New Guy Questions

Quentin

New Member
Jan 19, 2021
2
New York, NY
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Hi, I’m new to boating (have rented a pontoon a few times) and considering buying a used Sundancer. I’ve been checking out the forums for the last week, but would appreciate getting feedback on a few things. There’s a lot here, so input on even just one question is appreciated:

1. Can I learn how to handle a boat if I don’t have friends or family with experience to teach me? People in another thread suggested taking a boating safety course and hiring a captain for the first few days. Any other suggestions?

2. I’m consider a 26 to 28 foot Sundancer (‘01 to ‘08) with less than 500 hours on the engine(s). I’m married, have a three year old and am planning to keep the boat on the Hudson river north of NYC.

- Any thoughts on this type of boat given my circumstances?

- Is there any way to rent a boat like this for a weekend to try out the lifestyle?

- I’ve been looking on boattrader.com. Anywhere else I should be looking?

- It sounds like a survey and a sea trial are very important before making a purchase. Any other significant things to consider as part of the buying process?

3. After the purchase, it seems like the primary costs will be fuel, slip fees, storage, insurance and maintenance. Anything else to keep in mind? Maintenance seems like the big cost. One thing I read estimated 10% of the purchase cost for annual maintenance. I’m guessing that puts annual maintenance around $5-7k. Does that seem right?

Thanks for your help!
 
Hi, I’m new to boating (have rented a pontoon a few times) and considering buying a used Sundancer. I’ve been checking out the forums for the last week, but would appreciate getting feedback on a few things. There’s a lot here, so input on even just one question is appreciated:

1. Can I learn how to handle a boat if I don’t have friends or family with experience to teach me? People in another thread suggested taking a boating safety course and hiring a captain for the first few days. Any other suggestions?
Captains would be best, if you buy from a dealer they might offer that with your purchase, and you can ask around marinas to see if someone is willing to help you out. Someone on here close to you might chime in too

2. I’m consider a 26 to 28 foot Sundancer (‘01 to ‘08) with less than 500 hours on the engine(s). I’m married, have a three year old and am planning to keep the boat on the Hudson river north of NYC.

- Any thoughts on this type of boat given my circumstances?
Our 98 290 Sundancer was wonderful with our 2 year old, we recently upgraded for the second head and more living space but those years 290, 300, 310, and 330 sundancers are really nice boats,

- Is there any way to rent a boat like this for a weekend to try out the lifestyle?
I was in san diego last year and they had a 2010 310 for rent at the local marina - you might find one near you, just have to call around

- I’ve been looking on boattrader.com. Anywhere else I should be looking?
yachtworld.com, craigslist, local marinas and boat shows, and believe it or not - facebook.

- It sounds like a survey and a sea trial are very important before making a purchase. Any other significant things to consider as part of the buying process?
If you can bring a friend whos familiar with boating along for the initial viewing you can save on wasted surveys as they might know what to look for to eliminate major flaws off the bat.

3. After the purchase, it seems like the primary costs will be fuel, slip fees, storage, insurance and maintenance. Anything else to keep in mind? Maintenance seems like the big cost. One thing I read estimated 10% of the purchase cost for annual maintenance. I’m guessing that puts annual maintenance around $5-7k. Does that seem right?

if you can DIY some of the smaller stuff you'll save a few bucks. Some of those boats you'll look at will be outdrive powered, so the big maintenance will be cyclic when you need bellows, gimbal bearing, shift cable, etc. Inboards are a little flatter on the curve but the first few years you'll spend a little more getting things up to your standard or for upgrades. Electronics can be huge dollars so if you want new stuff make sure the boat has been upgraded in that department. 5-7k is probably a little high for yearly maintenance on a boat that size, I spent somewhere in the 2500 range annually over 5 years except for a couple major bills (new engine, canvas, new outdrive)
 
Above all , the best advice is to take your time. People get excited about the idea and get in over their head too fast and the boat becomes a curse instead of a blessing. Take your time and try to find a local Searay club or even a family friendly yacht club to join and soak up some boating life knowledge. For some boating is not what you do it is part of what you become to do it safely and be fulfilled. A really good start though is to spend time in the forums if only reading threads that pertain to getting started in boating. It seems that you are in good company these days with more and more folks turning to boating for family time.
Welcome to CSR
 
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In Maryland, there are a few companies that offer monthly rental packages.

