Need feedback on purchasing next boat

Take Five

Take Five

Member
Mar 10, 2009
92
New Jersey
Boat Info
1985 Sea Ray Sundancer 250
1987 Ford F250 7.5L 4 speed manual with 3.55 rear.
Engines
2007 250 Mercruiser 5.7
Hey boaters!

I currently own 1985 Sea Ray Sundancer 250 for past 16 seasons. Last year there was fast leak thru transom where bellhousing is. I pulled the engine out and physically probe inside the engine room, I felt crackling noise and it was very soft around the bellhousing. I brought down to fiberglass guys. They inspected and said the transom is very bad shape. There also a sign of rotted stringer. it’ll be around $10,000 or more to fix it. He said it’s not worth it, I agreed..

I want to ask you guys opinion about the boats I’m debating on my next purchase. I have a wife and 3 kids, i want boat to be comfortable for my family size.

Option one;
1985-1989 sea ray sundancer 268
I like to be able to pull boat out on trailer anytime like I do with my 250. But with 8’ beam, it felt crowded and with little choppy water, it rocks a lot while i fished. It has different layout than my 250.

Option two;
1985-1989 sea ray sundancer 300
I have seen and been on 300. I like the length and beam of 10.6’. It feel adequate size. I heard it doesn’t rock as much as 8’ beam would. Would i have to spend big money to buy trailer to pull out the boat?? My marina does have trailer but it depends on dockmaster time schedule..

Option 3,
1985-1989 sea ray sundancer 340
I like layout. But look like it has one bed in front, no other bed for kids? Ive never been on 340 so i might not see extra bed like aft cabin.. look like very good fishing boat, i could attached two pole rigger on side.

I would like to have my next boat to have AC cuz it get really humid in NJ summer and it would be nice to have generator in it too.

If you noticed the year I put down, it because I love classic 80s sea ray, LOL.
Any feedback are greatly appreciated!!
 
I don't know how tall you are but before I bought my first 330 (1996) I walked onto a 300 and had to stand with my head tilted to the side to avoid hitting the ceiling. That was not going to work at all.

I looked at a 330 that day but in my mind it was way too big for me to handle. It just looked huge. I ended up buying a 330 and loved it. It got hit by a BUI boater while we were drifting on the river one night and the boat was totaled. I liked the 330 so much I bought one just like it.

We had a trailer for it that was huge. It was a custom built goose neck that I had switched over to a standard hitch for a frame hitch. We used it on the river, had it in the ocean, towed it all over the place and used the heck out of them both.

Don't buy a boat that you're going to be unhappy with and want to sell in a couple of years. That gets darned expensive. A friend has a 268 and there's no way I could feel comfortable on it. Just too darned small.
 
So your going from one mid 80s boat to another. Obviously watch for the same issues. I am not sure they did a 34 sundancer in those years. But they did do a 34 express (which doesn't have the mid cabin of the sundancers). If I was looking for that vintage, I would go with the 34. It's a really nice boat with a huge plus being straight drives. If you're looking to trailer more than a few times, I think you're looking at the 268. Lots of them out there. The 300 sundancer is a good boat if you want the mid cabin. They also have the sister boat -- 300 weekender. Same boat, but express style - no mid cabin and straight drives. A lot might come down the condition. Good luck in your search.
 
Gofirstclass said:
I don't know how tall you are but before I bought my first 330 (1996) I walked onto a 300 and had to stand with my head tilted to the side to avoid hitting the ceiling. That was not going to work at all.

I looked at a 330 that day but in my mind it was way too big for me to handle. It just looked huge. I ended up buying a 330 and loved it. It got hit by a BUI boater while we were drifting on the river one night and the boat was totaled. I liked the 330 so much I bought one just like it.

We had a trailer for it that was huge. It was a custom built goose neck that I had switched over to a standard hitch for a frame hitch. We used it on the river, had it in the ocean, towed it all over the place and used the heck out of them both.

Don't buy a boat that you're going to be unhappy with and want to sell in a couple of years. That gets darned expensive. A friend has a 268 and there's no way I could feel comfortable on it. Just too darned small.
Click to expand...

I’m 5’10 , you must be over 6’ tall? That’s terrible about BUI. Glad you weren’t hurt. Yeah 268 feel small just like my 250.

Golfman25 said:
So your going from one mid 80s boat to another. Obviously watch for the same issues. I am not sure they did a 34 sundancer in those years. But they did do a 34 express (which doesn't have the mid cabin of the sundancers). If I was looking for that vintage, I would go with the 34. It's a really nice boat with a huge plus being straight drives. If you're looking to trailer more than a few times, I think you're looking at the 268. Lots of them out there. The 300 sundancer is a good boat if you want the mid cabin. They also have the sister boat -- 300 weekender. Same boat, but express style - no mid cabin and straight drives. A lot might come down the condition. Good luck in your search.
Click to expand...

I’m sorry I meant 340 flybridge. Weekender doesn’t fit my need. I need aft cabin for my kids.

what your opinion about straight drive vs stern drive?? And are you saying 80s sea ray Sundancers transom rot very common??
 
