Considering a 1989 Sundancer 268 project, any tips?
Sorry, I guess what I mean is... it looks like the entire mounting bracket punched through the fiberglass. Makes me wonder if that's a sign of bad glass integrity.
Bottom paint - makes me feel better about that being history of layers instead of corroded build up or pitting.
Excited to see boat in person. Pictures are not fun to interpret.
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
The seats, he prolly trashed the original bench instead of re upholstery. Cheaper way to go. Not first time seen that. Hey, if you can live with it, all good. Restoring the original bench can be very expensive.
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
I have a pic of original arch on my 89 268 but in BMP format, won’t upload, search the net.
Not worried about the seats right now. He mentioned the chairs were put in by the folks he's reselling for. My father has 30+ years carpentry experience and he's does car restorations now, we could probably come up with something. I'm most concerned about the vital parts of the vessel. Can always make it pretty later on.
Just wanted to say, I appreciate your willingness to talk this over. Very helpful for me.
Just wanted to say, I appreciate your willingness to talk this over. Very helpful for me.
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
It's a project for sure. I'd keep the SS arch -- just remount. It looks like they didn't use proper backing plates and it cracked in the fiberglass side. Everything is fixable, it's just a matter of how much time and money you have. Focus on the bones -- stringers, transom, and deck. Major problems there, it's a walk away. If it's sound, could be a decent project.
Seems like good info in this thread: http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/outdrive-reconditioning.64043/
Going to continue learning about reconditioning Bravo Onee. Hoping that, with this amount of corrosion, disassembly, resurfacing, new seals won't be absolutely required but I'm already leaning the opposite way. Another worry is the bell housing/gimbal housing(?) - reading more into that today too.
Might be looking at this in person today instead of tomorrow.
Going to continue learning about reconditioning Bravo Onee. Hoping that, with this amount of corrosion, disassembly, resurfacing, new seals won't be absolutely required but I'm already leaning the opposite way. Another worry is the bell housing/gimbal housing(?) - reading more into that today too.
Might be looking at this in person today instead of tomorrow.
Stee6043
Well-Known Member
That starboard swim platform strut has a pretty good bend in it.
It's hard to believe the interior can be that clean with a transom/outdrive that looks like that. If you go see it grab a hold of that outdrive and see if you can make the transom move. Some may strap the outdrive to save the transom, others may strap it because the transom is already rotten...
It's hard to believe the interior can be that clean with a transom/outdrive that looks like that. If you go see it grab a hold of that outdrive and see if you can make the transom move. Some may strap the outdrive to save the transom, others may strap it because the transom is already rotten...
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
short answer 89 - Bravo 1.
long answer the 87 came mostly with 5.7 and alpha 1. underpowered, hard to stay on plane with people and gear aboard. By 89 most if not all came with 7.4 and Bravo 1.
Strap holding up outdrive - could be a safety strap from he was towing it to be put on blocks; probably nothing.
Hard to tell from picture if the outdrive is badly pitted or those are just barnacle scars.
RE: transom, gonna tug, bang, and hopefully get some useable data from MR40. Not too worried about platform just yet but did notice the bend as well.
My thoughts as well RE: scars/pitting... going to hopefully see it either today or Friday and know for sure. Was reading about folks who repair pitting with JB weld, sand, paint. Probably depends how deep and widespread it is.
Thanks for confirming Bravo1.
Thanks again everyone for your time. I'll continue to update this as I hear more.
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
On that note, could be (maybe) the strut is bent because the platform attached to transom is sagging. Check this out good. Cant see a reason why the strut would be bent unless he hard backed into a pier but then you would see fiberglass damage to platform.
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
Another thought, boat has sat a while. Do not try to just crank it over to start, you could snap piston rings frozen to cylinder walls. Use a breaker bar socket on crankshaft bolt and SLOWLY try to turn it over with plugs removed. If won’t, put WD40 or oil in plug holes, let sit, try next day.
