Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray 370 Venture

Sea Ray’s 370 Venture scores top marks in comfort, convenience, corrosion resistance and technology. So much so that in January 2013, this express cruiser was named Boating’s 2012 Boat of the Year. Just what is so crazy good about the 370 Venture? In two words: outboard power.

Outboards, in this case a pair of Mercury’s 300 hp Verados, make most of the 370 Venture’s many virtues possible. These are installed in a well, cleverly concealed beneath the aft sun pads, yet, as our test proved, the engines remained accessible for service and retained the ability to tilt completely clear of the water. Engines clear of the water are less susceptible to oxidation, galvanism and stray current, giving the 370 Venture a decided corrosion advantage versus sterndrives and inboard cruisers.

Tiltable, trimmable propulsion also allows the boat to operate in shallow water, raises the bow in following seas, and, by delivering a more effective thrust angle and reducing drag, exponentially affects performance and efficiency. In fact, this boat nets nearly 1 mpg at cruising speed, about 25 percent better than equivalent-size cruisers with sterndrives and even more efficient when compared with inboards. The 370 Venture is also the quietest cruiser we have ever tested. Now equipped with Sea Ray’s Dynamic Running Surface (DRS) system, minimum planing speeds and bow-rise angles are superior. DRS incorporates automatic leveling planes that dynamically adjust the boat’s trim.

And since there’s no need to take up space inside the boat for engines, there’s more room for people. The cockpit is massive, since no motor box intrudes. Belowdecks, the aft stateroom extends the full-beam width of the boat. The space where an engine room would be now becomes a huge storage and equipment room, with excellent access to the generator, water heater and air-conditioner — a pleasure compared with the shoehorned installations typical of boats this size powered by sterndrives and inboards.

The 370 Venture is as luxurious as it is technological, in the Sea Ray cruiser fashion. A designer’s mix of color, texture and material melds with equal dollops of salty function and haute decor. Long hull-side windows, skylights and a deck hatch allow sunlight to flood this cabin, warming its occupants physically and psychologically.

Buyer’s Spotlight
*This express cruiser is the quietest we have ever tested, by far.
*It offers complete “beachability” plus an almost total escape from the ravages of corrosion versus inboards or sterndrives.
*Accommodations, stowage and cockpit are larger than in boats powered by sterndrives or inboards.

Specs
LOA: 37’2″
Beam: 11’3″
Dry Weight: 15,432 lb.
Seating/Weight Capacity: Yacht Certified
Fuel Capacity: 200 gal.

How We Tested
Engine: Twin 300 hp Mercury Verado
Drive/Prop: Outboard/14¾” x 15″ 4-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.85:1
Fuel Load: 120 gal.
Crew Weight: 700 lb.

Price
$415,067 (base with test power)