first boat -- SEA RAY 290 -- TWIN 6's

N

neelfryer

New Member
May 20, 2012
8
hudson ny
Boat Info
1996 sea ray 290 -- twin 6's
Engines
twin 6's
What an amazing site -- I collect classic cars and belong to forums related to that hobby and I have been shopping for my first boat for about 2 yrs and just yesterday decided to search for a forum for the boat I wanted to buy...SR 290

I have so many questions and I will have excellent hands on support from 2 very experienced boaters. But, I'd figured I'd get a jump on asking some really dumb questions here in the anonymity of the web...so here goes...

Can I -- a (gratefully) healthy, athletic 44 year old father of 3 kids pilot a 290 2 screw boat with confidence after a few days of hands on training?

How do you guys feel about a 1996 290 with 700 hrs -- the boat presents exceptionally well -- 2 owners -- fresh water only to this point.

I plan to use the boat on the Hudson River in NY near Hyde Park BUT I have big plans to take the boat to Cape Cod for a week in August. That would mean touring down the hudson to manhattan -- out to the LI Sound and ultimately the Cape...

I know I'm asking a million questions that probably belong in a few different threads but figured I raise my hand to see if anyone is out there and willing to hare some opinions.

Thanks in advance -- John
 
John, welcome aboard, and congrats on finding a nice 290. I think that size boat with the twin 4.3L's is just about the perfect combination and you'll have no problems at all handling it. It ain't rocket science, and I ain't no rocket scientist, though I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express once!

A 1996 boat with 700 hours wouldn't scare me at all. That's enough hours to show it's been used, but not a ton of hours where you might be looking at rebuilding an engine soon. I'd get the maintenance records if the current owner has them, and check to see that the engines and drives have been maintained.

I can't speak to your questions about taking the boat to Cape Cod, but I'd speculate that if you planned the trip with an eye on the weather forecast that you'd have no problems. First though, let me suggest that you take a safe boating course from either the USCG Auxilliary or a US Power Squadron near you. I'd suggest you take the course in a classroom setting because you'll benefit from the exchange of information that goes on in the classroom. Besides, you'll meet some other boaters from your area.

Good luck with your new lifestyle, and we all like to see pics.

GFC
 
I agree with Gofirst....congrats.
 
Well young man if you can handle 3 kids you can handle a little ole Sea Ray . Grab one of your boating buddys and hit the water , he will get you started out right , Your going to love your new boat , Best of luck.
 
Gofirstclass said:
John, welcome aboard, and congrats on finding a nice 290. I think that size boat with the twin 4.3L's is just about the perfect combination and you'll have no problems at all handling it. It ain't rocket science, and I ain't no rocket scientist, though I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express once!

A 1996 boat with 700 hours wouldn't scare me at all. That's enough hours to show it's been used, but not a ton of hours where you might be looking at rebuilding an engine soon. I'd get the maintenance records if the current owner has them, and check to see that the engines and drives have been maintained.

I can't speak to your questions about taking the boat to Cape Cod, but I'd speculate that if you planned the trip with an eye on the weather forecast that you'd have no problems. First though, let me suggest that you take a safe boating course from either the USCG Auxilliary or a US Power Squadron near you. I'd suggest you take the course in a classroom setting because you'll benefit from the exchange of information that goes on in the classroom. Besides, you'll meet some other boaters from your area.

Good luck with your new lifestyle, and we all like to see pics.

GFC
Click to expand...

thanks all -- very sound advice -- i plan on taking a classroom course first and doing a good amount of 1 on 1 with my boat buddies

i'm trying to figure out how to chart my trip to cape cod --

i'm planning on 2 days -- the second one being a looong one from nyc area to the cape

any advice on how long that trip is would be great
 
i am full of important questions -- the most important of course is...

removing the old letters of the name of the boat and replacing them with a new name

i have seen many sites that sell the letters or a printed script for not that much -- is this something i can do myself?

if not -- how expensive is it -- does the boat need to be out of the water for it to be done

trust me -- this will be the most important element for my kids
 
John - welcome to CSR. My wife and I also boat on the Hudson, right in Marlboro, so we are right across the river from you. If you want to contact me directly, send me a PM, and we can talk. We have taken the trip from here, down to NYC, and then all the way to Boston, so I can answer any specific questions you may have. For starters, I will say that a one day shot from NYC to Cape Cod is one LOOOONNNNGG day. You'll burn the better part of an hour just getting through the Cape Cod Canal, which is a no-wake zone. There are a variety of ways to break it up into more manageable pieces, so give me a shout, and we can discuss it.

