Thinking of buying 1999 290 sundancer. Any known factoy issues?

Kylefree04

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Jun 4, 2018
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I am thinking of purchasing a 1999 290 sea ray with twin 5.7EFI with genset for 32k. Are there any known factory issues I should be aware of? Or any other things to look out for. I read the early 90s had factory issues but wasnt able to find anything on the late 90s. My previous boat was a 1995 310 Celebrity twin 5.0L that had alot of issues.
How well do sea rays hold there value?
One last thing, how difficult is it to have a boat transported? As the boat I am interested in is in NC and would need to be transported to northern Ohio.
Thanks in advance for the replies.
 
I love my 98 290 DA. Twin 5.0's w/Generator.

I just bought it last year and it seems to have held up very well for being 20 years old.

In looking at the previous owners (7 years) maintenance records it looks like the biggest thing that died was the generator so it was removed, rebuild and re-installed. One lower outdrive assembly was replaced at some point in time because of a seal/corrosion issue. I bought the boat having a worn out gimbal assembly on the port motor (survey picked that one up) and the price was reduced accordingly and is on the schedule to be repaired sometime this year.

The 98 290 DA was a replacement for my previous 11 260 DA and I like the 290 a whole lot more.

I have some links below to by fixer-upper thread and to manuals I've collected for the boat. Have a look.

BTW there is an entire thread dedicated to the 98 290..... it's a good read.

If you have a link to the boat you are interested in please post. Would like to see.
 
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We have a close sibling in our 98 290, we love it. I've done a lot of work to her in the 3.5 years I've had it but overall it's been a solid boat.

What drives are on it? I believe '99 still only had alpha's as an option but could be wrong, pretty sure 2000 got the Bravo III's. How many hours on the motors and genset?

the 5.7 package is great power for the boat. We cruise most comfortably at 3200RPM and about 26mph (4 blade props, alphas) but if I bump up to 3400 she'llrun a little flatter at about 29mph. The hull is not cored (that's probably what you've read about in the earlier boats) but there is wood in the stringers, transom, and decks, so you want to have a survey done.

The wife and I spend 3-5 nights in a row on it without issue. We generally sleep in the V berth and use the aft for storage. Easy boat to handle, especially with twins. My only real complaint is I wish it carried more fuel, but for us 130 gallons is enough to get to most places we would go on a trip.

price wise, I think that's about right of course depending on condition and survey results. I'd expect to get about that number for our boat with 700 on the main clocks and 250 on the gen

Oh and transport. We moved ours from just south of Annapolis to Rochester NY, I paid 1800 which included the driver splashing it for us at our marina on the ramp.
 
Late 1998 - 1999 was a slight redesign on the 290 (I had a 2000 290 which was unchanged from 1999). The difference in 1998 > 1999 is in the cabin, a reconfiguration on the v-berth, settee and galley. The 1998 had a fixed v-berth and the 1999 has filler cushions - I can't really say which one I like better. Everything that has been said above I agree - we bought ours new and kept it for 5yrs, only issues were with the BIII outdrives and corrosion - Mercruiser covered replacing both drives under warranty. Otherwise we used the boat about every weekend and put 350hrs on the engines, 250 on the generator with virtually no issues. As far as the hull/build I can't think of any issues - it was a solid boat.
 
Late 1998 - 1999 was a slight redesign on the 290 (I had a 2000 290 which was unchanged from 1999). The difference in 1998 > 1999 is in the cabin, a reconfiguration on the v-berth, settee and galley. The 1998 had a fixed v-berth and the 1999 has filler cushions - I can't really say which one I like better. Everything that has been said above I agree - we bought ours new and kept it for 5yrs, only issues were with the BIII outdrives and corrosion - Mercruiser covered replacing both drives under warranty. Otherwise we used the boat about every weekend and put 350hrs on the engines, 250 on the generator with virtually no issues. As far as the hull/build I can't think of any issues - it was a solid boat.

Yup, most of the 98's I've seen have the fixed V but ours had the secondary floorplan so we have the pullout starboard couch and convertible V berth. I think the permanent V is probably more comfortable, but the cabins felt a little smaller when we walked on them. Here's ours from when we bought it.
IMG_1628.JPG
IMG_1629.JPG
 
I'm so glad they got rid of the booth seating from the 80's

With the booth removed it really opened up the cabin.

Before I purchased the 98 290....the marina had a 87 290 and an 86 290 available as well to compare.
 
That looks good. I didn't know they went back with the booth in 99 and flipped the galley 180.

So Strecker25 was the 98 year model interior layout a one off boat?

Please have a survey done. It's the best money you will ever spend.
 
o Strecker25 was the 98 year model interior layout a one off boat?
Yeah I think it was the only year they offered an A and B layout. The same was true for the 310 in 98, my neighbor has one and his head is in the center and the entrance to the aft is on the starboard side. Interesting what people ordered back then, but the more open platforms tend to be more sought after nowadays.

