Stingray boat quality???????

[Alwhite00]

Been looking at trailerable aft cabin cruisers in the 24' - 27' range and came across a Stingray 240CS and have been doing a little research on them. Just curious if anyone has any first hand input as far as quality, Fit/Finish - Any know issues, Etc.
Great looking boats and I like the cockpit layout as it is similar to like size Sea Ray Sundancers (My first choice) but they seem to be priced better.

Also, Quite a few of them have the 5.0 MPI - Will this perform OK with that engine? Seems as if the 5.7 would be standard but I guess not.

Just would like some input before I spend a bunch of time hunting.

Thx.

LK

 

[JimS123]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

I don't know about the 240CS specifically, but my 190 SS has survived the heavy seas of Lake Erie for 28 years with not one single problem. My son has a 2007 210CS and he's not about to trade that one in any time soon either.

The Stingray hull is designed for good performance with a smaller engine, so I wouldn't worry that a 5.0 is underpowered.

I always liked SeaRays better myself, but when the time came to put out the cash for a new boat I picked the Stingray. Money was not an issue at the time - I chose what I did because of layout, features and ergonomics. Since then, the quality issues I've seen personally on friends SeaRay boats convinced me I made the right choice.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

My dad bought a 2001 20' stingray new with the 4.3 and he loves it. Stingrays are known for lightweight materials and great performance. I'd say I notice vibrations a little more in his boat (might be particular to his boat though) than other boats I've owned (Caravelle, Chris Craft) but its still a fantastic performer.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

We have the 190RS which is a real lightweight sportboat (2300lbs). Some models like mine ride rougher due to shallow draft, the 24 should not have that issues.

The 5.0L MPI should out-perform your old 5.7 260.

I feel the quality is so-so for the base models like mine, however adaquite for a lake boat and better then some. After 20-21FT they become just as good as any other brand and seem well put-together. I'd buy a Stingray again or recommend it.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

That is a big Stingray, their biggest at the time it was built and only a foot smaller then the biggest they make today (250CS). Most of the feedback you will get will be from owners of smaller Stingrays, but I will assume their quality is fairly level across the product range.

I would rate the quality of my Stingray as "above-average". It is not, however, exceptional, nor does it approach the level of fit and finish you would see on a Cobalt, for example. At the same time, I don't think you can find a nicer boat for the money.

When I picked up my brand new Stingray, I had a courtesy light out (loose wiring), a missing snap from the snap-in carpet (deck side, not on the carpet itself), the factory stereo had no antenna installed, and the in-deck cooler is not installed completely straight. Now, these are not huge issues but they are also not what I would expect from a brand-new, $30k plus, item. The cabin door does not close completely flush with the cabin bulkhead (maybe 1/8th of an inch off or less); this is something I could attribute to the design of the door and not an installation error. The deck cutout for the engine and bilge area in the engine hatch is rough and shows a 1" or so error in the cut - I guess they figured this was hidden so the hell with it. I guess thats all I can complain about at this point; the boat only has ~6 hours on it

Now, the good. The vinyl is excellent stuff. The helm design is very nice. Storage has been well thought out and is plentiful. The design of the boat is (imo) very sharp and the performance with a 4.3 V6 is outstanding. Stingray's owners website is very cool and also useful. Bottomline, I am a happy Stingray owner, and like I said before, if there is a maker out there of a nicer 19' 6" cuddy for ~30K with V6 power and all the features I got on this one, I haven't seen it. In the 24' range, you have more options so YMMV.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

Thanks for all of the input so far. I like the idea of it being lighter as long as it does not come with a strength compromise. I boat on Lake Huron and sometimes the waves canm be pretty harsh.

To me I just can not wrap my head around this performing better than the 260 in my 21' boat - I get 6 people on mine and it is working but maybe the hull design, weight & newer technology make up for the difference in cubes & size of boat.


LK

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

Thanks for all of the input so far. I like the idea of it being lighter as long as it does not come with a strength compromise. I boat on Lake Huron and sometimes the waves canm be pretty harsh.

To me I just can not wrap my head around this performing better than the 260 in my 21' boat - I get 6 people on mine and it is working but maybe the hull design, weight & newer technology make up for the difference in cubes & size of boat.


LK

Have you looked at the performance data on the Stingray website? There are a bunch of graphs of 240CS' w/5.0 MPI's and Alpha 1 drives on there. Looks like that configuration is good for just over 45 mph with a light load.

 

[barthel]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

My first boat was a '98 Stingray 180 with a 3.0L Merc.

The only issue I ever had with it was a tendency to porpoise in rougher waters, a set of Smart Tabs fixed that and made the boat ride like a dream. The 3.0L I thought originally was a bit undersized but the boat was so light that I kept up with most lake boats and it would turn on a dime.

As far as fit and finish, I had absolutely ZERO complaints.

 

[Philster]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

Indeed, Stingray runabouts are notorious for porpoising, but this is consistent with light-weight performance hulls that 'fly'.

Nothing tabs can't help, but those light weight hulls are born to porpoise.

They are a value leader, and Bayliner targets them as competition, but Stingray is definitely a notch above them.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

Indeed, Stingray runabouts are notorious for porpoising, but this is consistent with light-weight performance hulls that 'fly'.

Nothing tabs can't help, but those light weight hulls are born to porpoise.

They are a value leader, and Bayliner targets them as competition, but Stingray is definitely a notch above them.

I was hoping for a few notches above a Bayliner, Wishful thinking?

LK

 

[JimS123]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

I was hoping for a few notches above a Bayliner, Wishful thinking?

