Moving up to Sundancer 280

pepeborja

New Member
Feb 14, 2014
9
Churchville PA
Boat Info
Sea Ray 190 BR
Engines
Merc 5.0
I joined the forum last year looking for advice as a first time boater. So far the advice has been spot on and I am glad I came here for it.

I bought a Sea Ray Bow Rider 190 with 280Hrs that was well cared for and used it the whole 2014 season. I took boating classes and learned how to launch and retrieve, dock and drop the hook to have fun. We had a really good time and look forward to more of it next year.

The next step in my boating plan is now in place. It is time to move up and I figured the 280 model will fit the bill for the next mission I have in mind:

1. Room for 3 adult couples for day boating or 1 adult couple and 4 kids day boating
2. Twin screws to learn to skipper a twin screw boat
3. Room for 1 couple on overnight trips for 3 day weekend excursions (100 mile range) Delaware, C-D Canal, Chesapeake.
4. AC/Heat with Generator
5. $35K to $45K
6. Able to pull a tube if the need arises
7. Use it for 2 to 5 seasons in the Philly area and then move up to a 40 footer, hopefully when I move to Florida
8. I have no intention of trailering. Strictly marina use but the trailer would be nice to have.
9. Keep acquisition cost reasonable to help in the eventual sale
A. Keep Monthly operational costs at $1K/Mo (slip, fuel, insurance, and maintenance reserves)
B. Strong builder reputation with strong owner following
C. Well equipped galley
D. Decent sized head with optional shower

In doing my research I found the early 2000's 280 model fits the bill for what I have in mind.
It is a nice step up form the 190, has the room for the requirements and is not huge as my first command of a twin screw boat, which I am sure will impact the insurance.

Your comments are appreciated. Please fire away.

Also if you know of a solid 280 in the PA,NJ,DE,VA area please let me know. I will be posting my 190 for sale soon. The shop just winterized it and will be put to bed net week.

Regards

JB
 
I loved my 280 for 7 seasons. 6 people for day boating will be fine but 2 couples for overnights will get right very quickly. The 100 mile cruise range will be pushing it with 100 gallons of fuel so plan on stopping to refuel. With twins and the smaller power (4.3L) the boat will handle just fine but if you can find one with the bigger engines even better. Tubing with this boat is doable but it's a costly proposition. Like I said we loved ours until it was time to move up to a 320. The 280 was one of Sea Ray's most popular and longest running production cruiser.
 
JB,
Having had a 280 since 2009, I pretty much agree it will fit all your needs. The tubing part might be a little questionable, depending on how many starts and stops you are doing and where you are doing it. (pretty large wake) When I was looking to move up from my 23, we had very similar requirements (AC /Genny) but wanted to be able to trailer it home for the winters and storms.

The first years, with us and the 2 kids was fine. They no longer go but we have had other couples join us. Not the most ideal, but the curtains give you privacy.

Now that we are in your "5 year out state," we have ours avail, as we are looking to spend more extended stays and go to the 36-42 range. It is listed on here, and information available at www.ourcayoloco.com. If you are interested, lets talk.
Mike
 
The tubing deal is an option for a few times per year. Fuel burn from tubing is not a big deal as it would be much cheaper to burn extra fuel than to own an extra boat or PWC for the occasional fun stuff. As long as it is doable then I’m good to go. Tree huggers would disagree on that statement but I do not think boaters fall in that category considering the appetite for fuel these “homes on keels” have.

The Cayo Loco boat looks nice and within my $ range. I think it could use more pictures to help showcase the details and help me decide on a 160 mile trip.

I do appreciate being able to buy and deal from an owner that has the skills and experience to maintain the boat in good shape. I myself built and sold 2 Experimental airplanes and prefer to deal with an owner that is in tune with his equipment. Cayo Loco certainly looks that way. If you can enhance your site with more pictures you can help me decide on a long trip to visit unless the boat covered for the winter then the spring may do.

Thanks

JB
 
JB,
Thanks. I will add some more pics. No, she is not covered yet, since it is on the market, I am holding out as long as I can. Let me know if there is anything specific you would like to see and I will get some close ups.

A fellow boater here and I compare notes a lot. He has most of his work done to his boat, as opposed to me who generally don't want anyone touching my boat. I just don't feel most mechanics, at least around here, put the "love" into repairs. When I repowered, I waxed the entire bilge. Can you see a repair facility doing that? Not likely around here! Anyway, I think I come out ahead overall. I learn the inner workings of everything and know it is done correctly, because I will be the one affected if it is not.
Thanks,
Mike
 
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Update - Stopped by the boat on the way home, shot a few pics and have uploaded them to the website. Please let me know if I missed anything, and if I have enticed you to come South!

Thanks,
Mike
 
Mike, thank you for loading the pictures. I appreciate the effort and will look at Cayo Loco very closely.

Regards

Jose Borja
 
Mike,

Few questions about Cayo Loco.

What was the resolution on the ECM module? Where you able to find a spare? The scarcity of these ECMs is a concern.

Have you had water issues inside the cabin?

Windlass/Anchor issues?

Was a survey performed when you purchased it in 2009? What were the results?

How is the condition of the sliding door? Any sticking or maintenance done?

Bottom paint date and renewal date?

Teh boat looks wekk cared for and it shows.

Thanks in advance.

Jose.
 
Jose,
No problem. I do not mind answering any questions. I would want anyone I am interested in a boat, or anything from, long distant to do the same to me.

