recent glut of 500 sundancers

domer94

Active Member
May 14, 2017
213
norther NJ
Boat Info
1995 330da
Engines
twin 454 inboard v drives
doing usual browsing on yachtworld, I noticed a huge surge of 1993-2000 500 sundancers out there... all over the east coast. any thoughts?
 
I actually looked at one of those in my area.......almost 2 years ago. The same boat.

Way over priced, and the broker wouldn't even consider an offer below asking.
 
now may be the time to buy!! I think there were about a dozen listed... there only used to be about 5 or so. im sure an aggressive offer would go a long way right now
 
Lots of boats... and I'm seeing weakness in the market....I'm getting emails with discounts that I haven't seen in years and a lot more boats on the market...Even on the popular models.
yes im noticing more of "THE OWNER WANTS THE BOAT SOLD" comments . also "BRING ALL OFFERS" that's a good one
 
Not seeing it in our market. Almost nothing for sale. Marina's brokerage docks are at least half empty. Anything in good shape is gone in an instant. Crappy boats still linger.
 
on the subject of the 500 da , the only bummer I find is that there is no dinette or dedicated eating area. you have that expansive salon couch with the hi-lo table , but that's it. on a boat that size its too bad
 
As a 500DA owner with 8V92 Detroits, I guess I should chime in. We have had our boat about 15 years. Our boat has the standard engines, not the DDECs which were a problem engine, they used computers to make more HP and the motors could not take it, hence the bad rap. We have approx 2500 hours on our engines, with pretty much normal maintenance, we experience very few issues. My only issue with the boat is too much canvas. The boat has a huge master bed and a good size shower. I am 6'2" and around 220 lbs and can get around in the engine room. With the 8/92s it jumps on plane and will maintain plane as slow as 15 mph, cruise speed is low to mid 20s and burning around 28 gph combined.
 
Exactly, the owners that did want to maintain them properly, usually couldn't find qualified people to do so.

It's not a problem to find Detroit qualified mechanics, these owners (like many others) simply don't want to put the money into the maintenance until something goes really wrong.

Buying the boat is the easy (and cheapest) part.

I come from the aviation industry and in general aviation we see the same thing. People buy an aircraft, spend thousands on every electronic qismo they can find and yet have an engine on it's last legs in need of major work.
 
As a 500DA owner with 8V92 Detroits, I guess I should chime in. We have had our boat about 15 years. Our boat has the standard engines, not the DDECs which were a problem engine, they used computers to make more HP and the motors could not take it, hence the bad rap. We have approx 2500 hours on our engines, with pretty much normal maintenance, we experience very few issues. My only issue with the boat is too much canvas. The boat has a huge master bed and a good size shower. I am 6'2" and around 220 lbs and can get around in the engine room. With the 8/92s it jumps on plane and will maintain plane as slow as 15 mph, cruise speed is low to mid 20s and burning around 28 gph combined.

Exactly. Those 8V92's are solid engines, old school technology. They'll be chugging on long after many of the modern day diesels are being melted down for scrap.
 
There are two 500's beside me on the islands this weekend '98 and a '99. In prestine condition.... very nice boats
 
Im a little late finding this post. But i know of at least one 500da that is no longer on the market. We closed the deal on ours the end of July. 6V92's. We have been busy getting her moved to the coast and going thru all the systems in preparation for the up coming cruising season. Absolutly love this boat. So far no major problems. Mostly just some minor items needing attention due to lack of use of the boat. And upgrading a few items. Overall the boat is in great condition.
 
Im a little late finding this post. But i know of at least one 500da that is no longer on the market. We closed the deal on ours the end of July. 6V92's. We have been busy getting her moved to the coast and going thru all the systems in preparation for the up coming cruising season. Absolutly love this boat. So far no major problems. Mostly just some minor items needing attention due to lack of use of the boat. And upgrading a few items. Overall the boat is in great condition.
Where are you in NC. We are close to Wilmington.
 
We have friends at Morehead City Yacht Basin. Are you near there. We take ours to Beaufort a few times a year
 

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