Keep all the info flowing!! He's in Dallas for the Big 12 and will be back Sunday, I'll let him know then!!

I wouldn't worry too much about being under powered in that boat unless it is important to the new owner to go 5- 10mph faster than a comparable boat. 454's for 30k less would be my choice. They should go for 1500 hrs maybe more but 40' is big. Look at all the 39 SRys with gas and they still sell well. I do agree diesel is the best but with that comes the extra cost (which will be re-cooped some at resale). Your not hurting anything at all with 454's except 'ye ego some. Kick back and enjoy the ride.

don't get too caught up in the gas/diesel issues unless you'r going do a lot of off shore cruising. The real issue on the larger Sea Rays is the the coring in the bottoms.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...+ray+stringers

Here is a recent thread. He just purchased after looking at 12 SR

Believe it or not you will have a better chance of selling that boat at LOTO with gas motors in it than diesels. Diesel is becoming much more available at the lake, but the demand is not there in the used market.

I agree with the post above and certainly try to get one with Horizons in it, but I don't think they were around in '95 or '97. I could be wrong, but I think '98 or '99 was the first year.

502's are very rare in that boat especially at the lake, and I really don't think they would help resale value that much at LOTO. There is not that much performance difference between the two.

Good Luck

I had the 454 Horizon's, no problem, burned a lot of gas trying to run it at planeing speeds. Friend has twin Cats, economy better, but very S L O W ! I was bored to death and dumped it. I was also uncomfortable with the wakes I left with the 40 on a lake...

Thats is why most of them plow around here at the lake

It's a 92............loaded 7.4's completely gone through, llike new. 126K it's at the Moorings. 2 way and I'll Give you his #

Go with the 454's and save the 30K for when you have to repower with diesels anyway....

I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who owns Sea Rays. He just bought a 54' with twin Caterpillar 3196's. He has a 1997 370 for sale with 454's asking price 137,900. 440 hours with $25,000 in electronics.

He told me he would NOT go with gas motors above a 370. He said that a 400 with gas motors is too much boat. He has owned Sea Rays for a long time and knows his chit.

If your buddy is interested in the boat or wants to talk to someone who knows a lot about Sea Rays PM me and I will give you his contact info. The boat is located in Hilton Head, SC.