Considering 1995 Sundancer 500

Thanks swb1 and Pirate Lady for your feedback.

I have rented smaller boats <35 feet for a week here and there over the years and stayed on them and I was more than comfortable. It is just me so I don't have to contend with the wife, kids ,pets etc. I work 70% of the time on my computer and can operate in a 8 x 10 space with no issues and if I need some fresh air can go on deck and hang around with a beer and relax so I think a 50+ foot boat will be fine. If I had a family etc I would consider a Sedan Bridge but I am looking for a combination of a sport / live aboard boat. If money was no object I would have a 50+ foot MTI catamaran with some serious motors but I will come back to reality as I don't have a couple million to throw at a boat.

I have gone to a lot of offshore boat racing events prior to covid so I enjoy the boat racing scene. It is pretty crazy some of the engine / boat combinations out there.
 
Detroits are rebuildable right there in the engine room. I would figure $20k per. But I will say these old Detroits are pretty bullet proof. I would be surprised if you could have the boat towed to Fl for $5k. We do live on our boat and have for a long time. More than enough for 2 people. When we are really ready to sell, if your still in the market I will send you pics. There is a 480-500 page on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/391881405562707 Look at Susan Smith
 
The towing quote I got was about $8K total - $6K from a tow company from Freeport to the 12th mile International waters about 60 miles from Freeport and $2K from the 12th mile to Ft Lauderdale from a tow company in Ft Lauderdale. Many variables but a good learning experience so far only a few months into this search and not in a place where I am forced to make a choice today.
 
6C746184-1A40-4933-AD4F-6319921D294D.jpeg
kishoreh said:
It is just me so I don't have to contend with the wife, kids ,pets etc.
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Are you trying to piss us off! Cause its working. Except for the pet part. Raven is my baby.
 
kishoreh said:
I will come back to reality as I don't have a couple million to throw at a boat.
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I will step up and say that when you say you dont have a couple million to throw into a boat, but you are thinking about buying a a boat that a flip boats show walked away from, that no one has bought in this market. Read my avatar “are you out of your fuking mind”. Dude. This is a really bad idea. Cabin mold is a non starter. You can die living in that boat and mold is really hard to eliminate. Just no.
 
370Dancer said:
Oil pans probably let go a long time ago.
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Any saltwater under the engines will eat up the oil pans….my first SR was a 2006 260DA. Allegedly a FW boat. I did not know enough then to look for the signs and a surveyor signed off on it so we bought it…..only to replace the oil pan a year later. The 500 will surely be big enough for one person to live on and maybe a single guy is good with it, but having owned a 44DB and how a 420DA, no way I could live on the DA. We are on an inland lake in a covered slip and wanted the cockpit space and gave up the bridge and cabin space. The DA is much more user friendly on a lake….can get under more bridges, easier to deal with in a crowded location, but not to liveaboard. The sliding glass doors and visibility out of the windows is unsurpassed…..I could see out of the DB to se what was going on. Now I have to open the door and stick my head out….just my $0.02…

Bennett
 
Thanks bbwhitejr and Pirate Lady,

I am probably going to pass on this deal and see what shows up in the near future. I am not in a rush. I appreciate the time everyone has taken to give me some information on the Sea Ray line and options.
 
I've redone a boat before from the keel up including a gas to diesel conversion. Quick things to consider: at least double your budget and conservatively double the estimated time to complete the project.

Lastly, it is extremely uncommon to come out ahead of the game money wise. I'm not suggesting buying a 10/10 cream puff but taking on large projects is a full time job. Unless you are a boat yard that specializes in this type of stuff it's incredible to see how things snowball in these projects. Especially in a boat this size.

I'm not even thinking of the shortage of supplies out there. That could be a whole new mess to deal with.

Save yourself a lot of money and time and buy something that is already done.
 
So far in my research in talking to parts suppliers , mechanic shops etc they are all struggling to source parts or it is taking months instead of days or weeks to get many items that were readily available a couple years ago due to Covid. The interesting thing is many of mechanics I spoke to are booked out 3-4 weeks and are really busy so they are getting the service calls. I have couple of power steering hoses for my car my mechanic is ordering them and he is telling me 3-4 weeks to delivery since he needs to source them directly from Germany.
 
However this turns out, keep us posted, no matter what brand or type. Last winter there was a guy doing an amazing restoration of an older SR up in Oregon. Every week with pictures and updates. Then … nothing. Disappeared. Dont be that guy.
 
Pirate Lady: I will let you know where I end up and add to this thread or create a new one. Thanks for everyone's input so far I belong to a few forums for the cars I am restoring and it is a great group of people in each forum allows to you gain knowledge from other people's trials, experience and perspective. You can't learn until you ask questions.
 
Good thread.

The problem with older inboard diesel boats.... as they age the cost of maintaining onboard systems increases dramatically, while the value flatlines or decreases.

While the current market is inflated for boat replacement, the cost of components and repairs has risen even faster.

This equation has always been upside down, however the reality of today's economics makes it even moreso.

Still, I am considering upgrading from a truly PERFECT Trojan International with twin Yanmar 6LP's and a Northern Lights genset to a 40' express with dinghy capable swim platform & transom door.

