'95-'98 Sea Ray 250 DA Seaworthiness?

D

Drewm3i

New Member
Dec 20, 2016
24
Key Largo, Florida
Boat Info
1999 2335 SS
Engines
5.7L Bravo 3
Hello!
I am currently in the process of selling my boat and upgrading to a boat with more space. We boat in the Florida Keys are regularly boat offshore. We never really go past the reef line, but eventually want to go to at least Bimini and the Dry Tortugas--with other boats.

Our current boat is a 23'8" deep vee (22 degree), cuddy cabin. It is very good boat for what we do (running to the reef and cruising the coast) but it is too cramped and we need more creature comforts as we like to stay on the boat for multiple nights at a time in a slip.

The mid 90s Sea Ray 250 Sundancer seems to fit the bill. It has an aft cabin, shorepower, ac, hot a shower, and also gives us much more cockpit space for our snorkel/dive gear. It seems a lot less tippy (and seems to have a deeper hull) than a comparable pocket cruiser and is easy to find.

I do worry about this boat though in rough seas of say a true 2-3' close period chop. Has anyone had any experience running this boat in the ocean or a great lake? Also what would the top speed/cruising speed be at a reasonable rpm? Could I expect to cruise 30-32 mph under 4,000 pms with a 5.7l?

I look forward to your responses,
Drew
 
I'm not able to add too much but will say that my 1986 250 spent its first 29 years on Lake Erie. PO said he had it in 5'ers but wouldn't want to do it again on purpose. As for speed, I cruise at about 26MPH at about 3200 RPM with a top speed about 33MPH. My factory manual says top speed is about 32MPH so you will likely be close to WOT to reach your 30-32MPH. If the '95-98 is lighter than mine then you may get slightly over that.

EDIT: Mine has the Merc 260 (5.7) with Alpha 1 Gen 1 outdrive
 
Last edited:
boatman37 said:
I'm not able to add too much but will say that my 1986 250 spent its first 29 years on Lake Erie. PO said he had it in 5'ers but wouldn't want to do it again on purpose. As for speed, I cruise at about 26MPH at about 3200 RPM with a top speed about 33MPH. My factory manual says top speed is about 32MPH so you will likely be close to WOT to reach your 30-32MPH. If the '95-98 is lighter than mine then you may get slightly over that.

EDIT: Mine has the Merc 260 (5.7) with Alpha 1 Gen 1 outdrive
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response! Those speed numbers you posted are a bit disappointing. I was hoping for a top speed of at least 40. I wonder if the newer model with a vortec motor and bravo 3 would be faster?

5 footers for any boat that size would be a lot. Im more concerned about the pounding in chop and rolling due to the high profile.
 
Hi Drew,

I had a 97 250 with the big block 7.4. It would definitely hit 40 and we usually cruised in the high 20s with what I remember as RPMs in the low 3000s. Not sure about the 5.7. The boat was slightly tippy and I had to use the tabs much more than I do in my new boat. Of course, the new one is 1 1/2 feet wider and has twins, so that softens out the roll too.

Here's an entire thread on the 250 that might interest you as there are lots of questions asked and answered here.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/438-OFFICIAL-250-DANCER-THREAD

Good luck in your search!

Mike
 
Last edited:
Mikemapva said:
Hi Drew,

I had a 97 250 with the big block 7.4. It would definitely hit 40 and we usually cruised in the high 20s with what I remember as RPMs in the low 3000s. Not sure about the 5.7. The boat was slightly tippy and I had to use the tabs much more than I do in my new boat. Of course, the new one is 1 1/2 feet wider and has twins, so that softens out the roll too.

Here's an entire thread on the 250 that might interest you as there are lots of questions asked and answered here.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/438-OFFICIAL-250-DANCER-THREAD

Good luck in your search!

Mike
Click to expand...
Good to know, thanks for your help! Tippy worries me a bit...
 
My personal experience on the Great Lakes is that a 1'-2' chop is easily manageable but once you get a bit bigger than that it becomes less enjoyable. Still safe in boats this size, sure, but not something the wife is going to enjoy. My dock neighbors and I will generally stay in the inland waterways when Lake Michigan is showing 3' plus. Interestingly, this is a rather consistent decision regardless of the size of boat. Even the guys running 40'+ around me prefer not to have to deal with it...
 
Stee6043 said:
My personal experience on the Great Lakes is that a 1'-2' chop is easily manageable but once you get a bit bigger than that it becomes less enjoyable. Still safe in boats this size, sure, but not something the wife is going to enjoy. My dock neighbors and I will generally stay in the inland waterways when Lake Michigan is showing 3' plus. Interestingly, this is a rather consistent decision regardless of the size of boat. Even the guys running 40'+ around me prefer not to have to deal with it...
Click to expand...

A true 1-2' chop is definitely nothing to sneeze at in a small boat. A 3' chop would most definitely hurt. I find that standing and a helm pad alleviates the pounding. I just hope the 250 rides as well as my current boat...I don't want to buy one and then be disappointed.
 
Drewm3i said:
I don't want to buy one and then be disappointed.
Click to expand...

my suggestion would be to not purchase the boat until you test it in the conditions you know you will experience.....

cliff
 
Drewm3i said:
Good to know, thanks for your help! Tippy worries me a bit...
Click to expand...

