A friend is in the market for a new boat. What do you think about the SeaRay Sundeck 220 and the Larson LXi 248? The Searay has the Merc 5.0 with the Bravo 3 and the Larson has the 350 Mag with the Bravo 3. The price is very similar.

I don't know these manufacturers well enough to help him. It all comes down to which hull is built better. At first thought I figured the SeaRay, but neither hull is for me.

Anyone have some experience to share?

Larson is a low bucks type boat. My neighbour had one, the rigging was awful particularily the stuff that was out of sight.

Resale value was hopeless. Dealers wouldnt even make an offer on a clean low hours boat.

He bought a Formula 330SS this time, I had a good look around it and I am very impressed. Sea Ray are very good quality boats also from what I have seen. My buddy owns a 1990 Pachanga with many hours on it, very solid.

Go here and you will get lots of replies on the comparison between the two:

www.searayowners.com

We've had sea-ray's in the family since 1977, with the latest one being a 2006 48 sundancer. I have nothing but good things to say about the product and the service.

SeaRay is the only choice

I don't think you will be happy with this paticular boat
with the Merc 5.0. My second boat I ever bought had one, the following year it had the 5.7 350

Today anything under 496 cubic inches is to small

I've had a number of Searay cruisers and they are well built but the runabouts have been cheapened down to compete on price since the late 90's. I am friends with a dealer that sold Searay for many years and then sold Larsons for the last 2...they just dropped them because they are junk. I wouldn't recommend either!
Look at Chaparral (a buddy just bought a 220 with the 5.0mpi BIII and trailer for around 40k out the door), Bryant are supposed to be nice, even Rinker has come along way since the early 90's and is a good value for the price (still not as good as Chaparral)

Any recommendations on a better built hull that’s similar to the searay?

I'd put Formula right there with Sea Ray as far as quality goes. Maybe better in the runabout category

Four Winns.

Mine's older, but my buddy has a 2003 22'(?) Horizon that is wonderful. Built like a tank.

agreed...if one is looking to save a buck and get a great boat Rinker is a better choice than a Bayliner or Larson...the DeltaConic hull on some Larsons is a inefficient hull for speed anyways..

http://www.rinkerboats.com/index_tem...e=cruiser_show