Having looked at so many brands of boats it starts to get confusing, and I'm getting to the point of who to trust.
The Maxum and Cruisers people are telling me that their quality of their product exceeds Sea Ray, and that Sea Rays are built by Bayliner.
I think I can see the difference in the particular boats.
Can you please help, and tell me why I should buy a Sea Ray over some other brand?
Our friend, David H. Gwaltney, Certified Sea Ray Sales Executive with Browning's Marine in Virginia Beach, Virginia gave this response:
Unfortunalely, some of them don't know what they are talking about and they make it up as they go along.
First let set the record straight.
Sea Ray, Maxum and Bayliner are owned by the same parent company: Brunswick.
They make bowling balls and other sporting equipment.
They are a holding company.
They own Mercury Marine, Mercruiser, and two separate boat divisions.
USMarine,(which builds Bayliner, Maxum, Robalo, Wahoo and Trophy fishing boat)
The other is Ray Industries; which owns Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, and Baja performance boat.
*PLEASE NOTE* Neither of these two divisions share design, technology and manufacturing facilities.
Now to answer your question:
1. The quality systems of all Sea Ray manufacturing facilities are registered under the ISO 9002 standards.
Sea Ray was the first pleasure boat manufacturer to achieve this for quality assurance.
2. All Sea Ray's Sport Yacht and Yacht, and Product Design and Engineering(PDE) facilities are located on the water with ocean access.
3.Sea Ray has been building boats over 30 feet for more than twenty years.
4. Sea Ray has invested more money into CAD/CAM technology in the last ten years than any other boat company.
5. Manufacturing is state of the art, using robotics, and RTM technology.
6.Has the largest patent portfolio, for utility and design.
7.Designed more new boats in the last year than any builder in the world.
8.Has the highest rate of repeat customers in the industry.
9.Theur product innovations are copied by other builders.
10.Launched the Master Dealer program in 1997. This is a intensive certification and audit process that insures world class standards of customer satisfaction.
11. The average dealer has been serving customers for over fifteen years. And the sales and service people go though extensive training every year.
12. Sea Ray CSI (customer satisfaction index) has been the highest in the industry for over ten years.
13. The Sea Ray Owners Club is a comprehensive ownership benefits package developed to provide the Sea Ray owner with goods and services.
I hope this helps give you some insight. If you want more info on Sea Ray or to locate the closest dealer you can go to their web site: Searay on the Web
