Hailing all 260DA Owners....Hailing all 260DA Owners

[Nehalennia II]

Ok. Now that we're searching for that perfect
"AFFORDABLE 260DA"
I need some of your "have to haves" and "If I were to do it over again's" on your 260DAs.
Here's a local (what seems to be a really nice) 2005 260DA I found this afternoon.
I'm starting to count my eggs before they hatch, but we're in prime boating season and this thing really looks nice
Take a look:

I have spoken to the owners- Retired couple who want to slow down now and get a trawler or tug and cruise the Puget Sound area. He says since they've owned it (since new, with 70 hours) they have only taken 3-4 day trips. They are sending more info tomorrow but so far I know it has:
"350 Mercruiser, fuel injected 300 hp, Bravo III,
70 HRS. on engine.
Cockpit cover plus full canvas cover.
Lots of extras. Like new.
Galvanized trailer included"

 

[estebanj]

Are those dinghy davits in the back?

Does it have a generator?

Does it have windlass?

Kept in water or land? What's the condition of the outdrive?

What is the knob to the left of the handle in the galley?

What is the white box to the right of the stereo?

Condition seems to be "like new". If the price is right, looks like a good buy (pending survey, etc.)

Esteban

 

[firecadet613]

Looks great to me. But I've only seen the pics. Makes me wish I was older and had more $$$ so I could get a boat like that......but to be 22

 

[Nehalennia II]

I have not seen this one in person yet but

Are those dinghy davits in the back?

Yes

Does it have a generator?

I have asked on e-mail - hope to hear tomorrow.

Does it have windlass?

Good question- I see the hook there but not sure if there's a windlass- I'll ask

Kept in water or land? What's the condition of the outdrive?

They have it wet slipped in the summer May- Sept- other than that on the trailer(trailer included)

What is the knob to the left of the handle in the galley?

looks to be a light

What is the white box to the right of the stereo?

I think a CO2 detector.

Condition seems to be "like new". If the price is right, looks like a good buy (pending survey, etc.)

Esteban

Looks great to me. But I've only seen the pics. Makes me wish I was older and had more $$$ so I could get a boat like that......but to be 22

My first boat when I was 23 was a new 1991 180BR SeaRay with 4.3L ---great boat. Second was a 220OV nearly identical to the 230OV I'm selling now. I lvoe the 230 but simply need more room.
We're stretching it for sure financially to go to the 260DA, but that's all we do is boat. There are very few nights' out dining or other "Crazy stuff" we save it for boating.
That's all I know

 

[Aarrhh & Aarrhh]

We love ours! I would not get one without a generator. That really changes the way you use the boat. Also I think the windlass is a must. We also really like the underwater lights. I only wish it had the bigger motor, but with just the 3 of us it does fine. Let me know if you have any other questions!

From the picture I would say that boat does not have a generator or ac. There are no water outlets for them.

 

[Dave S]

Here's what I can tell from the pictures. It has no generator. It may not have heat and A/C. There are two drains on mine at the waterline below the Helm. One is for the sink in the head and one for the A/C. That boat has only one but it is a 2005 model so it may be different. It does have a TV. It may not have a DVD player. That is in the same area as the stereo and I don't see it. It may not have a Windlass. It does not have a Spotlight. It does not have the six player CD.....mine is in the same area as the stereo.

My comments are as follows. You need heat and A/C but you probably also need a genny since you are trailering and may not have somewhere to plug into shore power. Other options that I mentioned that seem to be missing are a personal choice. Personally, I would want all of those options myself (except for the Windlass) but they wouldn't be a deal breaker. I would also have to have the transom shower and you will want that too. I can't tell if it has one or not. You will probably have to remove the contraption on the swim platform so don't forget to factor in the cost to repair and refinish the holes. If there is no A/C or Genny, they can be added but you ought to get a ballpark figure from a dealer so you know what that would cost you going in. It probably has the factory bottom paint which comes off easily especially if you are trailering. If that's the case you may want to remove the paint (Sea Ray does not sand the gelcoat so a chemical stripper should leave you with a nice shiny bottom :wink: ). Lastly, take a real close look at the trailer. It may or may not be up to your standards and if you have to replace the trailer for something better, that could get costly.

