240 Sundancer Unstable or Waterlogged?

Will it sink?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 33.3%
  • No

    Votes: 2 66.7%

  • Total voters
    3
Oct 3, 2022
41
Boat Info
2011 Sundancer 240
Engines
Boatless
Hi everyone,
I’m about to buy my first cruiser and think I’ve stumbled upon the perfect one at a great price but just wondering if this is something obvious to look out for before paying for a survey… figuring someone would have snatched this up already if it was such a great deal.
I’ve been on boats and had smaller boats all my life but somehow been lucky enough to have never experienced any of the horror story issues so I don’t really know what to look out for or what major problems look like and was hoping people with more mechanical experience could help.
The boat I was looking at was immaculate so I didn’t bother poking around too much since there was going to be a survey anyway and whatever could be wrong likely wouldn’t be visible… but the one thing that struck me was the way it leaned portside while it was moored. I figured it was just because the boat was empty and ready to be stored for the winter. Then, after a while, it almost seemed to “roll over” onto the other side… which might have been because one of us moved from one side to the other, I wasn’t really paying attention before it happened.
I’ve never been on a cruiser this small before, so I’m hoping that’s normal and not the sign of a problem. I really like the size of the boat and its trailerability because it’s perfect for what I’d be doing with it. Nothing seemed wet and I’m not even sure what foam would exist on it that could become waterlogged and I’ve never been on a waterlogged boat in person (that I know of) so I’m really hoping to hear someone with a 240 tell me “yeah, mine has done that for years since day 1 and still floats, just don’t have kids running back and forth while underway and you’re golden” lol

TLDR: Will it float? Lol

Thanks!
 
I’m surprised nobody replied by now, so I’ll go.
250 with same 8’6” beam. Yes, when still it will lean as people walk from side to side. Slight lean when nobody on board, normal depending on batts, water heater, holding tank, water tank can all affect it. You’ll be fine.
 
Even the larger, 40+ footers will develop a list when fluids become imbalanced, loads are shifted, etc. It's not always a bad sign though it certainly could be. A good survey should ensure you don't have hundreds of gallons of water someplace it's not supposed to be :)
 
Thanks for the responses!! Bilge seemed dry so if there WAS hundreds of gallons of water somewhere, I don’t know where it would be hiding (that’s kind of why I’m here lol) as I mentioned, I’ve been on smaller boats that would rock back and forth in a way I’d expect when weight was shifted and I’ve been on larger boats that leaned, but I’ve never experienced one that just flopped from its left to its right… slowly… and just stayed there lol it was weird… kind of quirky I guess. Just from looking at the design of the boat it’s quite possible that the camper makes it top heavy when it’s empty… just wanted to be sure that wasn’t a telltale sign of certain doom lol …and it appeared to be sitting in the water at an okay angle… I compared pics of others for sale, they all seem to be sitting at the same angle.
 
Last edited:
Mine has a slight Slight port lean. gas and water center. 2 batts and hot water on port. Nothing on starboard. Believe me, you now own a boat. A slight lean is the least of your problems. Sorry, just real.
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My 1995 330DA had a slight lean stern port. My 2400SCR Maxum would move some when we walked from side to side, just not enough beam IMO.

Remember, fluids weigh approx. 8lbs per gallon so depending on where the fuel, fresh water and holding tans are located that could impact the lean.
 
I have the same boat. Love it. Get the survey. Mine might lean a tad while moored depending on where the weight is. Leans sometimes underway, might have to adjust the trim tabs or shift the weight around. Good luck.
 
I have the same boat. Love it. Get the survey. Mine might lean a tad while moored depending on where the weight is. Leans sometimes underway, might have to adjust the trim tabs or shift the weight around. Good luck.
Looking forward to it! It looks like a great boat. How is the trim tab situation? Any tips? I’ve heard I might have to play with the tabs while underway.
 
Looking forward to it! It looks like a great boat. How is the trim tab situation? Any tips? I’ve heard I might have to play with the tabs while underway.
The boat is small and top-heavy, so I's does tend to lean sometimes but for the most part I just leave my tabs up. I try not to go out when its rough and usually only bring my wife so the weight can balance easily. If there are several people on-board, you'll probably want to use the tabs. The wind and seas will affect the list. Slow down for sharp turns lol. A wave hitting just right at high-speed turn can make it seem like it wants to tip. Just takes a little getting used to.
 
Hi everyone,
I’m about to buy my first cruiser and think I’ve stumbled upon the perfect one at a great price but just wondering if this is something obvious to look out for before paying for a survey… figuring someone would have snatched this up already if it was such a great deal.
I’ve been on boats and had smaller boats all my life but somehow been lucky enough to have never experienced any of the horror story issues so I don’t really know what to look out for or what major problems look like and was hoping people with more mechanical experience could help.
The boat I was looking at was immaculate so I didn’t bother poking around too much since there was going to be a survey anyway and whatever could be wrong likely wouldn’t be visible… but the one thing that struck me was the way it leaned portside while it was moored. I figured it was just because the boat was empty and ready to be stored for the winter. Then, after a while, it almost seemed to “roll over” onto the other side… which might have been because one of us moved from one side to the other, I wasn’t really paying attention before it happened.
I’ve never been on a cruiser this small before, so I’m hoping that’s normal and not the sign of a problem. I really like the size of the boat and its trailerability because it’s perfect for what I’d be doing with it. Nothing seemed wet and I’m not even sure what foam would exist on it that could become waterlogged and I’ve never been on a waterlogged boat in person (that I know of) so I’m really hoping to hear someone with a 240 tell me “yeah, mine has done that for years since day 1 and still floats, just don’t have kids running back and forth while underway and you’re golden” lol

TLDR: Will it float? Lol

Thanks!
I have a 240 that leans starboard. I agree with Priate Lady it's probably caused by distribution of weight. Not sure what year your boat is but my 2000 240 has the 2 batteries and trim pump on starboard side.
 
I think I’ve figured out what the weird tilt was after looking at some of the diagrams… I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong but if the gas tank is wide and flat and in the center, it would make sense that what was left of the gas in the tank would slowly slosh over to the other side once it was off balance causing that wicked shift from one side to the other.
Either way, it’s been surveyed now and whatever it was wasn’t water so I’m not really worried about it anymore.
I appreciate everyone’s input.
 

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