Cant decide

J

jztoy

New Member
Sep 8, 2007
9
WV
Looking at a couple of 300, I have located one at me dealer for around 129,000 its an 06 with only 48 hrs on motors, only been in fresh water. This will be my second boat we bought a 260 at the end of last year and spent every weekend on it. We have 2 small children and when we are all on the boat for overnights its tight. But my wife doesn’t like how the cockpit is, she likes how the 260 cockpit is laid out. Any suggestion on how to sell this to her?

Thanks
 
Jayzee
not sure what you cant decide? btwn the two 300s or whether to make the move to a 300 and ditch the 260. if it's whether to make the move, absolutely DO IT! those kids are going to get bigger - and i remember my now sold 2002 crownline 262, where we had to go outside just to change our mind. you, my friend, have now been stricken with the horrible disease known as "2-foot-itis." there is no cure - early detection is important to control it. the advice you will probably get around these boards is buy the BIGGEST boat you can afford. your wife will quickly forget about the 260, but there will always be advantages to the smaller boat but they will soon be forgotten when you all find there is so much more LIVING SPACE!

hell, for that matter, go look for a 320 (it's so much fun to spend other people's money). best of luck to you!:thumbsup:
 
Sorry about making myself clear on that, what I ment is cant decide on the 290 to 300. witch would most people like. The 300 doesn’t have a camper top but they said that wouldn’t let them not close the deal. Do you think 129k fair price for the boat? Or is that high? Im all about getting the boat but like in most places its winter time here in WV. and she would keep paying for the 260 till we can at least use the boat.
 
A 320DA would be a better choice and your wife will definitely like the cockpit because it has more room than your 260DA and a portside lounger where as the 300DA does not.

One of our members has a 2005 320DA for sale for $109K plus he may be willing to take your 260DA on trade. I surely would start pursuing this one if I were you because this is a really good price. Here is his Classified posting. http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5597&page=2
 
Thanks for the help on that one, sent him a PM I went to Ebay to look at it there also while looking threw Ebay came across this boat looks like a great boat!!

2007, 33ft, SEA RAY - 310 SUNDANCER
Engine: Twin Mercruiser 350 MPI MAGS 300HPS, Fiberglass/Composite hull,
No trailer,
Location: Richmond, VA
149k
www.commonwealthboatbrokers.com
 
Re: Can't decide

I won't address the 32 vs. 30 issue, just the issue of the cockpit lay out of the 300. We have a 30 with the same layout as the 2006. The things we like about the cockpit are that if we are serving food to guests, no one has to move while we bring things up from the cabin-nice straight shot. Same for serving from cockpit fridge-easy access and that long narrow strip with a rail is surprisingly handy for securing drinks as you pour them. It also keeps snack bags from blowing away.. We find that on smaller sports cruisers the rear seating configuration that has no one balancing sideways is an advantage. Related to this is the easy access to the rails. I thought I'd miss the port side lounge, but like the dual captain's bench. We wish the cockpit table was larger, but this is a common dilemma. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will work out. Enjoy the decision making.
 
We had a 260DA and now have a 300DA. Originally we thought the side seating would be missed. I was very wrong. My wife said her favorite feature on the 300DA is the double wide Captain seat in place of the port side seating. The difference between the 260 and 300 is incredible. Good luck. I bet your wife won't miss the side seating at all.
 
Thanks for all the help guys, Im sure she will be happy with the 300 the larger cabin will be worth it for the kids and us. They need all the room to move around in.
 
as far as the 310 vs the 320, i couldnt comment either. but i do know the 320 pretty well - it is a reincarnation of the 1990s 330DA, which was SRs biggest seller ever. we have travelled with a good friend with a 98 330DA (2 kids 9 and 6) and have spent a lot of time aboard that boat. also, my neighbor at the marina has a 2003 320DA and i have always admired it. this 2004 320 that is available is a beautiful boat! great powerplants, great interior, genset, fresh water boat with FWC, and it's easily shipped. the price is VERY fair. if i were in the market, i would seriously consider it.
 
