One chooses a yacht according to his own preferences and the yacht’s technical features. And that is why we decided to compare two motor yachts of similar class and hull configuration, give their brief descriptions and thus maybe help you choose a yacht.
Sea Ray 360 Aft Cabin Motor Yacht VS Carver 366 Motor Yacht
Sea Ray is one of the most renowned boatbuilders in the industry. It’s one of the nation’s premiere manufacturers of runabouts, sportboats, family cruisers and motor yachts ranging from 17 to 68 feet in length. Just like Sea Ray, Carver entered the boatbuilding market in the late 1950s with a line of affordable family cruisers, sportboats and motor yachts and is still one of the most successful manufactures in this sector.
Dimensions and basic features
Both yachts are of almost the same length (Sea Ray – 36’, Carver – 36’11”), have a flybridge and a spacious aft cabin. But Carver is a bit wider Sea Ray and is definitely much heavier (Sea Ray – 15 100 lbs, Carver – 21 800 lbs) which explains the difference in speed characteristics. Both yachts have twin gas inboard engines and at first sight Carver has far more powerful ones (385 hp each VS the Sea Ray’s 260 hp twin inboards) but the resulting performance proves that displacement is the parameter that matters. As a result the heavier Carver has the average speed of 17 kts and speeds up to 22 kts while the light-weight Sea Ray although with the lower average cruising speed (15 kts) can speed up to 23 kts.
Accommodations
Both yachts sleep four in two staterooms. But still there’s a slight difference even in this point. Sea Ray’s master stateroom with a queen berth is forward and the guest cabin is in the aft and has two berths. Whereas Carver has her master stateroom in the aft and the guest v-berth is situated forward. So it just depends on whether you prefer to sleep forward or in the aft. All four staterooms (2 per yacht) have hanging lockers and plenty of storage space as well as adjacent headrooms.
Salons
As for the salons Carver offers an L-shaped settee whereas Sea Ray has a plain sofa. But Carver’s dining zone is far more spacious and has its own small leather sofas. Both salon’s are equipped with entertainment centres (flat screen TVs and AM/FM/CD stereo systems).
Galley
The galleys’ equipment is quite an incentive to cook delicious meals. Both have refrigerators w/ freezers, microwave ovens and Princess electric stoves (3-burner for Sea Ray and 2-burner for Carver), water heaters, pressure water systems and coffee makers so you can always enjoy this invigorative drink.
Electronics & Hull
Both yachts have a full electronics pack (GPS navigators, depth- and fishfinders etc.). As for electrical system Carver has a more powerful generator (8kw against Sea Ray’s 6.5kw), both yachts have 5 batteries but Sea Ray has solar panels so as to say an eco friendly energy source. I personally have always thought solar panels to be something really exciting.
Both yachts are fiberglass-hulled (and fiberglass proves to be one of the strongest materials used in boatbuilding), have enclosed and carpeted flybridge and aft deck, horns, windshield covers, flybridge bench seats. Sea Ray also has a stainless steel barbecue so it’s just perfect for leisure. Both boats have lower and upper helms with hydraulic steering and are equipped with the necessary safety equipment.
| | Sea Ray 360 Aft Cabin | Carver 366 Motor Yacht |
| LOA | 36' | 36'11" |
| Beam | 12' 6" | 13'2" |
| Displacement | 15 100 lb2 | 21 800 lb |
| Flybridge | Yes | Yes |
| Engines | Twin gas inboard Mercruisers 260 hp each | Twin gas inboard Crusaders 385 hp each |
| Staterooms | 2 | 2 |
