Your opinion on these 2 boats please

[Kiwi Phil]

If you were considering purchasing a boat and the following 2 met your requirements, then which would you choose, and for what reasons

1999 24' Chris-Craft 240 Express Cruiser
Volvo Penta 5.7L GSi/DPV, HP: 280hp. Hrs not know at this point.


1998 24' Sea Ray 240 Sundancer
Mercruiser 5.7, Hours: 254, HP: 260hp

The both pretty much have the same appointments and similar condition.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[oops!]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

your a winner with both phil....

the cc is an exceptionally good boat.....the volvo drive is fantastic.

the ray is a proven runner....with a common package....

both have super resale values

tough choice for me tween the 2.....

youd need to get really picky to tear one apart from the other.

comes to personal choice

good luck bud.....and post pics of the winner !

cheers
oops

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

imho, the Chris Craft hands down. i have a 99 230 Deckboat with same drive package. fantastic boat.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

I asked a Q re the weights of the 2 on another thread.....
answer:
1998 24' Sea Ray 240 Sundancer - about 4300 pounds
1999 24' Chris-Craft 240 Express Cruiser - about 5250 pounds

the Cris Craft is considerably heavier....any idea why that is??
different or better construction??
Cheers
Phillip

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

Chris Craft in the US is considered the top of the line. better quality, and construction.

 

[oops!]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

i stuck my head in a brand new cc a month ago....just a little runabout.

i was shocked at the quality of construction.....floored is more like it....

id say water test them both

 

[zach103]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

Go with the 24 footer lol.. boths are deff good boats.. i agree with oops.. test them both see what one youll like better

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

I live in Australia, and have never seen these 2 boats in this size..(never seen a CC at all)... so testing is not an option.
(have seen the Bayliner 2355)
I buy MacGregor boats in USA and ship out.
Just wanted to try one of these, so hence the questions.
Thanks everyone
Cheers
Phillip

 

[Robertpel9]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

I would go with the Chris Craft (I am biased I own one )

I was talking to the owner at a large marina here last weekend tha ti was going to buy a new Regal from this spring before I decided to go used for my first boat. I happened to run into him at an on the water boat show. They sell exclusively Regal Boats.

He told me that the late OMC model Chris Craft's (Which is what you are looking at here) were the top of the line OMC model of the time and married up with the Volvo package (Which I have as well) is about as good of a mid 1990's boat you will find if it was maintained. He was commenting on how well my 13 year old boat looks as it is essentially in new condition. No problems at all to speak of.

I am sure the Sea Ray is a good boat and the advantage there is going to be it is a lot more common. Chris Craft changed ownership and there is little info available from them on the OMC era boats. Having said that most components are common (steering, engines, drives, etc) so i would not worry about it.

I ave received many complaints on my boat people saying you can always tell the lines of a Chris Craft, how beautiful it is etc. Last month someone asked me if it was new!!!! (it's a 1995 LOL ) I just got off mine an hour ago, they are great boats with a lot of tradition.

Go with the Chris Craft if you know it has been maintained

Robert

 

[KCook]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

Survey, survey, survey. And that includes the CC. My OMC model Chris Craft bowrider had some very rough fiberglass here and there.

Kelly

 

[boatradioman]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

I would pick the 1998 boat,it is newer and has more horsepower.I would have to see the boats for real to tell my true opinion.I pick the 1998 one because it is newer.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

OK...next questions.

1998 24' Sea Ray 240 Sundancer - about 4300 pounds
comes on a tri axel trailer

1999 24' Chris-Craft 240 Express Cruiser - about 5250 pounds
doe not have a trailer....kept in a wet berth.....worries me with keeping a leg in the water.
Anyway the boat is priced so I can get a new trailer and come out the same price as the Sea Ray.

For this boat-weight, I have so far learnt, that Aussie standards require me to:

have a dual axel trailer (minimum...but tri won't be an issue)
electric over hydrolic on all 4 wheels, using drum brakes
controller in the tow vehicle...not expensive to buy and install here.
trailer not to exceed at widest point 2.5m which is 8.2 feet or 98.4inches or 8foot 2.4inches.

So do these measurements equate to your trailer widths....does anyone know??

In a bit if a bind here....if I ship without a trailer then I need packers to construct a craddle, and that can eat up quite a bit of money which I could put toward a US trailer.
If the US trailer equates to Aussie measurements and brakes, then I am home free.
Anyone any comments, or better still, got a 24' Sea Ray or CC in their yard on a trailer??

Any comments or advice is appreciated.
Yes, I will go for a survey
Cheers
Phillip

 

[JCF350]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

A choice between a Sea Ray and a Chris? No choice there go with the Chris Sea Ray's are just a middling quality boat.

You can always get in touch with a trailer manufacturer and order one to meet your needs.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

A choice between a Sea Ray and a Chris? No choice there go with the Chris Sea Ray's are just a middling quality boat.

Both of these boats are top quality,C.C is heavier due to the different method of hull layup,one uses divinacell ,other hand layed glass, but Searay is not a middle quality boat,the methods used to construct this craft are top notch,not to mention the accessories are also best in the industry.The only way to pick is a sea trial,picking is users choice between great & great.

 

[tommays]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

Beam : 8' 6" / 2.59 m is a common size in boats like this how much is allowed to hang past the wheels

http://www.searay.com/Archives_Manuals/Sea_Ray_Archives/1998/25 feet and below/240DA_SS.pdf

 

[JCF350]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

Both of these boats are top quality,C.C is heavier due to the different method of hull layup,one uses divinacell ,other hand layed glass, but Searay is not a middle quality boat,the methods used to construct this craft are top notch,not to mention the accessories are also best in the industry.The only way to pick is a sea trial,picking is users choice between great & great.

That's "Divinycell".


I have seen them both manufactured and worked on or been around boats for since 1973 (and worked with SeaRay R&D on occasion in the past). SeaRay's ain't a top line boat (to much emphasis on keeping costs down- labor, materials, and methods of manufacturing- the add on stuff they can buy cheaper because of the quantity they buy), maybe upper mid tier but that's about it, they could be very well be a top line with a little extra effort but that is not and never has been their marketing strategy (which is to deliver decent quality at price lower than top of line). And no I ain't prejudiced either I own a Stamas.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Your opinion on these 2 boats please

Perhaps you have worked R&D and have been around while manufacturing was taking place...but to tell me that SeaRay's marketing strategy is to be "second best" is something i find VERY hard to believe,i am a member of the SeaRay Club..(yea,i know..big deal) but every month i get an expensive,glossy mag touting how well there built,and how if you buy another you have achieved "The American Dream" so,perhaps i'll buy that there not top of the line in your opinion,,but what is anymore? every boat has its flaws,but ive owned 4 searays, and everyone has been a well built,reliable,solid craft.and i have a masters license and have delivered every boat made,have owned searay-chris craft-wellcraft-baja-and for a short time a Contender off shore.Based on all the boats ive owned,i find searay to rank up with the top tier boats.