materials, ownership and sales channels. What anecdotal evidence existed for a '95 model year may have little or no bearing on what's being sold today.
 
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