1987 Weekender 268 vs 1989 Sundancer 268

kopcoach

New Member
May 29, 2017
11
Maryland
Boat Info
268 Weekender
Engines
454 Mercruiser w Alpha One Stern Drive
I am a first time boater looking to buy an old but clean Sea Ray within my budget.

I am looking for a cabin cruiser as I will have young kids on the boat and need a complete head to use while out on the water.

I found 2 deals:

1. 1987 Sea Ray 268 Weekender with 454 Magnum Mercruiser engine with 842 hours on it but also that Alpha One stern drive which every mechanic has warned me about for this model.

2. 1989 Sea Ray 268 Sundancer with a new Mercruiser engine and used Bravo Three stern drive.

Both are comparable structurally.

The Weekender is much better maintained and cosmetically as clean as you can get for this age. It has everything I need, even a built in HDTV, except not a shower, AC and water heater.

I understand generators don't come with this age???

The Sundancer is clean, 2 ft bigger, has the extra aft berth, wider seats at helm but ripped. No TV (lol) but also no shower, AC, water heater or generator and the fridge is very dirty. Always wonder about the maintenance when I see these kind of things?

Now both need around $3000 in repairs.

The Weekender needs new manifolds, mercathode, and battery charger. Trim Tab gage does not work even though trim tabs work. That's it as the engine overheated while on sea trial and they found the manifolds had a leak. Other than that, this boat will be ready to go.

The Sundancer has a leak at the transom. When they installed the Bravo they did not replace the transom plate and so now it is leaking. They need to remove the engine to fix it. Before that they had many new things added and the boat shut down on the water due to an electrical problem. They claim to have fixed it by repairing the ignition switch but have not taken it on water since the fix. So there could still be electrical problems with this boat. They claim only the leak is an issue now. But that seems a big one.
All else seems fine but I have not had it fully surveyed yet while the Weekender passed the bill.
The Sundancer needs the trim tab gage fixed also. It may need some cosmetic work, but with that new engine, I am very tempted. At least I should not have any issues tubing and going at good cruise speed when I like once the leak is fixed.

But the possible electrical issue concerns me. If these gremlins exist and the previous guy got rid of this boat so cheap, then what is to say anything else works on the water once I buy it?

So I am in limbo with which one to try an fix?

Any and all advice is well appreciated.

I have looked at over 20 boats physically since February. The season started this weekend and these are the 2 boats that fit my needs, the kids and the price but the possible dangers remain.

Thanks for any help with this process and review of these boats if you know any thing.
 
kop, first of all, welcome to CSR.

I would suggest with either boat that you have a survey done to check out the condition of each boat. Then buy the one mama likes. If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody gonna be happy.

I also suggest to new boaters that they buy their "second boat" first. By that I mean, many people go out and buy a boat that they like, only to find out in a couple of years as the kids get bigger or their needs change, that the boat isn't "right" for them anymore. So they trade it in, usually taking a financial hit in the meanwhile, to buy a different boat, usually bigger, that suits their needs better.

Many people call their first boat their "training boat".

You didn't mention how small you kids are, but in a few years they're going to be all legs and they're going to want to invite a friend along for the day. When that happens you might find a 268 getting a little small.

If your kids are really small now, I'd suggest you concentrate on the boat that best suits your needs and, unless you're pretty handy as a DIY'er, that you get the one that needs the least amount of work. Otherwise you're going to find yourself working on the boat when you should be out playing on the boat.

Just my $.02, and again, welcome to CSR.
 
I would be VERY concerned with the boat that has the transom leak, especially for an older boat. I assume the transom is cored with wood so the combination of water and age wouldn't end well. Who knows how long it has been leaking, maybe before they changed the outdrive. Not good they have to remove the engine to fix it....cost of repairs might be better spent on another newer model.
 
