Official 1980's Weekender/Sundancer 300 thread

454's were an option on the WE with straight shafts. There are a few vids on Youtube showing how they perform.
Hope all goes well with the survey, and post pics when you get her!
 
That boat probably hauls ass with 454’s but it must get mighty thirsty and getting between those motors for maintenance must be a nightmare.
 
Sundancer, take some before and after pics of your chaulk paint project. I wont start mine till the end of the season, but I'm looking forward to the renewal of the V-bert material without taking it down.
 
Also Sundancer the info I'm getting say something about waxing the fabric once your done. Can you explain this part?
 
dwna1a said:
Also Sundancer the info I'm getting say something about waxing the fabric once your done. Can you explain this part?
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No, I can't answer the part about the waxing! I got the chalk paint idea from someone else a couple of pages back on this thread. I had never heard about it and their results were amazing. If mine are half as good, I'll be happy NOT replacing the headliner!! Waxing? Man, I can't keep up with waxing the outside of the boat let alone the chalk paint part too! LOL!!! I even keep my boat INDOORS on a trailer!

OK, I just found a link and read through it. It seems very easy to do. The hardest part I think will be matching the color? I'm not sure what light blue color my headliner is, but it has a pattern to it and that isn't going to work well. It's like small squares I think, but I'd have to run out and look at it to find out! Waxing just protects the paint so it doesn't get rubbed off as easily. I'd guess it would be necessary on our headliner but it might blend it in better. I'd take a wait and see approach once the paint dries and you've sanded the last layer.
 
Hi all! First, thanks to all for your responses previously! So we did a short sea trial - results are mixed. Visual inspection appears to warrant shaft seal replacement on both sides as it doesn't appear there's any room to tighten down more. Shifting in gear creates more noise than I anticipated... thought it would be a whine or hum, had more of a grind noise. I also think there was an issue (says head was just replaced) with waste system as toilet had (yuck!!!!) nasties in it!

Cabin seemed sound as no water stains on any side panels or header, although 2 cushions in bow berth had old stains (maybe someone spilled a drink or 3?)

Crunch time says ask the experts - how hard would it be to self-install shaft ?packing? (right term) as for the tranny noise, Id have a mechanical survey done.

In other words, help Mr and Ms Wizards!!

Mark
 
I think that's the one that also comes with a floating dock / house? I'd call a mechanic, like Kay Metz to see what he thinks. He may have done the work on that boat all these years or maybe the guy who is selling it can give you the name of the guy that works on his boat? Maybe the owner has done it all these years? Either way, I'm sure someone will chime in and give you some help! I don't think there are too many V-drives on this forum, but I'm sure there are a few. Wish I had V-drives!! Man, the lower maintenance would be nice!

Are the engines fresh water cooled and original? How many hours? Does that one have a generator too? I'm going to kick myself I didn't at least take a look at it!!

As far as the head goes, typically there is a rebuild kit that will take care of "those" problems. I always do that in the spring when it's dry and has been sitting for a while. It could also be an old collapsed hose or a plugged vent may prevent it from flushing, but inspecting the lines will give you a better perspective. I'm guessing it was a manual flush or was it a vacu flush model?

It is a 30 year old boat so the question comes down to are the little things really little or will it cost a lot of money to fix the shifting noise and replace the shaft seals? It's hard to walk away sometimes because this might be a great boat. On the other hand, there might be a better one and that's what makes these deals hard!
 
Shaft packing is easy and can be done in the water.

What has the surver had to say?
 
Sundancer said:
Are the engines fresh water cooled and original? How many hours? Does that one have a generator too?
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Sundancer, fresh water cooled, original with 840's for hours, no generator.

Sundancer said:
It could also be an old collapsed hose or a plugged vent may prevent it from flushing, but inspecting the lines will give you a better perspective. I'm guessing it was a manual flush or was it a vacu flush model?
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This is precisely my fear - something hidden that's broken seeing as he's replaced the fixture very recently. Manual flush (hand pump?)

dwna1a said:
Shaft packing is easy and can be done in the water.

What has the surver had to say?
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Since we looked at the boat I've learned that shaft packing is a potential self install... how about the tranny's? Are they (for a less than confident driveway oil changer, big gulps of air for more than that) self-service-able? How costly to rebuild, or if needed, to replace? Surveyor hasn't seen it yet, working on scheduling, although I'm going to take a sea test on a Carver 28ft Montego first, single engine w/stern drive, primarily because it'll have a new 5.7 with literally minutes on it for the demo. It also has a 3kw on-board generator, which I like the idea of. Raw water cooling-wish it was fresh. The skipper in the household plugs the Carver higher on the list than me because of who owns it, and because it has an after market swim platform for LOTS of room for her to get on/off das boot!

How hard should I work to influence her decision? Scratch that question, I think I know most here are driving a different make lol.
 
