Looking to get into a 510 Sundancer

S.Lewis

New Member
Apr 26, 2019
14
Boat Info
Looking for 510
Engines
boatless
I am planning for the purchase of a 510 Sundancer. I have a sea trial scheduled May 31st.
I have called a couple east coast marinas to get quotes to prep for transport back to Midwest via semitruck. I am finding prices are about 3X what they are here in the Midwest.
1 of the quotes I am having a problem with is 48 hours to pull off the hard top and set on my trailer. Now to be fair I have ever done this but I can't believe that it will take near that long. I had in my mind 2 guys 8 hours to prep the top and then 2 guys 4 hours to break the seal and lift. Keep in mind there are additional charges for the equipment to lift it with.
Please share your experiences with this.

Thanks
 
I believe the 510 is a little taller than the 500, but we shipped ours without removing the arch, just everything mounted to it. Might do a little more research.
 
I believe the 510 is a little taller than the 500, but we shipped ours without removing the arch, just everything mounted to it. Might do a little more research.
As the boat sat on blocks it was over 16' to the hard top. It was about 8" off the ground.
I think taking off the hard top and leaving the windshield it will still be close.
 
48 hours does sound excessive.

Best of luck and welcome to CSR!
 
Are they telling you they need 48 hours as in 2 days to make it happen or are the billing 4800 dollars at 100.00/hr? I can see how it is a couple day job all in.
 
48 man hours isn't far off when you consider all the wiring and electronics that must be disconnected and the cables pulled out, tied off and labeled, all the fasteners that must be bagged and tagged, the windshield (and windshield breakage risk) the bust be broken loose, the seal cut and the windshield/hardtop wrapped, packed, and probably fastened to a pallet to prevent breakage.

By comparison, our marina shipped a 500DA in January. The yard is on the other side of the property behind my boat so I watched the process. They had a mechanic and a helper on the boat a little over 2 days which was 32+ hours, but this is a Sea Ray servicing dealer and they know the boats and do this stuff all the time.
 
Are they telling you they need 48 hours as in 2 days to make it happen or are the billing 4800 dollars at 100.00/hr? I can see how it is a couple day job all in.
They are breaking it down into 3 quotes.
1 to haul out, put on blocks & spray off bottom.
2 disassemble top accessories and pick top & set on my trailer.
3 I am waiting on a quote for bottom paint.
They charge 125.00 per hour and quoted me 48 man hours to remove top, that does not include haul out or blocking boat.
 
48 man hours isn't far off when you consider all the wiring and electronics that must be disconnected and the cables pulled out, tied off and labeled, all the fasteners that must be bagged and tagged, the windshield (and windshield breakage risk) the bust be broken loose, the seal cut and the windshield/hardtop wrapped, packed, and probably fastened to a pallet to prevent breakage.

By comparison, our marina shipped a 500DA in January. The yard is on the other side of the property behind my boat so I watched the process. They had a mechanic and a helper on the boat a little over 2 days which was 32+ hours, but this is a Sea Ray servicing dealer and they know the boats and do this stuff all the time.
The windshield does not connect to hard top and is not coming off.
They are not wrapping, packing anything. They are sitting it on my trailer for me to deal with.
 
I am planning for the purchase of a 510 Sundancer. I have a sea trial scheduled May 31st.
I have called a couple east coast marinas to get quotes to prep for transport back to Midwest via semitruck. I am finding prices are about 3X what they are here in the Midwest.
1 of the quotes I am having a problem with is 48 hours to pull off the hard top and set on my trailer. Now to be fair I have ever done this but I can't believe that it will take near that long. I had in my mind 2 guys 8 hours to prep the top and then 2 guys 4 hours to break the seal and lift. Keep in mind there are additional charges for the equipment to lift it with.
Please share your experiences with this.

