Sundancer vs Weekender - tips??

[JWScarab]

Hi all,

I think we want a 240 Sundancer, but maybe I can get a few oppinions. 1) we will trailer everywhere, therefore we will never have shorepower and always be on the hook. 2) 95% of the time it will be my wife and I only. I am 6'6" but my wife is 5'1". and 3) we definitly want to do full weekends on the water, if not longer stays.

So, I hope its not a dumb question, but can you tell me the advantages of a DA if we never have shore power? I really dont know much yet as all my boat have been pontoons or bow/cuddy.

We would like comfort while sleeping and not to have to worry about weather. TV could be cool. We are fine with a huge cooler or two because if we are on the hook all weekend will the fridge even be of use?. And are fine showering on the swim platform. We probably would grille cook. We probably would rather not use the toilet on the boat (smell), unless I am mistaken and its a great feature we would get used to real quick. We could hit the water, or marina or woods! As for speed, I am over it - cruiser speed is fine!

The stand up room is cool, but at 6'6, can I stand up even in a DA? We think the seating on the 96-99 240DA is very nice, would be great in evenings playing cards under camper canvas.

So with all that on mind, am I going overboard for a sundancer? Will I get all the comfort I want in a weekender cuddy?

Any tips and oppinions are greatly appreciated!!

 

[mwph]

Just my opinion but a weekend on the hook, in a boat our size, is unrealistic. TV, lights, radios, water pumps........

I love my wife & we both love time on the boat but again, its just my opinin, but I'll pass.

 

[JWScarab]

Thanks, I appreciate the advice - the more the better!

A little more insight, we currently are pontooning. We just spent 6 days on Cumberland on the hook - or on the shore, in a tent. We tent camp on the boat or shore.

We basically still want to trailer everywhere, but we dont want to be scared away from a weekend of boating with a so-so wetaher forcast. We want to sleep inside and get out of the rain if needed.

We can rough it pretty good as far as the rest is concerned, but would love all the comforts available in a DA. But I just dont want to buy comforts we cant use w/o shore power.....

Thanks again for any insight!!!

 

[Slippery When Wet]

The weekender will be fine if you are willing to sleep up top under the camper canvas. That is what I do. I am only 6'0" and I do not fit well in the cuddy.

No, at 6'6" you will not be able to stand in a 240DA. I was just in a 2003 260DA and I could stand with about 1" to spare. Unless older ones are significantly taller?

 

[Voldad]

I had an '01 245 weekender before my 280DA. I'm not sure if the 240DA has a gen - if not the only thing you'd miss is the vacuflush. But the gen would be a reason to go with the DA. As far as TV - I installed a nice TV in my weekender - I can send pics.

 

[firecadet613]

Go up to a 260 and get a boat with a gen. We are on the water every weekend, and its our home away from home. Air, TV if we want it, grill/microwave/stove, can't be beat.

 

[JWScarab]

So its sounds like w/o shore power or a gen, the DA doesnt do much over the weekender? We missed out on 2 weekends this year so far cause of iffy weather. We want to go for it on those iffy weekends - make the haul from Cincy to Cumberland without being rained out in a tent.

I'd love to do the whole 260/gen thing, but since I am adamant about towing every weekend, I then need to also buy a 3/4 ton. So my cost goes way up!! I am sure we will end up there sooner or later, but for now just want to upgrade to a nice boat with shelter and any more on the hook comforts available!

As for batteries, I assume I can throw 2 optimas on the side that runs the accy stuff and have lights, radio, and a fan for a night or two. But not sure if an hour or two of cruising the next day will charge em back up for the next night.

I even thought about a 240DA with portable gen, but yes, I am reading/learning the safety issues with that. You can see my delima.....lol.