My only comment. I have a "88 268 that I love! I've done a lot of the work you mentioned above, so I know it will last... It's a great entry level cruiser as it has both a dinette and front berth. I slip it in the summer and trailer it in my yard in the winter. I use a roll around portable AC with the tube up the side porthole. I have the 454 w/ Bravo II. She'll get up and move.
However, I think the 268 is too big and not very maneuverable for tubing....

Just my 2 cents
 
kop, first of all, welcome to CSR.

I would suggest with either boat that you have a survey done to check out the condition of each boat. Then buy the one mama likes. If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody gonna be happy.

I also suggest to new boaters that they buy their "second boat" first. By that I mean, many people go out and buy a boat that they like, only to find out in a couple of years as the kids get bigger or their needs change, that the boat isn't "right" for them anymore. So they trade it in, usually taking a financial hit in the meanwhile, to buy a different boat, usually bigger, that suits their needs better.

Many people call their first boat their "training boat".

You didn't mention how small you kids are, but in a few years they're going to be all legs and they're going to want to invite a friend along for the day. When that happens you might find a 268 getting a little small.

If your kids are really small now, I'd suggest you concentrate on the boat that best suits your needs and, unless you're pretty handy as a DIY'er, that you get the one that needs the least amount of work. Otherwise you're going to find yourself working on the boat when you should be out playing on the boat.

Just my $.02, and again, welcome to CSR.


Great advice Gotfirstclass.
It will be a "training" boat as you say. I have never captained before and don't know the waters at all. I am in the DC/MD region and so have no idea what the difference is between the Potomac River boating or Chesepeake Bay boating, never mind salt water to fresh water but I have heard things from others. Such as watch out for jellyfish. So this is a very new experience for me. My budget is very small so I have to buy an old boat that has a full cabin and head for the kids. These are not my own kids, the kids I am talking about are my soccer kids, aged 8 to 18. I am a soccer coach and have always wanted a boat for the summer and take my players out so they can enjoy the water while the parents and I talk about the season past and ahead. Teaching can be a very stressful affair and I see boating as a way of getting away from the day to day pressures. But I am sure I am not saying anything new on here.

The 268 weekender has passed a full inspection and is in great shape. Just a few things need fixing with the manifolds and I'm told by the mechanic that the boat is good to go. But the surveyor did say that Alpha One is not strong enough to pull much with the size of that boat (26ft) 5000lbs. So no water skiing or going fast. I have to gently work my way up. So I do not anticipate doing any of that anyway. I see this as a crushing venture for the next few years, swimming, some tubing, and fishing. I need a full head for the kids (especially the girls) to have a bathroom access at any time. Otherwise I would get a smaller boat for a couple of hours and no problem. Even a pontoon boat was a consideration.

I like these Sea Rays as the older ones have nice roomy interiors where you can eat and relax from the sun after a while.

The Sundancer 268 has the new engine but used Bravo Three. They messed up by not replacing the transom plate and so don't wish to do any more repairs so they are selling in my budget AS IS. I like the idea of this new engine but it is clear to me I am getting a boat for free and paying just for the engine. Good deal? I think so but scary to know what else could be wrong as I have not had it surveyed yet.

So I need people with experience to let me know what they think and what they have come across so I can figure out how much more trouble could there be either with the Weekender and that weaker Alpha Drive or the Sundancer and that leak and/or electrical issue of it cutting out on the water. If both can be repaired within budget which is the better boat at least for the next 5 years to learn the waters, take the soccer kids and cruise the way I am foreseeing the weekends. Or should I just keep searching???

Thanks again for your thoughts...
 
I would be VERY concerned with the boat that has the transom leak, especially for an older boat. I assume the transom is cored with wood so the combination of water and age wouldn't end well. Who knows how long it has been leaking, maybe before they changed the outdrive. Not good they have to remove the engine to fix it....cost of repairs might be better spent on another newer model.

