1983 245 sundancer rough water safe?

R

rockynsabrina

New Member
Apr 4, 2008
21
lamar,south carolina
Boat Info
87 255 dancer
Engines
350 Chevy Bette engine
Thanks all for reading my post.I own a 1983 srv 245,sundancer.Just last year I did a complete repower and outdrive replacement.I am curious to know what is the safe boundry for this boat.I am ocean savy,and know the water well,I dont know sea rays that well.When is the seas too rough,and when is it considered just moderate conditions in this vessel. and one last thing.......What does SRV stand for. SRV 245 on the back of the boat.Thank you all and any info would be a help.:huh:
 
I thought SRV stood for Sea Ray Vanguard? Didn't they merge or buy some design back in the 70's from another guy or company or something? I vaguely remember something like that?
 
I don't know about the rough water so much since I'm in fresh water. However, I've been out in some very choppy water. This boat has a great deep hull design and it takes the chop very well. I'd say you're ok but I'm no saltwater expert.
 
Taking a deep breath on this one Rockyand Sabrina:

I think the response hesitation has to do with the following issues:

1. What you consider to be "Rough" conditions

2. While you say you are experienced in open water boat handling ... perhaps you can elaborate and what is the experienc eof the crew and their physical ability to respond to emergency like being pooped and down flooded?

3. The boat is nearly 25 years old, yes repowered but what is the hull condition, tabbing, moisture penetration, steering linkage condition, tank debris situation, pumps etc.

4. Chad's personal guidline for turning tail and running is to not head into seas more than 20% of LOA. Hence a 50 footer would have me running for port in anything over 10 foot seas unless the wave length was more than two boat lengths and the waves were not breaking and were not expected to (wind was laying down).

5. A 24 foot boat perhaps could handle 5-6 foot seas and be okay if the wave length was more than two boat lengths, if its chop then get to shore or protected water ASAP. A 4-6 foot sea with a wave length of 30 feet will simply beat the crap out of the boat and crew and risk a broach on every wave.

In either of these conditions I would not leave port to open seas in a coastal cruiser or runabout, which is what you have.
 
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Chad is dead-on with his commentary on chop and wave length discomfort. The smaller boats are considerably less comfortable when the chop starts getting busy. You're UP then DOWN, then UP then DOWN, banging along the whole way.

A friend in his 24' called me during a trip we were following home together and begged me to take some passengers on our 34'. It was just too uncomfortable for them to put up with motion. Transferring them was, shall we say, tricky but they were relieved to get off the roller coaster. I'm not sure any of those folks would ever step aboard his boat again, and that's a shame. But he was in too small a boat for the conditions (and they didn't improve until the next day).

So perhaps you want to rephrase the question and ask about how it'd handle on some particular stretches of water. I'm sure someone here can offer observations. Bear in mind, on some boating forums you'll find all sorts of crazies that will regale you of their tales of taking an 18' jon boat out in the Gulf Stream. God, apparently, takes extra pity on the profoundly stupid.
 
Bill -
I laughed out loud at the last part of your post!! I was that guy two years ago, I took my 16' aluminum starcraft across lake MI from Benton harbor to Chicago and back in one day. We had something like 5 of those metal gas cans on the floor of the boat to make it there and refuel for the trip back. Even worse, i thought that my cell phone would be a fine substitute for a ship/shore radio. The water was calm that day, but I was still that idiot.

also, about the wave height, chad makes a good post. I had that same 16' boat in 5' waves that were long rollers and felt safe, had it in 3' breakers and could not have been more scared. Another factor - and a big one - is you, the captain. The way and speed you run the waves will make a huge difference in comfort and safety. Maybe read a few books on piloting, chapman is a good one. Not saying I am a great capt. I think you will find that if the open water is taller than two or three foot it is just not comfortable, and you will stay in sheltered water. That's kind of the MO for my 27' now. I am only out there to relax and have a good time, and tall waves are not relaxing or a good time.
 
My idea of rough water safe is....
No waves crashing over the bow or stern.
You are not feeling like you are going to capsize or swamp in confused seas.

You are able to run the boat where you, the boat, or passengers are not getting beat up by the conditions.

The safety issue is what happens if you loose power in nasty conditions?
I have never used mine or needed it.
But having a parachute (sea anchor) on board should keep the bow facing into the waves if you lose power.

Mid 80's Sea Rays are very strong boats.
A 24 fter should do a good job.
A little bigger is nicer.
Slowing down enough for conditions is what its all about.

Ive had women on board in steep 12' wind blown seas.
They were having fun. Still a smooth ride.
If I would have lost power in them conditions.
It probably would have been a different story.
 
From a purely practical view point, a 24' SR or any similar boat is not an ocean or Great Lakes boat. That said, there are many days when you could safely anchor out for swimming or go putzing along a shore line with an on shore breeze while keeping within an easy run back to an inlet. We see a lot of 23 foot fishing boats that go fairly far off shore to go fishing in Lake Michigan. There are usually other boats out there and a CG station is nearby. When the wind freshens and moves offshore, and when there is little traffic you run a risk in a 24 foot boat. We've had boaters lost on Lake Michigan for more than two days. They are eventually found, sometimes dead. Not sure that you would be found in case you had a problem and were blown out to sea in the Atlantic.
 
I have the big brother to your boat, a 1985 Sundancer 260. My experience with rough weather on this boat is solely on Lake Erie in the western basin, but I've also done some ocean sailing.

First I'll say that ocean waves and Erie waves are two entirely different things. I used to regularly sail my 20 foot sailboat near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 10 foot ocean rollers, but I found these ocean waves to be much more predictable and manageable than those on shallow Lake Erie. It was also a sailboat which has an 800 pound keel on the bottom.

As for my 260, this past summer on Lake Erie, I attempted to get the boat home in 30-35 knot sustained winds with waves maxing out in the 8-9' range. Simply put, this was too much for the boat (and her captain) to handle. Heading directly into waves of that height, even at very low speed, the waves buried the bow and beat the hell out of the boat.

It did not take long to realize that it was time to head back in. Turning the boat around in waves like this was a daunting challenge and required precise timing. Trying to "tack" through these waves, that is, taking them on at an angle to get home was simply not an option.

My experience is that 5-6 footers are manageable with my Sundancer 260, although not much fun. In anything 7 feet or above on Lake Erie, I have come to the conclusion that I would just need more length and beam for the boat to be safe in those conditions. I think a Sundancer or Weekender 300 of that same era would have made it, although I suspect that those conditions would be the upper limit of a boat like the 300.

The boat ended up staying on Put-in-Bay Island for an extra week until conditions calmed down and I was able to grab a day and bring her back home.

My two cents is that our smaller Sea Rays are pretty seaworthy and well built boats, but they have their limits. For me, I experienced the limits of my own boat this summer. Once it starts blowing 25+ knots and the waves hit 7+ feet, Marine Wolf stays in the barn.
 
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