Seeking Bristol 1996-2000 450 Sundancer

Maybe A Dancer

Became a Dancer 12/23/21
GOLD Sponsor
Aug 20, 2021
1,242
Florida West Coast
Boat Info
Started out as MAYBE A DANCER
Became a Dancer - 12/23/21
Engines
450 DA Sundancer running CAT 3126
Hello Forum,

I am seeking a Bristol 1996-2000 450 Sundancer - galley to port

There's lots of $80,000 projects out there, and a couple of high priced true gems that need a may need a couple of significant cost items, however they're all above the Mason-Dixon line and will cost about $10,000 to transport.

Ideally I'd like to find something decent enough and realistically priced for it's condition that I could run back on the water to Punta Gorda, FL in 7 days or less.

I am a serious cash buyer, however as of this moment have yet to see or set foot on a 450 as I am wrapping up my due diligence on this vessel.

If you know someone who might be thinking about selling, please forward my info along.

I would have no problem putting down earnest money, flying out for a look see and paying the shipping costs, however I do not want to be too much upside down on day one.

I do understand the reality of selling an older boat, just look at this:

www.trojanboat.com

Anyway I do appreciate anyone who might lead me to temptation, and if it comes to fruition I'll be sending you a bottle of your favorite something.

BEST!
RWS aka harris (a.t.) forcefieldhurricane.com
 
Last edited:
THAT would have been the perfect boat - however it has been sold.

Actually Franks would have been more perfect, as I could have avoided nearly $10,000 in transport fees to bring Seanile's vessel to Punta Gorda.

With Franks we could have had a nice 3 day vacation on the water bringing her home.

I was just a year too late :(

BEST!

RWS
 
You are looking at spending a lot of money on a boat. Don't let $10k stop you from buying the right boat. Boats up north are getting ready to be pulled and winterized, if they are for sale, sellers would love to sell before they pay for storage etc.
 
You are looking at spending a lot of money on a boat. Don't let $10k stop you from buying the right boat. Boats up north are getting ready to be pulled and winterized, if they are for sale, sellers would love to sell before they pay for storage etc.
===========================

THANK YOU !

The problem is I have only been on this for 3 weeks.

I haven't yet listed my own boat (photos & details here): www.trojanboat.com

As of today I have yet to actually SET FOOT ON A 450 OR SEE ONE IN PERSON, let alone get a feel for one.

There's one in Jacksonville with a moldy green cabin and one engine that overheats, otherwise the closest one available at this moment to even look at is in Pottsboro, Texas, about 1,300 miles away.

I have no problem with the $10,000 to transport for the right boat, its actually an incidental in the long run, however I need to see, smell, taste and touch one before I go off making offers.

I was not far enough into the process yet to make an offer on Seanile's beautiful boat, about the same distance away.

At the end of the day I may find that I need to do a 2 day drive just to look at the first one.

I'm in Punta Gorda, FL and not boatless by any means and in no rush as I won't list www.trojanboat.com until I have settled on her replacement. I have enough dock space behind the house to accommodate both

One would think something will come available in FL, GA, SC, AL. for a look-see

Perhaps someone on the Forum will allow me to take a look at theirs.

BEST !

RWS
 
As stated before, THE boat I should have bought would have been Frank's 450 in Destin, FL

Flawless & priced right and we could have brought her home ourselves.

I am just a year too late.

BEST !

RWS
 
===========================

THANK YOU !

The problem is I have only been on this for 3 weeks.

I haven't yet listed my own boat (photos & details here): www.trojanboat.com

As of today I have yet to actually SET FOOT ON A 450 OR SEE ONE IN PERSON, let alone get a feel for one.

There's one in Jacksonville with a moldy green cabin and one engine that overheats, otherwise the closest one available at this moment to even look at is in Pottsboro, Texas, about 1,300 miles away.