Timeflys I don't know about the wood. I would have to ask about it. Once I have my surveyor do the work I am sure I will hear about it. But rather than spend the money to do that survey if people who know about these issues say don't risk it, I will stick with the Weekender or move on, no worries. My surveyor did say the leak must be repaired. I was thinking of leaving it in a boatel so it would never hold much water this season. Then get it repaired over Winter? Is that a good idea?
 
My only comment. I have a "88 268 that I love! I've done a lot of the work you mentioned above, so I know it will last... It's a great entry level cruiser as it has both a dinette and front berth. I slip it in the summer and trailer it in my yard in the winter. I use a roll around portable AC with the tube up the side porthole. I have the 454 w/ Bravo II. She'll get up and move.
However, I think the 268 is too big and not very maneuverable for tubing....

Just my 2 cents

mstang, I love the idea of a portable AC. I want to adapt the sink to a hand held shower too. Next season add a water heater possibly? What about these Honda generators? Is it worth investing in one? My idea was to spend a weekend on the boat but once you dock or anchor overnight without shore line power, would the portable generator be able to power the lights, TV, chargers, fan, and electric cooktop??? Just wanted an idea of how manageable these boats are without a shore line? I guess the modern boats can use power on the water but Im told, you will run your battery down fast if you try to cook, use TV, etc while on the water. What can you do and can't you do when on the water? Thanks.
 
First, the Weekender and the Sundancer are the same boat hull-wise. Same length, same beam. The real difference is the Weekender has the cabin door in the center of the boat and has no aft cabin. The Sundancer has the cabin door on the port side and has an aft cabin. There are other subtle differences, but those are the main ones.

If the transom bracket is leaking on the one boat, I'm betting your wood core is compromised. I completely rebuilt my 268's transom, stringers, bulkheads, supports etc from the transom up to the head. Unfortunately, I know a lot about core rot and what causes it on these boats.

Electrical problems can be a real challenge, but if you have a little knowledge on how things work, you can trouble shoot this stuff fairly easily. I can tell you the exhaust manifolds on the big blocks get damn hot at times and will cause things like ignition wires, plug wires and the mercathode wires to get soft and even melt. I've put little guards around my wires to keep them from laying directly on the exhaust manifolds and heads.

We love our 268. I bought it in 2010 and after the wood core rebuild, engine rebuild and improvements I've made to the boat, my family and I have had almost 7 years of enjoyment. After working the bugs out, she's been trouble free and only requires routine maintenance.

My family consists of the 5 of us and the Sundancer was our only option to accommodate all of the gear and give us ample sleeping spaces. It has been an awesome boat for trailering port to port, . My boys are getting older (and bigger) and so is my daughter so the sleeping quarters are starting to get a little cramped. Luckily we are all "boaters" and know that when you go down below, get into your spot and out of the way so you don't plug the isle way. :grin:
 
First, the Weekender and the Sundancer are the same boat hull-wise. Same length, same beam. The real difference is the Weekender has the cabin door in the center of the boat and has no aft cabin. The Sundancer has the cabin door on the port side and has an aft cabin. There are other subtle differences, but those are the main ones.

If the transom bracket is leaking on the one boat, I'm betting your wood core is compromised. I completely rebuilt my 268's transom, stringers, bulkheads, supports etc from the transom up to the head. Unfortunately, I know a lot about core rot and what causes it on these boats.

Electrical problems can be a real challenge, but if you have a little knowledge on how things work, you can trouble shoot this stuff fairly easily. I can tell you the exhaust manifolds on the big blocks get damn hot at times and will cause things like ignition wires, plug wires and the mercathode wires to get soft and even melt. I've put little guards around my wires to keep them from laying directly on the exhaust manifolds and heads.

We love our 268. I bought it in 2010 and after the wood core rebuild, engine rebuild and improvements I've made to the boat, my family and I have had almost 7 years of enjoyment. After working the bugs out, she's been trouble free and only requires routine maintenance.