Dale
 
neelfryer said:
I plan to use the boat on the Hudson River in NY near Hyde Park BUT I have big plans to take the boat to Cape Cod for a week in August. That would mean touring down the hudson to manhattan -- out to the LI Sound and ultimately the Cape...
Click to expand...

I'll defer to the folks on this board with the local knowledge that I do not have but..... doesn't this sound like an aggressive trip for someone with two months of boating experience with three kids on board?
 
Phlorida said:
I'll defer to the folks on this board with the local knowledge that I do not have but..... doesn't this sound like an aggressive trip for someone with two months of boating experience with three kids on board?
Click to expand...

This is the exact right question that I think will be answered after I spend time with the boat on the Hudson -- I have piloted a few boats and I've been in pretty snotty water BUT that by no means qualifies me to make this trip without very careful consideration.

I would not try to do it in a day -- and I would surely check weather and currents etc. -- my plan would be a shore trip for the most part -- there is a few tricky spots with shipping lanes and currents from LI SOUND to ATL OCEAN

I have no interest in having a stressful and or dangerous trip -- we are actually headed to the bay side of the Cape so from what I can tell it's doable but I'm surely learning more all the time about this trip.

And I'm not making any decisions about for 3 months...

keep the advice coming -- this site has already been very helpful --
 
I hadn't intended to insult you but I would have felt remiss in not posing the question about the complexity of the trip. I have no idea whether that is a difficult trip or not. You sound as though you are just cautious enough to be an excellent boater.
 
Phlorida said:
I hadn't intended to insult you but I would have felt remiss in not posing the question about the complexity of the trip. I have no idea whether that is a difficult trip or not. You sound as though you are just cautious enough to be an excellent boater.
Click to expand...


Phlorida -- I was by no means insulted -- and never underestimate my ability to sink this boat -- It may happen -- hopefully in shallow water --

but as I said -- you are asking the right question -- the question that is in my head -- how long will it take me and how hard will it be and can my experience by the time i set out be enough

I'm interested to hear form folks who have done the trip from nyc to the cape -- how tricky can it be?
 
Congrats and welcome aboard! You should be able to do the lettering yourself and you can do it in the water with no problem. It's easiest if you dock stern in as you can work right off the dock to get things lined up. Search this site it or google for renaming as well. There is a very specific renaming ceremony that you're supposed to follow. It is said that if you don't you will be plagued with bad luck so be sure and search that out, then you can decide whether or not you wanna follow it!!


Shaun
Sent from my iPhone
 
sooooo....the boat i was sure i was getting...i may now NOT be getting -- it is a 1996 290 with twin 6's -- no ac/heat -- 770 hrs -- a very nice boat and the guy selling it is a lovely guy -- he is very firm at 28k -- which is proabably a very fair market price for the boat

i made a 20k offer and was willing to go to 22+ ... i could creep even closer to him but he told me that he turned down 26k

i am now taking a moment to rethink this purchase

i have found a 1988 300 that has twin 260 mercs -- ac/heat -- it has just had all the interior redone and a full evaluation with no recs for the boat

i really like the wood accents on the 88 and i have to say that the original interior of the cabin on the 96 is a little busy and i prefer the simpler look of the 88

the 88 is listed at 15k and i have seen other very nice original or restored 87's and 88's that seem really nice

am i insane to even consider paying 28 for the 96 when the 88 for 15 (or less) is gonna have the same feel and size?

i know this is a matter of opinion but i'm asking for your experience ...thanks in advance
 
If the boat is sound.... boats seem to be like airplanes. An old 72 Cessna is in perfect condition if its maintained.

My boat is an 83. Minus the crisis of an engine not starting, which was an easy fix once the problem was discovered, I have had no true isues (knock on teak).
Of course there are upgrades we are doing, but I think thats part of the fun of owning a boat. I have no problem spending money on the boat if its for a good cause. I DO have a problem spending money because I HAVE TO to make it work.

The wife and I have teamed up and its a family project. Its a hell of a lot better to spend a Saturday upgrading / polishing up the boat than to sit at home watching TV, or worse yet... clothes shopping for her.

I would not hesitate to get a good older boat than a newer one. You get more bang for the buck. Get a survey!

Look into insurance costs. Some insurance REQUIRES a survey by an approved appraiser. Pick an insurance company, then look for a surveyer they will allow. Shop around for insurance as well. I found that Progressive was the best for me, and they did not require a survey and set an agreed cash value for total loss.

To take a name off the back of the boat... I used a citrus Orange stripper from Lowes. Cant miss it. It will take the name off in about 4 min. Its safe for the water too, and safe on gelcoat but NOT SAFE ON bare fiberglass (ie my swim platform).