I have no problem with the $10,000 to transport for the right boat, its actually an incidental in the long run, however I need to see, smell, taste and touch one before I go off making offers.

I was not far enough into the process yet to make an offer on Seanile's beautiful boat, about the same distance away.

At the end of the day I may find that I need to do a 2 day drive just to look at the first one.

I'm in Punta Gorda, FL and not boatless by any means and in no rush as I won't list www.trojanboat.com until I have settled on her replacement. I have enough dock space behind the house to accommodate both

One would think something will come available in FL, GA, SC, AL. for a look-see

Perhaps someone on the Forum will allow me to take a look at theirs.

BEST !

RWS
There has to be someone around West Florida with a 450DA - may not be for sale but many people would be glad to show you their boat if you ask them. Look around at the various marinas... or ask at the yacht clubs. They may steer you to someone who will show you their boat.

-Steve
 
There has to be someone around West Florida with a 450DA - may not be for sale but many people would be glad to show you their boat if you ask them. Look around at the various marinas... or ask at the yacht clubs. They may steer you to someone who will show you their boat.

-Steve
======

I was hoping for someone on the forum - I'm willing to cover fuel, O&M & time/trouble expenses as well if we could do a quick run.
 
My boat is still in Panama City Beach, but the owner is a commercial tour boat captain in Venice Italy. He runs a 90 ft 300 passenger tour boat from about May thru October and he is out of the country until then and will visit family he has not seen since the Italian Covid lock down. Sorry, I can't help.

Your best bet is to contact a broker and schedule a viewing of one he has listed. There were 2 in Destin last spring but I don't know if they sold or not…..both were a bit distressed judging from the listing photos.
 
There are 3 in South Florida you could see this week….1 in Jacksonville, 2 in Miami. They are listed on boattrader.com not yachtworld……I just their location but only looked to be sure they were galley to port models.
 
===========================

THANK YOU !

The problem is I have only been on this for 3 weeks.

I haven't yet listed my own boat (photos & details here): www.trojanboat.com

As of today I have yet to actually SET FOOT ON A 450 OR SEE ONE IN PERSON, let alone get a feel for one.

There's one in Jacksonville with a moldy green cabin and one engine that overheats, otherwise the closest one available at this moment to even look at is in Pottsboro, Texas, about 1,300 miles away.

I have no problem with the $10,000 to transport for the right boat, its actually an incidental in the long run, however I need to see, smell, taste and touch one before I go off making offers.

I was not far enough into the process yet to make an offer on Seanile's beautiful boat, about the same distance away.

At the end of the day I may find that I need to do a 2 day drive just to look at the first one.

I'm in Punta Gorda, FL and not boatless by any means and in no rush as I won't list www.trojanboat.com until I have settled on her replacement. I have enough dock space behind the house to accommodate both

One would think something will come available in FL, GA, SC, AL. for a look-see

Perhaps someone on the Forum will allow me to take a look at theirs.

BEST !

RWS
Take the ride to Jacksonville just to kick the tires. At least you'll see if the size and layout works for you.
 
There are 3 in South Florida you could see this week….1 in Jacksonville, 2 in Miami. They are listed on boattrader.com not yachtworld……I just their location but only looked to be sure they were galley to port models.
============

The 2 in Miami are both sold (well one is under contract)

I was set to go see the one in Jacksonville, the broker was going to get the most recent survey from the owner.

The broker fessed up yesterday to say that one engine has overheating issues, the HVAC is NFG and the canvas leaks so badly that the cockpit is now green, as is the salon.

Owner lives up north and is irresponsive to the broker who is frustrated and feels that he is wasting his time.

Broker didn't want me to waste my time either, with both of us sweating while looking at the green tinged cabin.

Owner is clearly not motivated.

There's one in Essex, MD, I spoke with that broker today. The reason the are only 2 photos on the website is that the boat is , well, not yet ready for prime time - not suitable to take photos. Broker advised the owner has "issues".