Kyle, that looks like a nice example. The center of the bilge looks a bit dirty so I'd want to clean that up good but aside from that it looks pretty clean. I like the dyed piping on the cockpit seats, as it would have been gold originally. They obviously have the camper/bimini tops and use the cockpit cover for the covered slip, but do they have the isinglass and camper aft sides? If not you'd be in for 1000-1500 to get those pieces from great lakes and you'll definitely want them to spend extended time on the boat.
 
It looks pretty good from the pictures, in a covered slip that is a plus, someone has made some effort at keeping it maintained. I would want to see what the outdrives look like, the corrosion on that era Bravo III can be worse in freshwater than salt. I am assuming it has BIII drives, but a lot of the 1998's had Bravo II, which actually for a boat that stays in the water is a better option in my opinion.
 
I didnt know that about the outdrives I will have to ask, thansk for the heads up
 
So the boat has alpha one gen II drives. Current owner does not have the side peices for the camper top so I will have to purchase those.
 
So the boat has alpha one gen II drives. Current owner does not have the side peices for the camper top so I will have to purchase those.

Alphas aren’t a huge deal other than slightly less efficient than the b3’s, and as Bill said they’re not as susceptible to the corrosion.

Keep us posted, they’re good boats.
 
Yes, I would not consider the Alpha outdrives a negative, they are not going to perform like the BIII, but they are still solid drives, easy to work on and not as susceptible to corrosion like the BIII of that era. As far as the canvas, check with Great Lakes Boat Top, they make most if not all of the canvas / covers for SeaRay (and other boat builders). Another option is to have a local canvas guy make them, but Great Lakes will give you the exact OEM panels. Some advice, I had the full canvas for my 290 and I hardly ever used the full camper, usually had the cockpit cover on in the summer and the slant back cover and front isinglass in the winter. I wouldn't spend the money until you are sure you will use it.

It's starting to look like you have found a pretty good one!
 
Yes, I would not consider the Alpha outdrives a negative, they are not going to perform like the BIII, but they are still solid drives, easy to work on and not as susceptible to corrosion like the BIII of that era. As far as the canvas, check with Great Lakes Boat Top, they make most if not all of the canvas / covers for SeaRay (and other boat builders). Another option is to have a local canvas guy make them, but Great Lakes will give you the exact OEM panels. Some advice, I had the full canvas for my 290 and I hardly ever used the full camper, usually had the cockpit cover on in the summer and the slant back cover and front isinglass in the winter. I wouldn't spend the money until you are sure you will use it.

It's starting to look like you have found a pretty good one!

Totally agree with not spending money until you know what you need but I just have to add I think the climate has everything to do with the need for canvas. We’re on Lake Ontario, similar to the type of boating OP will do on Lake Erie, and we barely ever take the camper top down just because it’s never that hot out. I usually remove the aft curtain and open the side screens and that’s plenty of airflow. We go on the bow to get full sun. I just bought the whole thing in black from Great Lakes, I’ll find the invoice and report pricing so you have an idea. Here it is with the full dress on

C1E653C1-8234-48EF-93ED-7FC8268D5187.jpeg
 
So I drove down this past weekend. A few issues I noticed, the engine hatch/cover has major soft spots to the point I thought I was going to fall through it. Needs a new spot light, RPM meter doesnt work on the one engine and the hot water tank value and or tank needs to be replaced. Along with the battery terminals are vary corroded.

The main issues is the engine hatch(fiberglass) needing to be replaced. Any ideas on the cost and where i can get it?
Atm im requested for the items to be fixed or the price reduced followed by an acceptable survey. I am waiting for a response atm.
Thanks for the help.
 
My 98 hatch is soft as well.

I think it's a design flaw of the era.

Where the (wood?) is glassed in as a support for the hatch and it rots over time.

Otherwise the entire hatch looks to be fiberglass.
 
It probably got wet around where the table mount is. They didn’t seal those at all

Cost wise, probably more than you think. It weighs a ton, needs to be removed and all back side glass cut out to allow the wood to be dug out. Then rebuilt with lots of new marine plywood, glass, and resin.

I’d get a quote to base your price on, then if you’re feeling ambitious you could DIY in the off-season. Not a hard repair once it’s on the bench
 
So after the boat inspection water and soft spots were found on the forward deck by the anchor area. I asume its a factory issue but being 19 years old my issue would be how far has the water gone? Meaning to the stringers. From what I have read online if the deck has soft spots more then likely the boat is also rotting from the inside too. I am still waiting for the full report to be completed. With this new known issue would it be wise to walk away from the boat? Or is this just common for a boat her age?
 

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