290 sundancers 1994-midyear 97 "We need a thread"

[TIME WELL WASTED]

Times Like These

We need pictures of the BOAT and DOCK now.
We have as much fun at our marina as we do on the boat.
Went down and walked around our marina today. Opens back up in 18 days. Check out the red drums on the dock, so much ice and snow this winter they were building fires in them to melt it off the roofs. At one point the walkways were under water. What size is your slip?

 

[Times Like These]

Sorry guys, can't compress our pics enough to fit. As soon as we figure it out, we will post them. Wow, I can't believe they have to light fires under your dock to keep the roof from collapsing! I thought it was cold here! Beautiful boats by the way.

 

[Times Like These]

Times like These

Hope this works.

 

[Times Like These]

Pic

Cold and snow flurries again this weekend. Oh well, Spring will be here soon enough. Where do you guys boat? We keep Times Like These at Island Cove Marina on Chickamauga lake near Chattanooga, TN. I have grown up boating on the Tennessee River, mostly on Watts Bar lake. The great thing about boating on the TN is the access to all the lakes on the river thorugh the locks. Each lake is unique and being in Chattanooga, we can enjoy a populated lake with plenty of retaurants and marina's, or go through the lock and visit downtown area with a nice river front pier and tansiet sips. They have several festivals a year including Riverbend for 8 nights. Live music, fireworks etc. I'm looking forward to the Souther Brewers Festival as well.

 

[Times Like These]

Question...

What are your thoughts on the single engine set up on the 290. I have heard good and bad. We have the 7.4 w/ the BIII drive. Seems to plane out nicely and cruises at about 25 mph. Any ideas on fuel economy? Ideally I would like twins, but fell in love with the boat the moment I stepped foot on her. Any thoughts and number appreciated.

 

[Sadler]

Re: Question...

What are your thoughts on the single engine set up on the 290. I have heard good and bad. We have the 7.4 w/ the BIII drive. Seems to plane out nicely and cruises at about 25 mph. Any ideas on fuel economy? Ideally I would like twins, but fell in love with the boat the moment I stepped foot on her. Any thoughts and number appreciated.

I too have the single 7.4. I get about 1.5 to 1.6 mpg at cruise with full gas, full water, three adults, and provisions for three days, and average about 1.8 mpg overall. I like the single engine version since I do most of my own maintenance and there's only one of everything to keep up, and there's more room in the engine room to work. Where you're boating, with no tidal currents to deal with, the single would seem to be ideal. It took me awhile to learn to control the relatively long boat with a single screw, but once you master it, it's not too bad. Twins would be easier and if I had someone else doing the work, I'd opt for twins probably. A friend once said a single engine that gets twice the attention of two engines is more reliable than twins had a point. He also said spend the money on tow insurance and leave out the extra engine. He may have been on to something, as I've had very good luck with a single.

Sadler

 

[bouttime]

290 Dancer

Hi all from a newbie to this site.

Wife & I purchased a loaded 94 290 last August. First season way too short and I'm getting pretty hyper to launch as soon as the upgrades are completed. Hopefully April 1. We are from LaSalle, ON on the Detroit river. Anyone else nearby?

Jeff

 

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WELCOME,
bouttime
What upgrades are you doing? Lets see some pics of this boat!!!
Lets keep this thread going!!!!!! :smt024

Sadler, ANOTHER 290!!!! ' :grin:


Time Well Wasted

 

[Sadler]

A big welcome bouttime! Boating in the Detroit area is on my "do" list, so I know you'll have a great time with your new 290. Just let us know if you have any questions about the boat. The 290 of that vintage is a great combination of comfort and performance--just big enough to overnight on but small enough to go about anywhere and easy to maintain. Again, congrats. :smt038

Time, we're building a real 290 navy here!

Sadler

 

[TIME WELL WASTED]

Yes, it looks like we are getting a Navy of our vintage.

Just got back from Cabo San Lucas, Mx. It was great! Going to check on the boat tomorrow, hopefully will see some progression on it so I can post some pictures.
We have a week of 60 degree weather next week so he better GetRDone! :smt043

 

[Times Like These]

Another 290!

