Want to not be boatless or with a boat full of problems

Merv

New Member
Feb 4, 2018
4
Boat Info
I don’t have one yet but shopping for a sea ray 28’ or greater for Marina Del Ray, CA
Engines
Boatless
I live for n SoCal and closest marina is Marina Del Ray. We want a boat to cruise over to Catalina Island and up and down the coast. So we need one that can live in Salt Water, how do we know if it can and what do we need to do to insure it can? We want to stay under $90,000, the more under the better. We like the Sundancer model and we’d like 30’ plus in length.
What’s the best deal for the money And what are the pitfalls to avoid?

Sincerely,
Newbie!
 
Around here, in New England, you can certainly find a nice used Sundancer in the 30'-34' range within your budget that's year 2000+. Obviously, the newer and/or bigger you go, the more you'll pay typically. I wouldn't shy away from the early 2000's if you find boats that are well maintained. I don't know the waters out around LA and over to Catalina, so I'm not sure what folks out there would recommend. I've done a lot of coastal cruising from Connecticut to Maine, but usually no really long off shore runs. For that, you might want to look at something with diesels instead of the big gas engines in most of the Sundancers. (Mine has 8.1's.)
 
Any Sea Ray is fine living in salt, but V drives or inboards will be easier to maintain. My 340 sits in salt water year round as most others do in this forum with 30+ boats. I haul it out every 6 months to clean the bottom, change zincs, and various other maintenance items that can’t be done in the water. I’d recommend looking at early 2000’s 340’s and/or 330’s for starters. You should find quite a few under $90k. Check yachtworld. Make sure to get a mechanical inspection and marine survey done by reputable mechanics/surveyors.
 
My 340 sits in salt water year round as most others do in this forum with 30+ boats. I haul it out every 6 months to clean the bottom, change zincs, and various other maintenance items that can’t be done in the water.

Do you have any pictures of what your hull looks like after 6 months in salt water?
 
Look hard, might able to step up to 400 Sundancer with diesels in that price range.
 
Do you have any pictures of what your hull looks like after 6 months in salt water?

Sure ..I’ve got antifouling paint on everything so it’s never too bad. Here it is at the last haul out in the fall.

IMG_9969.jpg


IMG_0732.jpg
 
Those photos are deceptive because they are of a Canadian boat kept in cold water. I'm in NW Florida where the summer water temps are in the mid 80's; winter in the high 50's. We a diver clean the hull every month to keep the growth and slime under control here…..10 days and we have hard growth; 5 days and we get a coating of slime.

Suggest you ask someone locally about bottom growth in the area you will be storing the boat in.
 
Those photos are deceptive because they are of a Canadian boat kept in cold water. I'm in NW Florida where the summer water temps are in the mid 80's; winter in the high 50's. We a diver clean the hull every month to keep the growth and slime under control here…..10 days and we have hard growth; 5 days and we get a coating of slime.

Suggest you ask someone locally about bottom growth in the area you will be storing the boat in.

Yah ..fair enough ...water is anywhere from 50 - 65 year round here
 
Our water temperature is between 59-70 degrees. Coldest in January of 59 and hottest in August is 70 according to the national weather bureau for Marina del Ray water temps
 
I stand corrected ..the water where my boat is docked averages about 45 degrees in winter, and 55 at the warmest in September. So yes ..probably best to go over to the Marina there in Marina del Rey and ask some people what they do.
 
Merv, I lived and boated in SoCal waters for almost 20 years. As others have said you will be able to find a boat within the $90k you want to spend. But have you looked at the slip rental rates in Marina Del Rey? They are the highest on the coast between San Diego and Santa Barbara. My point is are you taking that into consideration as you are budgeting?

Looking for a diesel boat really would make more sense in the long run....if you are truly planning to make a lot of trips up and down the coast and to Catalina and the northern Channel Islands. If you are only going to go a few times a year then gassers will be fine but fuel costs will be higher with gas.

A good place to look for a boat might be up in the Sacramento River Delta area in Northern Cal. The water is mostly brackish to fresh and many of the marinas have covered slips so the boats tend to be in a bit better condition than those found in SoCal waters.

Have fun with the search.
Shawn
 
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Merv,
In addition to the marina cost that NorCal mentioned, you might want to look into availability. My Sister keeps her boat in Dana Point Harbor and was on a waiting list for several years before she was able to get a slip. Her cost for a 35' slip in a no-frills marina in CA is about double what I pay for a 50' slip in marina with several amenities TX.

Happy hunting!
Bryan

P.S. I found the 2017 Marina Del Rey price list, Ouch!
http://marinadelreymarina.com/marina-slip-pricing/
 
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If you think the slips are high try buying a house on the west side of the 405........makes boat slips look cheap? LOL
 
If you think the slips are high try buying a house on the west side of the 405........makes boat slips look cheap? LOL
These are the reasons why when I retired in 2016, my wife and I relocated to the New Orleans area. You can own a waterfront home with a boat dock, on Lake Pontchatrain, with Gulf access, starting at $250,000. Plus my wife's family is here.
Shawn
 
WOW!!! That's 2.5 times more than what I'm paying for my slip!
the cost of being in SoCal the positive is temps between 60-90 with most 72-77 degrees. Our state income tax is 13,4% and your are 0. you win
 
the cost of being in SoCal the positive is temps between 60-90 with most 72-77 degrees. Our state income tax is 13,4% and your are 0. you win
Merv, I spent 18 years in Long Beach, 2 in Mission Viejo, 2 in Las Vegas, 2 in Fresno and 10 in Sacramento. I'm really missing the weather right now. But my $310,000, 2800 sq. ft. home on 3/4 acre with pool would be $1.2 million on SoCal. I'll just have to tough it out.
Shawn
 
Any Sea Ray is fine living in salt, but V drives or inboards will be easier to maintain. My 340 sits in salt water year round as most others do in this forum with 30+ boats. I haul it out every 6 months to clean the bottom, change zincs, and various other maintenance items that can’t be done in the water. I’d recommend looking at early 2000’s 340’s and/or 330’s for starters. You should find quite a few under $90k. Check yachtworld. Make sure to get a mechanical inspection and marine survey done by reputable mechanics/surveyors.


We live in north van also. We got the last slip at Lynwood for our 260 this year. I’m thinking of keeping her in the water all year to avoid losing the slip and that’s how I found this thread.

We took a year off from boating and stored it at lions gate undercover. However this year there are no slips except for Lynwood.

Long story short - not sure I wish to pay for covered at lions and a slip at Lynwood. Therefore thinking of keeping her in the water all year.

Do you wrap your boat in the winter?

Cheers !
 
We live in north van also. We got the last slip at Lynwood for our 260 this year. I’m thinking of keeping her in the water all year to avoid losing the slip and that’s how I found this thread.

We took a year off from boating and stored it at lions gate undercover. However this year there are no slips except for Lynwood.

Long story short - not sure I wish to pay for covered at lions and a slip at Lynwood. Therefore thinking of keeping her in the water all year.

Do you wrap your boat in the winter?

Cheers !

SearchofSunrise we are also at Lynnwood. My boat is at the end of M dock out near the entrance to the marina. I don’t wrap anything in the Winter as we use our boat year round. If you don’t use your boat in the winter, I personally wouldn’t leave it in. Where’s your slip?
 

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