2006 380 sundancer

[Donald Dewey]

Hello, new to the site and enjoy reading the posts and help from others.
We live in Michigan and boat on lake st Clair
We sold our Four Winns 298 to move up to this boat
My wife and I are considering buying a 2006 380 sundancer with the 8.1 HO mercruisers, the boat is clean and we have someone lined up to do the survey.
we day boat with friends and family on board and want to take trips 3-4 hours from our marina.

Any advice/concerns with this boat or engines? Thank you.

 

[LattitudeAdjustment]

Best of luck with your purchase Donald. You are surely doing the right thing by getting a reputable marine surveyor to go over every inch of the boat. The boats are made very well and the 8.1's are a very good engine. I have them on my 2002 380DA and we are around 1100 hrs with no issues to date.

The 380DA will be a very comfortable boat for you and your guests as you take your 3-4 hour cruises. Plenty of room for people to relax and enjoy the ride and easy access to the bow to lay on the sun-pads.

We just got back from our boat spending the evening/dinner aboard and just relaxing. If you have any specific questions, post them and someone will most likely have the answer for you. Best of luck to you and let us know how it goes. I will be subscribed to the thread to monitor your progress.

Vince

 

[Donald Dewey]

Thank you for the reply and sounds good on the engines.
Our old boat had a 10.6 beam and the wife didn’t care for the side to side rocking/movement in rougher waters, hope this wider beam eases that feeling.
Stay safe

 

[Chris-380]

On my 2000, the 13’ beam is awesome, I am a big guy at 250 lbs, barely moves when I step in the swim platform. Pretty sure yours will be similar. I came for a 28’ boat with 8’6” beam... gosh such a great upgrade. Love the look of the 2006 model, hope all works out, great boat

 

[Donald Dewey]

Thanks, I believe ours will have the 12’6 beam and that extra 2’ should be noticeable. I do love the hardtop on this 2006 model.

 

[Great Lakes]

Hey Don, what marina do you keep the boat?

 

[Donald Dewey]

Hello, MacRay in Harrison township

 

[Great Lakes]

Oh nice. Where’s your well? There’s a handful of us on here that are at MR too.

 

[juggernaut1]

Exact year and model boat I have, except I have the non HO version.

Best of luck with the survey.

 

[Donald Dewey]

Oh nice. Where’s your well? There’s a handful of us on here that are at MR too.

we were on Seabreeze but will have to move to spindrift with larger vessel

 

[Donald Dewey]

Exact year and model boat I have, except I have the non HO version.

Best of luck with the survey.

thank you, what do you like not like about it?

 

[Sam Worsham]

I have an 06 38, too. We bought it around 14 months ago and I agree that a survey is very important. I may add, ask your surveyor if you can be there when the survey is done. I was on for the test ride, haul out, and got to talk to the surveyor about issues. It helps a lot in the negotiation process, too.
I have spent the last year getting the services all caught up, oil, filters, plugs, trans fluid, bottom paint, and props tuned. We love our 38 DA and try to spend as much time on it as we can.
What color hull does the one you are looking at have?

 

[Phasma]

The only problem with the 8.1 HOs is they do go through plugs and wires. Other than that they are a solid engine. GM built them for Mercruiser. You will enjoy the Sea Ray as a solid well built boat. There is a ton of information and a wealth of knowledge on this site. Welcome aboard

 

[Donald Dewey]

I have an 06 38, too. We bought it around 14 months ago and I agree that a survey is very important. I may add, ask your surveyor if you can be there when the survey is done. I was on for the test ride, haul out, and got to talk to the surveyor about issues. It helps a lot in the negotiation process, too.
I have spent the last year getting the services all caught up, oil, filters, plugs, trans fluid, bottom paint, and props tuned. We love our 38 DA and try to spend as much time on it as we can.
What color hull does the one you are looking at have?

yes I plan to be around for the survey, just not looking over the guys shoulder, at least too much anyways.
It has the tan hull

 

[Donald Dewey]

The only problem with the 8.1 HOs is they do go through plugs and wires. Other than that they are a solid engine. GM built them for Mercruiser. You will enjoy the Sea Ray as a solid well built boat. There is a ton of information and a wealth of knowledge on this site. Welcome aboard

thanks for that info, I have been looking and you are right about the knowledge on this site. Glad I joined.
I’ve read they are well built and I will definitely be able to tell the difference in the ride over our four Winns

 

[Chris-380]

thanks for that info, I have been looking and you are right about the knowledge on this site. Glad I joined.
I’ve read they are well built and I will definitely be able to tell the difference in the ride over our four Winns

I think its the same as four Winns, some things I like better about the FW, and others I like better about sea ray, both well built boats

 

[Phasma]

Also......post a photo when you get a chance

 

[Richey rich]

Sold my 2007 38 sundancer this past fall. Was a great boat and treated us well. Had same motors and not much to complain about with the exception of fuel burn. Plenty of room for guests and entertaining. I’m close by Mac rays and boat in anchor bay also. You’ll love the boat, congratulations!

 

[Donald Dewey]

Sold my 2007 38 sundancer this past fall. Was a great boat and treated us well. Had same motors and not much to complain about with the exception of fuel burn. Plenty of room for guests and entertaining. I’m close by Mac rays and boat in anchor bay also. You’ll love the boat, congratulations!View attachment 97840

Great looking boat, I’m sure we will burn through fuel this summer, but then again that’s what it’s all about, enjoying it right!!!
Can’t wait to see how much will be burned going to Put In Bay and back!!

 

[Tripsdad]

Welcome to the site and good luck with the purchase. We bought our 360DA a little more than a year ago upgrading from a 27' Grady White and one of the biggest reasons was a more stable ride for my wife. I think your wife will be much happier with the ride on the 380DA but you will also trade some speed compared to your Four Winns. I had a mechanic do an engine survey in addition to my survey which was very informative. Keep in mind that risers and manifolds need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years (depending on who you speak to) and this is an expensive maintenance issue. Just something to keep in mind when considering costs.