I found that most local graphic's stores can make then pinstriping and boat names and numbers.. VERY cheap, and very good quality. I paid $20 for my first boat name, and we are renaming this year and it was $35.
 
chandalen said:
If the boat is sound.... boats seem to be like airplanes. An old 72 Cessna is in perfect condition if its maintained.

My boat is an 83. Minus the crisis of an engine not starting, which was an easy fix once the problem was discovered, I have had no true isues (knock on teak).
Of course there are upgrades we are doing, but I think thats part of the fun of owning a boat. I have no problem spending money on the boat if its for a good cause. I DO have a problem spending money because I HAVE TO to make it work.

The wife and I have teamed up and its a family project. Its a hell of a lot better to spend a Saturday upgrading / polishing up the boat than to sit at home watching TV, or worse yet... clothes shopping for her.

I would not hesitate to get a good older boat than a newer one. You get more bang for the buck. Get a survey!

Look into insurance costs. Some insurance REQUIRES a survey by an approved appraiser. Pick an insurance company, then look for a surveyer they will allow. Shop around for insurance as well. I found that Progressive was the best for me, and they did not require a survey and set an agreed cash value for total loss.

To take a name off the back of the boat... I used a citrus Orange stripper from Lowes. Cant miss it. It will take the name off in about 4 min. Its safe for the water too, and safe on gelcoat but NOT SAFE ON bare fiberglass (ie my swim platform).

I found that most local graphic's stores can make then pinstriping and boat names and numbers.. VERY cheap, and very good quality. I paid $20 for my first boat name, and we are renaming this year and it was $35.
Click to expand...

Excellent post -- thanks so much -- the older boat has been surveyed and found to "need nothing" -- I spoke to the owner this morning and he was also a very nice guy and he was very informative about the boat...

the 88 is 15k and the 96 is 28k

i don't even know what I would upgrade first on the 88 -- he already did the interior and electronics (except radar) and he put a bow thruster in

there is another potential buyer looking at the 88 tmrw morning

i'm hoping he doesn't buy it

we'll see
 
That's a great boat and you'll have it mastered in no time with a little practice. I'll just add that it was helpful to me to ALSO understand what types of situations to avoid. Certain fuel docks on Saturday afternoons, certain rivers with strong tides and rr bridges, etc. Know you boat and know your surroundings.... your family will have many cherished memories and then soon you'll move up to a 340... :smt001
 
gerryb said:
That's a great boat and you'll have it mastered in no time with a little practice. I'll just add that it was helpful to me to ALSO understand what types of situations to avoid. Certain fuel docks on Saturday afternoons, certain rivers with strong tides and rr bridges, etc. Know you boat and know your surroundings.... your family will have many cherished memories and then soon you'll move up to a 340... :smt001
Click to expand...


update -- I bought a 1999 Formula 280 SS -- Twin 6's -- I know it's NOT a sea ray -- forgive me -- you may be interested to know that I refound the '96 290 sun dancer on e-bay and the guy had dropped the opening bid -- he seemed to be struggling to sell -- it was down to an opening bid of 18 -- not sure what his new sell price might be -- he and i continued to e-mail -- very nice guy -- hope he gets a fair price

as for my Formula -- I had a frustrating first day with it -- was endeavoring to just use the starboard engine to navigate out of the tight spot the marina had placed me in

to be clear the boat had needed extensive work when i bought it -- this i knew -- and westerly marina in ossining ny did a very good job with all the repair and clean up -

so long story short i backed the boat in to a dock and put a nice bite in the f-glass -- i found the one piece of a metal cap on a post -- sucks -- oh well

the hudson was very snotty that day so i didn't stay out for more than 5 minutes -- the problem i was having is finding neutral

i know this sounds like a dumb guy issue -- which it very well may be ... i am surely a dumb guy at times -- and the boat is new to me -- and when a kid who works at the marina got in with me to help me navigate out of the marina he had a hard time finding the gears -- and yes i believe that there may be a throttle cable issue -- port seems to be much cleaner as far as finding the gears -- starboard seems slippery -- i thought i was in neutral but was slowly gliding backwards -- anyway...

so now i'm trying to find a local captain to school with -- there is a place called boatboy marine training -- i have left them a message -- i think this is gonna be expensive

Dale from Marlboro who I met through the forum is a great guy and took me out on his 340 in june before i bought the formula -- sadly for me he is on a trip with his wife and his 340 or I would take him out with me

anyone on here in the hudson river area near ossining, poughkeepsie, highland...? and looking to go out on the water with me? -- any suggestions?

know any local captains?
 
Last edited:
Try calling your local power squadron. They probably have classes and may have a good captain reference.
 
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