Advice you can give from these pics? 1985 Sundancer 250

[Golfman25]

Talked to my mechanic buddy that lives on board at marina. He said he thinks it doesnt run. Sale price is $1200 (i didnt drop a zero) so i thinks its more than a tune up. Trying to get more info.

Repower and go.

 

[Pirate Lady]

If the interior is good, that would actually be a hell of a deal. 8 9 grand be a nice boat.

 

[Nater Potater]

I'd take a hole through the side of the engine over rotten stringers and transom any day! The engine can be swapped in a day. Spinning wrenches is always easier than rooting around in fiberglass and the smell of rotten wood.

 

[Pirate Lady]

If the interior is good, that would actually be a hell of a deal. 8 9 grand be a nice boat.

My friend needs glasses. It’s $12,000 not $1200. 1998. Can get number tomorrow if you want to pursue. The bimini and aft top are not new but useable. Eisenglass between bimini and windshield is brown.

 

[Gombajuice]

Talked to my mechanic buddy that lives on board at marina. He said he thinks it doesnt run. Sale price is $1200 (i didnt drop a zero) so i thinks its more than a tune up. Trying to get more info.

Aww thats ok! Thanks for trying for me. I actually bought one on Saturday!! Sorry to let everyone down, but it is not a Sea Ray

Update for anyone that cares or comes across this in the future:

Snagged it for what I think is a good price! 1996 Bayliner 1952 Capri Cuddy 19ft, $6,500. I know the opinion online of Bayliner's is being inferior to most, BUT I bought this from the father-in-law of the guy who sold me my current car and I trust his judgement because he is and was super anal and wild with keeping up maintenance on the car before selling it to me and it has ran like a top for three years.

He told me this boat is a "cherry" so I knew that was saying a lot coming from him. After seeing it and talking to the owner he seemed the same way and his reasoning for buying it from the original owner was because it was a "cream puff" so I felt very confident knowing this is my best chance at a well taken care of boat instead of buying from a stranger. He didn't even have it listed for sale yet, just good timing getting first dibs by miraculously crossing paths with the seller of my car on a local FB forum.

Thank you EVERYONE for all the help and input!! I used every bit of it to make sure I was making the best decision on this one.

The only thing that stinks is that as the deal was done the previous owner told me I should get it bottom painted immediately if I plan on keeping it docked (He always trailered it and I am assuming the original owner did too because the bottom is very clean)

I am doing more research to figure out if that is the case and 100% needed. Any suggestions??

 

[bobeast]

Aww thats ok! Thanks for trying for me. I actually bought one on Saturday!! Sorry to let everyone down, but it is not a Sea Ray

Update for anyone that cares or comes across this in the future:

Snagged it for what I think is a good price! 1996 Bayliner 1952 Capri Cuddy 19ft, $6,500. I know the opinion online of Bayliner's is being inferior to most, BUT I bought this from the father-in-law of the guy who sold me my current car and I trust his judgement because he is and was super anal and wild with keeping up maintenance on the car before selling it to me and it has ran like a top for three years.

He told me this boat is a "cherry" so I knew that was saying a lot coming from him. After seeing it and talking to the owner he seemed the same way and his reasoning for buying it from the original owner was because it was a "cream puff" so I felt very confident knowing this is my best chance at a well taken care of boat instead of buying from a stranger. He didn't even have it listed for sale yet, just good timing getting first dibs by miraculously crossing paths with the seller of my car on a local FB forum.

Thank you EVERYONE for all the help and input!! I used every bit of it to make sure I was making the best decision on this one. The only thing that stinks is that as the deal was done the previous owner told me I should get it bottom painted immediately if I plan on keeping it docked (He always trailered it and I am assuming the original owner did too because the bottom is very clean)

I am doing more research to figure out if that is the case and 100% needed

congratulations!

 

[Nater Potater]

Sorry to let everyone down, but it is not a Sea Ray
I know the opinion online of Bayliner's is being inferior to most...

I wouldn't say that! I've always been attracted to Bayliners myself. I think you'll be just fine.

