290 sundancers 1994-midyear 97 "We need a thread"

TIME WELL WASTED

TIME WELL WASTED

New Member
Dec 28, 2006
178
MIDWEST
Boat Info
1995 290 Sundancer w/out arch twins & gen. 1993 454 3/4 ton Suburban tow vehicle.
Engines
2001 efi closed cooled 6 cylinders.
Looking for 290 sundancer owners 1994-1997

Sold my 1992 250 Larson Hamton last June had it for seven years.

Now I have A 1995 290 sundancer twins an gen.
Bougth it Nov. 4th Had to take home an winterize.
I did a test drive in July made an offer.
He called an said come an get it Nov. 1st.
I hope we like it come spring. Can't wait!!!!!!
 
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Time,

Welcome to the board! I'm pretty new myself, and I've found CSR a great resource, with great people working hard to keep it going.

I'm on my second 290, a 1997. My first was a 1995. I've probably got about 600 hours total on the two boats. Mine have both been single engine models. Personally, I like that era 290 because it is before Sea Ray started adding weight to the 290 and then later putting dinettes only in them and not the sofa in the salon. You'll love the boat. Any questions, ask away. I've been piddling away on mine for awhile.

Sadler
 
Yes it is a 290 they made the 290 w/out a arch in 1994/95 as a option.
I have only seen two. In 1996/97 it was not a option they all had it.
They look better with it. But for towing an dock roof height it will work better for me with out. The main reson we went with the 290 SD that year was for the cabin we have the sofa also I like it over the dinette.

One thing I do not like it only has a 11gal black water tank searay say's they have 28 gal. But in the twins they do not. I hope I dont'n regret this!
Do you have built-in battery charger?
I have a small leak on the starboard side it puddles inside the sofa storage.
I have seen this on other 290's have you?
TIME WELL WASTSED
 
Time,

You caught me! I took off my question about yours being a 270, since right after I posted it I remembered the arch being an option. Checked the Sea Ray archives, and yep, it was an option. You're quick.

Yep, same leak. Mine is around the aft starboard oval window. Since I dry stack mine, it's not in the rain that often, and the leak is small enough that I've not put it on my "must fix" list yet, but since you mentioned it, it'll probably be moved up. :smt001

My black water tank is the larger size, and I do have the battery charger, which for us is a must have since we're often on shore power at the marina. It's not that big and you could easily add one I bet. I waffled back and forth over my second 290, twins or single. Came down to the single I found was much better kept than the twin I had found, and I was used to maintaining and docking the single, so single it was. However, the twin was much easier in close quarters in the sea trial. With the single, you have to be right on to not have to pull back out and try again. Check my profile if you haven't. The black dash cover is for me a must have.

Sadler
 
Have you talked with many members that have our boats? I hate it my boat is out side now at the upholstery shop. We got about 2in of ice last week. I'm going to check on it this weekend. About a 75 min drive.

Time Well Wasted
 
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I owned a 95 290 for 6 seasons until I moved up to my 95 370 in 2004. 290 was a great boat, mine had twins but no gennie. I loved the boat but dont miss working in the engine room, what a pain. Mine also leaked into the aft cabin as I know a number of them do.
 
J Levine

Did you ever find the 11gal. black water tank inconvenient? My last
cruiser had 18gal and it was adequate. The engine room is tight.
 
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No, I haven't talked with any other members yet with 290s. What are you having done at the upholstry shop?

TIME WELL WASTED said:
Have you talked with many members that have our boats? I hate it my boat is out side now at the upholstery shop. We got about 2in of ice last week. I'm going to check on it this weekend. About a 75 min drive.

Time Well Wasted
Click to expand...
 
New enclosure an cockpit cover. Teal or Taupe?(':smt017') Some wood replaced in seats. Dash pad.
Thinking about a back rest for the stern seat.(see photo) What do you think? Needs to be more custom.
I was a aware of this work before I got the boat. I made the owner a low offer not thinking he would take. But he did. I was not big on the teal color but for the $ I had to buy it.
 