Welcome boutime. i am a "newbie" as well, and have really enjoyed this sight. The wife and I spent the weekend at the boat and once again had a ball. It was a bit chilly, but well worth it. I have been surprised how many die hard winter boaters there are at our marina. Spring is just around the corner!

I did a little work this weekend chaging the anodes on the BIII. I am worried about the corrosion on it that i had not noticed earlier. Looks like we will have to pull the boat and have it repainted before too long. I just hope we don't have to replace it!

 

[bouttime]

bouttime

Thanks for the welcome everyone. It's great to fine other 290 owner's to bounch things off when the inevitable questions come up.

As far as upgrades I have completed the chartplotter's sounder install - did not what to pull the boat last year just to install the sounder, new Uniden UM525 DSC radio and proper 8' antenna - previous owner had one of those wimpy 3' stick boat antennas on her. We wanted to cut out part of the canvass above the windshield to put isen? glass in but with everything else price a bit too much for this year.

The balance of this years list although long is basically routine maintenance. We have a 6 year old who is nuts about Cedar Point and I don't want any problems when out in the middle of Lake Erie.

Complete drive inspection including gear oil, impeller kits, shift cables.
Seal all through hull fittings.
New anchor rode.
Install new fume detector.
Remove forward fender racks that are nothing but in my line of sight.
Off course the usual for the genny and engines.

The list goes on but that covers some of it - besides the good cleaning of course.

Anything specific you folks think I should pay particular attention to on this model?

Jeff

 

[Sadler]

Re: bouttime

Thanks for the welcome everyone. It's great to fine other 290 owner's to bounch things off when the inevitable questions come up.

As far as upgrades I have completed the chartplotter's sounder install - did not what to pull the boat last year just to install the sounder, new Uniden UM525 DSC radio and proper 8' antenna - previous owner had one of those wimpy 3' stick boat antennas on her. We wanted to cut out part of the canvass above the windshield to put isen? glass in but with everything else price a bit too much for this year.

The balance of this years list although long is basically routine maintenance. We have a 6 year old who is nuts about Cedar Point and I don't want any problems when out in the middle of Lake Erie.

Complete drive inspection including gear oil, impeller kits, shift cables.
Seal all through hull fittings.
New anchor rode.
Install new fume detector.
Remove forward fender racks that are nothing but in my line of sight.
Off course the usual for the genny and engines.

The list goes on but that covers some of it - besides the good cleaning of course.

Anything specific you folks think I should pay particular attention to on this model?

Jeff

That's a very good list. I might also add checking the risers and manifolds, raw water pump replacement, and engine water pump replacement. Lots of stuff, but that would get the boat to known point. I've installed three CO detectors below since we anchor out a lot, and I wanted one in each cabin and in the salon. Plus, I have a digital readout CO detector in the cockpit for those cold days we cruise around with the canvas up, but that may be overkill.

Sounds like you are very knowledgable and are on the right track. Congrats on the new boat. I know you'll have a great time with it.

Sadler

 

[TIME WELL WASTED]

bouttime,
We still need some pictures!!!!!

 

[bouttime]

bouttime trying pictures

Ok I'm not as savvy at photoshop as the Admiral but here goes. Our 6 year old Rya is a true boater. Last October we set off across Lake Erie to take her to Cedar Point and about half way it turned ugly, we got soaked (too rough to go on deck and put the isen glass back in) so we put in to Put-In-Bay. Soaked and cold she didn't have a single complaint.

Jeff

 

[Sadler]

Great photos Jeff. Looks like the boat is almost new. Your daughter sure looks happy. I see you added a fan too.

What's that directly under the steering wheel, between the trailer up button and the radio?

 

[bouttime]

She does love boating - takes after the old man - all but the good looks she has.

Boat was in pretty good shape when we got her but does need a little love.

Under the wheel are the controls for the 2 spot lights - one mounted on the bow and the other on the arch. The previous owner must have played in the dark alot.

Jeff

 

[Sadler]

Hard to tell from the photo--does she have a windlass? Generator?

 

[bouttime]

Yes she is equipped with both a windlass and a generator.

Jeff

 

[Sadler]

You are set then for a long long time. I'm on my second 290 because I let a friend talk me out of getting a generator on my first 290, and because working the anchor manually on a boat that size was too hazardous in my opinion. Have a great time with the boat.