Last edited:
jztoy said:
Looking at a couple of 300, I have located one at me dealer for around 129,000 its an 06 with only 48 hrs on motors, only been in fresh water. This will be my second boat we bought a 260 at the end of last year and spent every weekend on it. We have 2 small children and when we are all on the boat for overnights its tight. But my wife doesn’t like how the cockpit is, she likes how the 260 cockpit is laid out. Any suggestion on how to sell this to her?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I can't speak to those boats exactly, but I will pass on a piece of advice that a friend of mine gave me when my wife and I were looking for a boat. Make sure it's something you both like, and keep looking until you find it.

If it's something that you don't like, it will haunt you every time you board. Likewise, if it's something she doesn't like, it will be like a grain of sand between the gears of your enjoyment of the boat.

We went back and forth for some time between several different boats before finally boarding the 05 260 we ended-up boarding, and KNEW it was "the one" as soon as we stepped on board.

Not a sermon...just a though. Good luck!!
 
Yes Its one thing for me to be happy but if she isnt, that will be a BIG mistake! Thanks for the input. The cabin is a big selling feature for us. Sense the kids are young (1 yr girl and 5 yr boy) I want everything to be just right for us.. Plus she wants to be able to pull the boat to the different lakes around here. The 30 will be pushing the limits of my truck. I think if I would go any larger, towning will be out of the question.
 
JZ
We were in the position this summer, deciding between the 290 or 300. We have two little guys 1 & 3.
We went the 300 and have been very happy with our choice.

Chris
 
There are enough boats out there right now, I am SURE you will find what will fit you perfectly. Oh, and for someone who just went through this, don't be afraid to make a semi-absurd offer and walk away if they say "no". They WILL call back...and call back...and call back...and
 
Why are you considering the 290 if space is the greatest concern? What did you like about the 290? I just purchased my 290 and the dealer had a new '07 Sundancer 300 with twin 5.0 Bravo 3s and a genset they were trying to get rid of. He said I could have that for "a little more," which he loosely translated to ~$10-20,000 more. I went with the 290 based on it, in my eye, being a prettier boat and because with the same power it got 50% better fuel economy, a faster cruise speed, and >10 more mph on the top end. The way I look at it, I will use it more frequently and go farther on my fuel budget. Not to mention saving on all the other expenses associated with the LOA. I expect that I will be out on a boat alone or with inexperienced or unhelpful hands. The smaller, more managable 290 fit the bill. It is not the perfect boat, but the perfect boat for me is only obtainable with another $50,000 tacked onto my annual income. It is the most boat I can afford now (arguably excessive at that). BTW my boat came with a camper canvas package. I'd recommend it, but everyone has different needs.
 
The 300 was a trade in w/very low hrs on the boat. The 290's are new so they cost a little more and I have the 260 that I will trade on this boat. I was just wanting some inside advise on the seating arrangements. Thats the really big thing for us. The 260 for the size of boat has a very friendly cockpit. And with the 300 it has a completly different arrangemnt as for the 290 you still have the port side seating. Just like to get everyones input on this. And all input is greatly appreciated.
 
Honestly, it seems that seating arrangements are the biggest concern. The 290 is not for you. There is less seating on it than the 260. The 280, however, rivals even the 300 in seating arrangement. I think the efficiency and seating offered in the 280 can't be beat. In the cabin, you have 2 tables that can seat 6 combined. In the cockpit you can seat one at the helm, 2 to port of the helm and 4 face to face at a table in the aft cockpit. So if everybody sat down on a 280, you'd have 13 people sitting. It comes with a camper canvas package. The cocpit seat folds into a sunpad. The 280 can be had with twin 5.0s or 4.3s. You get a very efficient hull and high mpg. I've seen them used well under $100,000 and new can be had for $120,000, pretty loaded. The new ones even come with Sea Core and digital throttle and shift. The 280 is really a 30 footer. Take the wife to see one, buy a classic, and save yourself a bundle of cash.
 
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