1993 290 Sundancer - pros/cons

[Getaway]

Currently we own a 1988 268 which my family and I truly enjoy.

Looking to upgrade slightly. Would like twins and AC/Heat (main reason for upgrade), but still need trailerability due to port/lake hopping and salmon tournament fishing.

The 1993 290 appears to be close to the same boat as mine, but slightly wider, maybe a touch longer. The unit we are looking at has twin 4.3's, AC/Heat, new canvasses, upholstery, tri-axle trailer, etc.

I'm already fully aware of stringer/transom and water issues. I completely rebuilt my current boat so moisture testing and surveys will be completed before purchase. I also read Pascoes comments on these and am taking some of that into consideration.

Simply looking for someone that has or had one of these boats. Interested in the annoyances or positives. Thanks in advance!

Bob

 

[Little Ducky]

If there's a 98 290 DA around your area for sale....... take a look.

The 98's have a entirely different feel because of the design changes.

 

[Stee6043]

Silly question - you say the AC/heat is the main reason for the upgrade but you don't mention a generator?

Another silly question....what's the beam on the 290 you're looking at? I believe the late 90's vintage rigs pushed beyond legally towable widths if I recall correctly...

 

[Getaway]

Silly question - you say the AC/heat is the main reason for the upgrade but you don't mention a generator?

Another silly question....what's the beam on the 290 you're looking at? I believe the late 90's vintage rigs pushed beyond legally towable widths if I recall correctly...

Don’t need or want a genny. We only need air at the dock and not at sea.

Beam is 9ft on early 90’s and 10ft for late 90’s. Easily trailerable. May need a permit, but most guys around here don’t even bother.

 

[atrick]

Got a 1995 290DA with 4.3's and its a great boat. Had it for 3 years and like the 4.3's but I got the L/X motors with weber 4 barrells which put out 220 hp each so the boat gets up on plane good and gets good fuel mileage. Never had any water problems with it.

 

[Stee6043]

Don’t need or want a genny. We only need air at the dock and not at sea.

Beam is 9ft on early 90’s and 10ft for late 90’s. Easily trailerable. May need a permit, but most guys around here don’t even bother.

Gotcha. For whatever it's worth (likely not much) with a 290 you're pushing into the size range where most buyers will expect a generator. When the time comes to resell it'll be a more limited market for you. Just a thought.

 

[atrick]

I don't have a generator in mine and kinda glad I don't as the bilge is tight enough, don't know where they would put it!

 

[Stee6043]

I don't have a generator in mine and kinda glad I don't as the bilge is tight enough, don't know where they would put it!

That's no joke. My 340 with 7.4's and a generator was an absolute nightmare to work on. Changing the oil was about the only thing you could do without substantial cursing involved...

 

[atrick]

I put in a invertor with a dedicated plug just for the TV and firestick that way grandkids can watch TV when they get bored away from the dock and I didn't have to deal with any major wiring problem with existing wiring plus have extra plug on it if I needed to run something else off of 120v.I had the invertor in my box trailer when the kids were racing motorcross and wasn't using it.

 

[Quint4]

My 1992 290DA with a single 7.4l 454 had a generator. We loved having it and used it all the time.