My family consists of the 5 of us and the Sundancer was our only option to accommodate all of the gear and give us ample sleeping spaces. It has been an awesome boat for trailering port to port, . My boys are getting older (and bigger) and so is my daughter so the sleeping quarters are starting to get a little cramped. Luckily we are all "boaters" and know that when you go down below, get into your spot and out of the way so you don't plug the isle way. :grin:

Getaway I am very grateful for your story and appreciate the tip on the wires. I wonder if that is part of the issue for the Sundancer shutting down on the water with its electrical issues?

However, this issue of rot is really troubling me. I guess I will not know the answer until it is surveyed. But if it is rot, then fixing the leak will not be the only issue, but doing exactly what you had to and rebuild the entire back of the boat. I

I heard stories about stringers on these boats and how the bilge pumps on these models were not set low enough to extract all the water from the bilge area. The broker was trying to assure me that ALL boats take on water and so a little water is expected...is that true?

One thing I am learning is that no matter a boat below 10k or one above 10k you will always have issues of maintenance and something will require fixing. It is a costly hobby. I guess that is why I see so many boats that are disgusting in the engine bays or cabin interiors, or around the props or under the boat, etc. When I see all this dirt and poor maintenance but they tell me the boat runs, I just run away as it is clear an engine running is not the only determinant to a good boat.

Both these Sea Rays are clean but the Weekender is very well maintained in the interior. No rips in any cabin or cockpit seats either. The Weekender has had a new alternator, new batteries, new shift cable, new bellows, props done.

There are a couple of soft spots in the stringers but not in the engine bay. These 2 spots are in the cockpit bay where there is a boxed stringer under the floor. I am told thy can be cut and replaced next season. Same with the rebidding of the stanchions on the bow, same issue with Sundancer.

Neither boat has working wipers either so the motors need replacing, but these issues are minor compared to the leak or manifolds.

Does anyone know if the manifolds and elbows need replacing that you must also replace the risers???

I think I am going to have to find a mechanic in MD who can do this work independently of the dealer.
 
No problem kopcoach! I could talk about my boat all day long...LOL.

"I heard stories about stringers on these boats and how the bilge pumps on these models were not set low enough to extract all the water from the bilge area. The broker was trying to assure me that ALL boats take on water and so a little water is expected...is that true?"

Absolute BS! My bilge stays bone dry until we get a good hard rain. Some mysterious water does make it's way into the bilge during a good rain. How/where, not sure yet, but I'm investigating and WILL get that corrected. My ole girl does not spend a lot of time outside in hard rains, so locating this has been a challenge.

That's phfooey about the bilge pump too. Yeah, it could be a little further back, but water never gets high enough to cause a problem down there. Honestly, since I rebuilt my boat, it has never got enough water in the bilge to get up to the bilge pump, let alone actually kick on even after sitting in the slip for 6 weeks.

"One thing I am learning is that no matter a boat below 10k or one above 10k you will always have issues of maintenance and something will require fixing. It is a costly hobby. I guess that is why I see so many boats that are disgusting in the engine bays or cabin interiors, or around the props or under the boat, etc. When I see all this dirt and poor maintenance but they tell me the boat runs, I just run away as it is clear an engine running is not the only determinant to a good boat."

AGREE.

"There are a couple of soft spots in the stringers but not in the engine bay. These 2 spots are in the cockpit bay where there is a boxed stringer under the floor. I am told thy can be cut and replaced next season. Same with the rebidding of the stanchions on the bow, same issue with Sundancer."

Ahhh, well, I may have bad news for you, water generally wicks its way up from the transom forward. If you have soft spots on those box stringers, the likelihood of the transom being soaked is very high. Water intrusion points are the swim platform mounts, trim tab mounts, speedometer tube and any transducers mounted to the transom. All of this stuff needs lots of sealant and Sea Ray and their dealers did a very poor job of sealing that stuff back in the late 80's. They also did a real dumb thing and ran the speedo tube through the transom right about at the water line and they sealed it with an el-cheapo RTV which caused almost instant water intrusion.

