2003 360 Sundancer

May 19, 2007
60
Atlanta, GA
Boat Info
2003 360 Sundancer
Engines
8.1 Mercruiser's
Hello fellow boaters. I hope this post finds everyone well; pehaps some of you are winding down at work with the chance to enjoy the holidays next week.

Just the other day I read through the post here labeled "Who plans to buy a new boat this winter?" I smiled and thought - not the admiral and I..... although we have a friend at the local MarineMax that stays in touch when "deals" come along. So last Thursday - TOTALLY out of the blue, I got an email from my MM friend. We haven't exchanged emails in a few months - so this was a surprise. He says he has the "perfect boat" for us. This is a 2003 360 Sundancer. 1-owner Fresh water boat / 8.2Horizons - 350hrs / Westerbeke Genny / Full Electronics (Chartplotter, Radar & Autopilot) / Bow Thruster / tan canvas / windlass / bow spotlight / cockpit fridge / galley overside fridge / separate freezer - totally loaded.

So the story begins....

We currently have a 2005 320 DA / 6.2's V-Drives / Loaded with all bells and whistles. The admiral and I literally spend every weekend on the boat. It's truly our home away from home. Some folks have beach houses - we have a "floating condo". We upgraded to the 320 from the 280 - a very natural progression for cruiser owners. We love the 320 - she's an amazing vessel. However, since we do spend so much time on the boat; we want: In priority order: A bigger bed; A separate shower; Bigger Refrig / Separate Freezer.

Earlier this year we had our eyes on several 380's; but we couldn't get the $$ just right. The 360 looks as though it'll fit us - from a budget standpoint; amenities requirements; etc. I have researched this model online and have found favorable reviews.

The '03 360 has not been officially traded in yet; although my MM friend says everything looks positive and he should know within a few days.

I am eager to get some feedback / thoughts / comments. This opportunity is totally out of the blue - I'm a firm believer that things will happen when the time is right. Perhaps this is it?!

Totally excited; but trying to remain calm, cool, and collected :) {Not}
-Ryan
 
Good luck.......financially, MM is in a tough spot right now. They can't sell new boats without taking a trade and they can't afford to hold trades, so buying conditions are right if you can reduce their floor plan. And, in this case, with your 320DA they'd be getting a much easier boat to market.

Don't get me wrong..the 360DA is a great boat and I like them better than either the 320 or 340......I think the weight/balance/room is just a better design and I know the boat handles well. The 360DA is, however, kind of an "in-betweener" size wise and never sold well for that reason. With either a 320 or 340 you can store and lift them anywhere with forklifts or in wet slips, but the 360 is normally too big to pick up with forklifts so they must be stored in a slip in the water. If you do lift them, it has to be with a travel lift. Some marinas do have huge forklift capacity and can handle them, but not many do. For this reason, when most buyers see that they must rent a slip and keep their boat in the water, they begin looking for 38' and up boats. As a result, the market for 360's is somewhat limited.
 
Frank, you make a good point at which I'm just now beggining to realize. In my area, theres not many marinas that can fork a 340 which is what we want so we know we will have to wet slip it. I now realize I can get more of what I want from a larger but older boat for less money. Plus I kinda like the layout of the older boats better anyhow with the fold up rear seat, its more fishing friendly.
FWIW, I was looking at 360's tonight myself and kinda think they seem a little overpriced in general from asking price point of view. Maybe MM will have a good deal on it? Good luck. SB
 
Asking prices in today's market is a terrible waste of printers' ink, and some should be checked on Snopes.com to see if they are urban legends.

Forget the email and cell phone calls, unless you are a 1000 miles away, you will never find out what a boat can be bought for until you show up in person, ask the seller for a contract, sign it and write a big deposit check. Until you convince the seller that you are a qualified and serious buyer, you are just another tire kicking "up" to him.
 
I really like the 360(and hope this will be my next boat)...I drove one this summer...and the 8.1's are great engines in that size of boat. The one we drove had the light maple interior...which I didn't really care for.
 
Patience, and a low offer. Hold your ground on the trade for your boat and really make your offer exacty what you want it to be. You don't have to own that boat and remeber that. In this case, middle of winter(which hasn't begun yet) they'll be taking this one in on trade, and like Frank says will need/want to move. Make that $$$ work to your advantage, hit 'em with a "Frank's Pants off" offer.
Here's his wise advise from the above thread to me which paid off.
Dude.........don't quit or give up. All that has happened is that you have more answers now than before and its time to get creative with the negotiation.

One fact is for sure.....and you get the benefit of it.........is that once you survey a boat and get a bad result, it completely kills the potential sale of the boat to anyone. The owner knows that, or will soon learn it, so take his pants off and have fun restoring a great boat.

Best of Luck
 
An "older" 36' with gas engines? An uncomfortable to store, hard to sell, in between size? You could start the negotiation at $10,000. Payable to you upon delivery.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I think each of you make a great point - from opinions on the model (positive and negative), advice on negotiations, etc. My viewpoint on moving the boat - well; not too big of an issue for us. The admiral and I boat on a fresh water lake - and we boat year round; so leaving her in the water all the time is of no concern. Our marina does have a haul-out ramp (it looks like an industrial rail road track) that they use to bring big sedans/house boats out of the water for any major service / bottom paint / etc.

So - A quick update on this opportunity. I spoke with the salesman at MM (a friend of ours) today. He expects the boat to be officially "available" by mid-day tomorrow (Thursday). As I have done many times in the past; I agreed to a deposit - just so I have first right of refusal. As you all know; completely refundable if I don't close the deal - and in many cases; they don't even put the deposit on your credit card.

I did learn one fact today - The boat is NOT a fresh water boat. She lives in Marco Island, FL. I'll be able to get pictures as soon as the boat is officially in inventory. MM salesman says the boat is immaculate - has been professionally maintained from all aspects - Mechical; Wash & Wax; etc. So - I'll have MANY questions for you salt water experts just as soon as I can get further details.

SO: If the pictures look good and the negotiations are in my favor; I would imagine the admiral and I are destined to make a trip to Marco Island.

More updates to come......
Thanks,
-Ryan
 
We have a 360DA.

Only we have Yanmar diesel engines.
This boat drives and handle like a sports car.
Good layout and what I think is the best 360 property, she stays horizontal when you are at cruise speed 20 to 32 knots.
I think the 320 model drives more like it's a little "stern heavy"
Also the 360 bilge room is big enough to move around the engines.
I think the front bed is not bigger than the 320 model.

Good luck with your decision and deal.



Regards Peter
 
Hello all - Sorry it's been a while since I've updated this posting. Work has had me locked down since the start of '08.

Finances fell through on the original owner that was trading in the 360. I never got the opportunity to negotiate on it.

So... not meant to be! :)

On a positive note.... The admiral and I are off to the Atlanta boat show. <BIG GRIN>
 

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