Nuts?

Yeah, we ALL are :)

RWS
 
Maybe A Dancer:

" Nuts? Yeah, we ALL are :)"

When it comes to our toys your statement is dead on.

Not sure if I should be creating a new thread for the info below:

After looking at many boats this past 60 days I think I might of found a 1989 Sea Ray 460 express cruiser to fit my budget and needs the owner wants $45K. I would be making a backup offer as there is a contract pending but looks like it may not go through.

This is a two owner boat I will be doing a hull history report (Are these worth it ?) or should I do an abstract title search or both?

The boat's first owner was registered in the US the current boat owner registered the boat in the British Virgin Islands. The boat is docked and maintained in Ft Lauderdale.

He has the bottom cleaned monthly but has not done bottom paint since 2014 and it always sits in the water.

I have seen these boats anywhere from $45K to 90K between 1987 - 1989 the higher prices are fresh water boats.

I went to see the boat and I am going again on Wednesday to look at the engine area and take pictures of the boat.

This boat is local to me so no shipping or towing expenses which allows me to reallocate that expense for future upgrades

I will just keep everything as is for the first year to see what issues pop up and budget for the unexpected.

When I spoke to Sea Ray they confirmed the engine serial #'s but said they were 450hp 6V-92MTA but the owner believes the engines are 550hp could the original owner have upgraded turbos or increased boost to get these to 550hp?

Through some contacts I have found a captain to help me navigate the boat and also give me a letter to give to the insurance company to prove hours on the water.

I am having some difficulty finding an insurance company since I am a new boat owner and buying a 40+ foot boat.

I spoke to Progressive and I have my car insurance with them but they will not insure a boat over 40 feet.

While I like the 1995 and newer Sea Ray 500 design better right now 100+K for a decent example is out of my budget.

I did miss out on a 1995 500 Sundancer in Texas going for 50K that was an estate sale and looked in decent shape from the pictures. It is currently in a sale pending state and I have not received a response from the sellers broker if they are accepting a backup offer.
 
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Maybe A Dancer said:
Good thread.

The problem with older inboard diesel boats.... as they age the cost of maintaining onboard systems increases dramatically, while the value flatlines or decreases.

While the current market is inflated for boat replacement, the cost of components and repairs has risen even faster.

This equation has always been upside down, however the reality of today's economics makes it even moreso.

Still, I am considering upgrading from a truly PERFECT Trojan International with twin Yanmar 6LP's and a Northern Lights genset to a 40' express with dinghy capable swim platform & transom door.

Nuts?

Yeah, we ALL are :)

RWS
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Nuts! Hell ya! I’m about to drop probably $2k on overheating problem and happy as a pig in slop.
 
kishoreh said:
Maybe A Dancer:

" Nuts? Yeah, we ALL are :)"

When it comes to our toys your statement is dead on.

Not sure if I should be creating a new thread for the info below:

After looking at many boats this past 60 days I think I might of found a 1989 Sea Ray 460 express cruiser to fit my budget and needs the owner wants $45K. I would be making a backup offer as there is a contract pending but looks like it may not go through.

This is a two owner boat I will be doing a hull history report (Are these worth it ?) or should I do an abstract title search or both?

The boat's first owner was registered in the US the current boat owner registered the boat in the British Virgin Islands. The boat is docked and maintained in Ft Lauderdale.

He has the bottom cleaned monthly but has not done bottom paint since 2014 and it always sits in the water.

I have seen these boats anywhere from $45K to 90K between 1987 - 1989 the higher prices are fresh water boats.

I went to see the boat and I am going again on Wednesday to look at the engine area and take pictures of the boat.

This boat is local to me so no shipping or towing expenses which allows me to reallocate that expense for future upgrades

I will just keep everything as is for the first year to see what issues pop up and budget for the unexpected.

When I spoke to Sea Ray they confirmed the engine serial #'s but said they were 450hp 6V-92MTA but the owner believes the engines are 550hp could the original owner have upgraded turbos or increased boost to get these to 550hp?

Through some contacts I have found a captain to help me navigate the boat and also give me a letter to give to the insurance company to prove hours on the water.

I am having some difficulty finding an insurance company since I am a new boat owner and buying a 40+ foot boat.

I spoke to Progressive and I have my car insurance with them but they will not insure a boat over 40 feet.

While I like the 1995 and newer Sea Ray 500 design better right now 100+K for a decent example is out of my budget.

I did miss out on a 1995 500 Sundancer in Texas going for 50K that was an estate sale and looked in decent shape from the pictures. It is currently in a sale pending state and I have not received a response from the sellers broker if they are accepting a backup offer.
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Insurance- did you try Boat/US?
 
Boat US is Geico Marine and they declined me based on boat length and a new boat owner
 
This is one of the big issues with older boats.

When I repowered and re-surveyed in 2006 I was insured with Pre-Geico BoatUS for $110,000

Had a gap year when things went to hell in 2009

In 2010 re insurance with Boat US required a new survey

Despite the survey being 100% perfect, BoatUS dropped the total value by nearly 50%

RWS
 
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