LK

Everybody has an opinion. YOU need to decide for yourself. Just look at them both and see the differences. Not just surface, but look under the dash, in the bilge, etc.

Our Bayliner dealer is a mile away, while our Stingray dealer is 2 hours away. We have 2 Stingrays. That in itself should say it all.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

That is a big Stingray, their biggest at the time it was built and only a foot smaller then the biggest they make today (250CS). Most of the feedback you will get will be from owners of smaller Stingrays, but I will assume their quality is fairly level across the product range.

I would rate the quality of my Stingray as "above-average". It is not, however, exceptional, nor does it approach the level of fit and finish you would see on a Cobalt, for example. At the same time, I don't think you can find a nicer boat for the money.

When I picked up my brand new Stingray, I had a courtesy light out (loose wiring), a missing snap from the snap-in carpet (deck side, not on the carpet itself), the factory stereo had no antenna installed, and the in-deck cooler is not installed completely straight. Now, these are not huge issues but they are also not what I would expect from a brand-new, $30k plus, item. The cabin door does not close completely flush with the cabin bulkhead (maybe 1/8th of an inch off or less); this is something I could attribute to the design of the door and not an installation error. The deck cutout for the engine and bilge area in the engine hatch is rough and shows a 1" or so error in the cut - I guess they figured this was hidden so the hell with it. I guess thats all I can complain about at this point; the boat only has ~6 hours on it

Now, the good. The vinyl is excellent stuff. The helm design is very nice. Storage has been well thought out and is plentiful. The design of the boat is (imo) very sharp and the performance with a 4.3 V6 is outstanding. Stingray's owners website is very cool and also useful. Bottomline, I am a happy Stingray owner, and like I said before, if there is a maker out there of a nicer 19' 6" cuddy for ~30K with V6 power and all the features I got on this one, I haven't seen it. In the 24' range, you have more options so YMMV.

I have to believe your problems are 100% dealer related. You pay them to prep the boat - if little stuff like that are bad, he didn't do his job.

My boat came with not a single defect. Our dealer did the 20 hour check on my boat. All new fluids, check engine alignment, grease the trailer bearings, etc, etc, etc. When I went to pick up the boat and asked him what I owed him, he said give me 20 bucks and we're even. THAT bought him a second sale!

My son's Stingray had some stitching tear on 2 of the seats. The boat had heavy use and it was 2 years out of warranty. He mentioned it to the dealer and they went to bat for him. Stingray sent 2 brand new seat sections inside the next boat delivery. The dealer sent the parts to our house via UPS at his own expense.

Last year in one of the boat mags I saw an article that listed the top 100 boat dealers in the country. He was on the list. Don't know whether he paid to have his name there or not, but if I had the opportunity to comment, he sure would have gotten my vote.

 

[Philster]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

If Stingray was still stuffing the 502 in some of their boats, I'd have seriously considered them.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

Back in 2008 I spent some time on a 240CS. I would say it was a good boat. Although I never checked specs, it seemed "lightweight". It had the 5.0 in it, and never had an issue with getting on plane (that wasn't operator error). It was layed out very similar to other 24' pocket cruisers. The cockpit was nice, and the ability to walk through the transom onto the platform was a plus.

I see you said 24-27'. Big difference between a 24' and a 27' IMO. Are you searching specific criteria? Budget, etc?

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

I have to believe your problems are 100% dealer related. You pay them to prep the boat - if little stuff like that are bad, he didn't do his job.

I will agree with you to an extent... But the dealer does not cut the hole in the cockpit floor to install the in-floor cooler flange and cover. He doesn't design the cuddy door, and he doesn't choose what wiring to use (the courtesy light out was due to lousy bullet connectors - I replaced them with spade connectors and headshrinked over them).

My dealer was excellent about everything from when I first met them at the Syracuse boat show until I took delivery. They gave me an additional, not insignificant, discount when they found out I am in the military, and they kept me informed throughout my three month wait while the boat was on order. I would have brought up the few defects in the boat I thought could have been dealer rectified (the missing snap and the radio antenna) if I had noticed them while I was picking it up - but I didn't and didnt see the missing snap until I was on the boat, on the water, and didnt know the radio had no antenna until I was on the boat and wondered why my reception sucked. Since it was already in my possession, I was not about to tow it two plus hours round trip to rectify simple issues I can, and did, fix myself.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

I see you said 24-27'. Big difference between a 24' and a 27' IMO. Are you searching specific criteria? Budget, etc?

27' is probably not going to happen - I am definately leaning to the 24-25' range because I am going to be trailering it. The Stingray & Sundancers both have pretty much the same cockpit layout (a nice one) some of the small cruisers have a terrible layout in the cockpit, I think a 3 year old could design a better looking cockpit looking at some of these boats. Very poor use of space on some of these.


LK

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

Not a boat categorize researched much, but I will say the Stingrays cockpit was very usable. I had been on it with 7 people or do, and although crowded, it was doable. Anchoring was tough, with the very curved bow, and you almost had to climb through the front hatch. I wish I could be of more help, but I was only on the boat a dozen times or so, only drove it a few, and never really poked around into the nooks and crannies to check out the construction/quality.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Stingray boat quality???????

Not a boat categorize researched much, but I will say the Stingrays cockpit was very usable. I had been on it with 7 people or do, and although crowded, it was doable. Anchoring was tough, with the very curved bow, and you almost had to climb through the front hatch. I wish I could be of more help, but I was only on the boat a dozen times or so, only drove it a few, and never really poked around into the nooks and crannies to check out the construction/quality.

I also noticed you can not go around the sides to get to the bow, Also it does not look like much flat area on top for good footing.

Thanks for the input.

LK