You can get a new manual Jabsco head for about 169 bucks at West Marine, so I wouldn't let that be a deal breaker. Hose isn't expensive either. I would want the tranny checked out as that could be expensive if rebuilds are needed. If they are, you can use that issue to lower your offer on the boat if everything else meets your expectations.
Best of luck in the hunt!
 
Carver isn't a bad brand either and might have a trailer which has a lot of advantages if you want to hit the San Juan's or the Lakes in Northern Idaho. You just don't see as many of them around here. It boils down to which layout you and your wife like. Besides, with a new motor in the Carver adding a San Juan freshwater kit would be a good thing to do later on for around a boat buck or so. That's something you can do down the road before taking it into salt water if you elect to do so. I don't have freshwater cooling and still hit the San Juan's whenever I can make it during the summer. Hopefully the sea trial will go well so you have a choice!! I'm partial to the Sea Ray but liked one of the older Carver models. I think it was a Montego?
 
Sundancer said:
Besides, with a new motor in the Carver adding a San Juan freshwater kit would be a good thing to do later on for around a boat buck or so.
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My noob is showing (again, sigh)... S.J. freshwater kit = ???
 
CapnSkippy said:
My noob is showing (again, sigh)... S.J. freshwater kit = ???
Click to expand...
My apologies!! A San Juan Freshwater COOLING kit is something you can add down the road that allows you to add antifreeze to a closed loop cooling system. It keeps salt water out of the block and has a heat exchanger. They were around $700 an engine a few years back, but I'd guess that's gone up to $1,000 or so by now. They are made in Bellingham and have a number of different configurations for various block sizes. I think Orca is another one, but it's been a while since I've looked at either. With a new engine or freshly rebuilt, you can add it down the road before you put it in salt water. It makes winterizing easier and keeps the salt out of most of your engine components. The exhaust side will still have some salt in it, but that a whole lot cheaper than a block!!

Search for Orca or San Juan Freshwater COOLING kits and you will see what I'm talking about. It's an easy afternoon project, from what I'm told. That would take me a month!!
 
I have the San Juan kits on my new engines in my 89 300DA, they are worth the money IMO since you aren't running hot salt water thru your engine blocks. They also make winterizing a much simpler task.
 
SCORPIO said:
I have the San Juan kits on my new engines in my 89 300DA, they are worth the money IMO since you aren't running hot salt water thru your engine blocks. They also make winterizing a much simpler task.
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New? Did I miss a thread somewhere? I know someone else that did an upgrade as well. I'd love to do it, but I'm just ticking over 1,000 hours and the engines purr! I'd love to go to EFI and maybe a 6.2 or something crazy like that! LOL! Everyone that does it says they wish they would have done it sooner! It's only money and you can't take it with you!
 
Between 2015 and 2016 I replaced both my original 5.7's with new 5.7 crate engines from Michiganmotorz.com making 325 hp with high rise intakes and Edlebrock 4 bbl carbs and electric pumps and fresh water cooling kits. Boat runs very well with the extra hp. Fuel economy is actually better than the old school 5.7's with Q jet carbs. Cruises nicely at 30 mph at about 3000 rpm.

I had to do the upgrades as my original engines both suffered water ingestion from corrosion a year apart so the decision was made easier knowing I'd gotten everything I could out of the old engines. I'm in salt water so the FWC kits were a must, especially considering the old engines died of corrosion induced water ingestion.
 
That's what I've heard! I'd love to do the same upgrade and I think I've asked about it before. Everyone uses Michiganmotorz because they know what you need to complete the task in a Sea Ray! I hope to do the same upgrade at some point. I'm in fresh water and salt for about two weeks a year. I haven't made it to the San Juan's for 4 years now, but we will be there next year! It's time and I'm GOING!!! It's hard to justify at 1,000 hours, but it is a 30 year old boat!!!
 
Hi all, so yesterday we looked at an '86 340 Express... was a lot to like and it gave us a sense of what we like. Here's the one:
https://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/d/34-searay-express-cruiser/6679646368.html

The admiral (and Chief Finance officer) wants the real estate this boat offers, but with a stern berth. I liked the direct drive! Here's the question of the day... What model would I look for that offers both V or direct drive... AND an aft berth?

Also - above boat, while seemingly ran good and strong, has 2700+ hours on both motors (5.7L). Just how long is typical for these before being concerned as a potential purchase?

Thanks all for indulging me with your wisdom... it truly is appreciated!!

Mark
 
Sundancer said:
I haven't made it to the San Juan's for 4 years now, but we will be there next year! It's time and I'm GOING!!! It's hard to justify at 1,000 hours, but it is a 30 year old boat!!!
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So Sundancer - do you trailer your boat to the Sound for a San Juan excursion? Have it shipped? If you trailer, how difficult is it as far as permitting and such?
 
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