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Nick_uk

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Sep 9, 2017
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Hi everyone,
I'm from the UK and looking to get into boating. I've chosen to go down the power boat route rather than sail. I've been looking at several boats but have seen a nice sea ray 220 DA sundancer built in 1989.
It needs a bit of work doing and I was after some advice.
The interior headlining has become stained and is disintegrating, I suspect a wet clean has caused rusting underneath of metal bits and harsh cleaners have been used which have weakened the fabrics. Has anyone replaced their head linings? If so how big a job was it and what is underneath them?
Are there any things which are common faults or items which wear out quickly?
Thanks in advance.
Nick
 
Hey Nick,

Don't know to much about what you are asking but for your first boat please buy the best boat you can afford so you can enjoy it vs. having to keep repairing it. Once you have a few good years of boating under your belt and have a better understanding of all the systems then you can look into a fixer upper. Hate to see anyone really get discouraged about a boat purchase because it really hits them hard in the financial department.

Always make sure the mechanical side to what ever boat interests you is solid even if you have to pay a trusted mechanic for a few hours of their time to look it over to give you a report.

If something catches your eye...... and you would like a second opinion...... take a picture and post it to this thread and quite a few folks will help you out.
 
Hi Little Ducky,

Thanks for the advice, have only been looking at boats which have cosmetic issues rather than any mechanical or structural problems. I will also be having a survey done on any boat before I buy to make sure I've not missed anything. I've attached a picture of the boat below. 20170909_125718.jpg

What are the rules on changing the boats name? I've heard it's unlucky.
 
Nick_uk said:
Hi Little Ducky,

Thanks for the advice, have only been looking at boats which have cosmetic issues rather than any mechanical or structural problems. I will also be having a survey done on any boat before I buy to make sure I've not missed anything. I've attached a picture of the boat below. View attachment 50620

What are the rules on changing the boats name? I've heard it's unlucky.
Click to expand...

It is supposed to be unlucky but I guess it depends on your belief in superstition. There is a ceremony you can do that will ward off the bad luck. I have done this. I figured, What will it hurt? and it can make for a hell of a good party. Check here for the procedure. http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm

What little Ducky said is what I believe as well. I've never done a headliner but I may be getting ready to. Look on YouTube as there are some good instructional videos on the procedure.

Have fun.
Shawn
 
Thanks for the info about renaming, I might just keep the name and not tempt fate.

I am assuming the headlinings are just glued in place and can just be pulled down.

What type of cooling system does the engine have? It's the 4.3 v6 mercruiser with an alpha 1 drive. I can't work out if it's a closed or open system.
 
Last edited:
Nick_uk said:
Thanks for the info about renaming, I might just keep the name and not tempt fate.

I am assuming the headlinings are just glued in place and can just be pulled down.

What type of cooling system does the engine have? It's the 4.3 v6 mercruiser with an alpha 1 drive. I can't work out if it's a closed or open system.
Click to expand...

You are correct....it should just pull down. Below is a link to a video on how to install a headliner. This is from Sailrite. I buy a lot of stuff from Sailrite and their videos are very helpful. http://www.sailrite.com/How-to-Install-Carpet-Style-Headliner-Video

Shawn
 
Investigate thoroughly to determine whether the headliner damage is indeed from cleaners used on the inside vs. leaks from the windshield/bow rail stanchions/hatch/rub rail. A classic 300DA I elected not to buy had watermarks and mildew staining in much of the forward headliner, as well as down the walls in the v-berth area. You could tell they resulted from water leaks and not general environmental humidity.

Welcome aboard, and enjoy the hunt!
 
That's good advice thanks, ill look more into these areas as I didn't really check them that much. The linings were dry and it had been raining quite heavily the day before.
 
Is there an easy way to tell if the engine is raw water cooled or has a closed cooling system? I can't see a heat exchanger at the front of the engine.

Also as I would be running the boat in salt water would it be better to convert a raw water system to a closed system? It's a new low use (5 hours) engine.
 
If it is closed cooling there will be a heat exchanger mounted on the front of the engine. It will look like a small long round tank about 6" in diameter and 18-20" long. It will also have a radiator-style cap on it and a lot of hoses coming from it.

Shawn
 
That's what I was looking for and can't see one, so I'm guessing it raw water cooled.
Anyone got any tips on keeping it well maintained or would I be looking at having a conversion done?
 
Nick, if you are keeping it on a trailer just flush the motor and drive after each salt water use and wash the boat thoroughly including the trailer. Some trailers even have a flush kit available for getting fresh water through the brake hubs. Boats have been in salt water since Noah built the Ark. You will just have a bit more maintenance to do.

My current boat even has a way to flush the engine with fresh water while it's sitting in salt water.
 
It will be on a mooring or on a dry stack, I don't have a trailer or a vehicle big enough to pull it. Think I saw a system to flush the engine using the water from the on board water tank.
 
Just to update I've had an offer accepted on the 220 DA so hopefully I'll have it by the end of October, pending results of the survey :)
 
Hi Nick, I also come from the UK (Scotland) but I live in Dubai. My boat is a 290 Sundancer. Did they ever tell you that you need to buy your second boat as the first boat? Let me explain, this is a disease that we all have suffered from..... we tend to buy a small boat and after 6 months you are dreaming of owning a bigger one, so don't be surprised if you start searching for a boat of the size of my boat. That happened to me as well and now I wonder why I didn't go for a 340... I'm just saying
 
Hi, that's a fair point, if it's anything like me and cars / motorbikes haha. We shall see how this one goes and I dare say a bigger boat maybe on the horizon if it goes well.
 
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