"Does anyone know if the manifolds and elbows need replacing that you must also replace the risers??? "

Nope. You can buy just manifolds and bolt your old risers on and use your old elbows. Look the risers over good and make sure they are not clogged with junk before reusing them.
 
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my bilge stays dry but we had heavy rain this past week and i have about 1" of water laying in there now. not enough that the pump can pick it up though. mine came in through the port side vent. i know this because i was feeling around under that vent inside and the carpeted liner was wet just below it. my hose came detached from the vent piece on the boat and i haven't been able to figure out how to reattach it but that is this weekends project. other than those hard rains mine stays bone dry too
 
No problem kopcoach! I could talk about my boat all day long...LOL.

"I heard stories about stringers on these boats and how the bilge pumps on these models were not set low enough to extract all the water from the bilge area. The broker was trying to assure me that ALL boats take on water and so a little water is expected...is that true?"

Absolute BS! My bilge stays bone dry until we get a good hard rain. Some mysterious water does make it's way into the bilge during a good rain. How/where, not sure yet, but I'm investigating and WILL get that corrected. My ole girl does not spend a lot of time outside in hard rains, so locating this has been a challenge.

That's phfooey about the bilge pump too. Yeah, it could be a little further back, but water never gets high enough to cause a problem down there. Honestly, since I rebuilt my boat, it has never got enough water in the bilge to get up to the bilge pump, let alone actually kick on even after sitting in the slip for 6 weeks.

"One thing I am learning is that no matter a boat below 10k or one above 10k you will always have issues of maintenance and something will require fixing. It is a costly hobby. I guess that is why I see so many boats that are disgusting in the engine bays or cabin interiors, or around the props or under the boat, etc. When I see all this dirt and poor maintenance but they tell me the boat runs, I just run away as it is clear an engine running is not the only determinant to a good boat."

AGREE.

"There are a couple of soft spots in the stringers but not in the engine bay. These 2 spots are in the cockpit bay where there is a boxed stringer under the floor. I am told thy can be cut and replaced next season. Same with the rebidding of the stanchions on the bow, same issue with Sundancer."

Ahhh, well, I may have bad news for you, water generally wicks its way up from the transom forward. If you have soft spots on those box stringers, the likelihood of the transom being soaked is very high. Water intrusion points are the swim platform mounts, trim tab mounts, speedometer tube and any transducers mounted to the transom. All of this stuff needs lots of sealant and Sea Ray and their dealers did a very poor job of sealing that stuff back in the late 80's. They also did a real dumb thing and ran the speedo tube through the transom right about at the water line and they sealed it with an el-cheapo RTV which caused almost instant water intrusion.

"Does anyone know if the manifolds and elbows need replacing that you must also replace the risers??? "

Nope. You can buy just manifolds and bolt your old risers on and use your old elbows. Look the risers over good and make sure they are not clogged with junk before reusing them.

Getaway, thanks again for all the advice. I am glad to hear this bilge pump news may be false.

The word on those seals will make me check it all out if I buy the Sundancer.

My surveyor will have to be very thorough to check all this stuff and the risers.

At least with the Weekender we are fairly good. But I still have concerns about that Alpha One drive on the 454 Mercruiser. If anyone can share how that performs on their Weekender of this age, I would appreciate it.
 
my bilge stays dry but we had heavy rain this past week and i have about 1" of water laying in there now. not enough that the pump can pick it up though. mine came in through the port side vent. i know this because i was feeling around under that vent inside and the carpeted liner was wet just below it. my hose came detached from the vent piece on the boat and i haven't been able to figure out how to reattach it but that is this weekends project. other than those hard rains mine stays bone dry too

So do you think there is an issue with the drainage, maybe the bay covers/lids are not sealed right? Gutters get overflooded above engine bay due to width or clogged? You mentioned the port side vent, is that common?
 
theoretically there is not supposed to be any water going into the side vents but it happens so the water should just run down the vent hose into the bilge. no big deal. my problem id my port side hose came loose from the fitting at the vent so any water that enters my vent just runs down the inside of my hull and into my bilge where it would go anyway. the issue is that it gets everything else wet on the way there. i just need to reattach the vent hose to the fitting just not sure how to get in there. i have a 1986 250 so it might be a little different than what you are looking at
 
Welcome to boating, and to CSR!!