ECU - I had borrowed one from a friend, who had a spare. When I decided to get serious about listing the boat, I purchased one from Bob @ MEFI burn. He has plenty of them, I was just procrastinating at spending the money. When I bought the ECU from him, I also purchased the scan cable, so I can run the scanner s/w on the laptop and monitor the engine, if any future problems may arise. That cable will convey with the boat.

No water inside the cabin. Had the shower/ac sump pump fail once, and ended up with some ac condensate under the step. After replacing the pump in the sump, no more issues.

Windlass/Anchor - Experienced an issue with retrieving. Purchased the new finger/spring kit from Lofrans, problem gone.

I will be happy to provide you the survey from 2009. Biggest issue reported, that I remember, was corrosion on lower units. Both have been replaced, one with a complete new drive from SEI (Port side- counter rotating) and the other from a freshwater salvage boat with low hours.

Sliding door varies. I clean the track every spring and lube it, it will work fine. Towards the end of the season, it gets stiff. (My wife and daughters all have long hair, and by the end of the season, the track seems to get full of it. Somehow, it is like a vacuum for stray long hair. Maybe I need to use a different lube.)

Bottom paint was done this spring after a thorough sanding. It was a little tight doing it while on the trailer, but it is doable. First painting of the bottom, since 2009, since I was trying to get as much worn off as possible. One advantage of having a trailer, no cost to pull and pressure wash the bottom, as needed or before a trip. Outdrives painted every year.

Well cared for - Thanks, I try to stay ahead on maintenance, because like I said, time on the water is supposed to be fun, and safe. A properly maintained boat is one way to eliminate problems on the water. Although, I realize some cannot be avoided or predicted, hence why I will always have twin engines. We have returned home from a trip on one engine a few times (PS pump on port side started leaking - since removed since it is not used, lost raw water impeller). There is something to be said for having a spare engine! Having been in the CG Auxiliary and a current licensed captain, I try to promote safety and maintenance.

Right now, it could use :
[Hope this does not kill the potential interest, but have to be honest]
Port shifter cable cleaning or replace - starting to not shift as smooth. Will do when I pull drives in spring to check things out.
Hot water heater - exchanger connection corroded, so I unhooked it. Still heats by electric, but not from engine cooling water. Not a deal for us since we never shower on boat, which is why I never replaced it. New water heaters are about $300, if I recall reading here on CSR.


Please let me know if you may be interested in checking it out, as I am trying to plan my pull out date.
Thanks,
Mike
 
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Not sure if you're looking to really move up a little bigger but I will be putting my 330 up for sale if the deal I have pending goes through. I purchased the 330 last year and already want bigger :) I will be moving up to a 41+. Let me know.
 
Hi, I'm not sure if this will help, but we have a Ring 21C Powerboat with a 200 Yamaha that is good for close to 70 mph...I love the boat and when we recently bought our Sea Ray 290 DA very nearly sold it on but have decided to keep both so we have optons depending on what kind of boating we want to do at the time. The Ring is perfect for charging around or pulling toys and skiers, and the 290 is gorgeous and perfect for weekends away or lazy days afloat. We are able to keep the Ring (Voodoo) at home on the driveway so there is no cost for storage. Just as well as marinas are very expensive on the South coast UK.
Just because you move up in size, the new boat doesn't have to be used for everything and burn a shedload of fuel doing it, if you also have a smaller boat for playing..
 
I joined the forum last year looking for advice as a first time boater. So far the advice has been spot on and I am glad I came here for it.

I bought a Sea Ray Bow Rider 190 with 280Hrs that was well cared for and used it the whole 2014 season. I took boating classes and learned how to launch and retrieve, dock and drop the hook to have fun. We had a really good time and look forward to more of it next year.

The next step in my boating plan is now in place. It is time to move up and I figured the 280 model will fit the bill for the next mission I have in mind:

1. Room for 3 adult couples for day boating or 1 adult couple and 4 kids day boating
2. Twin screws to learn to skipper a twin screw boat
3. Room for 1 couple on overnight trips for 3 day weekend excursions (100 mile range) Delaware, C-D Canal, Chesapeake.
4. AC/Heat with Generator
5. $35K to $45K
6. Able to pull a tube if the need arises
7. Use it for 2 to 5 seasons in the Philly area and then move up to a 40 footer, hopefully when I move to Florida
8. I have no intention of trailering. Strictly marina use but the trailer would be nice to have.
9. Keep acquisition cost reasonable to help in the eventual sale
A. Keep Monthly operational costs at $1K/Mo (slip, fuel, insurance, and maintenance reserves)
B. Strong builder reputation with strong owner following
C. Well equipped galley
D. Decent sized head with optional shower

In doing my research I found the early 2000's 280 model fits the bill for what I have in mind.
It is a nice step up form the 190, has the room for the requirements and is not huge as my first command of a twin screw boat, which I am sure will impact the insurance.

Your comments are appreciated. Please fire away.

Also if you know of a solid 280 in the PA,NJ,DE,VA area please let me know. I will be posting my 190 for sale soon. The shop just winterized it and will be put to bed net week.

Regards

JB
 
I have to ask, have you been under budget with 1,000 a month?
 
I have to ask, have you been under budget with 1,000 a month?

This is a three year old thread. The OP may not be around any more.

I'll offer this - for most of us the slip fees will be the biggest component of "monthly operating costs" as described in this thread. Slip cost vary WILDLY throughout the US. Particularly when some of us only use our slips for 6 months and pay for winter storage for the other 6.

Yeah, you could keep your costs under $1k per month. But not in Miami...and not if you cruise 200nm every weekend...
 

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