1986 260 Sundancer

[LookingForCruiser]

Hello all,

I am looking at a "first boat", and am thinking about an older Sundancer - they get very affordable when you're looking at the '80s. In particular, I'm going down to look at an '86 260 in a few days (with an 8 year old engine)

However, I'm wondering if this is maybe just a horrible idea for a first boat. I don't want to carry any sort of debt though, so it'll be a few years for anything newer.

Any advice? Things to look out for with that model year? Cries of "don't be a fool!" ?

There don't seem to be many boats for sale past the '80s, is that because they get scrapped - and if I bought something that old is it basically on its last legs, or can you pop in a new engine/drive and everything is good as new ?

 

[chuck1]

IMHO Are you sure you want to take on the repairs and maintenance issues of an older boat as your first boat. :smt017 Sea Ray is a great boat but with anything 20+ years old you are going to be doing a whole lot of maintenance/repairs and not a lot of boating, may not be the best way to start. Have you looked at something smaller to start.

 

[Dave M.]

I think it depends very much on the boat and on you.

Considering the boat, you should go into it knowing what sorts of things it needs to be done to it, if anything, for it to be acceptable for use on the water. So you need to do find that out somehow. You should probably have help that knows boats.

Second, you should consider your own interests and capabilities. Would you be able to do repair work yourself, or would you have to hire it out? If you are able to do it yourself, then doing that may turn out to be something you enjoy, and you will learn a lot along the way.

What happens to boats as they get old is dependent on how they get cared for. I have a 1962 17 ft boat with a 1965 outboard motor that I have had since 1968. I don't consider it less reliable than my 96 270 Sea Ray. So I think it all depends on the you and the boat for that age boat.

If the boat is structurally sound, then you can put in a new engine and outdrive. I 'test drove' an SRV 240 hard top model several years ago. It was probably made mid-70's. It had been repowered with a Volvo package. It was fast, and felt very good in the water. I liked it a lot. My 270 is sluggish in comparison.

If the hull and stringers are not structurally sound, then you have real problems and want to stay far away.

That's my 2 cents worth.

 

[Dave S]

I echo Dave's recommendations as well. A professional Marine Surveyor can look the boat over for you and tell you exactly what kind of shape it is in. Make sure your sale is contingent on this Survey. I would get both a hull and a mechanical survey. Older Boats can have a lot of problems that are not visible just by looking at the boat. A surveyor can identify these for you. The biggest concern I would have is wood rot in the hull. Even though the boats are fiberglass, they are built with a lot of wood encapsulated with fiberglass. Many times, water has found it's way into the wood and has rotted the wood affecting the integrity of the hull. Fixing problems like this can cost more than the boat is worth.

 

[LMBoat]

First, I'm a used boat guy <disclaimner>. I'd rather take the same amount of money and buy a bigger used boat then a smaller new one. Secondly, our first boat was a '84 260 with the 5.7 Alpha 1 combo. (it was 7 years old when we got it> We had that boat for 11 years before trading up. It was a fantastic boat for us. But, as echoed here, be sure you do your homework and get a good boat. Even if you find some problems, you can aggressively negoatiate. Wood rot, water leakage, and and engine compression test are most important on that boat. Good Luck!

 

[LookingForCruiser]

Thanks everybody for your responses. I'm mildly useful fixing things (learned to fix my own TVs, restore arcade games, light construction like decks, playsets, etc), haven't worked on engines before though. I would definitely get anything surveyed before purchase, elsewise I wouldn't know what needs fixing.

Another question occurred to me: for 80's Searays, did they have aluminum gas tanks or fiberglass? My understanding is that the ethanol being added to gas nowadays wreaks havoc with fiberglass tanks, so I'd presumably want to avoid them.

 

[LMBoat]

I'm sure someone will correct me if this is wrong, but I believe all Searays have aluminum fuel tanks. The '84 260 I had did

 

[widowmaker]

I don't know about the fuel tank material.

Regarding the used boat if you find the floor is springy, especially near the rear then the stringers are likely rotted, take a pass on that one and save your survey money.

A used boat is only as good as the previous owner(s). I'd look for service records, service manuals, owner history, engine hours etc.. I believe a gas marine engine should be good for 1500 hours before a major rebuild is required. Depending on where you live a seasonally operated boat would get 50-150 hours/ year.

There are some fine older boats that somebody babied and would be a great older boat. Be patient and keep looking till you find her.
Let us know what you find!

 

[sbw1]

Thanks everybody for your responses. I'm mildly useful fixing things (learned to fix my own TVs, restore arcade games, light construction like decks, playsets, etc), haven't worked on engines before though. I would definitely get anything surveyed before purchase, elsewise I wouldn't know what needs fixing.

Another question occurred to me: for 80's Searays, did they have aluminum gas tanks or fiberglass? My understanding is that the ethanol being added to gas nowadays wreaks havoc with fiberglass tanks, so I'd presumably want to avoid them.

The tanks are aluminum. BTW, you will need to be more than mildlly useful to repair stinger and transom rot. After that is repaired, then you redo the fiberglass. What others have said about getting a good survey is right on the money.

 

[LookingForCruiser]

Another question... should I be thinking about a sea trial in November, or is that just ridiculous in the Northeast? I'd imagine the boat is already winterized