Recommissioning a 2008 350 Sundancer

[Pilot]

I'm trying to save money, just go the boat late in the season last year. The dealer has already done the major stuff to get it ready: oil change, paint, wax, fuel filter, zincs.

They wanted to recommission also:

Check and run the Generator, Engine and water system.

I told them I'd do it myself as it would surely cost a small fortune for them to do it. Is this something easy to do? I assume you check the fluids, etc,.

Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks

Pilot

 

[JV II]

I'm trying to save money, just go the boat late in the season last year. The dealer has already done the major stuff to get it ready: oil change, paint, wax, fuel filter, zincs.

They wanted to recommission also:

Check and run the Generator, Engine and water system.

I told them I'd do it myself as it would surely cost a small fortune for them to do it. Is this something easy to do? I assume you check the fluids, etc,.

Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks

Pilot

Easy to do, but not easy to fix if problems are encountered. Did you get an estimate? The cost should be minimal. You already paid for the big ticket items. If the dealer finds a problem, it can be fixed quickly under warrantee.

 

[hack4alivin]

You are correct, there is not much work in the re-commissioning they want to do for you and yes you can do it yourself. BUT, as Mike mentioned, this is a 2008, still under warranty, do you want to give the dealer an excuse if something does go wrong? I think of it as a little extra insurance, but that is just my way of looking at it.

 

[Hampton]

Same. After a year or two of ownership and familiarity, you can begin to take over some of the tasks that you want to make sure are done, and done right. Also, it'll help familiarize you with the systems so you can affect on-the-water repairs as the boat begins to age a little. At this point, too little to gain and too much to lose.

 

[Pilot]

Thanks Guys:

Yeah, it's $400, but I think I'll take your advise and let them do it this time. I just wish they were more reasonable. It's our 3rd boat and it is really nice.

I had the dealer do an estimate for winterizing a 280 2 years ago and they wanted to charge @$1500. The labor was the big part as the hours allotted for the work added up to like 12 hours. When I asked them how long it would take them they said @ 5 hours. But, of course they charge for the full hour for each task.

I guess that's why biaters drink so much. HA!

Thanks for the free advise and have a good boating season.

 

[hack4alivin]

Thanks Guys:

Yeah, it's $400, but I think I'll take your advise and let them do it this time. I just wish they were more reasonable. It's our 3rd boat and it is really nice.

The 08 350 is a beautiful boat. Good luck with her.

 

[Vince_nj1]

If you are going to spend the $400, you should be there when they do it. You can learn what is involved so you can do it yourself next year.

Good oportunity to ask questions and learn where everything is located. Some basic things to ask:

• Does the AC unit need to be primed?
• Confirm where all of your bilge pumps are located
• Comfirm where all of your Seacocks are located and confirm what is open vs closed
• Where are the zincs on generator?
• How do your check transmission fluid level?
• How do you get into the Bilge when the batteries are disconnected?

I'm sure there are plenty of other items to ask.

 

[Pilot]

Thanks, keep it in Tilghman, Your boat looks awesome also. Its rare to see a red searay hull.

 

[Scottzzzy]

How about some pics of that 350??? That seems awfully high for winterizing a 280 also. Are they your only source thats local for service?

 

[Pilot]

Dealer rates are outasite, but yeah $1500.

PIC of the boat,, well If you go to searay.com and click on the 350 link, it's the blue hulled boat in the photo in front of Pussers restaurant, Annapolis. I'm told that is actually my boat, I bought the demo and it was the same one they used for the photoshoot. Then they used it for the Searay corporate site. Pretty funny, my boats 15 minutes of fame I guess.

 

[Pilot]

Dealer rates are outasite.

The PIC of the boat is on the seary.com site. Click on the 350 link and its the blue hulled boat in the picture in front of Pussers Restaurant.

 

[Bridog]

TIME OUT!!!!!!!

Did the dealer winterize the boat last winter? If so, they should de-winterize it, as that is part of the deal. They made the boat unserviceable for water use by winterizing it, and it is up to them to return it to service, period. If the dealership winterized it, insist that they de-winterize it, as that is what you paid for last fall.

That's not how it works at my Marina. Could you give more details?

 

[Scottzzzy]

TIME OUT!!!!!!!

Did the dealer winterize the boat last winter? If so, they should de-winterize it, as that is part of the deal. They made the boat unserviceable for water use by winterizing it, and it is up to them to return it to service, period. If the dealership winterized it, insist that they de-winterize it, as that is what you paid for last fall.

I WISH this was the way it worked at my Marina too! But I have to admit it was only $95 to de winterize her this year which I gladly paid!!

 

[Bridog]

You guys must have crappy marinas/dealerships. sheesh.

I do all the winterizing on my boat myself, but a good friend of mine lets the dealer do his. We both have our boats hauled and stored in inside cold storage. The hoist in and out are covered under storage. The winterization process at my dealer (B&E Marine) is a complete service in and out. I don't know exactly what my friend pays to have his 340 winterized, but I'm guessing it is somewhere around $500. The dealer preps and launches the boat in the spring, built into the storage/winterization contract.

I am dismayed that other dealerships charge to undo the work they did in the fall, that is criminal.

Wow...
500 bucks? My marina will charge more than that just for taking my boat out of the water and putting on blocks. Does that 500 dollars also include power wash bottom, winterize water systems, generator, head, twin engines, fuel stabilizers, shrink wrap and battery storage? Spring work is free too? B&E is sounding pretty good right now.

 

[Bridog]

PIC of the boat,, well If you go to searay.com and click on the 350 link, it's the blue hulled boat in the photo in front of Pussers restaurant, Annapolis. I'm told that is actually my boat, I bought the demo and it was the same one they used for the photoshoot. Then they used it for the Searay corporate site. Pretty funny, my boats 15 minutes of fame I guess.

That pretty cool but you still have to submit your own photo to the CSR calendar choices this year.:grin: