found and need your opinion.

Drama Queen

Drama Queen

New Member
Feb 13, 2008
369
We have found a 2000 310 sundancer not far from us, brokered by MarineMax (port arrowhead) it's $94,900 with v-drives and 340 engine hours. I don't think the engine hours thing is that big of a deal. But my husband does.

I would love to hear opinions. We bought our '95 250DA with 60 hours on it. The first weekend we had it out the impellor went plughhh and we had to be towed back to the slip. lol Yes, we were very green in the boating world. With only 3 seasons behind us I think we still are.

I apologize in advance for asking a stupid question, I tried to search your archives but I didn't come up with much. All replies are greatly appreciated.:smt100
 
340 hours on an 8 year old boat is not high hours. Things break when they are misused, over used or not used. These hours seem to be well within the lines if not a bit low. Let me be the first to say it and believe me I'll not be the last.. GET A SURVEY if you get serious about this boat. I bought my 230 and 250 with out a survey and just got lucky. It's pennies on the dollar for the piece of mind and an easy way out if the boat is a pig..

good luck
 
Sounds nice. Check engine room access. 31 feet isn't a lot of room for V-drives. Make sure that everything that needs servicing can be reached without resorting to a trained monkey. If you service the boat yourself, ease of service will be a big deal. If you pay someone, you'll pay less if it's easier to work than if it is harder and takes longer.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Thank you so much for your input. We will definately get a survey for our next boat. We learned the $1200 hard way. After replacing impellor and the hoses and god knows what else. It was a true initiation into the boating lifestlye.

MM says they have been the one's to keep up maintanence on it, so hopefully it's a good deal. I think I am going to fix the hubby a rum and coke tonight and talk him into going to look at it this week. (a girl pirates gotta do what a girl pirates gotta do)
 
fc3 said:
Sounds nice. Check engine room access. 31 feet isn't a lot of room for V-drives. Make sure that everything that needs servicing can be reached without resorting to a trained monkey. If you service the boat yourself, ease of service will be a big deal. If you pay someone, you'll pay less if it's easier to work than if it is harder and takes longer.

Best regards,
Frank
Click to expand...


good to know also, thank you Frank. um we don't do service so I will check that out. MM salesman is telling us v-drives are better than stern. Heck I didn't even know what they were I had to google em just to find out.
 
Drama Queen,

We have 665 hrs on our 2000 240da with 90 per cent in salt water and have only done routine maintenance, which I do myself. It is on a trailer and I know that helps but 340 hrs is not a problem if you know the maintenance and get the survey.

Just my humble opinion,

Tom
 
Marine engine failure is almost always the result of abuse from neglect and non-use. Very few marine engines wear out in recreational use. In that regard, use and regular maintenance are much more desirable than low hours. If MM did all of maintenance, ask for all of the maintenance records. Post questions. You should see regular oil/filter changes, impeller changes, water pump replacements, riser/manifold changes, gear oil changes, etc. Maybe belts / hoses....
 
DQ....is the boat you are looking at on Table Rock or at Lake of the Ozarks(LOTO)? If the boat is from LOTO...remember the ice storm in December 2006 at LOTO...there were a lot of boats with damage from the docks collaspsing. A survey should reveal this...and I would think the seller would need to disclose, but you might ask your salesman. Who is your salesman? Is he in the Nixa office?

I also sent you a PM.
 
Drama Queen said:
I think I am going to fix the hubby a rum and coke tonight and talk him into going to look at it this week. (a girl pirates gotta do what a girl pirates gotta do)
Click to expand...

DQ - Mix it good and strong! He probably will think you wrecked the car or something! I agree with the rest, that isn't a lot of hours...that would be a nice step up from your 250
 
NEVER TRUST THE SALESMAN. VERIFY EVERY CLAIM.

Survey is necessary. Seperate engine survey by a qualified Mercruiser tech that YOU hire is necessary. If you are queasy about anything, do not hesitate to get TWO surveys. And do a good seatrial. If possible, take a "joy ride cruise" prior to committing to the boat (not always allowed). Do your research on pricing. Feel free to low ball. Seriously low ball :)

V Drives, I hear, require less maintenance and provide better dock handling than I/O's. I/O's are more fuel efficient and free up engine room space.

Also, get some opinions regarding that particular MM dealer. Some people like their MM dealers, for good reason. Some hate their dealers, for good reason.
 
Stray Cat said:
DQ - Mix it good and strong! He probably will think you wrecked the car or something! I agree with the rest, that isn't a lot of hours...that would be a nice step up from your 250
Click to expand...


:wow: I mixed it too strong....he fell asleep!!!!!!
that's ok I am giving him subliminal messages in his sleep.

Thank you all for your opinions and input. I am printing this stuff out just so I will remember. For real my mechanical knowledge ummmm well, it's limited. (that's a nice way to say I hire a mechanic for every little thing.)

You Guys ROCK!!!
 
We should all be so lucky to have a wife mixing us drinks and giving us 'subliminal messages' to get bigger boats........ Hmmm.