Drew,

Let me rephrase what I said. I didn't mean that it was tippy in a dangerous way (as in a rollover). It is just susceptible to weight on deck. Therefore, I had to use more tab depending on where my passengers were located on the boat.

Hope that helps.

Like the others said, I think you should go for a test ride on one. It looks like there is 1 for sale on yachtworld in Miami.

Mike
 
When we cross from the tip of Vancouver Island to the first land 50 miles north on our way to Alaska we do not go if waves are greater than 3 feet as a 3 foot wave can become a 6 foot wave in a short time. We have a 21 foot fishing boat with a 7 foot beam. We were out in 5 foot waves once got caught off guard. Not nice. As recommended by others sea trial the boat in the conditions you expect to run in.
 
I agree with the 'tippy' comment. Mine is very stable and I have never felt unsafe (boating on the Ohio river) but if my wife moves from one side to the other I have to adjust the tabs (and no she is not that big:smt001)
 
How long of a trip is it?

My 250 can obtain the speed you are looking for, but, IN MY UNEXPERIENCED OPINION....A single engine, 25' boat is not big enough to take into waters that have even the possibility of producing 6 foot waves.

Obviously, I have never seen a 6 foot wave from my boat. Take a tape measure to your boat as it sits in its slip & while standing on the swim step measure 6' from the water's surface. Now ask yourself if that is something you want to see while xx number of miles from land.

You all are more than welcome to "shoot the messenger" here, but I'm sticking to it.
 
Are you tying to stay legally trailerable? Will it live on the trailer? In a wet slip? Dry stack? Look at the same era 270SE if your looking to stay 8'6" beam......If not, consider something a bit bigger with twin 6s and a vacuflush.....a little more length, beam and weight will go a LONG way in smoothing out the ride and provide a measure of safety offshore. while giving you more space (so you don't outgrow it so fast) and more conveniences....I know I didn't answer our original question......just trying to give you some food for thought.....
 
mwph said:
How long of a trip is it?

My 250 can obtain the speed you are looking for, but, IN MY UNEXPERIENCED OPINION....A single engine, 25' boat is not big enough to take into waters that have even the possibility of producing 6 foot waves.

Obviously, I have never seen a 6 foot wave from my boat. Take a tape measure to your boat as it sits in its slip & while standing on the swim step measure 6' from the water's surface. Now ask yourself if that is something you want to see while xx number of miles from land.

You all are more than welcome to "shoot the messenger" here, but I'm sticking to it.
Click to expand...

I've been is ~4' waves with a 20' bowrider. Heck I saw some 4' waves out there today in 24' cuddy. However, my cuddy is a deep vee boat (22 degrees). A six foot SWELL is no big deal, but if it is close together...good luck lol!
 
Ididntdoit said:
Are you tying to stay legally trailerable? Will it live on the trailer? In a wet slip? Dry stack? Look at the same era 270SE if your looking to stay 8'6" beam......If not, consider something a bit bigger with twin 6s and a vacuflush.....a little more length, beam and weight will go a LONG way in smoothing out the ride and provide a measure of safety offshore. while giving you more space (so you don't outgrow it so fast) and more conveniences....I know I didn't answer our original question......just trying to give you some food for thought.....
Click to expand...

I am trying to keep costs down as much as possible. I do all my own maintenance and repairs so a single engine is what I really want. I wouldn't rule out twins if there is plenty of space in the engine bay. I do want stay close to trailerable beam because I keep my boat in the keys and need to be able to move it in case of a storm or serious repair. The boat will be dry stacked. I also want to maximize range and a single allows that.
 
We spend the winter in Mexico on the Sea of Cortez. There are 25 foot boats like you want and they have been in big waves once after that the owners stay in if it is to get windy. Problem with big waves is you may be OK going into them but on the beam you may not survive a 4 foot wave on the beam of a boat that has 3 foot sides. If a wave floods your engine area and the water gets in the engine there is s good possibility the engine will stop and your relatives will get to cash in your life insurance policy.
 
Well, today we agreed to buy a 270 DA (wide beam) for 17k with twin 4.3s. Absolutely fell in love with the cockpit layout and cabin layout. Everything was spacious and met our needs. Also loved the plastic tanks over metal (no worry about corrosion), swim platform, and 21 degree hull! If the all goes through, we will be Sea Ray owners by the weekend!
 
Drewm3i said:
Well, today we agreed to buy a 270 DA (wide beam) for 17k with twin 4.3s. Absolutely fell in love with the cockpit layout and cabin layout. Everything was spacious and met our needs. Also loved the plastic tanks over metal (no worry about corrosion), swim platform, and 21 degree hull! If the all goes through, we will be Sea Ray owners by the weekend!
Click to expand...

Drew,

Congrats!

Mike
 
Thanks Mike! Before I buy I am going to fully inspect and look over the boats and engines. Anything in particular that is an issue on this boat? Any places the rot easier than others. I did notice the engine hatch lid wasn't as sturdy as the rest of the real deck, but I assumed that was normal?
Thanks in advance guys!
 
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