37' Outboard powered cruiser

JeffLW · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:46 pm

What Sea Ray has been up to:
http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_vide ... -Overviews

This has me very interested. I wonder if FW is working on something like this?
I would love something in the 28-30' foot range with outboards.

298VISTA2000 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:05 pm

Excellent idea. I like the idea of having outboards due to the lack of maintenance (especially in salt) but always hated the way they looked on a boat. This obviously solves that issue. It appears Sea Ray hired a French designer as well. Anyone have real pics?

JeffLW · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:22 pm

298VISTA2000 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:26 pm

She defintitely is losing some cockpit space but I could only imagine what she is gaining down below. Nice concept.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:37 pm

Well, this is now my favorite boat ever made.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:41 pm

We're going to look back at this boat in 20 years and either laugh at how it was a cool idea but failed horribly as you see these on boat lots for cheap.... or look back at pictures of that quirky old boat on wikipedia of how it changed the industry.

JeffLW · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:17 pm

ric wrote:

We're going to look back at this boat in 20 years and either laugh at how it was a cool idea but failed horribly as you see these on boat lots for cheap.... or look back at pictures of that quirky old boat on wikipedia of how it changed the industry.

True, but with the government regulations on engines we may have no choice but to go to something like this in the future.
I like the idea of being able to tilt the engines out of the water.

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:26 pm

ric wrote:

Well, this is now my favorite boat ever made.

I am very intrigued also. Your points about looking back 20 years from now are spot on.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it is my favorite ever, but pretty darn cool.

sachem29 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:35 pm

This is a really neat concept, outboard powered with the inboard look. If they can keep the costs comparable to the I/O it will be a pivotal change. IMO

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:45 pm

I think its a great concept, because it gives the cruiser look and style, without the maintenance headaches of sterndrives in salt, and the trimming up ability that straight inboards do not have. Anyone who has owned a sterndrive long enough in a coastal region for more than a few years will appreciate this design. But with 2 300 hp Verados, it ain't gonna be cheaper to buy than I/Os, thats for sure. Lighter, faster, and cheaper to maintain, yes.
They are smart to come up with this design because its not just in the US coastal region where it will be popular, but in any of the salt water regions of Europe as well.
On the inside, the boat is bigger than it would be with sterndrives and even more so if it had straight inboards.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:57 pm

Do any of the inboard cruisers use v-drive systems like ski boats? Makes sense I would think...

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 8:59 pm

ric wrote:

Do any of the inboard cruisers use v-drive systems like ski boats? Makes sense I would think...

YES. In fact, most do.

My 74 Winner has V-Drives. Which makes for a very roomy cabin in a 28' boat.

I think most of the Sea Rays that have "inboards" are V-Drives.

jrcinnh · **Joined:** Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:13 am **Posts:** 313

Most of the express style cruiser change from sterndrive to v-drive around 34 feet. My Vista 358 was available either way. This gives a third choice, a fourth if you include pods.

I like the styling and the inside drawings are nice. It has the main sleeping area under the helm instead of in the bow.

The engine choice adds another dimension to the age old problem. Do you use simple but inefficient, like v-drives or straight shafts. Or use complex corrosion prone drives like stern drives or pods. The outboard is still complex and it's efficient but avoids the corrosion issue. You can tilt most outboards out of the water when you're not using them.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:57 am

jrcinnh wrote:

Do you use simple but inefficient, like v-drives or straight shafts. Or use complex corrosion prone drives like stern drives or pods.

The IPS drives are not corrosion prone like their sterndrive counterparts. Everything in contact with the water is either made from Nibral, or Stainless Steel. Your inboard propellers are likely made from Nibral. And those do not corrode like aluminum sterndrives and propellers.
Plus IPS drives have ACP , which is far superior to sterndrive corrosion methods/anodes.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:15 am

Each Verado 300hp is around 22k each....
Mercruiser 350MAG Seacore system with B3 is around 20-22k each...

Or you can do what any smart man would do.. and go with the Evinrude Etec 300. Better, lighter, better warranty, and same price.

Comparative maintenance doesn't even compare. The etec is 1/2 that of a Verado, and 1/10th that of a Mercruiser. It would be the perfect cruiser.

www.iFourWinns.com

37' Outboard powered cruiser

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