290 Sundancer 2006

N

Nighwind_15

New Member
Oct 4, 2010
7
North Alabama
Boat Info
2860
Engines
4.3 GLI
Can someone help me with the performance and value differences between the 2006 or new 290 Sundancer with the 4.3 and the 5.0 engines? Is the boat underpowered with the twin 4.3's? How much if any are the 4.3's more fuel efficient? Both have Bravo 3's with Mercruiser engines. Email me please at sarmstrong@allsportinc.com
Thank you
 
This has been covered on the forum. A search will be very productive. The 06-08 290DA is a great boat. I just needed more room, otherwise I would have kept it.
 
I'll try to help as searching consumes quite a bit of time. I just purchased a 280 with the 4.3's and I can tell you if I was going to get any larger a boat, it would have V-8's! Do you know where the extra "foot" is on a 290 vs a 280?
 
Nighwind_15 said:
Can someone help me with the performance and value differences between the 2006 or new 290 Sundancer with the 4.3 and the 5.0 engines? Is the boat underpowered with the twin 4.3's? How much if any are the 4.3's more fuel efficient? Both have Bravo 3's with Mercruiser engines. Email me please at sarmstrong@allsportinc.com
Thank you
Click to expand...

Email? Nah... we like to have things out in the open for discussion... which can only be good for you! :smt001
Unless I'm mistaken it's like this... the 5.0's are the way to go. Then the 496 for sure because of the less maintenance and extra room in the engine bay. The 2 x 6's have no performance advantage over the single 496 but there is the advantage of the second engine redundancy if that's a concern.
The fuel difference between any of them is minimal at 30 mph.
So no option is terrible but keep in mind there's not too many threads with people complaining about having too much power...
Reading this, keep in mind that I care more about performance than a bit more fuel... I think the 06-08 290 would be ideal with 6.2's but that's not everyones perspective.
 
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Hi,
No I do not know where the extra foot is on the 290. I saw a 290 on the docks here in Decatur, Alabama and fell in love with the style and quality. I have a Regal 2860 (my third Regal) and like it for the queen aft cabin and fasttrac hull but that 290 blew me away. It really was love at first sight. I am looking for a used one now and have found a couple of 06's I may make an offer on then sell my 2860 in the spring. You guys that own these give me a run down on the ownership of them. Pro's and Con's. I have not owned a Sea Ray since my 1988 250 Sundancer but looks like I will be coming back into the fold soon. I really have it bad.
Stephen
 
Pros: Quality build, excellent style, adequate-good propulsion, dealer network, stable manufacturer, available parts, Mercruiser engines.

Cons: lacking storage, uncomfortable v-birth pad, side facing cockpit seat is not good for cruising, canvas is a chore. Can rock side-side easily due to narrow beam, especially if you have the 496. Fuel and pump out are on different sides of the boat.
 
JV II said:
Pros: Quality build, excellent style, adequate-good propulsion, dealer network, stable manufacturer, available parts, Mercruiser engines.

Cons: lacking storage, uncomfortable v-birth pad, side facing cockpit seat is not good for cruising, canvas is a chore. Can rock side-side easily due to narrow beam, especially if you have the 496. Fuel and pump out are on different sides of the boat.
Click to expand...

I agree... for the most part anyways. The 'pros' are typical with most every Sea Ray. The 'cons'... it depends on what you're comparing it to.
JVII is in the 330 now so I'm sure everything about the 290 is seemingly small.
My last boat was an '06 240... you want to talk about 'tippy'!? This doesn't seem like it at all... mind you I have the twins in there. The beam is roughly the same as a 280 at about 9'6"... I don't remember exactly.
The fuel / pump location isn't an issue with twins... if its a concern... not sure why it would be?
V-berth comfort? Poor. I much prefer sleeping in the mid-cabin.
Storage? There's lots of cupboards and storage under every seat so there's lotsa' room for what I / we do. Half of our cupboards are empty.
The biggest thing is the cockpit design. The portside entry to the cabin requires something other than the standard L-shaped passenger seating. The 290 seating is set-up more for socializing at the dock than it is for cruising. There is fairly good floor space because of it... I think most people prefer the layout of the 280 though. The entry into the mid-cabin is better with the door off to the side.
Bottom line is it's different... and that's the allure of a 290... it's different!
On the last overnighter of the summer a bunch of us 'locals' had a rendezvous at our favorite weekend destination. There were people on the dock around our boat all weekend... tons of questions and non-stop compliments. The lines of these 290's are striking... like very few boats are, plus the black gelcoat looks amazing polished up.
We all buy our boats because we like them and we buy them for ourselves but when you get that many fellow boaters and peers complimenting your unit... :)lol:, I said unit) it's a good feeling!

Picture1426.jpg


290aug022600x450.jpg
 
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I agree with most of Johns comments except..I think the V-Berth is very nicely set up. I have a 3" memory foam on it though.
Until you get to the 330 you don't get a bigger bed. Much better IMHO than the cabin in the 280.
 
What a wonderfully descriptive narration of a truly beautiful boat. It does have that appeal, that look that jumps out at you. Over the past three months I have looked at most everything in its class and nothing has the look the 290 Dancer does. I have whipped myself into a frenzy wanting one and I will not even be able to use it until March! Great comments all around, thanks to you all.
Stephen
 
I too put the memory foam on the v-berth bed. We rarely use it as a couch, so the foam does not present a problem. Should we need to use it as a couch, the rolled up foam fits nicely in the mid-berth compartment.
 
I once asked my local Sea Ray deal the question about power options for the 280 and 290. For what its worth, her's what he said.

280 with 4.3L Alpha is ok but you really benefit from the Bravo 3. 5.0L's with the Bravo 3 is a Rocket and a great combo.
He recommended minimum 5.0L's with Bravo 3's for the 290 since its a heavier boat. That said, it all depends on how you use the boat but fuel mileage won't be measurable. Check of the link. It compares a 5.7 to 5.0 but it will give you an idea
http://www.boattest.com/resources/view_news.aspx?newsid=4354
 
Great article, thank you very much. Funny the cost of the 5.7 is so much more. There really is no more involved in building them. I have always marveled at this, a matter of marketing to be sure.
Thank you!
 
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