Buying a Sundancer, undecided 260 or 280

[Heracles]

I am going for an inspection tomorrow. There is an inspector that the broker suggested, but based on previous experiences, inspections are useless. They are either biased, they look for the wrong things, they miss others, etc. No inspection had any value for me.

So I am going to rely on my own findings. Of course I am looking for the obvious ones: oil leaks in engines, water in bilge, operation of drives and trim tabs.

Since it is an '02, I expect flaws and minor repairs... and I don't care much about this, not going to argue a $200 bill on a $60k boat. But I will argue if I see oil leaking out of a head gasket.

Is there anything major that you can suggest that I need inspected?

Congrats!
Oh and the inspection sounds along the line as your typical home inspections...for a formality than anything worth while, unless there is something very obviously wrong.

 

[mfilippa]

Damn, again I didn't get notifications on replies!

OK... I got the boat today !!!!!! :grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin:

I got an inspection. The guy did an so-so job. There was nothing wrong with the boat, other than the issues that I already found: non working drive gages and one gas gage dead. I am sure I will find more as I go, but I am already considering this boat as a project boat. Right now the big one bothering me are the engine throttle cables a bit too hard.

I am not planning on doing much running around this year, instead wait for winter, put it in a heated garage and work all winter long. Engine maintenance, drive maintenance, everything. Also considering some remodeling: get rid of the carpet (I dislike carpet with a passion... maybe hardwood flooring?) and get rid of the fugly upholstery at the fore berth. A new canvas too, getting rid of worn tan, going black.

Oh, have I mentioned the smile on the wife goes from one ear to the other? :grin: She couldn't be any happier... well, not true. She spotted a dinghy and asked what was that for... I stupidly said that was a little boat you carry on board to reach the beaches and such. "I want one now!!!" she said.... boats and wives is bad business! :lol:

The bad news is that I can't go out much this weekend. First reason is that the broker wants to wait till check clears before, so I agreed to stay at the marina. Second is that I would like some practice docking with the broker or any other experienced person, I am not used to twin drives. Third, I wouldn't go anywhere without the chartplotter chip, which comes tuesday. I heard horror stories of people in St Clair leaving their drives at the bottom of the lake.

I forgot about this one... apparently the inspection guy missed that the windlass does not operate correctly once the chain ends and the rope begins. It slips like crazy with the rope. Also the stereo does not power. And he also removed a fuse and left me without generator. So again, not too much thrilled about inspectors. But nothing I can't fix myself (at least got genny running).

The bottom line is that the advice that you gave me was right on: get the biggest boat you can afford. This one feels right, stable, roomy inside and outside. This will last for a good 5 years till I start craving for a 340.

Thanks all and I'll be posting pictures soon.

 

[Heracles]

What a happy ending! Congrats!!! We want pics!!!! :smt038 Are you trailering it?

Damn, again I didn't get notifications on replies!

OK... I got the boat today !!!!!! :grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin:

I got an inspection. The guy did an so-so job. There was nothing wrong with the boat, other than the issues that I already found: non working drive gages and one gas gage dead. I am sure I will find more as I go, but I am already considering this boat as a project boat. Right now the big one bothering me are the engine throttle cables a bit too hard.

I am not planning on doing much running around this year, instead wait for winter, put it in a heated garage and work all winter long. Engine maintenance, drive maintenance, everything. Also considering some remodeling: get rid of the carpet (I dislike carpet with a passion... maybe hardwood flooring?) and get rid of the fugly upholstery at the fore berth. A new canvas too, getting rid of worn tan, going black.

Oh, have I mentioned the smile on the wife goes from one ear to the other? :grin: She couldn't be any happier... well, not true. She spotted a dinghy and asked what was that for... I stupidly said that was a little boat you carry on board to reach the beaches and such. "I want one now!!!" she said.... boats and wives is bad business! :lol:

The bad news is that I can't go out much this weekend. First reason is that the broker wants to wait till check clears before, so I agreed to stay at the marina. Second is that I would like some practice docking with the broker or any other experienced person, I am not used to twin drives. Third, I wouldn't go anywhere without the chartplotter chip, which comes tuesday. I heard horror stories of people in St Clair leaving their drives at the bottom of the lake.

I forgot about this one... apparently the inspection guy missed that the windlass does not operate correctly once the chain ends and the rope begins. It slips like crazy with the rope. Also the stereo does not power. And he also removed a fuse and left me without generator. So again, not too much thrilled about inspectors. But nothing I can't fix myself (at least got genny running).

The bottom line is that the advice that you gave me was right on: get the biggest boat you can afford. This one feels right, stable, roomy inside and outside. This will last for a good 5 years till I start craving for a 340.

Thanks all and I'll be posting pictures soon.

 

[mfilippa]

I would never dare to pull that with any vehicle. :smt001

I had the broker teach me today to move around the marina, docking and such. Very interesting with twin screws, once you get the hang of it, you can position it any way you want.

The only thing I am already feeling is the gas bill. This weekend, we burned about 1/4 tank with sea trials. That is 40gal contributing to global warming... so first picture to be posted here:

Money drain #1.