Was Gifted a 1983 22' 4" Sea Ray with little info

Chris Cro09

New Member
Mar 17, 2023
8
Essex, MD
Boat Info
2002 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer
Engines
Mercruiser 5.7L EFI engine with a Bravo III outdrive
Hello everyone! Someone gifted me a 1983 22' 4" Sea Ray and I am not sure it's model, or how to figure it out! I think it's a 225 CC, since it has a cuddy cabin. The outside is it perfect condition, but the steering wheel and dash are sun damaged. I haven't tested it running, but supposedly it was well maintained, and works well. Is the dash/instrument panel hard to update/swap out / change? Are there aftermarket ones or where can I get them? Thanks!
 
First, welcome. You should be able to find info on the boat by using SeaRay’s website. Parts you can fine on EBay Flounder Pounder and a few other sites. Good luck with the old girls
 
First, welcome. You should be able to find info on the boat by using SeaRay’s website. Parts you can fine on EBay Flounder Pounder and a few other sites. Good luck with the old girls
For crying out loud….. first thing is we need pics @Chris Cro09 you need to get on that…. You have a really good group here that can offer a lot of help…..
the serial number is on the transom it tells you year and model we need that pic…. Also need engine and location you boat in

my first boat was that year range and cuddy…. Great boats
 
You can have a new dash panel cut from a variety of materials. Cheaper option might be a wrap of some type. Or just repaint.
 
Hello everyone! Someone gifted me a 1983 22' 4" Sea Ray and I am not sure it's model, or how to figure it out! I think it's a 225 CC, since it has a cuddy cabin. The outside is it perfect condition, but the steering wheel and dash are sun damaged. I haven't tested it running, but supposedly it was well maintained, and works well. Is the dash/instrument panel hard to update/swap out / change? Are there aftermarket ones or where can I get them? Thanks!

Finally got it mostly cleaned up, here are the pictures!
 

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So i found a few problems with it that I was wondering how bad they were. When i lowered it into the water, the engine area/ bilge started taking in water. I'm pretty sure the drain plug is missing....Also, what appears to be the fuel line into the carburetor dried up and broke off. Is that an easy fix swapping out the line? Is it worth fixing up, or should I sell it......?
 

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Well, the toilet needs replacing.
Does it smell moldy in cabin?
Any canvas to cover outside?
Hows the vynil seats in cockpit?
Sorry to say, and I don’t mean this derogatory, but you put in water without verification that the bilge plug in tells me you probably are not equipped to restore a boat that is probably toast.
 
Well, the toilet needs replacing.
Does it smell moldy in cabin?
Any canvas to cover outside?
Hows the vynil seats in cockpit?
Sorry to say, and I don’t mean this derogatory, but you put in water without verification that the bilge plug in tells me you probably are not equipped to restore a boat that is probably toast.


HAHAHA I made the mistake of believing it was in "good working order and ready to sail" when it was given to me. Like the saying goes, theres no such thing as a free puppy. =) It had no cover, and it doesn't smell moldy, but it is wet in the cabin area. The seats arent too bad, but the dash is toast.
 
Chris, and I mean as I get down on my knee begging you….
It was gifted because it can be difficult to get rid of boats. Some landfills wont take.
Trust me, its a money pit whos days are done. Spend the money on a used boat that is verified‘almost’ ready to go. You will never ever find a boat that you don’t have to put money into.
This aint it.
 
Chris, and I mean as I get down on my knee begging you….
It was gifted because it can be difficult to get rid of boats. Some landfills wont take.
Trust me, its a money pit whos days are done. Spend the money on a used boat that is verified‘almost’ ready to go. You will never ever find a boat that you don’t have to put money into.
This aint it.


Thanks for your honesty! From the outside she looks pretty....the moment you look inside, you see why she was free haha
 
Im looking at pics not there so what do I know.
Vinyl upholstery can be replaced expensively. Canvas can be made expensively. Old saying, there is nothing that money cant fix.
But see upthread about my ideas replacing my stereo. Electrical is a nightmare. The one thing you really dont want to go there. That boat ain’t worth it. Good luck.
 
Was a guy on here not long ago, had many pics. Cabin was rotted, as were cockpit dash, seats, side walls, stringers, bilge, but the hull was good. Will still be around when the sun becomes a red giant and melts the earth in a billion years.
I think he got insulted when told let it go. Aint heard from him long time.
 
Chris, let me back up and start over, maybe i was being too harsh. I cant tell from a few pictures. You got it for free. If you have the time maybe it would work as a project.
Good luck whatever you do. As always, many on here can offer solid advice as you work thru it if you decide to take it on as project.
 
Nah, just change the oil, put some fresh gas in, lil polish, and run it like you stole it. :rolleyes:
 
As nice as it looks from the outside, it's what's on the inside that will be the deal breaker.
If there has been standing water in the bilge, and cabin for any extended length of time, it's almost certain the buoyancy styrofoam under the decking has been saturated and has turned the stringers/bulkheads into a rotten mess. It usually starts at the transom and bilge area and migrates forward. If you bang on the inside transom and surrounding decking does it sound solid or more of a thud (a screwdriver handle works good for this)?
If all of the above is good, then it could be a potential project. It then depends on condition of the engine, drive, gimbal housing, electrical, ect. If you estimate what it would cost (and that is going to vary according to your experience and skill level) and compare that to what something turn-key would cost you will see that it probably is not the best project to take on.

However, there are a few of us out there that are somewhat of a glutton for punishment and do it anyway. I've already gone through three restorations, and after each one I pound my fist on the table and declare that this is the last one! Until the next one comes along....

Here is the latest, so you can get an idea of all that's involved:

https://imgur.com/a/P0DoUsR

Bill
 

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