 

[Island Time Buffalo]

The only thing that stinks is that as the deal was done the previous owner told me I should get it bottom painted immediately if I plan on keeping it docked (He always trailered it and I am assuming the original owner did too because the bottom is very clean)

Not necessarily. It's still a "trailer boat" and in fact there is a very good argument to be made for not painting. All you have to do is acid wash it and it's cherry again. I had a 24' Regal that I kept in a slip for 3 years. I pulled it out occasionally to "mow the lawn" off of it, especially when traveling somewhere. It made it a lot more appealing when I sold it.

Congrats on the boat. It looks like it was indeed well cared for.

 

[boatman37]

I prefer no bottom paint. We leave ours in all year. No paint on our Sea Ray but paint on the Crownline. Sea Ray was easy to clean and looked much better after it was clean. Spray a little diluted acid on it right after you pull it then hose it off. Very easy. Might take a little scrubbing on bad spots but not hard at all.

 

[Gombajuice]

Not necessarily. It's still a "trailer boat" and in fact there is a very good argument to be made for not painting. All you have to do is acid wash it and it's cherry again. I had a 24' Regal that I kept in a slip for 3 years. I pulled it out occasionally to "mow the lawn" off of it, especially when traveling somewhere. It made it a lot more appealing when I sold it.

Congrats on the boat. It looks like it was indeed well cared for.

Wow really?! Last owner and guy I called to get a quote today made it sound like my boat was going to blister and fall apart by tomorrow.... Thst makes me feel much better.

And you're definitely right! I love the look of it now and don't really wanna change it.

I have access to a car detail shop whenever I need so chemicals like thst will be easy to get.

When you say it's a "trailer boat" I'm assuming that's in regards to condition, but what does thst have to do with it now thst it will be staying in the water?

 

[Gombajuice]

I prefer no bottom paint. We leave ours in all year. No paint on our Sea Ray but paint on the Crownline. Sea Ray was easy to clean and looked much better after it was clean. Spray a little diluted acid on it right after you pull it then hose it off. Very easy. Might take a little scrubbing on bad spots but not hard at all.

Wow you and islandtime are making me feel so much better! I've been panicking all day.

And you're also keeping your boat in the same Erie water?

And why paint on one and not the other? Is this anything brand specific?

 

[boatman37]

Wow you and islandtime are making me feel so much better! I've been panicking all day.

And you're also keeping your boat in the same Erie water?

And why paint on one and not the other? Is this anything brand specific?

No. We are on the Ohio River. Sea Ray was not painted but the Crownline was already painted when we bought it otherwise it wouldn't be painted either

 

[Gombajuice]

No. We are on the Ohio River. Sea Ray was not painted but the Crownline was already painted when we bought it otherwise it wouldn't be painted either

Gotcha! I'm in the Grand River off Lake Erie. I guess that's making the difference and way more serious
? *shrug emoji*

I'm so confused. Everyone else has been saying it's a 110% must, but then I get back to back responses with the same answer to acid wash it and silly to bottom paint it lol. It makes no sense lol.

Thank you for your input! Makes me feel a bit better

 

[JHornsby3]

Probably shouldn't use that phrase on this forum We jumped from an 18' runabout to a completely untested 30', 30-year-old mechanics special. The only thing we knew about it was that the engines ran, and the outdrives shifted. After many hours of work, it's now floating and motoring around the lake, and just waiting for us to start working out the facilities. Frustrating at times, but my wife and I have really enjoyed working on it, knowing what the end results will bring us.
As my dad once said "Never be in a hurry to buy or sell anything". If you don't get a warm-fuzzy with this one, there'll aways be another boat come along.

We still have our 19' runabout. Easier to get into some of the rivers and higher lakes than the 300DA. And I am hopeful I get the pickup back from the shop this week. Then it's replacing the 13 year old Carlisle tires and starting the insurance.

As for the bottom paint. Being on a trailer you don't really need it. Pulling it in the fall and being able to wash it is good. Bottom paint is just to let the "stuff" that grows on the bottom to sluff off in motion. Ours is on the trailers. I painted the bottom of the 300DA because it was painted in the past and looked like crap. Putting the black back on the bottom made it look a million times better. And because I will be pulling it out of the water when not using it, it only has the paint where it is seen, for now. I just didn't feel like blocking it to get under the bunks and getting my fat butt wedged under the keel to get the bottom. Hell, the runabout hasn't even been buffed is who knows how long. At some point it was slipped on the Columbia river and has a nice dirty water line etched into the gel coat.

