Bit the bullet finally, first time boat owner and it's a 260 Dancer!

Kiteboarder85

Kiteboarder85

New Member
Jun 9, 2014
62
Freeland, MI
Boat Info
Boatless
Engines
Boatless
For all of those who have helped me the past 2 months, thank you! We finally found a Sundancer that had the feeling of "this is our boat!". It's a 2001 260 with the 7.4 in it. We were looking at newer used vessels, however, the 2001 was in immaculate cosmetic condition and the owner had a great detailed service log. I can't imagine anything jumping out at us during the survey. This dancer was in better shape than the 10-15 2004-2008 boats we've looked at over the past months.

We have our Marine Surveyor going in on Friday for the full testing and look through. Then afterwards headed out with the owner and surveyor for a sea test and testing the RPMs at all speeds and checking other mechanical areas.

Needless to say...we are excited! :smt038

We did take the asking price down because the trailer was optional and we opted out of the trailer. My wife and I feel a brand new built trailer would be best for the towing we will be doing.

Does anyone one have any good recommendations on trailers for the 260? Our local marina we are renting a slip seasonally and storing has recommended Phoenix Trailers. Rough cost of $6700 with 3-4 week order to delivery time. Thoughts on manufactures?
 
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Congratulations!!!!

Be wary of low trailer prices. What do you plan to do with the trailer? Store in the winter? Or do you plan to trailer hundreds of miles at a time?

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
Congratulations!!!!

Be wary of low trailer prices. What do you plan to do with the trailer? Store in the winter? Or do you plan to trailer hundreds of miles at a time?

MM
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Hello- we will be storing the boat on the trailer during the winter inside the marina's indoor heated hangars. Trips will consist of 100+ miles around Michigan on most weekends throughout the warm season.
 
Kiteboarder85 said:
Hello- we will be storing the boat on the trailer during the winter inside the marina's indoor heated hangars. Trips will consist of 100+ miles around Michigan on most weekends throughout the warm season.
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Are you looking at tandem or tri-ax trailers? Surge or electric over hydrolic brakes? Shoe or disc brakes? Brekes on how many axles? Check the winch they supply is rated for the load. Any trailer I buy would have twin spare tires. LED lights or standard? What weight rating are you looking at?

If I planned to tow around your state, which I did, I would get the following. A tri-ax with electric over hydrolic and 6 disc brakes with a weight rating of 15,000 pounds. Why? Overloaded trailers have more blowouts and frame problems as manufacturers cut the guts to sell against the price whores. With the brakes I suggest you have braking control while backing down ramps, with surge brakes you have NO brakes in reverse. That's not a big deal if you have a F150 backing down a 3,000 pound runabout but a pocket cruiser is another story.

Good luck,

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
Are you looking at tandem or tri-ax trailers? Surge or electric over hydrolic brakes? Shoe or disc brakes? Brekes on how many axles? Check the winch they supply is rated for the load. Any trailer I buy would have twin spare tires. LED lights or standard? What weight rating are you looking at?

If I planned to tow around your state, which I did, I would get the following. A tri-ax with electric over hydrolic and 6 disc brakes with a weight rating of 15,000 pounds. Why? Overloaded trailers have more blowouts and frame problems as manufacturers cut the guts to sell against the price whores. With the brakes I suggest you have braking control while backing down ramps, with surge brakes you have NO brakes in reverse. That's not a big deal if you have a F150 backing down a 3,000 pound runabout but a pocket cruiser is another story.

Good luck,

MM
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I was thinking a triple if we got a 2005 or newer as the dry weight would be 7500. Ours is only 6200 dry. Now you have me questioning the triple or double
 
Kiteboarder85 said:
I was thinking a triple if we got a 2005 or newer as the dry weight would be 7500. Ours is only 6200 dry. Now you have me questioning the triple or double
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My 270 dry weight is 6,500 pounds but wet and partially loaded she weighs 9,000 pounds. The 6,200 is the lightest configuration you can buy, then add from there. 7.4, thats a lot of iron, BIII, big outdrive. Batteries, fluids, anchors, lines, it all adds up. We haven't even mentioned clothes, food, drinks, supplies., where the heck do we stop?

I feel this is how folks make mistakes on trailers. They say things like 6,200 dry add 2,000 for wet and 2,000 for the trailer. Yep, we need a 10,000-11,000 GVW trailer. And then the trouble began...

