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Seaworthy; Sea Ray vs Navigator

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Eternal, Jul 16, 2024.

  1. Eternal, Jul 16, 2024
    #1
    Eternal

    Eternal New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2024
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    St.louis
    We are torn between 2 vessels of similar design but want the smoothest ride of the two in rough Gulf seas. Ive always trusted the sea ray strength but read recently that there are smoother boats out there. We ran across a 53 navigator pilothouse that my wife loves. Not big on the Volvo engines but at 53' it will fit our needs. I understand that they have no keel but have over a 1" thick hull, as I've read. Will this boat handle the Gulf of Mexico on a trip to the Bahamas?
  2. ranger58sb, Jul 16, 2024
    #2
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2013
    Messages:
    918
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, USA
    Can't comment on the Navigator.

    Our SR hull is solid below the waterline, but predecessor and some other models apparently aren't... if that's important to you. Draft isn't huge, given prop tunnels. Ours handles like a sports car in decent water, but beam seas suck... and tacking might be only partially successful. (Not saying the boat isn't seaworthy; instead, the occupants aren't up to it.) No lower helm in ours, only in a few (or one?) other SR model... if an enclosed pilothouse is important.

    -Chris
  3. gr8trn, Jul 16, 2024
    #3
    gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2012
    Messages:
    803
    Location:
    OR/CA
    Navigators where and still are big in Oregon and Washington, some in Cali. It is a fine west coast bar hoping hull. Columbia river up to the San Juans, Desolation Sound and the Broughtons and back plenty of times. But hey, Prestige does it too.

    As far as 1" thick hand laid solid glass, yep. The deck is balsa cored.