Should I buy this 1983 Sundancer?

[Zacholley]

Alright i found a boat on craigslist they want 5500$ but said they will take 4500$ and its a fresh water boat only used here in the midwest anyhow i've been wanting a boat for a while and would like to have a cabin area for the kid's to nap while out at the lake. the boat is a 350 mercruiser just don't know much about these boats thats why i would appreciate all your info... and the reason I am asking is because the boat is just over 2 hours away and i wont be able to go see it until next week....

thanks in advance, Zac

 

[Zacholley]

the exterior pics didnt post here they are
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[JVM225]

What size is that? Is it a 268? Is it a 350 cubic inch small block, or a 350 HP big block?
Either way, the eighties Sea Rays are great family boats. Just make sure to chack it out really well, or have someone do it for you if you don't have the exertise.

 

[Zacholley]

Sundancer 245 and it is a 350 small block

 

[island trek1]

I had a slightly bigger 1980 sundancer 260 which was 26 footer, same engine. I sold ity almost 4 years ago for 10k. I loved that boat.

 

[Zacholley]

everyone just keeps telling me it probably has something wrong however they current owner says it runs great and will let me take it out next week when its un winterized etc.... not sure what to do but i know id have to update the cabin area a bit lol

 

[stuckinforward]

take a hammer and tap the transom!!!!!! they are known for rot, dont buy it if there are any signs of rot back there, especially near where the drive mounts, also inspect inside on the transom

 

[dr.j]

Survey !!!!

 

[JEMCO]

If you can work on it yourself it would be a good buy -
If you cannot it we be expensive -
Still have the survey done - if that is OK you will have a great boat - handles really nice.

 

[tdschafer]

I had a slightly bigger 1980 sundancer 260 which was 26 footer, same engine. I sold ity almost 4 years ago for 10k. I loved that boat.

I had a 1979 260 and I agree with Island Trek. I sold it last year for 4k to a friend who could only afford that much but they were only going for a little more. My engine was replaced, not rebuilt, with a crate motor in 1999 and only had about 100 hrs or so on it. The boat was well maintained so the price point of yours seems about right to me. It is still a buyers market out there and some people don't need to squeeze every possible dollar out of their boat! I wanted someone who would appreciate all the work that had been done to mine. I got a good deal on my "new to me" boat that I wanted to do the same when I sold. Either way, get a survey as it is still a decent financial obligation. As Island Trek stated " I also loved that boat!" Good Luck!!! TODD

 

[jcjones]

Nice looking boat I love my '83 Express Cruiser although a tad bigger then that 245 you're looking at. If it's in good shape it would probably be worth close to $10k anywhere here in Colorado but as others have said it is a buyers market at the moment.

My only word of caution is that you may find a boat that size with a single 350 V8 a bit underpowered. Fortunately you are at a fairly low altitude, but here at 5280' + it would be very underpowered.

Price seems decent though, but you should probably go ahead and get a survey just to be sure it doesn't have any hidden lurking problems that would be expensive to take care of.

Hopefully you plan to work on it yourself, the "Break Out Another Thousand" thing applies 3 fold of you have a boat shop work on your boat instead of doing the majority of it yourself. I've just about been knocked over by quotes I've gotten here in Denver for some relatively minor work that I was hoping to get done for me due to lacking time.

 

[Johnwalker456]

I paid 4K for mine a year ago and have had nothing but fun on it since.

 

[tobnpr]

A good deal can turn into a really bad one with a rotted transom, stringers, and/or mechanical problems. If you don't know what to look for, get a friend who does; or better yet, as Dr. J said, spend $500 or so on a survey to have the boat gone through.

It will help to eliminate the "big ticket" items that would make you say "I wish I hadn't"...

 

[KRB64]

Hit & run.

He's not been back since his inquiry (unless he's lurking).

We'll never know if the Indians got him or he passed on the boat and found another diversion...