First family boat purchase...Sundancer 240?

M

Mary Hill

New Member
Oct 6, 2020
7
Boat Info
240 Sea Ray Sundancer 2003
Engines
Mercruiser
Hi! After 11 years of trying, I've finally convinced my husband that we need to buy a boat. =)
We are looking for something that we can stay overnight with our kids (ages 10 and 13) and also invite one other family and their kids to tube (and maybe waterski/wakeboard).

My husband really wants a cruiser, and we are interested in a 2003 Sundancer 240. My worry is that with the 5.0 Mercruiser engine (I can't find a used one with the 5.7 ltr engine), it won't be powerful enough to pull the kids with 7 people in the boat. I was wondering if anyone has experience with this boat and scenario?

MANY thanks for your advice!!
-Mary
 
With that many people you may need a larger boat as there won't be that much sleeping area. Also it will be pretty crowed. I have a 77 240 sundancer and I can't see where having that many people on board would leave us with much elbow room much less with that small motor being able pull kids at any type of speed.
 
Thanks, Loyd! Clarification---we would only be overnighting with our kids. But wanted to invite another family for hanging out/tubing during the day. But it sounds like this size boat and engine wouldn't be big enough to have that many people on the boat and pull a tube?
 
Agreed, overnighting will be cramped for 4 people.

It will also be tight for 7 for day trips, and likely not much pep with the smaller engine. Suggest to look for perhaps a 260 Sundancer, or a 270.
 
Mary Hill said:
Hi! After 11 years of trying, I've finally convinced my husband that we need to buy a boat. =)
We are looking for something that we can stay overnight with our kids (ages 10 and 13) and also invite one other family and their kids to tube (and maybe waterski/wakeboard).

My husband really wants a cruiser, and we are interested in a 2003 Sundancer 240. My worry is that with the 5.0 Mercruiser engine (I can't find a used one with the 5.7 ltr engine), it won't be powerful enough to pull the kids with 7 people in the boat. I was wondering if anyone has experience with this boat and scenario?

MANY thanks for your advice!!
-Mary
Click to expand...
Hi Mary and welcome to CSR ! There's no way your getting 7people on a 240 Your overloading that boat and would be causing a unsafe condition. I have a 40 and don't want 7 people on board, and the boat will take even more! If you can afford start with maybe a 30 and would highly recommend you and your husband take a basic boating course given by the United States Power Squadron or Coast Guard Aux. This is just my opinion! Good luck in what ever you decide and be Safe!
Les
 
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We boated for a few years On a 2005 260 Sundancer with 4 kids and two adults on the Chesapeake bay and stayed overnight almost every weekend.
You can make anything work.... no one ever complained

it had the 350Mag and bravo 3.... it was fine.... and could pull
Atube no problem with 4 adults and 4 kids on board
 
Had same boat and motor. It was a 2002. Boat is fine with 4 people tubing. When skiing we needed everyone up front to get skiers up. Would at times would have 6 people on board. Still able to tube, but skiing was tough except for the light ones.
 
30 or 34 would be great but they aren’t tubing kind of boats. It would really put a draw on the fuel. My neighbor says it’s like dragging the anchor behind the boat you can do it but it will drag the boat.

I had a single engine 24’ Sundancer she was under powered and wallowed in the water.

Do your research and find what boat you’d like. The used boat market is way overpriced right now and new boats are way out of range. If you do find one a survey is a must.

Good luck and welcome to CSR
 
I have a 2001 280 with twin V6’s and generator. I had 7 adults on board for a day trip. We were a little tight but not too bad. I would not want that many people on anything smaller, for sure. We got our 280 to overnight with our two kids (14 and 16) because my son could take the mid-cabin and my daughter could sleep on the converted galley table to bed while my wife and I were in the V-berth. The 260 could not accommodate all four of us as comfortably. I have no regrets. The boat is big enough for us yet no so big as to be too hard to manage. I have not pulled water skiers, but with only four on board, it certainly would. With 7 adults on board, not so sure. Twin 5.0’s with duo-props would do it.
Take a look at the 2004+ 280 Sundancers.
 
A few things we can all agree on, most of the time:

1.) Any boat that gets you out on the water, and that you'll use, is a good boat
2.) Size can be relative. I've seen a family of five overnight every weekend happily on a 260, with teens
3.) Going bigger is very rarely a bad thing

I'd say get that 240, make sure you get a good deal and enjoy it for a summer or two. You may find it works perfectly or you may find you want a 460 for your next boat! Plenty of folks around here have crammed 7, 10, 15+ souls aboard our boats. It happens all the time. As long as everyone has showered recently, and you like most of them, it can be a great time even with tight quarters.

I know we all say "buy your second boat first" around here. But I'm not sure I'd appreciate my 400 as much as I do had I not moved to it from a 340...the process of moving up gives us perspective.
 
