Sea Ray’s L-Class sets the bar

American boatbuilding giant Sea Ray says its new L-Class is a re-imagination of luxury yachting with the "perfect balance of style and substance."

Combining European design flair with bluewater-performance pedigree, Sea Ray set about creating a new class of luxury 55-65 foot cruising motoryacht that isn’t just about good looks.

The L-Series boats come in 590 and 650 sizes, in Flybridge and Express (sedan) guises, to suit varying markets and needs.

The fit and finish are beyond normal production levels, with contemporary lines and lots of glazing for increased luminosity.

RAMPING UP PRODUCTION
Evidently, buyers have been receptive. In fact, the flagship L650 has been such a big hit that Sea Ray reopened latent factory facilities to ramp up its production and meet demand.

The L590 released at Miami Boat Show earlier this year was met with applause. It’s a very European yacht in the Express version (opening photos) running triple Zeus pod drives.

SYDNEY APPLICATION
Sydney Sea Ray importer Mark Chapman, who has previous experience selling several established European motoryachts brands locally, believes the L-Series would make a great fit.

"In key ways, the boats are still traditional for Sea Ray. They are very well constructed and engineered yachts with straightforward systems, in other words, they work.

"But the L-Series also have internal volume than I haven’t seen in any European yacht of this size," Chapman told BoatPoint and boatsales.

"Then there is the build quality. The L-Series is built to CE Category A, not B, so there’s no doubt that these are very seaworthy craft. They’re intended for coastal cruising and are very solid."

NEW CUSTOM DESIGN CENTRE
Sea Ray is launching a custom design centre in Florida later this year, which means dealers can take customers to the showroom to create their dreamboat. Warranty and backups are also of a level not seen before in the industry, Chapman says.

Meanwhile, the latest online tours and phone apps let you conduct virtual tours of the four-cabin 650 and three-cabin 590 L Series. Check them out.

POWERPLANTS
Using twin 1150hp C18 CAT engines, the performance of the high-volume L650 is said to range up into the high-30 knots. Joystick docking and a gyro stabiliser are standard.

The 2015 Miami Boat Show was the launch platform for the new Sea Ray L590 Fly sister ship, with three cabins and triple Cummins QSC 8.3 600hp engines with Zeus pod drives. A gyro is standard again.

The stylish L-Series is represented here through Sea Ray dealers and would-be owners will take added comfort from the backing of Brunswick Corporation and its extended warranties. More at www.searay.com.