Good luck. :smt001
 
Pirate said:
We should all be so lucky to have a wife mixing us drinks and giving us 'subliminal messages' to get bigger boats........
Click to expand...

I need to get myself one of those. Are they available at MM as well?

Good luck with the boat, DQ.
 
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...0&city=&rid=103&pbsint=&boatsAddedSelected=-1

Copy all and paste to your browser and hit enter.

This is a search on yachtworld.com. I searched 2000 Sea Ray 29 - 32 feet in the central US. That same boat seems to come up several times at the same location for increasingly lower prices over time. They should learn to delete their old listings if this is the case.

31 ft 2000 Sea Ray 310da US$111,900 Send Email

More Info/Photos Boat Type: Small Cruiser
Location: Osage Beach, MO, United States
Length: 31 ft
Hull Material: Fiberglass


Nothing to Apologize for on this boat, Very Very Clean NO Surprises Just ONE NICE BOAT!! more... MarineMax Missouri
(888) 809-0663
Finance It




31 ft 2000 Sea Ray 310da US$98,000 Send Email

More Info/Photos Boat Type: Small Cruiser
Location: Osage Beach, MO, United States
Length: 31 ft
Hull Material: Fiberglass


Very nice 310 Sundancer and check out the engines, Twin 5.7L 350 MAG MPI with V-Drives and 300 HP each for plenty of get up and GO! Westerbeke Gen with heat and air for those family weekends on the la more... MarineMax Missouri
(888) 809-0663
Finance It




31 ft 2000 Sea Ray 310da US$94,900 Send Email

More Info/Photos Boat Type: Small Cruiser
Location: Osage Beach, MO, United States
Length: 31 ft
Hull Material: Fiberglass


WoW, A 2000-310 Sundancer that looks like NEW. With only 340 HoursThis boat is equipted with a Westerbeke 4.5 KW Generator. If Air conditioning, Comfort, Ride, Speed with engine upgrades is your idea more... MarineMax Missouri
(888) 809-0663
Finance It




31 ft 2000 Sea Ray 310da US$89,900 Send Email

More Info/Photos Boat Type: Small Cruiser
Location: Osage Beach, MO, United States
Length: 31 ft
Hull Material: Fiberglass


L.O.A. 33'10". The Bravo 3's give her nimbleness in handling, speeds pushing 40mph and excellent fuel economy due to the power trim feature. Tons of room in the spotless bilge. Tan canvas, wood a more... MarineMax Missouri
(888) 809-0663
Finance It




31 ft 2000 Sea Ray Sundancer US$92,500 Send Email

More Info/Photos Boat Type: Express
Location: Osage Beach, MO, United States
Length: 31 ft
Hull Material: Fiberglass


A smooth riding express cruiser and a great pedigree! Powered by twin 5.7mercuiser EFI's with under 250 hours. Options include generator, windlass,spotlight and much more. TIME TO SELL! Make an of more... Lake Services Boat Brokerage
877-648-6738
Finance It
 
Rut roh. First red flag.
So. . .how many 31DA's does this dealer have?
Is the market *that* soft? Or is there something wrong with the boat?
 
I think all of the boats listed are brokered boats...and not all were listed by MM. There are tons of boats for sale at Lake of the Ozarks. The boats keep getting bigger and bigger on this lake, which makes the water rougher, which causes boaters to want to go bigger, so the water is no so rough. How many new 60 Sundancers are on freshwater lakes? There is one at LOTO. There is a lot of 40 and 50 footers for sale in this area.
 
Drama Queen,

I thin 340 hours is good for an 8 year old boat, if it has been maintained well. If the claim is true about MM doing all the service, then they should be able to print out the invoices to prove it. (However they might show you the ones for scheduled service but not for unplanned repairs.) You should determine if the motors ever injested water, a problem for that vintage model. The problematic exhaust system had log-shaped mufflers mounted horizontally just behind the engines. An update to keg-shaped waterlift mufflers, mounted down in the bilge, fixed the problem. Get the engine serial numbers and call Mercruiser, they should tell you about any engine warrantee work that was covered.

When I got my 1999 310DA, it had 55 hrs on the replaced engines. In four years I have put another 350 hrs on them (year-round use in salt water) I expect them to last for many more years of similar use. The hull has about 740 hours on it. Now, age does take its toll on systems. I have replaced the water heater, refrigerator, air conditioner, GPS, and a steering cable. If the boat you are looking at has not needed much of this kind of work, then things like that will wear out on your watch. Factor that into your price negotiations. I think the listed price is ten to fifteen thousand dollars high. The market is very soft for this kind of boat right now.

On the plus side, we have not outgrown the boat or tired of using it. It is economical enough for a Sunday joy ride, and comfortable enough for a two week cruise. We plan to go farther and stay longer when we are retired.
 
My bet is they are advertising that boat and when you get their "Oh sorry it's sold but take a look at this boat we have for a little bit more money"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,210
Messages
1,428,649
Members
61,108
Latest member
rvlewis
Back
Top