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TIME WELL WASTED said:
New enclosure an cockpit cover. Teal or Taupe?(':smt017') Some wood replaced in seats. Dash pad.
Thinking about a back rest for the stern seat.(see photo) What do you think? Needs to be more custom.
I was a aware of this work before I got the boat. I made the owner a low offer not thinking he would take. But he did. I was not big on the teal color but for the $ I had to buy it.
Click to expand...

Yes, the stern seat back is way too low to be usable, so an improved back would be good. I don't know about which color. Teal is really fine.

We pretty much keep the sunpad in the back all the time. Even the aft facing seat isn't comfortable, and the sunpad makes it so passengers can stretch out facing the stern.

Boy, all the covers and the speaker pulled off on that starboard side remind me of replacing the steering cable on my boat. Clawed up hands and fingers. What a royal pain.
 
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Sadler
Why did you sell your 95 and go with the 97.
What color was the 95?
 
TIME WELL WASTED said:
Sadler
Why did you sell your 95 and go with the 97.
What color was the 95?
Click to expand...

Time,

It was not an easy decision, as I had put a good bit of work trying to improve my 1995 as well. It was due to several reasons. The first was the anchoring: I had to drive and that left my wife to man the anchor. It was too much for her to pull it in and a little dangerous in rough weather. I knew we needed a windlass because we were anchoring out more and more. The second was hot days at anchor with no generator. And the third was the raw water head that perpetually stunk in the hot Charleston summers. So, I decided to go for the newest 290 of the same body style, which would be early 1997. As for color, see attached photos. I looked and looked for a fuel injected '97, but they are extremely rare. I finally gave up and got all I wanted less fuel injection. The '97 is also the first year with the neutral leather-like interior rather than the yarn dyed fabrics, but this was not a big deal. As compared to my '95, the '97 I found has the Kohler genny, vacuflush head (man I love that thing), windlass (thank you windlass!), wood steering wheel, all electric flat top stove (that alcohol stove in my wife's hands was downright scary), cd changer (never use, only use ipod in tape player), and one thing that is great: the taller bimini with isenglass front panels rather than the canvas front.

Sadler
 
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Our new 290

My wife and I just purchased our 1995 290DA on Saturday! This is our third boat, and quiet an upgrade from out 21 foot cuddy. Only bad thing is the weather has turned terribly cold here in Southeast TN. After searching and reading the owners manual we finally found the breaker for the bildge heater (microwave!). It is on and working and I have drained the engine just in case. I look forward to sharing stories and learning from others on this thread. Keep the post's coming!
 
Re: Our new 290

Times Like These said:
My wife and I just purchased our 1995 290DA on Saturday! This is our third boat, and quiet an upgrade from out 21 foot cuddy. Only bad thing is the weather has turned terribly cold here in Southeast TN. After searching and reading the owners manual we finally found the breaker for the bildge heater (microwave!). It is on and working and I have drained the engine just in case. I look forward to sharing stories and learning from others on this thread. Keep the post's coming!
Click to expand...

Congratulations on your new boat! You'll love the 290. Big enough to be comfortable yet small enough to be easy to drive and maintain. Let's see a picture!

Sadler
 
WELCOME Times Like These
Let's see some pic's. Like the name. :thumbsup:
Where did you buy the boat?

Sadler, ANOTHER 290!!!! ':grin:'
Time Well Wasted
 
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SADLER,
Do you have any pic's with your enclosure up?
We are going with the same color as yours, I think.
Do you know if it is called LINEN TWEED?

Have not seen anything from the new 1995 290 guy.

TIME WELL WASTED
 
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TIME WELL WASTED said:
SADLER,
Do you have any pic's with your enclosure up?
We are going with the same color as yours, I think.
Do you know if it is called LINEN TWEED?

Have not seen anything from the new 1995 290 guy.

TIME WELL WASTED
Click to expand...

Here ya go. I don't know what it's called, sorry.

Sadler
 
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Here she is!

We are heading over today to play on her and for my wife to get some decorating ideas. We are excited about the dock we keep her on as well. Although due to cold weather we have only met a handful of people, it is funny how you can tell alot about people by their boat and slip decorations. There are lots of lights, TV's (UT football is huge here) and tropical decorations on the entire dock.

One month until dewinterization!
 
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