Upgrading from a 240

Oct 13, 2018
8
Michigan
Boat Info
Sundancer 240
Engines
305MPI Bravo
I'm not new to boating but new to this forum. I hope I placed this thread in the right area.

I prefer to trailer. I'll take to boat to a location and leave it there a couple of weeks or more, then go get it and bring it home. Next month or so I'll take to boat to another location and do the same. I like the adventure of going where ever I darn well please. I have a Sundancer 240 now. It's a little small for me. I'm want to get the largest boat that I can reasonably trailer. Currently have this 240 on the back of a Nissan Titan and it trailers just fine. I want to get something that's a little larger where the bed can stay the bed and I can work below deck when I choose or when the weather chooses for me. I'm looking for anything after 2009 and it must have skyhook. So I see that the 31 has the angled bed available. I like that idea. But I also realize this is a quite heavy boat. I really want 2 engines. Where is the breaking point to trailer this style boat. Am I going to realize any significant benefits between a 280 and a 310? Will those extra 3 feet really matter? I realize I'll have to upgrade to a 2500 (Dodge Ram with Cummins is my preference) minimum and that's all part of the plan. What is the max Sundancer size I should consider based on these limitations. I live in Michigan and we're kind of April 1 to Nov 1 max max for rec boating if that impacts your recommendation. I did read other threads. They say a 280 is good, but not a lot of trailering info on the 310.

I'm also quite concerned with the 31 not fitting the launch dock in many locations. I find launching a 24 alone is challenging. Launching a 31 has to be a real treat.

Specifications 260
Length Overall 26' 7'' 8.1 m
Beam 8' 6'' 2.59 m
Dry Weight 6,950 lbs. 3,152 kg
Tested Weight N/A
Draft 41'' 104 cm

Specifications 280
Length Overall 28' 8'' 8.74 m
Beam 8' 10'' 2.69 m
Dry Weight 8,211 lbs. 3,724 kg
Tested Weight 8,757 lbs. 3,972 kg
Draft 41'' 104.14 cm

Specifications 310
Length Overall 31' 0'' 9.45 m
Beam 10' 0'' 3.05 m
Dry Weight 11,630 lbs. 5,275 kg
Tested Weight N/A
Draft 41'' 104 cm

That 10' beams scares the guano out of me. And 11630 dry weight is just about max for a 2500 Dodge.

Here's a 280 https://www.boattrader.com/listing/2015-sea-ray-280-sundancer-103394691/?refSource=standard listing
and here's a 310 video

The 2018 Ram 2500: Towing Capacity. Equipped with a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine, the 2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman 4×2 can tow up to 17,980 pounds—making it the strongest trim in the lineup.
 
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You're getting some of your model designations mixed up.

In regards to your "requirements":
-A 2009 280DA is 31', and can have twins, but won't have Skyhook.
-A 2010+ 280DA is the specs you listed, but won't have twins.
-To have Skyhook, you have to have a stern drive boat with Axius.
-Anything wider than 8'6" is "supposed" to have a wide load permit for trailering... or at least, 8'6" is the most common legal limit for most states.
 
You're getting some of your model designations mixed up.

In regards to your "requirements":
-A 2009 280DA is 31', and can have twins, but won't have Skyhook.
-A 2010+ 280DA is the specs you listed, but won't have twins.
-To have Skyhook, you have to have a stern drive boat with Axius.
-Anything wider than 8'6" is "supposed" to have a wide load permit for trailering... or at least, 8'6" is the most common legal limit for most states.

I'm googling and trusting it's right. But note taken. I know I'm in for an education and looking forward to it.

I'm pretty sure you have to have two engines for skyhook, right? I can't see it working otherwise. Unless they're using one and a composite of thrusters. Everything I see on line has two engines.
 
Yes - it must have the Axius drives as they can move independently of each other. A single Axius drive and a bow thruster could do the job... I could be wrong, but I don't recall any single engine Sea Ray having Axius as an option as it is (1) an expensive option and (2) overkill for a single engine boat.
 
I think you'll quickly tire of regularly trailering a boat of this size. A 310 is an absolute beast on a trailer. The local motor carriers would be able to plainly see that a 310 is a wide-load. The 260/270 has been (I think) the largest legal trailer boat in the Sundancer lineup for quite some time now. You might be able to sneak by with a 280....but not with a 310.

I think you'd notice a big difference in room between the 280 and a 310 if you get on them. A foot of beam is like 1,000sq ft in a house. It's very noticeable.

And hey - if you're from the Mr Cool that I've dealt with for trans coolers keep up the good work! You guys were a pleasure to deal with last year. A rare pocket of excellent costumer service combined with an awesome product...
 
I believe the smallest boat equipped with Skyhook is the 2010 and after 330DA. It must be twin stern drives. I have Sky Hook and use it very rarely as I'm on a lake. If you have to wait for locks or bridges to open it would be an advantage.

Towing more than a 280DA on a regular basis is a chore.

Correction, Axius is available on the 2007-2009 310DA's which is the same boat as the 2010 plus 330Da.
 
Pretty sure our dock friends 2015 310DA had SkyHook. I know it had Axius. They towed it but only a couple times a year to get it to the marina and back to storage. He towed it initially with a newer Chevy 2500 6.0 gasser then a 2017 Duramax (neither was a dually).
 
Towing is a wearing process, it sounds good to start, then wears you out. No, it does not happen overnight but it always happens. I towed a 97, 270 DA for 4 years, then once the Admiral got a taste of just driving the car to the slip with a few things, it was all over for the trailering. Now we are selling our 270 and have moved way up in size after we got beyond the whole control freak stage of trailering so we could micro-manage it easier. LOL

Good luck, MM
 
I believe the smallest boat equipped with Skyhook is the 2010 and after 330DA. It must be twin stern drives. I have Sky Hook and use it very rarely as I'm on a lake. If you have to wait for locks or bridges to open it would be an advantage.

