Buying the right boat

Richie89

Richie89

Active Member
Aug 20, 2012
599
Miami Beach, FL
Boat Info
450 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Cummins 480 Zeus
My wife and I want to cruise the ICW from GA down through FL. For our first boat to get our feet wet on short trips, would a 240 sundancer be the right choice?
 
So many variables and a personal choice. There are no shortcuts look at everything you can and learn as you go and make the best decision you can. The 240 is a great boat, see how it stacks up to needs and preferences. Good luck.
 
That's a wide open question. But for a first boat?... Yes, the 240DA will be agile enough for a beginner yet room enough to live on for a few days.

Welcome to CSR!
 
Richie89 said:
My wife and I want to cruise the ICW from GA down through FL. For our first boat to get our feet wet on short trips, would a 240 sundancer be the right choice?
Click to expand...


I'm obviously biased but I think the 240 is too small to spend a weekend on for two adults. A 260 or older 270 will have enough room for a weekend, easy to handle, and relatively economical. They can even be towed if needed although I would Avoid towing at all costs.

John
 
I've jumped in with first boat at a 300. Spent over a year putting together the deals that needed to proceed this purchase, so got to look at a lot of 26' and up boat - cant stand the 8'6 beam of the 260, the 9' on the 290 is ok, but 10'6 is best. All boats I looked at were 1990-2000

It's not great on juice, but it's not terrible either - cruising at 18-20kts, 45-50l/hour (12.5gph)

Handling with the twins has been just awesome and docking hasn't bothered me yet (wind is challenging tho)

Love the security of a second engine.

10'6 beam is to die for :)
 
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Start with budget and then on to what can you get for the money. To tow or not to tow that is the first question you must first answer.

I started just where you are evaluating the some of the same models. I ended up with a 97 270 DA. Why? I first decided we're were trailering, then focused on 8-6 beam boats. The 2000+ 260 cabin height was to short for my height and felt cramped. If not towing, get the widest beam you can afford.

The 97 270 DA was chosen because it was the pinnacle year for the model even though it was produced 2 additional years. Search the threads and you will find an abundance of information on this subject including many details on the confusing SE models.

PM me if you need help,

MM
 
If it were just my wife and I, and if I were looking for a newer boat, it would probably be the 260 Sundancer.
Something in the mid 2000's or so. They have enough room for two to be comfortable for a few nights if need be, can be found with AC/Heat pretty easily, have a real nice cockpit for a boat of that size, and are small enough for a novice to get proficient fairly quickly with.
 
What year 240 are you looking for? Price range? I looked at a lot of 2000-2003 240 DA's and 95-98 250DA's and settled on the 97 250DA I bought - They are really close in length & weight and I am at the max I want to tow right now. (7,600 lbs)

I stepped up from a 86 210 Seville Mid-Cabin and couldn't be happier - The 210 was my first boat ever but we outgrew it in a few years - Wanted to trailer it so the 250 fit the bill. Lots of room up top - Great layout. The cabin is not overly big but it works and has a nice size aft cabin.

LK
 
JVM225 said:
If it were just my wife and I, and if I were looking for a newer boat, it would probably be the 260 Sundancer.
Something in the mid 2000's or so. They have enough room for two to be comfortable for a few nights if need be, can be found with AC/Heat pretty easily, have a real nice cockpit for a boat of that size, and are small enough for a novice to get proficient fairly quickly with.
Click to expand...

...as long as the novice is under 5' 10"... :smt043

Also look at the stability issues of the 260's, not sure which models are most affected.

Get the biggest boat you can afford whether you trailer or don't. I have been very happy with the 270 choice for trailering which, by the way, as I understand, is the largest trailerable Sea Ray ever made.

MM
 
Thanks so much for all the info. Here's more info -
I need to trailer, but I'm used to towing a 28' race car trailer and I have a 3500 diesel dually, and pulling a trailer is easy for me. Launching, tho, has me worried with a bigger than 240 boat.
I'm looking at a close to new, less than 100 hours, couple years old. I read how many of you guys mentioned older boats. I assumed older boats, older than say 2008, would give me more trouble. Is my thinking wrong?
looking to spend 50K or so.
Thanks again for all the help.
id also like to use this boat with the whole family at the lake pulling tubes, etc.
but cruising wi only the wife.
 
Dont worry about the launch....just make sure you have a well designed trailer made for the boat. I can launch/recover mine solo...its no biggie. Someone said earlier, "get the biggest boat you can afford". I could not agree more. We run to Catalina Island frequently and the 270 sometimes feels like a camper with just the wife and me. I'll sell you mine-I am looking to upgrade to 30+ (and I plan to tow, sometimes).

Your tow rig has the capacity to pull much larger boat than a 240. I have a 2000 270, and my 2500 HD Duramax pulls it effortlessly.
 