There are a few of us on this board that are true big trailer warriors. We have stories you don't want to be your own. Take our advice. Everything I do, that some call overboard, is to keep the Admiral on the road and happy boating.

MM
 
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I have the same boat as you (even the 7.4) and trailer it long distances with a tandem trailer. Electric over hydraulic disk brakes on both axles. With this set up the trailer and boat can be stopped easily.
I got my trailer from here
http://www.realxtrailers.com/Boat-Trailer-Models/
the model is a R261X

Congrats on the new boat, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
 
Westie said:
I have the same boat as you (even the 7.4) and trailer it long distances with a tandem trailer. Electric over hydraulic disk brakes on both axles. With this set up the trailer and boat can be stopped easily.
I got my trailer from here
http://www.realxtrailers.com/Boat-Trailer-Models/
the model is a R261X



Congrats on the new boat, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
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thanks! How do you like yours??
 
One name , best trailers ever ... Loadmaster trailers port Clinton Ohio , trust me I towed a 320 2006 sun dancer with a triple axle trailer fifth wheel ... Monaco mike is right .


Boltman
 
Phoenix makes very good trailers and they're made out your way. You won't go wrong with them - they're made to fit your hull EXACTLY (custom built for each boat) and the frame/bunk supports are 100% welded for an absolutely perfect fit. Whereas most trailers are made to fit numerous hulls by adjusting bunks/axles. Although, that's not to say that a "general" fit trailer is bad - just that a custom is better.

There really is no such thing as "the best trailer" (note - this comment is not in response to Boltman's post). There are some "cheapie" ones out there that I would personally avoid (been in the marine industry for 26 years), but there are plenty of good ones. I have a Shoreland'r dual axle (10,000lb gross) under my 260DA and even though it is 15 years old, it is still going strong and tows fantastically at high speeds. VERY well built trailer. I have surge brakes and it works fine, but EOH would be a definite upgrade and, although more costly, is a worthwhile investment. You could do a triple, but a properly built tandem is perfectly fine. Personally, I'd rather the tandem since there is less maintenance -- two less brakes and tires to worry about.

FYI, I've blown a tire twice at 70MPH (picked up nails in truck stop) and no one in the Suburban even knew why I was pulling over - heck, I barely knew until I saw the smoke. The trailer tracked true and straight and absolutely no other damage. Point is, a properly built tandem will absolutely do the job.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Phoenix makes very good trailers and they're made out your way. You won't go wrong with them - they're made to fit your hull EXACTLY (custom built for each boat) and the frame/bunk supports are 100% welded for an absolutely perfect fit. Whereas most trailers are made to fit numerous hulls by adjusting bunks/axles. Although, that's not to say that a "general" fit trailer is bad - just that a custom is better.

There really is no such thing as "the best trailer" (note - this comment is not in response to Boltman's post). There are some "cheapie" ones out there that I would personally avoid (been in the marine industry for 26 years), but there are plenty of good ones. I have a Shoreland'r dual axle (10,000lb gross) under my 260DA and even though it is 15 years old, it is still going strong and tows fantastically at high speeds. VERY well built trailer. I have surge brakes and it works fine, but EOH would be a definite upgrade and, although more costly, is a worthwhile investment. You could do a triple, but a properly built tandem is perfectly fine. Personally, I'd rather the tandem since there is less maintenance -- two less brakes and tires to worry about.

FYI, I've blown a tire twice at 70MPH (picked up nails in truck stop) and no one in the Suburban even knew why I was pulling over - heck, I barely knew until I saw the smoke. The trailer tracked true and straight and absolutely no other damage. Point is, a properly built tandem will absolutely do the job.
Click to expand...

I really appreciate your response and opinions on the Phoenix trailers. Definitely great to hear! How do you like your 260?
 
I have a 2003 Loadmaster Trailer (Ohio/painted steel C channel) under my 1990 270DA. It has been a very reliable trailer and the company is very good. It was built to fit my boat model/engine configuration. Two axles and four good tires are all you need. My axles are rated for 6,500lbs each with 16" E load rated tires. My brakes are total electric and work great underwater also. The 260 with a 454 will fly but are real gas drinkers, Mike.


 
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