 

[Golfman25]

Wow really?! Last owner and guy I called to get a quote today made it sound like my boat was going to blister and fall apart by tomorrow.... Thst makes me feel much better.

And you're definitely right! I love the look of it now and don't really wanna change it.

I have access to a car detail shop whenever I need so chemicals like thst will be easy to get.

When you say it's a "trailer boat" I'm assuming that's in regards to condition, but what does thst have to do with it now thst it will be staying in the water?

Dude you can paint it or not paint it. Your choice. Painting will reduce your annual hull maintenance. Simply pull the boat in the fall and power wash all the crud off. Without paint you’ll need to acid wash. Go look at the ground where they acid wash boats - the acid eats the concrete. Paint is a good winter/spring project. So go without the rest of the season and see how it goes. Then decide.

 

[Gombajuice]

Dude you can paint it or not paint it. Your choice. Painting will reduce your annual hull maintenance. Simply pull the boat in the fall and power wash all the crud off. Without paint you’ll need to acid wash. Go look at the ground where they acid wash boats - the acid eats the concrete. Paint is a good winter/spring project. So go without the rest of the season and see how it goes. Then decide.

Sounds like there's no long term damage to that for a season. Thank you! I thought I'd show up to my boat this week and there would already be blisters in the gel coat.

From what I'm learning it sounds like painting just signs you up for more maintenance needing to always re-paint

 

[Golfman25]

Sounds like there's no long term damage to that for a season. Thank you! I thought I'd show up to my boat this week and there would already be blisters in the gel coat.

From what I'm learning it sounds like painting just signs you up for more maintenance needing to always re-paint

A lot will depend on the water you keep your boat in. I can go at least 2-3 years between paint jobs. Even more if I’m lazy. Without paint You’ll need to acid wash every year. I’d be less concerned about blisters and more concerned about crud.

 

[Gombajuice]

A lot will depend on the water you keep your boat in. I can go at least 2-3 years between paint jobs. Even more if I’m lazy. Without paint You’ll need to acid wash every year. I’d be less concerned about blisters and more concerned about crud.

Gotcha. I'll be keeping mine in Grand River off going into Erie

 

[Island Time Buffalo]

When you say it's a "trailer boat" I'm assuming that's in regards to condition, but what does thst have to do with it now thst it will be staying in the water?

What I mean is that the boat is 'trailerable' (and in your case comes with a trailer) and you can move it around via trailer easily, and spends its time off-season on said trailer. I guess the best definition is that you could just as easily opt to keep it in your driveway as in a slip ... and the next owner of said boat may want to do that, in which case the bottom paint looks like $h!t..

Even though we kept them in a slip (in stagnant water), we still took our 21' and 24' boats all over by trailer .... Thousand Islands, Finger Lakes, Sandusky, etc. It's a nice option and looks good moving down the Thruway with a clean white bottom.

Now once the "foot disease" kicks in and you start moving up a few feet a year to cruisers, these boats are not trailerable and bottom paint is then indeed a must.

 

[Gombajuice]

What I mean is that the boat is 'trailerable' (and in your case comes with a trailer) and you can move it around via trailer easily, and spends its time off-season on said trailer. I guess the best definition is that you could just as easily opt to keep it in your driveway as in a slip ... and the next owner of said boat may want to do that, in which case the bottom paint looks like $h!t..

Even though we kept them in a slip (in stagnant water), we still took our 21' and 24' boats all over by trailer .... Thousand Islands, Finger Lakes, Sandusky, etc. It's a nice option and looks good moving down the Thruway with a clean white bottom.

Now once the "foot disease" kicks in and you start moving up a few feet a year to cruisers, these boats are not trailerable and bottom paint is then indeed a must.

Now I'm starting to understand a bit more! Thank you for the explanation. This is all so foreign to me lol