1985 Sea Ray Sundancer 250

[helms1200]

Hey Take Five,
I talked to a guy in Massapequa NY a couple days ago who is parting out a 87 250 sundancer. If you are looking for some original parts maybe he could help. His name is Joe 516-982-1738

 

[mkroulik]

Has anyone tried to put a bigger gas tank in theirs. I swear my tank is tiny, either that or my gas gauge is was off. I've had it well under a quarter of a tank and it only took like 30 gallons. I have the 1985 Sundancer 250. Would the guy that is parting it out happen to have the camper top? I am looking for one for my boat. Even if he just had the metal frame. Also looking for possibly a new gas tank.

Thanks

Mike

 

[AKBASSKING]

Has anyone tried to put a bigger gas tank in theirs. I swear my tank is tiny, either that or my gas gauge is was off. I've had it well under a quarter of a tank and it only took like 30 gallons. I have the 1985 Sundancer 250. Would the guy that is parting it out happen to have the camper top? I am looking for one for my boat. Even if he just had the metal frame. Also looking for possibly a new gas tank.

Thanks

Mike

I have the same problem with my 86 300DB. I have twin 71 gal tanks. (one for each engine).

The PO had installed a 48 gal tank for the Genney which I plan to plumb to one of the engines, just in case. Although I always use the 1/3 out, 1/3 back and 1/3 in reserve rule.

This will be hard to do when I push this thing to Alaska in a few years

 

[superduty]

I have the same problem with my 86 300DB. I have twin 71 gal tanks. (one for each engine).

The PO had installed a 48 gal tank for the Genney which I plan to plumb to one of the engines, just in case. Although I always use the 1/3 out, 1/3 back and 1/3 in reserve rule.

This will be hard to do when I push this thing to Alaska in a few years

PO?? on my 85 300da my gen runs on my port tank

 

[mwph]

PO = Previous Owner.

 

[AKBASSKING]

PO?? on my 85 300da my gen runs on my port tank

I looked at the tank the other day and it is from West Marine, 48 gal.

I just need to fix my Genny..............

 

[Tail Chaser 661]

Ive been quoted 350.00 for a custom alum 30 gal Aux tank. Could easily go bigger.
Thats mounting them on the stringer shelves up near the aft cabin bulkhead.
Could add one ea side if wanted. That size only extends about 3" beyond the main center tank
Having the main 100 gal tank extended down into the bilge 6" gives you about another 10 Gals.
Quoted 800.00 on a custom alum main tank.

Dont know if the 25' DA is the same layout :huh:

 

[CAGE RATTLER]

Nice 85 ...... Good luck with it.

I also have an 85 but mine is the 255 Amberjack with a 10 foot beam.

Have only had it a lil over a month now .

Had it splashed pretty quick but have a leaking swivel shaft seal and waiting to get it fixed. Im also doing some DIY projects on mine as well.

Not quite haveing fun doing them yet but hopefully when i can use the boat regularly, they will start to be more enjoyable ... lol.

 

[boykster]

Nice '85 - I have an '89 250DA that I've owned for about 7 years, and was my father's boat since the early 90's. He was the second owner, and I'm the third. Great boats.

 

[Take Five]

Hey Take Five,
I talked to a guy in Massapequa NY a couple days ago who is parting out a 87 250 sundancer. If you are looking for some original parts maybe he could help. His name is Joe 516-982-1738

Thanks man, I'll call him in future. :thumbsup:

Ive been quoted 350.00 for a custom alum 30 gal Aux tank. Could easily go bigger.
Thats mounting them on the stringer shelves up near the aft cabin bulkhead.
Could add one ea side if wanted. That size only extends about 3" beyond the main center tank
Having the main 100 gal tank extended down into the bilge 6" gives you about another 10 Gals.
Quoted 800.00 on a custom alum main tank.

Dont know if the 25' DA is the same layout :huh:

WOW, $800 for custom tank?? How you gonna put in? Take out the motor? You want 110 total gallon of gas? Mine is 70 gallons tank and I dont see any more room to make it bigger but I could be wrong. Unless it not rectangle. More of like

[ ]
[ ___ ]

Nice 85 ...... Good luck with it.

I also have an 85 but mine is the 255 Amberjack with a 10 foot beam.

Have only had it a lil over a month now .

Had it splashed pretty quick but have a leaking swivel shaft seal and waiting to get it fixed. Im also doing some DIY projects on mine as well.

Not quite haveing fun doing them yet but hopefully when i can use the boat regularly, they will start to be more enjoyable ... lol.

Nice! My friend owned same boat you have. 25 footer amberjack with 10 foot beam Plently of room outside and he fish a lot. I could use 10 foot beam lol.

Nice '85 - I have an '89 250DA that I've owned for about 7 years, and was my father's boat since the early 90's. He was the second owner, and I'm the third. Great boats.

Cool! Got pics? My uncle owned 26.7 (i think?) DA for 14 years, sadly he sold it. Wish I talked him out of it if I knew he gonna sell it. That the reason why I owned Sea Ray because of him, it was nice boat, love the layout, designs, purpose, and quality. And as a kid, I knew what kind of boat I want to buy when I grow up. And I did! :thumbsup:

 

[boykster]

I'm ashamed that I don't have a ton of pics - mostly just "project" pics.

First tow are from a bigtime polishing job to rid the boat of years of gel-coat neglect and bring a shine back to the stripe. The boat spent about 8 years on a trailer in eastern washington (Chelan), and the sun did it's thing.