I have not done it but a couple friends have and really like it. There is an up front fee and then a monthly cost but you will have access to a fleet of boats in a certain class based on what you want to pay and boat size. After that, each time you schedule the boat you want, jump on and go. No maintenance or washing just return full of gas.

After a season you will have a better idea of what size and type of boat is best for your family.
Faster and more efficient but they loose the large platform which we have always loved as a boating family...

There will be compromises with every boat you look at...figuring out what size and type is usually all about the $$$$

Good luck and as someone else said, take your time to decide...

Boating is a such a great family way of life...



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If you want to shorten the learning curve on handling the boat I'd highly recommend short-listing boats with twin inboards (V-Drives) if possible. Twin inboards are worlds easier to handle around the docks than twin I/O's. As for single I/O...pure terror :)
 
Agreed with all that has been shared, especially to take time / don't rush it, which may lower your first year maintenance and upgrades (yeah, you'll want upgrades!) and helps to build confidence handling the boat.

You can learn to handle it on your own, I did, but I wouldn't do it again, would hire a captain, if only for a few times it's super helpful to learn good practices than unlearn others. I went from occasional pontoon rentals to an 18ft bow rider that I sold a month later to a 26 Sundancer (single engine). Put about 60 hours on the Sundancer since August, some purposely in rough water / higher wind for the experience, and feel pretty confident with it. I've not driven a twin but am jealous when I watch them pivot in a near perfect circle! My gripe with the single is the low speed wander / weaving that's common with them, but singles in your date range should wander less due to the Bravo drives. Also, half the fuel usage of a single is a plus ;)

Edit... Also suggest not taking your toddler the first few trips, that gives your admiral time to learn with you before bringing the toddler on board, same for dogs... Bring them when you're both feeling confident, makes for a happier day!
 
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Welcome to the site. When we got our first boat almost 20 years ago we went with a 30’ for the room we needed with three 7 year old daughters and 2 dogs at the time and twin Bravo III out drives to make docking easier as Stee6043 said. I took the Power Squadron Boating course and met a gentleman there who I was able to hire to teach me boat handling on my boat. Extremely helpful but still scary the first month going out on our own knowing I needed to get back in the slip. In the end I found that the best way to learn to dock is to practice and would go to less crowded docks and just practice everyday until I was comfortable. My second boat was a 28’ bow rider with a single Bravo III and I never got comfortable docking with one engine.
 
If you want to shorten the learning curve on handling the boat I'd highly recommend short-listing boats with twin inboards (V-Drives) if possible. Twin inboards are worlds easier to handle around the docks than twin I/O's. As for single I/O...pure terror :)
Oh, let’s not be too dramatic about a single I/O! I drove a single bravo 3 drive for 12 years and it was a delight. Very maneuverable at the dock. Easier to back than my current single inboard in some ways. A single prop I/o can be a little tough, but not too bad.
 
Oh, let’s not be too dramatic about a single I/O! I drove a single bravo 3 drive for 12 years and it was a delight. Very maneuverable at the dock. Easier to back than my current single inboard in some ways. A single prop I/o can be a little tough, but not too bad.

:) I think most of us put our time in with I/O's...it's a bit of a right of passage? ha...
 
:) I think most of us put our time in with I/O's...it's a bit of a right of passage? ha...

IO maintenance was the bane of my existence, so I went out and bought an inboard boat. First offseason? Pull the whole starboard driveline apart, straighten the strut, new cutlass bearings, new dripless, on and on.

They sure handle nicely though :)
 
IO maintenance was the bane of my existence, so I went out and bought an inboard boat. First offseason? Pull the whole starboard driveline apart, straighten the strut, new cutlass bearings, new dripless, on and on.

They sure handle nicely though :)

I blew apart the u-joint in an Alpha 1 on my first ever boat. Damn near sank her :)
 
I blew apart the u-joint in an Alpha 1 on my first ever boat. Damn near sank her :)

How exciting! I threw a lower gear right out the side of the case on our starboard alpha at about 3600 rpm. What a sound that was

don't worry @Quentin , they don't all break lol
 

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