Thanks

I’m a USCG 100 Ton Licensed Master and relocate and deliver boats, where in the Midwest is the boat going? I am currently moving a 2019 Searay L460 from Chicago to Charleston SC. via the inland rivers. It may be alot cheaper and easier to move the boat on its own bottom. I’m available June 1 if you are interested. If you want to consider this, email me at Thmann51@gmail.com for a no obligation quote. Thank you,
Capt. Tom Mann
 
I’m a USCG 100 Ton Licensed Master and relocate and deliver boats, where in the Midwest is the boat going? I am currently moving a 2019 Searay L460 from Chicago to Charleston SC. via the inland rivers. It may be alot cheaper and easier to move the boat on its own bottom. I’m available June 1 if you are interested. If you want to consider this, email me at Thmann51@gmail.com for a no obligation quote. Thank you,
Capt. Tom Mann
E=mail sent
 
I’m a USCG 100 Ton Licensed Master and relocate and deliver boats, where in the Midwest is the boat going? I am currently moving a 2019 Searay L460 from Chicago to Charleston SC. via the inland rivers. It may be alot cheaper and easier to move the boat on its own bottom. I’m available June 1 if you are interested. If you want to consider this, email me at Thmann51@gmail.com for a no obligation quote. Thank you,
Capt. Tom Mann
I plead ignorance but I didn't know there was a path from there. How long is that trip? That's deep enough for a boat that size?
 
I plead ignorance but I didn't know there was a path from there. How long is that trip? That's deep enough for a boat that size?


Yes, It’s about 2200 NM, about a two week trip. Take the East River to Hudson River to Erie Canal to Oswego River to Lake Ontario to Lake Lake Erie to Lake Michigan to Chicago River to Illinois River to Mississippi River into Idaho.

Bow Tie
 
Yes, It’s about 2200 NM, about a two week trip. Take the East River to Hudson River to Erie Canal to Oswego River to Lake Ontario to Lake Lake Erie to Lake Michigan to Chicago River to Illinois River to Mississippi River into Idaho.

Bow Tie

Why does everybody do that?
Not Idaho...... Iowa! :)
 
Might be cheaper to go by water, even with paying a Captain.
Don’t forget that you would have to pay to put it all back together when you get her home and then keep your fingers crossed that it all goes well.
I’d probably look to do part, most, if not all, of the trip with the Captain. Great way to get acquainted with your new boat and give her a good shakedown.
 
I plead ignorance but I didn't know there was a path from there. How long is that trip? That's deep enough for a boat that size?

Yes, there is a clear route and lots of Loopers make the trip.
It’s on my bucket list.
Although I haven’t done the whole trip, I have been in and out of NY harbor countless times and up the Hudson several times and they are very scenic.
I’m told the same about the Erie Canal system.
 
Might be cheaper to go by water, even with paying a Captain.
Don’t forget that you would have to pay to put it all back together when you get her home and then keep your fingers crossed that it all goes well.
I’d probably look to do part, most, if not all, of the trip with the Captain. Great way to get acquainted with your new boat and give her a good shakedown.

It would be a fun trip to make if you had the time to do it.
I think the cost of moving by water as opposed to truck is surprisingly higher plus you have the worry of boat breaking down along the way.
I think trucking is my best option.
 
It would be a fun trip to make if you had the time to do it.
I think the cost of moving by water as opposed to truck is surprisingly higher plus you have the worry of boat breaking down along the way.
I think trucking is my best option.

Their labor rate sounds pretty reasonable, $125.00 an hour for labor is pretty fair around here. Some of the higher end places charge more than that.
My biggest concern would be having one guy take it apart and another put it back together on the other end.
If at all possible, it might be good if you could be there for the disassembly to take a lot of notes and pictures and make sure all small bits and pieces get tagged and packaged. That might help the guy who is putting it all back together for you on the other end out a bit and possibly save you some aggravation and money.
Sometimes putting something together that someone else took apart can be a nightmare, especially when the guy taking it apart knows he won’t be the one putting it back together.
 
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