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
I love the late 80’s early 90’s Searays and I appreciate anyone who tries to save them. That’s when SR built boats that an average guy with kids could afford one new.
Where do I start? Sadly, don't think I'm up to the task of this boat. She needs more than just some banging and elbow grease. Just to reiterate, guy who is selling it, is actually reselling for the folks who bought from him. In the year they bought it, came and did small work, they also allowed for a ton of wear/tear/ and damage.
I'll attach a few pics here but will dump the rest in an Imgur album here.
I have concerns that water has probably been soaking through the floor for awhile, who knows what the stringers may look like, carpet definitely would need to be replaced. A lot of the cushions in aft cabin were also damp/wet. Not a fan that water has been sitting in the front bilge for so long, who knows why or what condition the pump is in (albeit easy replacement). Lastly, I don't want to deal with a grimy interior, no matter the good deal or not.
I was hoping for that unicorn situation where I paint the bottom, TLC outdrive, clean up mechanical components, and hopefully she doesn't take on water. Enjoy cheap boat for as long as possible.
That said - I learned a lot by talking with all of you and by going to look at this in person. I now know more what I want in a boat (esp a used boat) and also, what to look out for in a used boat (thank you!).
The boat bug bit hard though and I think the serious planning for a nice used one begins now. It's gotten me off my rump and the SO excited. This won't be the end...
I'll attach a few pics here but will dump the rest in an Imgur album here.
- Front bilge was full of water and guy said he wasn't sure if the pump worked. We couldn't test as no batteries.
- Cabin doors were left open to the elements. The carpet immediately in the opening and closest to aft cabin is completely soaked - 44% moisture according to MR40.
- Mildew/mold/stains almost everywhere in the interior
(while I wasn't expecting perfect by any means, it was way dirtier than when original pictures were taken for ad)
Guy said the current owners came and lived on it while they worked on it... left AC running a lot but nothing to dehumidify the cabin. - Hull damage (tower mount, rub rail, a few other spots) wasn't as bad as I thought and do think I could patch fiberglass if needed.
- Deck itself was in pretty rough shape. You'll see in pictures where mold and moss had started to take hold on all the carpet. To be honest, it may be as simple as ripping out and replacing but once I saw that... started to lose motivation fast.
- Stern/Outdrive - Rough.. but salvageable. Looks somewhat better in person but I do believe the outdrive would need to be completely disassembled and cleaned thoroughly, probably sand/shell blasted. Stern itself seemed hard... I banged, couldn't notice any sagging, soggyness, softness, etc.
- Hull - this wasn't nearly as I though originally. I think there are 2 or 3 layers of bottom paint that would need to be sanded down, then repaint.
- Foredeck - got up on top, walked around (6'2", 235lbs) and couldn't notice any signs of damaged fiberglass. No sag, soggy, softness that I could tell. It flexed ever so slightly when I would push up from knees.
- Engine - no oil leak that I could see! Must've been just really dirty down there and a bad picture. Lots of wet grimy leaves though.
I have concerns that water has probably been soaking through the floor for awhile, who knows what the stringers may look like, carpet definitely would need to be replaced. A lot of the cushions in aft cabin were also damp/wet. Not a fan that water has been sitting in the front bilge for so long, who knows why or what condition the pump is in (albeit easy replacement). Lastly, I don't want to deal with a grimy interior, no matter the good deal or not.
I was hoping for that unicorn situation where I paint the bottom, TLC outdrive, clean up mechanical components, and hopefully she doesn't take on water. Enjoy cheap boat for as long as possible.
That said - I learned a lot by talking with all of you and by going to look at this in person. I now know more what I want in a boat (esp a used boat) and also, what to look out for in a used boat (thank you!).
The boat bug bit hard though and I think the serious planning for a nice used one begins now. It's gotten me off my rump and the SO excited. This won't be the end...
Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
Pass. If you think replacing an engine or drive expensive, try getting estimates on new interior, you can’t fix mold.
