370 Sea Ray Express Cruiser

Source: Tom Thompson, Sea Magazine

Comforts abound on Sea Ray’s 370 Express Cruiser to make it a boat adaptable to any outing

No matter where you look on the Sea Ray 370 Express Cruiser, there’s something that says you’re traveling in luxurious style. From the lines of the hull to the appointments of the interior, the 370 EC is a boat that makes a statement. It does so with an elegance that has made Sea Ray one of the country’s premier boat builders.

The 370 EC is a flexible craft. The open express cruiser deck configuration allows the craft to be used as either a fishing or diving platform, or as a comfortable day boat. Belowdecks, the cabin has all the facilities to support almost any type of outing. For extended travel, it comfortably accommodates four people and their gear with ease. The wide beam of 14 feet, 2 inches provides an extra bit of elbow room throughout.

Goodies Galore
The bi-level cockpit and helm area of the 370 EC can seat more than 10 people. Both the helm and port side forward facing seats, plus the port aft facing hold two abreast. An optional L-shaped seat is available, or you can flip the standard bench seat away and in toward the transom to clear the area for fishing action.

Our test boat had a fishing package that included a livewell and fishbox in the cockpit sole, plus a bait preparation station immediately aft of the helm seat. The fishbox was refrigerated and there was an icemaker located under the helm seat. There was also a storage compartment for four rods built into the saloon floor.

A swim platform with a hideaway ladder is standard, as are the hot and cold transom shower and freshwater washdown. A raw water cockpit washdown is an option. There is even a standard freshwater outlet in the anchor locker on the foredeck to keep your ground tackle clean.

The 370 EC treats boaters to a comfortable ride and convenient handling, thanks to the hull design and the helm’s ergonomic layout. The seat is front-to-back power adjustable, and the front edge flips up to a stand-up bolster conversion.

Our test boat was equipped with an optional B & G Network package that included GPS Plus, a VHF radio and a Quad multifunction instrument, along with a Furuno 1941 radar and an RP110 chart plotter module. The 370 EC’s standard package is from Raytheon and includes a GPS, a VHF radio and a multifunction instrument. In addition, there is a power-operated windshield vent and remote-control ACR spotlight, and a remote-control head at the helm for the Clarion audio system.

Below There!
Belowdecks is where the 370 EC really cradles boaters in comfort. There is both headroom and room to spread out throughout the cabin. A comfortable convertible dinette is to starboard. There is storage in the seats, cabinets and a curtained shelf above the cabinets. Opposite the dinette is a full galley that includes a large refrigerator with a separate freezer compartment, a two-burner stove, a microwave oven, a coffee maker and a deep-basin sink. Cabinet doors for the microwave and the TV/VCR combo retreat to the sides of the units instead of sticking out and getting in the way. When the doors are closed and a filler panel is placed in the sink, it creates a clean look in the cabin, with no exposed appliances. What’s more, it provides a large area of counter space for other uses besides meal preparation.

The head is aft of the galley and features a VacuFlush toilet, a Corian vanity top and a fiberglass shower with a sliding, curved acrylic door.

The boat’s main electrical panel is located behind a cabinet door to the upper left of the galley. This is also where the control head of the standard premium Clarion audio system is located, which features an AM/FM cassette/receiver, a six-CD changer and a booster amp that powers eight speakers throughout the boat, including a subwoofer in the cockpit.

Speaking of all things electrical, one nice touch I noticed was that all the lighting switches in the cabin and the cockpit are marked for what they control.

The forward stateroom can be separated for privacy from the main saloon by a two-panel sliding door that moves along an arched track. The full-size berth features coordinated pillows, sheets and a bedspread.

I was surprised to find so much storage room in the compartment. To starboard is a large, almost walk-in, hanging locker with a small three-drawer cabinet to one side. Opposite it is another locker about half the height that can still be used for hanging clothes. Even when the components from the removable dinette in the main saloon are put in their stowage space under the berth, there’s still room for more stuff. The steps to the berth lift to expose even more storage area.

Style Plus Power
Our test boat had a pair of MerCruiser 7.4 L MPI Horizon engines. The weather was on the sloppy side when we did our test, but we were able to comfortably push the 370 EC to a top end average of 30.5 mph in spite of rough waters. The 370 EC’s wide beam gives it a good, solid ride with a soft reentry when taking on waves.

With the Caterpillar 3126 diesel option, the boat can hit 37.6 mph, according to Sea Ray. A 19.5 degree deadrise gives the hull the ability to slice through waves smoothly: Our test boat took three foot rollers in stride. Even abeam, the rough water didn’t seem to affect the boat’s stability.

Out of the hole, the 370 EC came on plane in an average of 7.7 seconds, with no trim tabs applied. When testing boats, I time from a dead stop to when the bow drops, but the 370 EC had almost no appreciable bow rise. It normally runs with a slight bow-high attitude, but this doesn’t affect visibility. Without looking at the wake, you would be hard-pressed to say exactly when the 370 EC arrives on plane.

Getting to the 370 EC’s powerplants is simple. The entire helm-area floor can be raised via an electric lift to expose the engine compartment. There’s also a small hatch between the seats for quick fluid checks. Because of the 370 EC’s wide beam, boaters have ample room to work on either side of the engines, as well as front to back. The generator is located to port, but even here, there’s no lack of room. In fact, there’s enough space along the center line for an adult to lie down between the stringers. It’s an area that can be used for storage if needed.

Two words to sum up the Sea Ray 370 Express Cruiser? Style and flexibility. Its full array of comforts makes any type of outing on the water a pleasure. The 370 is a boat for all reasons.