You're getting plenty of good input on the mechanics/maintenance side of things, so I'm picking up the "what kind of boating will you do" topic: you mentioned soccer kids of various ages, plus their parents. How many guests do you wish to have at once?

My wide-beam 300 can get cozy pretty quickly at about 6 - 8 adults (including First Mate and me) if we're socializing in the cockpit. Friends with 80s era 250 - 270 size models (there are 5 in our crew) are tripping over each other with 5 - 6 on board, especially once you load gear, coolers, etc. (Think about all the kids' noodles, inflatables, snorkel masks, goggles, SuperSoakers, and so on!) It's the nature of the beast for cruisers, since much of the square footage is dedicated to the cabin. Of course, if you assume kids and some adults may stay in the water most of the time, that will mitigate the situation. So if you're planning mostly day trips with 3 - 4 kids plus a parent or two per kid, and are dedicated to a cruiser rather than an open bow or pontoon, take some friends with you on your next visit to either one to stand around and get an idea for how it will feel once guests are on board.

FWIW: availability of generators, heat/AC, water heaters, etc. is less about age than boat size. Due to space constraints, they're simply less common in boats in the 25 - 27' range than they are in longer ones. Not non-existent, just less common. You can remedy the shower situation, though, by using an adapter and handheld wand/hose with the head sink; parts are pretty easy to find through boating/RV retailers.

Also, folks are being quite reserved regarding your portable generator question, which is a good thing, as it's an extremely controversial topic. I encourage you to search "honda generator" in this forum, as well as to research on industry sites to educate yourself on key characteristics of marine-rated models/ABYC standards and the safety risks associated with alternate options. That way this thread will stay focused on hull, engine, and related topics and not get derailed.
 
From the pov of having owned several boats.....take your time in deciding if you actually need a boat! Sometimes people get into ownership from a romantic pov, and then realize what a pita they can be or how much $ they can eat up...storage insurance mtc etc. How many days are you realistically going to use it in a season. How easy will it be to get rid of it when plans change. Keep talking to owners, and don't discount the horror stories.
It sounds like you don't want to invest too much money on the boat, so don't rush into anything.
There is an old saying: The 2 happiest days of your life- the day you buy a boat and the day you sell it!
Don't want to be a downer...just my 2 c's.
 
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"At least with the Weekender we are fairly good. But I still have concerns about that Alpha One drive on the 454 Mercruiser. If anyone can share how that performs on their Weekender of this age, I would appreciate it."

I have the Alpha drive on my boat mated to the 454 Mercruiser. Still original, no issues. Routine maintenance done with close to 4000 hours on the drive.

Bring her up easy and back her down easy just like you should anyways.

Bob
 
theoretically there is not supposed to be any water going into the side vents but it happens so the water should just run down the vent hose into the bilge. no big deal. my problem id my port side hose came loose from the fitting at the vent so any water that enters my vent just runs down the inside of my hull and into my bilge where it would go anyway. the issue is that it gets everything else wet on the way there. i just need to reattach the vent hose to the fitting just not sure how to get in there. i have a 1986 250 so it might be a little different than what you are looking at

OK, I see. I will have the fittings checked in any case as I would not want anything getting wet like that. Thanks.
 
Welcome to boating, and to CSR!!

You're getting plenty of good input on the mechanics/maintenance side of things, so I'm picking up the "what kind of boating will you do" topic: you mentioned soccer kids of various ages, plus their parents. How many guests do you wish to have at once?

