1994-96 290 vs 300 sundancer

[chris sirizzotti]

Hello I'm looking to purchase a 290 to 300 sundancer the 290 has twin 4.3 alpha drives and the 300 has 5.7 alpha drives. I prefer the bigger gas tanks and wider beam on the 300 but like the 290 under cabin layout better as far as the galley goes. Just wondering if anyone finds it weird or not practical having the galley port side right when you walk down the stairs on the 300 and seems less counter space also. are there any pros and cons as far as the 290 vs 300 goes? I really would prefer the 300 but would like to here what you guys and gals think. I've never owned a sea ray before this would be my first. Any other things to look out for on these year models any info is helpful thanks. I boat mostly lake Eire lake st. clair area.

 

[Little Ducky]

Don't know to much about the different floor plans 290 vs 300.

In looking at some 290's see if you can find a 1998 290 and newer. They made some marked improvements in the over all layout and it feels like a bigger boat. When I was looking the marina had three 290's in a row and going from one to the other I was like WOW when I looked at and purchased the 1998 290. I have the floor plan where there is no permanent table so my floor is totally open to walk around.

I also believe the 300's in this time period were inboards vs inboard/outboards like the 290.

Which engine drive layout would you prefer?

Oh if you haven't come across this...... you can pull up spec's from different years to help compare.

https://www.searay.com/page.aspx/pageid/162289/Owners-Resources.aspx#ModelArchives

 

[BillK2632]

I would lean toward the 300 over 290 of that era - if you can find a 300 with v-drives even better. A good friend had one and it was a great boat - 5.7's with vdrives. Prior to 97 or 98 the 290 had a narrower beam and was shorter due to the integrated swim platform. Starting in 98-2002 the wide body 290 was a nice big 29ft boat, I really liked mine. But I just don't like the older 290's - the ones I have been on had either twin 4.3's or a single 7.4 - neither one performed very well. The 4.3's were better than the 7.4 as it drank a ton of fuel and it was a fiasco trying to handle a single engine boat that size. You want to really hear the bad on that era 290, read the review David Pascoe wrote - he hated SeaRays, but he really let it rip on the 290 - his subject was a 93 290, but I don't think there is a lot of difference 93-97..
https://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/sundancer_290.htm

 

[chris sirizzotti]

Thanks I will check it out I'm looking for inboard outboard being in the great lakes and more familure with that set up.

 

[chris sirizzotti]

Im leaning more towards the 300 for sure after seeing my friends leaning with 4 passengers on board I think the wider beam will be more stable. Pluse I think it's under powers with only having the 4.3l engines. I keep hearing balsa cored bottom does anyone know if the 300 1994 years is?

 

[chris sirizzotti]

Don't know to much about the different floor plans 290 vs 300.

In looking at some 290's see if you can find a 1998 290 and newer. They made some marked improvements in the over all layout and it feels like a bigger boat. When I was looking the marina had three 290's in a row and going from one to the other I was like WOW when I looked at and purchased the 1998 290. I have the floor plan where there is no permanent table so my floor is totally open to walk around.

I also believe the 300's in this time period were inboards vs inboard/outboards like the 290.

Which engine drive layout would you prefer?

Oh if you haven't come across this...... you can pull up spec's from different years to help compare.

https://www.searay.com/page.aspx/pageid/162289/Owners-Resources.aspx#ModelArchives

thanks alot for the info!!

 

[chris sirizzotti]

Does anyone know why that some of the 300da's I look at the radar arch at the top cross beam is at an angle to the deck and some are parallel?

 

[chris sirizzotti]

also notice the ones on angle has what appears to be like handles running down them...

 

[hughespat57]

that first photo is from the brochure, mine has that flatter arch, I like it better, but I own one.
Mine is a 1994 300 DA built in May of 93,
I have asked the same question, I rarely see photos of ones like mine
I think it may have been early production that changed soon after. All I can think of.