Just picked up my first boat...

[KJ Hinton]

1988 SeaRay Sundancer 268 7.4 Alpha 1

Needs some work, but can't complain considering the price.

Looking forward to getting advice here and learning from those who've been in my shoes.

 

[Gofirstclass]

KJ, congrats on the new boat and welcome to CSR. I gotta warn you that we all like to see photos of members' boats so you're probably going to take some phlaque (like that spelling???) until you post them.

Anyway, post away and fire away with the questions.

 

[Pirate Lady]

I owned an ‘87 & ‘89. Fire away with questions about the boat. If mechanical issues i will digress to the experts on here.
BTW, great boat, one of Searays most popular of all time.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Phlaque! I just coughed up one of those!

 

[KJ Hinton]

Sorry. Rude of me not to include a pic at least.

Paid practically nothing for it, so it needs a lot of work. But the hull is solid, bottom's good, engine seems fine. But I've got a list with 26-odd items that need to be addressed, like the Alpha unit being replaced.

 

[KJ Hinton]

I owned an ‘87 & ‘89. Fire away with questions about the boat. If mechanical issues i will digress to the experts on here.
BTW, great boat, one of Searays most popular of all time.

Question one: the rams for raising and lowering the drive don't seem to be working. Could that be based on a lack of fluid? For me, since there wasn't any owner's manual for this and I can't seem to find one, issues like "where's the pump for that?" are going to be frequent.

If it's low on fluid, do I use 10-30 wt oil in there?

If I can find out where "there" is.

 

[CNYBoater]

I purchased the service manual for my engine (outboard) and it has regular maintenance tasks, lube points, test and repair procedures. Found mine with a google search of the info on the engine placard. Highly recommend getting the OEM service book as opposed to a generic one.

 

[Christo]

It could be a lack of fluid, if it isn’t low, this may sound stupid, but you could rack on it and it may go, older parts seem to get stuck in place

 

[Christo]

Also, there’s just about anything on you tube anymore, you can google it…quite possible your problem could be listed there

 

[Pirate Lady]

Port shelf, against the transom is the pump for raising the outdrive. Has a plastic reservoir. Is it full? I don’t remember the oil weight. post that in General Maintenance section, someone should know.
Its a closed system so if not full it’s leaking somewhere. Can you ask the previous owner (aka PO on here)?

 

[Pirate Lady]

Sorry. Rude of me not to include a pic at least.

Paid practically nothing for it, so it needs a lot of work. But the hull is solid, bottom's good, engine seems fine. But I've got a list with 26-odd items that need to be addressed, like the Alpha unit being replaced.

View attachment 108452

Alpha unit. Matched to the 7.4 in 87, 88. Way too weak for the engine. In 89 they went with the Bravo 1 and never looked back. If you replace, get the Bravo. The 1 was built like a brick shithouse. Solid, strong.