One in Port Clinton, OH just went under contract.

One STUNNING 450 in Michigan. Absolutely magnificent! The gel coat shines like glass. The owner of 4 years likely spent 20,000 on a sound system. Has all new floors and all new upholstery. I figured I'd fly up Friday (today) morning and jump on this one. Then I looked closer at the engine room photos and saw the brand new survey for where the financing fell through. The survey was so surprising compared to the cosmetics - I was astounded that an owner would spend that kind of $$$ on a hull with so much moisture, wet stringers, wet core, cracks, you name it. Talk about lipstick on a pig..... This was way over the top. They don't even know the actual hours on the 3126 engines - but the genny has over 3,000.

So, the good news is I HAVE AN AWESOME BOAT www.trojanboat.com

Meanwhile there is a 450DA out there somewhere that will work for me with not a lot of (as Frank says) deferred maintenance.

For now I will be checking BOAT TRADER, YACHT WORLD and this forum daily.

BEST !

RWS
 
Take the ride to Jacksonville just to kick the tires. At least you'll see if the size and layout works for you.
===================================

Will probably still take a ride up there just to get the lay of the land.

The next closest one is in Pottsboro TX, over 1,000 miles from here however she's a 1995 and lacks the underwater exhausts.

No Glendenning shore power cable winder.

CAT 3126 with 2,300 hrs

Look closely at the photos, you'll see soot on the transom. I'd be willing to bet this exhaust arrangement suffers from STATION WAGON EFFECT

Despite all that I do have a call into the broker.
 
============

The 2 in Miami are both sold (well one is under contract)

I was set to go see the one in Jacksonville, the broker was going to get the most recent survey from the owner.

The broker fessed up yesterday to say that one engine has overheating issues, the HVAC is NFG and the canvas leaks so badly that the cockpit is now green, as is the salon.

Owner lives up north and is irresponsive to the broker who is frustrated and feels that he is wasting his time.

Broker didn't want me to waste my time either, with both of us sweating while looking at the green tinged cabin.

Owner is clearly not motivated.

There's one in Essex, MD, I spoke with that broker today. The reason the are only 2 photos on the website is that the boat is , well, not yet ready for prime time - not suitable to take photos. Broker advised the owner has "issues".

One in Port Clinton, OH just went under contract.

One STUNNING 450 in Michigan. Absolutely magnificent! The gel coat shines like glass. The owner of 4 years likely spent 20,000 on a sound system. Has all new floors and all new upholstery. I figured I'd fly up Friday (today) morning and jump on this one. Then I looked closer at the engine room photos and saw the brand new survey for where the financing fell through. The survey was so surprising compared to the cosmetics - I was astounded that an owner would spend that kind of $$$ on a hull with so much moisture, wet stringers, wet core, cracks, you name it. Talk about lipstick on a pig..... This was way over the top. They don't even know the actual hours on the 3126 engines - but the genny has over 3,000.

So, the good news is I HAVE AN AWESOME BOAT www.trojanboat.com

Meanwhile there is a 450DA out there somewhere that will work for me with not a lot of (as Frank says) deferred maintenance.

For now I will be checking BOAT TRADER, YACHT WORLD and this forum daily.

BEST !

RWS
Welcome to the wonderful world of boat buying in today's market. :)
 
Correct, except that the first 450DA's built in 1997 (hull# 500 - #554)are galley to port; later '97's, hull # 555 and up were galley to stbd.

#516 And I'm galley to starboard with birds eye maple...
 
Sea Ray hull numbers are only sequential within the model year so your 1998 would not fall between the hull #'s assigned to the early 1997's built with the galley on the port side of the hull. Us linear thinking engineering types don't understand how or why Sea Ray production folks chose such a random hull numbering process. It is what it is and I cannot explain it except to say that the hull#'s are assigned at the factory level, by production model years, probably a decision made by an IT guy.
 

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