Towing more than a 280DA on a regular basis is a chore.

Correction, Axius is available on the 2007-2009 310DA's which is the same boat as the 2010 plus 330Da.

That axius availability matches my data exactly. I wanted to badly to trailer a 310. It's just the right size boat for me. But after chatting it up with you fellas I'm about to back off to the next size down. I was planning on using skyhook for a variety of things from fishing over a given spot, using it like an anchor in the middle of lake MI for sunsets and such stuff and then of course the bridges, waiting for restaurants, gassing up, etc. Also I'll be travelling down the east coast this coming year on a mega sales trip (going by boat because we do boat stuff) so I'm sure there will be other uses that I haven't discovered yet. I'm considering the impact of the permitting process right now to make a final decision.

I'm only talking about towing it 3-4 times a year. Maybe 5. Still tossing and turning.
 
While I haven't used them, there are companies out there (in case you weren't aware) that can set you up with all the permits you would need for the various states you would be going through. I believe they also can tell you what signage you would need. It might be worthwhile to check into that - obviously you pay them a fee for that service, but it makes life simple for you.
 
I think you'll quickly tire of regularly trailering a boat of this size. A 310 is an absolute beast on a trailer. The local motor carriers would be able to plainly see that a 310 is a wide-load. The 260/270 has been (I think) the largest legal trailer boat in the Sundancer lineup for quite some time now. You might be able to sneak by with a 280....but not with a 310.

I think you'd notice a big difference in room between the 280 and a 310 if you get on them. A foot of beam is like 1,000sq ft in a house. It's very noticeable.

And hey - if you're from the Mr Cool that I've dealt with for trans coolers keep up the good work! You guys were a pleasure to deal with last year. A rare pocket of excellent costumer service combined with an awesome product...

I'm for sure that Mr. Cool!!! I have to be careful not to advertise on this site. They made that a caviat to my login. But thank you very much for the shout out. I'm glad it worked well.

Since you're from MI, do you think I need an escort for the 310? If so, Maybe I just get the 310, park it in St. Clair and spend the 1.5K in gas to get it to TVC. I was then going to run it down to Ludington, Grand Haven and maybe Holland for the summer. Then run it back? I just can't seem to make a decision.
 
While I haven't used them, there are companies out there (in case you weren't aware) that can set you up with all the permits you would need for the various states you would be going through. I believe they also can tell you what signage you would need. It might be worthwhile to check into that - obviously you pay them a fee for that service, but it makes life simple for you.

I've got an email into a transport company for that service. I googled it and found them yesterday. Smiling...it was one of those things that i knew must be out there as soon as I realized there was a need for it. But it never crossed my mind until yesterday. :). Thank you.
 
I'm for sure that Mr. Cool!!! I have to be careful not to advertise on this site. They made that a caviat to my login. But thank you very much for the shout out. I'm glad it worked well.

Since you're from MI, do you think I need an escort for the 310? If so, Maybe I just get the 310, park it in St. Clair and spend the 1.5K in gas to get it to TVC. I was then going to run it down to Ludington, Grand Haven and maybe Holland for the summer. Then run it back? I just can't seem to make a decision.

Spend the money on gas! You only get so many chances to take a cool trip like this one. Be sure to hit Saugatuck too....don't just stop at Holland. There are plenty of us from the west side on this forum. We can surely suggest spots for good anchorage/marinas and places with ice cold beers...if you're into that kind of thing.
 
That axius availability matches my data exactly. I wanted to badly to trailer a 310. It's just the right size boat for me. But after chatting it up with you fellas I'm about to back off to the next size down. I was planning on using skyhook for a variety of things from fishing over a given spot, using it like an anchor in the middle of lake MI for sunsets and such stuff and then of course the bridges, waiting for restaurants, gassing up, etc. Also I'll be travelling down the east coast this coming year on a mega sales trip (going by boat because we do boat stuff) so I'm sure there will be other uses that I haven't discovered yet. I'm considering the impact of the permitting process right now to make a final decision.

I'm only talking about towing it 3-4 times a year. Maybe 5. Still tossing and turning.

When Skyhook is engaged the system makes a loud beeping noise like a truck backing up and there is constant loud banging from the transmission going in and out of gear. Not at all peaceful for fishing or sunsets.
 
Spend the money on gas! You only get so many chances to take a cool trip like this one. Be sure to hit Saugatuck too....don't just stop at Holland. There are plenty of us from the west side on this forum. We can surely suggest spots for good anchorage/marinas and places with ice cold beers...if you're into that kind of thing.

It's 1400 miles round trip. at 20 mph avg (that may be high) that would be about $3100 in gas. 70 engine hours. I'm gettin your drift. $47000 for the truck. Seems like easy math. I know there are lots of other fees, breakdowns and such but it would be a super cool trip. And then there's the ice cold beers...
 
Permits every time you trailer the 310 Da. because of its width to be legal.For years I was trailer trash and could come up with the same reasons why I preferred trailering. But after years of trailer boating I like most went to the slip life. Here's the biggest reason I stopped trailering was once our boys grow up and friends stop going with us it was just me and my wife dragging the boat some where and that got old quick.So the community of friends at the marina and even on bad days on the lake we are still with friends at the marina on our boat was the biggest reason. My 230 Wk. was a great little boat but every time I see a 8'6" beam boat I think damn they look skinny no matter how long they are. So good luck with your next boat chances are it will be a 8'6" beam if you plain on trailering it and it will feel tight in the cabin no matter what length. This is why boating is so great as long as your safe doing it there is so many ways to do it.
 

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