Cruisers are not made for water sports... they are not agile enough and they throw a huge wake. You will have to decide if you want water sports (buy a sundeck) or an overnight boat (240DA - 280DA).

Two adults and two teenage kids will be tight on a 240... we did it with a 270 and it was OK.

Best of luck and welcome to CSR!
 
I had a 1995 230 with a 5.7 (this became the 240 around 1999 with some upgrades). I used it for water sports (pulled skiers) and trailered it to various locations and had a blast with it. It will be very tight with 4 sleeping but you can do it. It didn't have many creature comforts (no generator, AC limited fridge space) so it was mostly a day boat or short overnighter.

You might want to consider what your primary activity for the boat is going to be (Skiing/tubing vs cruising), or cruising (going places and overnighting), as that would lead to very different style of boat. Every boat will be better suited for one or the other activity, and there is always a compromise to be made.

You don't list your location, if you will be close or far from the boat, and if you want to trailer or leave the boat in a wet slip or dry stack. All of these factors will determine how you use the boat, and might drive a better decision.

One thing I ALWAYS recommend. get the largest engine package available, (in your case the 5.7). The worst experience of my life was a underpowered 20' boat! I think someone mentioned the Sundeck line. That might be worth a look. If your husband like the 24' Sundancer, find one with a Camper top. you can have additional sleeping quarters up on deck

Regardless, go for it, get out on the water and see how you like spending your time. You can always trade in/move up.
 
Thank you ALL so very much for your comments - super helpful!

We live near Lake Champlain in VT, and plan to keep the boat at a marina. I also should have mentioned that neither of us has much experience driving a boat (we will 100% be taking the boating course!) so are hesitant to buy too big of a boat, as I think it will be more difficult to learn to drive.

We may look for a smaller cuddy cabin that would be more suited for water sports, as my guess is that we'll be doing more water sports than overnighting.

Agreed about the prices of boats right now....wishing we had decided to buy years ago. =/

Thank you again -- we are so excited about getting into boating!
-Mary
 
Perhaps consider a 270 Amberjack, if you can find one. I had one for 12 years and it was a very versatile boat: part cruiser, part fishing, with a huge cockpit. It has the same hull and basic cabin layout as a 260 Sundancer but with a different deck layout. I personally preferred the optional back to back seating layout. That eliminated the livewell in lieu of an additional seat behind the helm. For the most sleeping space, consider a 2007 or later model. 2005-2006 did not have an aft cabin, where 2007 or later did. You do give up a massive storage space accessed from the cockpit though.

We used to sleep on ours a good amount. Kids stayed in the cabin, we slept in the cockpit on an air mattress. The camper back we had made really helped with this. We also did a good amount of tubing with the boat as well. It had the 350 MAG engine which was fine. From 2007 and later the base engine was the larger 6.2L.
 

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Our first(we still own her) is a 27’ Sundancer. It was very intimidating at first. Just take your time and go slow understanding and getting the feel for her. Also, never assume the other boaters see you. We always have 4 eyes scanning the area for other boats, barges, and especially personal water craft!
 
As I tell all potential 1st timers, all boats shrink when wet. With your stated intentions, that 240 will get real small, real quick. A 280 might be a better choice. for how you intend to use it.
 
Agree with most on here, based on your wishlist, the 240 is too small. Try to find a 26-28’ single engine (350 or larger) cruiser. You can still tube or ski behind it, and it will sleep 4 a lot better. Maxum made a 2700se that was close to ideal for what you want to do.
 
Blueone said:
We boated for a few years On a 2005 260 Sundancer with 4 kids and two adults on the Chesapeake bay and stayed overnight almost every weekend.
You can make anything work.... no one ever complained

it had the 350Mag and bravo 3.... it was fine.... and could pull
Atube no problem with 4 adults and 4 kids on board
Click to expand...
You guys are too funny.... My 420 is too small and I have the same 4 kids..... no boat is big enough
It’s what you make of the boat you have. If that’s a 240 then make it work and have a blast
 
@Mary Hill A 24' with an open bow is perfect for what you are describing, except you can't sleep on it. It would handle two families (or three) for a day on the water, and those boats will typically hold 10-12 people, assuming some of those people are smaller children. Great for a day on the water, but not for a night on the water.

A 24' boat with a cabin is pretty small. The cabin is good for having a bathroom and getting out of the sun if needed, but pretty small for a family to sleep on. That being said, people do make it work. The 24' with a cabin will be tight for two families for a day on the water, but again, people make it work.

That being said, buy what you can buy. If a 24' is the biggest you can afford or the biggest you can tow, then go for it. Even if it isn't perfect in every category, it will give you an idea of how you like to use the boat. Many new boat owners think they will use the boat one way, then life happens and you use it a different way. My only safety recommendation is not to overload the boat.
 
Thank you all for your advice! We will probably start in the 24' range and see how that works for our family. We have so much to learn before we can focus on having others aboard, so probably best to start on the smaller side. Thank you again!
 
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