 

[jg300da]

I don't see the thru hulls for a generator or AC unit either, and I don't believe it has a windlass. Those are the big three in my opinion. It does look extemely clean though with the exception of that nightmare on the transom. I also don't think the CO monitor gets mounted there, looks more like a phone plate?

 

[Cap10Pat]

I know you want to get right back on the water, but you really should take the time to figure out what you want and need and then to find the right boat. If you rush into a boat in the next month or so, you'll probably realize you have the wrong boat by the end of the summer!

I think some of the advice above is asking too much of a 26 ft boat. And, this is where the problem of manufacturers overstating boat size really bites you. I suspect they include the swim platform in the measure of 26 ft. Well, look at your profile picture and where the hull stops at the transom waterline. The part that counts is more like a 24. Let them extend the hull that extra 18 in so that there is more room in the bilge, then you will be able to fit in a generator - maybe.

I guess they install generators in this model, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't consider adding one. If you have to have one, find a boat with a factory genny. But that may not be a good idea. There's not much room down there - even if they can get it in. Then the weight will make the boat too heavy and slow. If you want an AC unit, then that's more weight. Then you will need a bigger engine.... It's just too much for a 260.

If you feel you want a genny and AC, why not go a couple of years earlier and get a 28, 29 or 30. These can much better handle all this. There is more room below to install it and service it, and the larger hull can carry the weight. Plus your boat won't cruise with the bow high in the air because of all the weight and limited beam in the rear.

Maybe, if you were looking at an Amberjack you could get all this in. But the Sundancer design with the extra cabin where the engine room should be just limits this kind of thinking.

Take your time, look at boats and decide what you really want.

 

[Four Suns]

Todd,

I really like those sexy old-man davits on the back. You going to keep those?

 

[sebagoman007]

Todd:

If I was doing it again, I'd really like to have the genny and windlass. We really don't need AC much here in the northeast, but the dehumidification feature would be very nice to keep the cabin from getting musty. My 260 has the big block option, so I can't speak to whether the 350's power is adequate with a full load.

The real biggie here in my mind, especially as you say this boat has been wet-slipped, is the condition of the Bravo III outdrive. The corrosion problems have been well documented on CSR as well as other places, and it's a serious issue. You remember what mine looked like after only 5 short seasons of salt, right? At a minimum, pull the props (or have your surveyor do it) and inspect the area around the bearing carrier on the lower unit. That's where the dissimilar metals are closest to one another, and where mine showed the worst damage.

I can send you those ugly pictures again, if you like.....

Good luck in your search!

Bill

 

[Dave S]

The 260DA is 28 feet in overall length with the swim platform so it's a true 26 footer. There is a platform already designed for a generator right in front of the engine (whether there is a genny installed or not) and it will not impede engine room access at all.

I looked at the 270 Amberjack as well and wouldn't choose one unless my primary reason was I wanted to fish.The Amberjack does not have a mid-cabin, nor does it have a bigger main cabin, nor does it have a bigger engine room than the 260DA. That extra "space" is used for an underfloor locker in the cockpit and that is much less versatile than having a mid-cabin. Plus it has limited cockpit seating as well. It may be great for fishermen but but for family cruising the 260DA is much better

 

[firecadet613]

My first boat when I was 23 was a new 1991 180BR SeaRay with 4.3L ---great boat. Second was a 220OV nearly identical to the 230OV I'm selling now. I lvoe the 230 but simply need more room.
We're stretching it for sure financially to go to the 260DA, but that's all we do is boat. There are very few nights' out dining or other "Crazy stuff" we save it for boating.
That's all I know

I guess there is hope! I bought my 01 185BR last year when I was 21. Can't wait to move up but I figure I should get this boat paid off first and work on getting a bigger house with better storage. All I do is boat also, my fiance likes to eat out a bit but I'd perfer just get a bigger boat and overnight on it also...