Take Five said:
I’m sorry I meant 340 flybridge. Weekender doesn’t fit my need. I need aft cabin for my kids.

what your opinion about straight drive vs stern drive?? And are you saying 80s sea ray Sundancers transom rot very common??
Click to expand...

80's boat are old. Any wood in them is suspect. The odds are anything with a stern drive has some moisture issues. Just make sure you look at the transoms very carefully (as well as stringers, decks, etc.).

As far as stern drives vs. straight drives. I am not a fan of stern drives. Most boats have them and they open up a lot of design options. But they come with higher maintenance requirements as well as a large hole out the back of the boat. Straight drives, on the other hand, are simple and dependable. What is nice about them is you can at least see everything, if not actually get to it and touch it. V-drives are a potential nightmare -- given that the shaft log is under the engine.
 
Take Five said:
I’m 5’10 , you must be over 6’ tall? That’s terrible about BUI. Glad you weren’t hurt. Yeah 268 feel small just like my 250.

what your opinion about straight drive vs stern drive?? And are you saying 80s sea ray Sundancers transom rot very common??
Click to expand...
Fortunately nobody was seriously injured or killed when we got hit. I ended up in the ER the next day because I couldn't turn my head either direction but that was the worst injury. Except to the boat.

P7170054.JPG

On the stern drive vs straight drive, I'd take straight drives any day. Very low maintenance and better low speed maneuverability around docks, other boats, etc.

That's mainly because the props are forward of the transom on a straight drive boat (or v-drive) whereas the props are behind the boat with stern drives. That puts the pivot point nearer the center (fore to aft) of the boat.
 
Any boat from the 80s with a sterndrive will probably have issues with the transom or will some time in the near future. Those boats are 30 to 40 years old. If you are looking for a boat from the 80s I would definitely recommend getting one with straight inboards. As an example, in 1988 Sea Ray made the 340 express cruiser, 305 sedan bridge, 345 sedan bridge, and 340 sundancer with straight inboards. I would concentrate on those.

If you want to find the Sea Ray models that came with straight inboards, go to https://www.nadaguides.com/Boats/2020/Sea-Ray-Boats and choose the year you are interested in. The propulsion is listed with each model.
 
Don't forget the 390 express as well. A little slower than the 340, but tons more space and with a bunk bed berth for the kids. There are plenty around as well. I loved mine, but the boat yard had a little mishap that resulted in a total loss.

Definitely any 80's boat you're looking at will have moisture issues somewhere and possibly rot. If you're not 100% confident in what you're looking for, a survey will be worth every penny. The owner threads here will have tons of good/bad/ugly info on whatever model you're looking.

Also, inboards beat i/o for maintenance costs hands down. $25 worth of shaft packing every 5 years and check the oil in the transmissions, that's about it.
 
Take Five said:
I’m 5’10 , you must be over 6’ tall? That’s terrible about BUI. Glad you weren’t hurt. Yeah 268 feel small just like my 250.



I’m sorry I meant 340 flybridge. Weekender doesn’t fit my need. I need aft cabin for my kids.

what your opinion about straight drive vs stern drive?? And are you saying 80s sea ray Sundancers transom rot very common??
Click to expand...
Do not think you can get a 34 footer with aft cabin. We have 38 footer with aft cabin. Get 1 MPG at 6 knots. Generator burns 1 GPH. Boat will go 22 knots at 55GPH. Diesel would be better but were not in 1989 380. We have mid engine with transmission and strait shaft. Replaced cuttless bearings once. Old boats need things fixed we budget 5,000 a year for maintenance and spend it. Boat works fine, got lots of room. No rot I can see. Boat has grey PEX water pipes and brass fittings. I get to fix one leak a year. Engines have 3,300 hours on them and generator 1,600. Nice boat good for 2 couples without feeling crowded.
 
Ok so if I look for sea ray Sundancer that has straight drive, it would be better cuz no transom rot from stern drive right? Or am I missing something?

it looks like straight drive would be better choice, it’s less cost maintenance than stern drive and better fuel economy.
 
Take Five said:
Ok so if I look for sea ray Sundancer that has straight drive, it would be better cuz no transom rot from stern drive right? Or am I missing something?

it looks like straight drive would be better choice, it’s less cost maintenance than stern drive and better fuel economy.
Click to expand...
It will all depend on what size you’re looking at. You won’t find a sundancer with a straight drive - they where generally called express and will not have the rear sleeping area. Sundancers will have v-drives or IO setups, depending on size.
 
You can get rot from the floor down, hatches, bilge, things screwed or bolted into floor, stringers, windshield, other hardware etc.

Sundancers will be either V-drives or IO to accommodate mid cabin.

Express w be straight drives because no mid cabin.

If you’re slipping in salt I don’t recommend IO’s.
 
The 340 Sundancers had straight inboards. The smaller Sundancers had V drives.
 
The 340 Sundancers did not have straight inborads. The 330 express did have straight inboards however. Big difference.
 
Stern drive is more efficient due to propeller pointing strait out the back of the boat.
 
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