Looking to Buy a late 80s or early 90s Sundancer

**Need a Bigger Boat** · 04-13-2012, 07:32 PM

I owned a 19' Sea Ray that I sold last season. I am looking to upgrade to a 25' to 27' Sundancer. I have looked at a couple late 80s 268s with 454s and one mid 90s 250. I hear the 268s are a little underpowered. I don't need something that flies but just something that we can cruise in comfortably. We live in Chicago and boat on Lake Michigan. Looking for something to do weekend trips on and cruise the city. Any intel or recommendations are appreciated.

**skillz48047** · 04-13-2012, 11:38 PM

I had a 1985 250 sundancer with a single 350
way!!!!!!! Underpowered

**worzy1014** · 04-14-2012, 07:01 AM

I have an 81 245 that's for sale just north of you in Wisconsin. It sounds like that might be a little older than what you are looking for but it's a great clean boat with a newer 260 in it. The boat cruises pretty well unless it is loaded down heavy in the stern with 5 or 6 people, then you have to use a little tab to get it on plane sometimes. Once it's on plane, it stays there well and cruises fairly efficiently.

**just me** · 04-14-2012, 07:58 AM

Mine is not under powered , and it can be had,

**hillsideshortleg** · 04-14-2012, 10:59 AM

We just had our first weekend on our 89 280 Sundancer, first weekend ever on a boat, first time waking up looking out over the water as the sun was comming up. I loved it!!!! I think we could have bought a newer boat but we both really like the look of the 89. My wife had her "Thats the one" moment. The first one that had me sold on the 89 was a 268 we looked at. It was in nice condition but did seem a little underpowered during a test drive and this was my first time on a boat bigger than a 19'. We didnt quite have enough money for it last fall so it went into storage. We figured we would buy it in the spring when it came out. Over the winter we ended up almost saving up twice what they wanted for the 268 and bought the 280 which was a lot better equiped. BTW I can sure see the value in a heat/Ac pump, generator, plenty of batteries, inverter and being "well cared for". We are going from a 16' Sea Swirl. Just my opinion from a very limited experiance. Good luck

**Need a Bigger Boat** · 04-17-2012, 10:27 AM

Thanks for the feedback. How do you guys feel about twins vs just the single engine big block?

**just me** · 04-17-2012, 10:40 AM

Twins are great power, they pop up on plane faster and you dont have to change props for elevation or weight. but a single gives you more room to work on the motor , and maintance is double on twins , i owned two boats with twins and like em.

**Pachanga Boy** · 04-17-2012, 12:30 PM

I'd say get the biggest boat that your budget will allow. 268's are great boats, definatley one of the largest "trailerable" boats you can buy for the money, great layout, very versatile, typically optioned out very well, and there's lots of them to choose from, and even some real gems (like Just me's!!).
if you don't care about it being trailerable and don't mind twins then I'd hunt for a 270 or the early 90's 280. I'm obviously bias but the extra 1.5' of beam really makes a difference in providing more room and great stability while underway. that said what you gain in stability you loose in speed. I cruise around 27 mph and probably top out around 34 mph although I've never actually tried.

My wife, dog and I spend almost every other weekend on the boat and feel we have plenty of room. which ever model you look at I'd say if you plan on spending weekends things like standing headroom in the cabin, vacu-flush or pumpout head, and A/C are must have's.