Look at the weight and specs before looking at the number on the back, it varies greatly between years, a 3500 should have no problem with any boat in the size range you are looking for. I have owned quite a few boats and this time around I was looking for a smaller cruiser and the '05-'08 260 worked for me. One thing you want to look for in small cruiser is storage, my last 248 FW was terrible with storage, also the engine access was horrible with the flat removable panels. This 260 has great storage, under the cockpit sink, stern locker, under the aft bench, plenty for my wife and two kids to overnight with. Cabin is pretty good as well. I'm 6'4 and can actually stand up in the cabin, the head is a little cramped but I dont spend a whole lot of time in there. I can actually sit down though, the FW head was taller but I couldnt sit and close the door because of my knees so there are always compromises in that size boat. The electric hatch lift is great, no carpets or seats to lift up to open it and engine access is as good as you can get, even for a big guy like myself.

Lot of complaints on these years for handling, I have no problem at all and overall its better than the FW 248 to be honest. Any 8'6 wide pocket cruiser is going to feel top heavy. My only complaint is its a bit underpowered with a single 350mag/BIII, its livable though if you are just taking trips with four people. I paid about what you are looking to spend on this '07 260 and this one came with an aluminum trailer, something you dont often see, and it has just about every option except the windlass - heat/AC, generator, TV, arch, camper canvas and only 170 hours on it so shop around.

As far as launching any tall cruiser is a PITA one man, I do it with a ladder on the bow but I only take it out of the water a couple times a year. Trailer is nice float on with guide poles and super easy to get on and off.

Good luck and dont be in a hurry, lots of good deals out there so take your time and look around at the various models/years and see what you like.
 
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I trailered my 270SE (8'6" beam) for several years... the wife learned to drive it off/on the trailer, so we were fairly quick.

The 240 would be better suited for pulling tubes if that's high on your list...
 
I towed my 240 quite easily for the two years I had it. I was also able to ski and tube behind it. And we spent long weekends on it as well. The 240 is a very versatile boat. The only bad thing about mine was that it had a 5.0 with 220 hp, (carb)and it felt underpowered when loaded with people.
 
Richie89 said:
My wife and I want to cruise the ICW from GA down through FL. For our first boat to get our feet wet on short trips, would a 240 sundancer be the right choice?
Click to expand...

Richie89 said:
After you get your 'feet wet' are you planning to get a different boat for the runs to FL? If not, I would suggest you look for a 280DA 2001 and up. You have enough truck to tow it, it's satisfactory for a couple people and you'll save some money in the long run by buying as few boats as possible.
Click to expand...
 
I have a 240 and the wife and I stay 2 days at a time on the boat with our 2 kids 3 and 7 years of age. Is it tight, yes. But you do what you must to work with it. I slept pretty well on the boat and I am 6'2".

If you can afford to go bigger go for it. Nice thing about the 240 is the economy of the boat. :)
 
I haven't been on the ICW and I don't know what water conditions can be like. I'm a river and bay rat. 24's are a great starter boat but handling is poor, mine was under powered. My slip neighbor loves his, but it is a classic, heavy, Sea Ray. After an 18 year land lock, I moved up to my current 30'. My suggestion...look into a 28'. They are a good starting point but it's like other have said before me, think about what you and your wife want in a boat and spend time looking, kick some tires, and find a good friend to go looking. My dealer bent over backwards to make sure everything was just right BEFORE I took my wife to see the boat.
 
Ritchie, I will second the 280 for everything you want, except maybe the tubing, but thats just me. I can even set you up in a nice 01, 30 hours (repowered last year) , triple axle trailer, and best of all, the factory vberth mattress option. If you plan on sleeping on it much, this is a MUST!
 
Richie89 said:
Thanks so much for all the info. Here's more info -
I need to trailer, but I'm used to towing a 28' race car trailer and I have a 3500 diesel dually, and pulling a trailer is easy for me. Launching, tho, has me worried with a bigger than 240 boat.
I'm looking at a close to new, less than 100 hours, couple years old. I read how many of you guys mentioned older boats. I assumed older boats, older than say 2008, would give me more trouble. Is my thinking wrong?
looking to spend 50K or so.
Thanks again for all the help.
id also like to use this boat with the whole family at the lake pulling tubes, etc.
but cruising wi only the wife.
Click to expand...

I hate trailering but you have to do what you gotta do. I have a 1995 boat still going strong and a 2000 boat still going strong minimal problems fromo both. I would not worry about an older boat as long as it has been taken care of. For 50k you should be able to get anything you want in your size range. I am not up on prices as I tend to own boats a long time but my boat was way less than 50k including the generator. Cruising will be possible with a bigger boat but not as much fun as it would with a 20 footer and it will cost more in gas. I have tubed in mine but usually only when we we going somewhere in the first place.

John
 
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