 

[Nehalennia II]

Thanks everyone. For us, I don't think I want a genny and we certainly don't need A/C. Although the davits may be too sexy we may wish to retain them becuase I can envision getting the inflatable dinghy for the kids to play around the marina. My main concern is the condition of the BIII. The area it has been wet slipped is free from the more industrialized contributions to electrolysis. It is salt water so that's my main concern but i know it has FWC.
We know we want a 260DA because we still want to trailer it. The 27+ boats Cap10Pat mentioned are too big until we're ready to go to V-drives and a permanent moorage slip. Trailering really keeps the outdrive in great shape and if it's in good condition now I will make sure it stays that way.
It does have TV aboard which isn't that important either - a DVD player for the twins yes but TV certainly a deal breaker.
I just want that near new boat without the new boat price

thanks agian and keep it coming.............

 

[JeffM]

I don't see windlass controls at the helm, so I doubt it has one. Although I didn't put a lot of emphasis on it when we were shopping for a boat, I've since come to regard that option as a gotta-have.

We have a genny, but we've got the earlier hull design, so I can't speak to the affect on engine room space. I can say, though, that it's nice to have. We don't use it much, but it's reassuring to know that we can charge the batteries or run the AC or microwave when on the hook.

Heat and A/C are nice. In your area, I would guess that heat would be more important than A/C, but I think it's all one system. We did use the heat last year, but we found that when anchored we got enough wind by opening the windshield and cabin hatch that we were comfortable.

The camper canvas is nice, but in the summer we use a mooring cover and keep the canvas for inclement weather. However, it's much cheaper to buy a mooring cover thana full camper top!

Hope those davits are easy to remove. Looks like they take up most of the swim platform.

Jeff

EDIT: Todd, looks like our posts crossed in the mail. There are a couple of less-intrusive options for dinghies than that contraption. A minimalist approach is to simply tie it vertically on the swim platform (what we're doing until I can get the Weaver Davits mounted). To me, loss of the use of the swimplatform would make that setup unworkable.

 

[Nehalennia II]

..................

The camper canvas is nice, but in the summer we use a mooring cover and keep the canvas for inclement weather. However, it's much cheaper to buy a mooring cover thana full camper top!

Hope those davits are easy to remove. Looks like they take up most of the swim platform.

Jeff

EDIT: Todd, looks like our posts crossed in the mail. There are a couple of less-intrusive options for dinghies than that contraption. A minimalist approach is to simply tie it vertically on the swim platform (what we're doing until I can get the Weaver Davits mounted). To me, loss of the use of the swimplatform would make that setup unworkable.

This one has both the camper and moorage cover. :thumbsup:
I can either remove or fabricate something to make the davits removeable for storage

 

[Presentation]

... Although the davits may be too sexy we may wish to retain them becuase I can envision getting the inflatable dinghy for the kids to play around the marina.... ..........

You can make those swim platform davits look more normal by wearing sandals with over-the-calf black dress socks and shorts. If that does not do the trick, leave your fenders hanging on each side of the boat. Make sure the fenders colors do not match anything on the boat nor each other and are of varying size. That should draw the attention away from those davits. :smt043

Just kidding. The boat looks very nice. It has great lines.
:thumbsup:

 

[firecadet613]

Ditto that....its the background on my desktop now!

 

[Nehalennia II]

Thanks Pres.
I like the new pictures of the new boat.

Have you had success with the black sock thing?
That's not a bad idea :lol:

 

[Nehalennia II]

Ditto that....its the background on my desktop now!

The boat I'm looking at is? That's cool. You'll have it before me. I guess that's a huge compliment.

 

[firecadet613]

The boat I'm looking at is? That's cool. You'll have it before me. I guess that's a huge compliment.

I wish I had that much cash....right now I'm living my dream through you guys! Funny thing is, I'm living the dream to my friends from h/s right now. I've got the new truck, boat, and house they want, and they are just graduating college this year....

Keep the pics and info coming! Maybe when you decide to sell it I'll be in the market