The second two are from a dash rebuild project I did a few years ago. I rebuilt the dash panels and replaced them with birds-eye maple panels with a coating of epoxy resin and varnish for that glossy final finish. I also replaced all the gauges, the trim control switches, and fixed/replaced any switches that needed mending and rewired the entire dash.

I'll have to take some new in-water shots this season!

 

[AKBASSKING]

I'm ashamed that I don't have a ton of pics - mostly just "project" pics.

First tow are from a bigtime polishing job to rid the boat of years of gel-coat neglect and bring a shine back to the stripe. The boat spent about 8 years on a trailer in eastern washington (Chelan), and the sun did it's thing.

The second two are from a dash rebuild project I did a few years ago. I rebuilt the dash panels and replaced them with birds-eye maple panels with a coating of epoxy resin and varnish for that glossy final finish. I also replaced all the gauges, the trim control switches, and fixed/replaced any switches that needed mending and rewired the entire dash.

I'll have to take some new in-water shots this season!

Nice dash work!! Once I get all my major systems rebuild, I will be taking on projests such as rebuilding my dash on the bridge. It has faded and looks cheap.

 

[Take Five]

Nice dash work!! Once I get all my major systems rebuild, I will be taking on projests such as rebuilding my dash on the bridge. It has faded and looks cheap.

Agreed! Nice dash! Do you use armor to make it clean and shiney??

Have fun rebuilding dash :thumbsup: Wood grains look good so consider it.

 

[boykster]

Thanks on the kudos for the dash - it was a fun project and I learned a lot. As for maintenance, the finish ended up being super durable and not requiring a lot of work to keep clean and shiny. I ended up using the existing plastic panel and applying a veneer. I don't remember where I got the veneer, but it was a big supplier online. I could dig it up if anyone's interested.

I used West epoxy to attach the veneer to the panel, using a press to eliminate any bubbles and essentially saturating the veneer fibers with epoxy to get things started. I then used this technique:

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/varnish-over-epoxy/

to create that glassy look. It really worked well. I don't recall the total number of epoxy/varnish coats, but it was a lot :grin: The final few coats are the most important. I also got very skilled with wet sanding and polishing.

 

[Take Five]

Hey guys, I'm considering installing air conditioning, I looked at the price at west marine, $1800??? Is there any better than that?? I don't want one that you attached on hatch. I prefered in bilge room. Thanks

 

[Larry]

For A/C look at Mermaid Marine Air, Defender Marine sells them. Good units with nice 5 year warrenty. Just remember you can not mount these units (any A/C units) in the bilge/engine compartment of a gas powerd boat, they are not electricly sealed (as soon as the relay pulls in it will arc and the boat could go boom if any fuel vapors are present). These are usually mounted under the V-bunks or in your boat maybe under the galley, you may have to remove fridge to slide the unit into cabinet.

I had a 1986 250 Sundancer (1993 -1999). Great boat, we took ours from New Jersey all the way to Canada and back over a 10 day period all the way up the Hudson through the Lake Champlain locks all the way across Champlain into Canada, long trip.... Wife said next time go without her!!

 

[Hank1234@verizon]

Hey take five with the "clover leaf". looks good and i certainly understand the amount of work that it takes.
Your photos encouraged me to post mine after my winter renovation.
In fact, i just had many come up to me at our marina and could not believe it was an 85 (Sundancer 25').
Photos coming soon, next project "fresh water coolant'.
Sla'inte

 

[Take Five]

For A/C look at Mermaid Marine Air, Defender Marine sells them. Good units with nice 5 year warrenty. Just remember you can not mount these units (any A/C units) in the bilge/engine compartment of a gas powerd boat, they are not electricly sealed (as soon as the relay pulls in it will arc and the boat could go boom if any fuel vapors are present). These are usually mounted under the V-bunks or in your boat maybe under the galley, you may have to remove fridge to slide the unit into cabinet.

I had a 1986 250 Sundancer (1993 -1999). Great boat, we took ours from New Jersey all the way to Canada and back over a 10 day period all the way up the Hudson through the Lake Champlain locks all the way across Champlain into Canada, long trip.... Wife said next time go without her!!

Really? You can't put a/c in engine compartment? I didnt know that.. So i put that in front of the boat (v bunk). Does a/c runs water and pump water out? I'm little confuse.

Nice! 10 days trip! I live in Jersey and rartain bay is about 30 minutes away from me, I'm docked at the river. Sound fun!

Hey take five with the "clover leaf". looks good and i certainly understand the amount of work that it takes.
Your photos encouraged me to post mine after my winter renovation.
In fact, i just had many come up to me at our marina and could not believe it was an 85 (Sundancer 25').
Photos coming soon, next project "fresh water coolant'.
Sla'inte

cool, u got '85 dancer 250?? The projects are a lot of work but at the end, it was totally worth it. You should do it. My next project are replacing vinyl (i will do all the work, cutting, putting vinyl on), maybe installing a/c, and the rear seat will be replace and make it wider and longer.. Show us your boat pic!

 

[AKBASSKING]

Mine is located under the forward dining bench. Yes it pulls in sea water to act like the fan on your home unit.

 

[Take Five]

Ahh okay, so if I decided to get a/c and put that in front v berth, I have to drill hole on bottom so a/c can pump water and drill other hole on side of boat for water to be pump out? (stupid but gotta know how it's hooked up.)