Can anyone compare ride quality of 220 Sundeck to 240 Sundancer?

[Jdr01930]

We have a 22' Sundeck, and are thinking a pocket cruiser might be fun, so are considering selling it and getting a Sundancer 240.

At first I assumed since it's 2' longer and heavier, it would be more stable/smoother than our Sundeck, however after reading about it a little more, I hear people saying the small cruisers tend to be top heavy, wider in the bow, etc which make them more "rolly polly", and not so good in chop.

If we get a DA we want to be able to go farther, but if ride quality is actually worse than what we are used to then we haven't gained anything and will be inclined to stay close to home.

We are generally happy with ride quality of the Sundeck. It slaps a bit in chop as one would expect of a boat this size/shape/weight. But as we move up we'd like to see the same or better ride quality/comfort in chop.

The obvious solution would be to go even bigger, but staying at our current slip is a requirement and we cant go bigger than about 24'.

So, can anyone whose owned/has experienced both of these boats chime in?

Don't think I can get a sea trial until I put a deposit down and put in an offer, and doubt I can do that until I sell my boat (at which time there is no going back to my SD if I dont like the DA!)

Oh yeah, we boat in the ocean - North Shore of MA, Gloucester Harbor etc

 

[aerobat77]

I did not have a 220 sundeck but a similar 21ft cabincruiser and most probably your current boat is far more easy to drive . Especially the 240 sundancer tends to be tippy and needs an experienced hand using the drivetrim and the tabs.

 

[KnotEasy]

Night and Day comparison attempt for a deckboat vs. cruiser. Can't really answer, except the obvious.... they are two totally different types of boat, so they will handle and react differently.

 

[NVERL8]

Can't compare the two but can tell you that my 240da is the best riding boat I have owned. Very smooth in light chop

 

[egerrity]

You really need to be aware that the 240DA has a decent about up top, especially with the enclosure up. The wind loves to throw it around with docking. I had a 2003 since new and just sold it. We cruised all over with it. You will also become a trim tab professional, that boat needs a ton of attention to the tabs just to keep it from leaning. Don't get me wrong, for a 24 ft boat its great!!! In a short chop it will pound pretty good.

My brother has a 22SD with the 5.0mpi and an alpha... it will barly get out of the hole with 3 people on it. That bot needs tabs got get I over the hump or a bravo 3 drive. Once its on plane is nice ride

 

[davidh82]

We upgraded from a 190 Sport to a 240 Sundancer about a year ago and have been extremely happy. The tipsy nature of the 240 can easily be controlled with trim. Overall, the 240 handles the chop and small waves very well.

I'm sure that a larger and wider Sundancer would handle even better, however with your restrictions I think you'd be happy with this boat.

 

[davidh82]

which make them more "rolly polly", and not so good in chop.

I just wanted to make a quick clarification, this is just from my experience with our 240. I definitely wouldn't say that the boat is 'rolly polly'. Describing it that way seems to imply that the boat is bouncing around like a cork. It is more like the boat has a tendency to lean one way or another when it is on plane. This is easily corrected by using the tabs and trim properly, once you are comfortable you can even anticipate and correct for the leaning as you are coming up on plane.

This boat is our first cruiser so I can't compare the handling to a large one, however I really enjoy driving it. That being said, can you fit a 260 in that slip? With the 260 comes a lot of nice features like the windlass and generator.

 

[Jdr01930]

Thanks for the responses everyone, and davidh, thanks for clarifying how the trim tabs are used and the "rolly polly" bit. That all l makes sense. I was thinking the thing swayed back and forth at speed like a weeble, and you have to keep compensating with the trim tabs - apparently (and thankfully) that does not appear to be the case!

egerrity: Apparently the B3 makes all the difference in the world - my 220SD pops up on a plane like nothing! Don't even have trim tabs.

 

[aerobat77]

I was thinking the thing swayed back and forth at speed like a weeble, and you have to keep compensating with the trim tabs - apparently (and thankfully) that does not appear to be the case!

no . the deep vee 240 sundancer with significant more weight than your 220 sundeck will cut through waves much smoother than your current boat . the downside is to learn how to keep her away from leaning side to side with trim/tabs at this condition. not properly trimmed the 240 can lean over in such a severity that your wife is ready to jump - a 220 sundeck should run more or less straight even trimmed "wrong" , but will hit the waves "harder"

 

[Big Island Lifer]

What about a SLX? Bigger day boat and you still have a small cabin.


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[WDCboater]

If budget allows I would look at a 260 or 280 DA.
I had a 240 Sundancer before I went to the 350.

The he ride was ok, but rough in 2'+ waves. We go to the Chesapeake Bay, which can get rough.

The 240 is a bit tight inside if you're going to overnight, but the 260 and 280 give you a little more elbow room.

Before I bought my 240 I test rode a Sundeck and I didn't like the ride compared to the cruiser. The cruiser cut through the chop better, but handles differently.

If you can, test drive it before you make a decision.

If I was going off shore I'd want a boat with two engines, but just my 2 cents.