Sea Ray 2013/14 new releases -- Exclusive

From Sundecks to the ultimate day boat

We’re sitting at a table overlooking Darling Harbour amid the thronging Sydney International Boat Show in mid-winter. Kelly Henry, the International Sales Manager for Sea Ray, tells us she can’t get a bigger boat in her garage. But no matter, the 20-odd foot Sea Ray she uses with her family on the lake behind her home is a favourite anyway.

Suffice to say, Henry is no stranger to Sea Ray boats. She’s worked her way up from clerk to a senior-management position over several decades. This move personifies the role that Sea Ray has played in Australian boaters’ lives over a similar time frame.

The big American brand has been available for decades here and many satisfied owners have worked their way up through the range, starting with a trailerable bowrider, growing into the Sundancer cruiser range, then ending up with a bigger Yacht.

Across them all, Sea Ray identifies itself with quality mouldings, upmarket deck gear and finishes, sporty performance, and strong local dealer support.

So what’s new? Plenty. Henry shared the good news from Sea Ray with BoatPoint and boatsales. The bottom line is a rather special new Sea Ray lineup for 2013-14.

Inspired by the tough industry times, Sea Ray has gone back to the drawing board and launched into several key new markets, while at the same time keeping its favourite production sportsboats and express-style cruisers very much alive.

THE JET SET

- Updated 9/9/2013: Due to a problem with the Weber engine supply, Sea Ray has confirmed it will exit the jet-boat market. We leave the following in place for posterity's sake.

For our coming summer we will see the new 21 Jet and, later, the 24 Jet. These two key boats mark Sea Ray’s first-ever foray into the jet market and follow Sea-Doo’s withdrawal from that market last year. The jet niche is now becoming a very competitive and rather interesting space for a bunch of Yankee builders.

It is hoped the Weber engines and their subsequent performance in the 21 and 24 Jet excite the Gen Y market, while also providing a safe and sporty alternative to traditional inboard engines with whirring props.

But Sea Ray makes the point its new jet boats don’t just offer a power alternative. They’re a new concept from the keel up with truly accommodating deck layouts designed to inspire.

DECKED OUT

The other big buzz and growth potential lies with the deck-boat market. Sea Ray has inhabited this space for many years with its popular, high-volume and comfortable Sundecks. But till now they’ve been largely inboard powered.

In keeping with the rise in global outboard sales -- largely to meet imminent new emissions regulations in the USA -- Sea Ray has introduced a 220 Sundeck OB and 240 Sundeck OB with outboard power. These are cross-over boats that can cater for tow sports, fishing and family flings.

Given Sea Ray’s experience with the deck-boat market, its outboard-powered bowrider variants in the past, and parent company Brunswick's Mercury engine lineup, we can expect some perfectly paired performers in the Sundeck range.

More deck space, seating, stability and inbuilt amenities will also be welcomed by the just-add-water day-boating set.

DAY-BOAT DELUXE

But for the time-poor coveting the ultimate in day boats, Sea Ray has gone back to its customer base to garner feedback and find the answers. There, it seems, the party faithful is calling for a maxi day boat that offers more of everything.

Enter the (albeit prototype at this point) 350 SLX, with abundant bow-to-stern convertible seating; bow and stern sunshade options; tables that pop out of and tuck away in the floor; sun pads, of course; change heads with WCs; and petrol and TDI diesel engine options.

The upholstery on the 350 SLX takes its cues from the auto industry, says Henry enthusiastically, using a burnished- or burnt-orange colour scheme -- think 1950s Buick -- with visible stitching for that hand-finished feel.

The helm, performance and styling will deliver driving pleasure in keeping with Sea Ray’s reputation, we’re told. But the final boat isn't quite finished. Sea Ray is now running a competition on its site to gather even more input in the 350 SLX…

We want to know what your dream day on the water entails. Jazz concert in Nantucket? Orca sighting in the San Juans? Share your vision with us in the All Day, Your Way Contest and you could win an unforgettable day onboard the 350 SLX, hosted by Sea Ray.

Ok, clearly that comp's for American buyers. But we can’t see why our views on what constitutes the ideal day boat wouldn’t hold water. Tangalooma wrecks for a dive? Palm Beach for lunch and bubbles? Docklands for dinner? Rotto on a good day?

CRUISER MARKET

Yet it’s nice to know in the flip-flop world of boating trends, that Sea Ray isn’t running from its traditional owner base -- unlike some cut-and-run American marques -- and will release a new entry-level 260DA cruiser with optional galley-up (in cockpit as shown above) layout. This boat is based on the 265 DAE ex-Europe (opening photo).

Suffice to say, there’s quite a bit of cross-continent boat sharing going on with Brunswick. At the same time, Sea Ray has noticed how some competing European builders can bring a new model to market in next to no time and very cost effectively. It’s got to do with platform sharing, something more boat brands are adopting as car manufacturers make a habit of it.

To this end, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will see the release of the new 510 Fly off the back of the 510 Sundancer; and reworked 580 Express and Fly models, plus there is a new flagship 650 Express coming off the back of the 650 Sedan Bridge, we’re told.

NEW SYDNEY DEALERSHIP

As the world’s largest builder of pleasure boats, Sea Ray has long laid claim to a decent slice of the global boating pie. It’s also true that numerous other American brands have been nibbling away at the edges and swiping some icing from that chunk of the market in recent years.

While Sea Ray is rebuilding and relaunching, entering new markets and looking to inspire, it’s also expanding its reach through the appointment of new pro-active dealerships.

Australia’s biggest Sea Ray dealer, Queensland Marine Centre, has been given the green light to open a new Sydney dealership. That will give the brand a kick along locally.

Back in the heyday under Andrew Short Marine, Sea Ray was a real powerhouse in Sydney. Lifestyle Marine on the Central Coast has been doing a wonderful job with that market. But Sydney could do with a showroom.

Meantime, the summer of 2103/2014 is looking pretty exciting on the Sea Ray front. There are boats for all bents and, as ever, Sea Ray offers a high quality product.

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Sea Ray 2013/14 new releases -- Exclusive

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