My wide-beam 300 can get cozy pretty quickly at about 6 - 8 adults (including First Mate and me) if we're socializing in the cockpit. Friends with 80s era 250 - 270 size models (there are 5 in our crew) are tripping over each other with 5 - 6 on board, especially once you load gear, coolers, etc. (Think about all the kids' noodles, inflatables, snorkel masks, goggles, SuperSoakers, and so on!) It's the nature of the beast for cruisers, since much of the square footage is dedicated to the cabin. Of course, if you assume kids and some adults may stay in the water most of the time, that will mitigate the situation. So if you're planning mostly day trips with 3 - 4 kids plus a parent or two per kid, and are dedicated to a cruiser rather than an open bow or pontoon, take some friends with you on your next visit to either one to stand around and get an idea for how it will feel once guests are on board.

FWIW: availability of generators, heat/AC, water heaters, etc. is less about age than boat size. Due to space constraints, they're simply less common in boats in the 25 - 27' range than they are in longer ones. Not non-existent, just less common. You can remedy the shower situation, though, by using an adapter and handheld wand/hose with the head sink; parts are pretty easy to find through boating/RV retailers.

Also, folks are being quite reserved regarding your portable generator question, which is a good thing, as it's an extremely controversial topic. I encourage you to search "honda generator" in this forum, as well as to research on industry sites to educate yourself on key characteristics of marine-rated models/ABYC standards and the safety risks associated with alternate options. That way this thread will stay focused on hull, engine, and related topics and not get derailed.

trfgrl thank you kindly for this advice. I am certainly concerned about how many kids and adults I can share this boat with on any given day. I am hoping mainly the kids on deck and swimming. Not sure how this Alpha drive would pull the tubing well??? So cruising and swimming spots would be the main focus until i learn more about this Weekender.

If I get the Sundancer then even water skiing won't be a problem. But that transom leak is so scary with no previous knowledge of how much more damage there is. So I have to wait on getting the full survey to assess correctly.

My main focus is to learn as much as I can about these Sea Rays for this age. How long can i expect to use them once purchased? Are they built to last or after certain hours on the engine do they need rebuilds? Do they get rotted or corroded easily? Do you have to repaint the bottom every year?

Ideally I would like a laundry list of to do items to maintain these boats so I know what to look for and do each season?

Every detail matters as the safety and experience of the kids is critical for me.

So I don't know the answer to your question yet as I am told the boats can hold 10-12 but I am planning on having no more than 6 kids and 4 adults on board at a time, or less.

Also how good or bad are these boats on gas?

Do the batteries last all day and night or just a set number of hours?

Thank you for any input
 
From the pov of having owned several boats.....take your time in deciding if you actually need a boat! Sometimes people get into ownership from a romantic pov, and then realize what a pita they can be or how much $ they can eat up...storage insurance mtc etc. How many days are you realistically going to use it in a season. How easy will it be to get rid of it when plans change. Keep talking to owners, and don't discount the horror stories.
It sounds like you don't want to invest too much money on the boat, so don't rush into anything.
There is an old saying: The 2 happiest days of your life- the day you buy a boat and the day you sell it!
Don't want to be a downer...just my 2 c's.

Timeflys definitely not going to rush this. I have seen other boats like Bayliners and Chris Crafts within my budget and we are talking low. They are also 80s or even 70s models. They are large interiors and deck space for the price. But I have a preference for Sea Rays right now. So all I can learn about them is a massive plus. All the sellers say boats are in good condition everything works and runs but until i have a boat surveyed I can't trust any of that. I basically look at the interior for signs of sheer neglect and then realize this would be a major investment to repair and maintain so the least work I have to do this year the better. I am not afraid of a big fix like the leak or manifolds, I am just worried about what if that is not the ONLY major fix. Cosmetic stuff is fine and expected. Adding stuff is fine over time. But I really do not want to get in to rebuilding engines, drives, electrical circuits, replacing risers, stringers, or soft hull or decks. Rebedding stanchions and sealing a window or hatch is the most I want to worry about. Am I being realistic with these boats or am I way off?
 

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