Just decided on a 260 dancer - PLEASE tell me that I'm right

E

ematheus

New Member
Nov 28, 2006
8
DeLand, Florida
Hi all:

I'm Ernst, and I'm new here. I wanted to let you know, that my wife and I decided to get a 260 sundancer. After month of research and countless hours at boat dealers, we think we found the right boat and the right dealer. Now we just want to make sure that we are doing the right thing. For this reason I thought it might be smart to talk to the people who own this boat!!! Also, would you be able to tell me a fair price for the boat? It's a 2007 with everything but a fresh water cooling system. It has the 496 engine and a bravo 3.
Thanx in advance for your time and input!!!

:) Ernst
 
You really need to provide a bit more information. The 26 is a nice boat. Do you have children? Are you in salt water? Wet slipping or trailering? SBW
 
Hi sbw1:

No kids - or better they are too old... Also, we live in DeLand, close to the St. Johns river. We'll be trailering to the river and also to the coast which is only 20miles from here. :smt024

:smt101 Ernst
 
Ernst: Of course, how you plan to use your boat has everything to do with whether the 260 is the right boat for you. My family (2 adults + 2 small children) love our 260. This past season we camped on her nearly every weekend (often for 2 nights) and never felt cramped for space. If your new boat does not include a generator, I suggest you consider adding one. Being able to run the AC and the microwave when on the hook is a huge luxury.

Buying the boat with the 496 Mag is a good idea, as the engine is cooled with antifreeze (which minimizes corrosion compared with standard open-cooled engines) and will improve your resale value down the road. I think you'll also be happy with the extra power available should you need it. As you note, selecting the right dealer is as important as selecting the right boat.

Whether or not you're getting a good deal depends on which accessories your boat includes. I suggest you build your boat at www.searay.com to obtain a suggested retail price. A general rule of thumb is that if you are buying at 25% off retail, you're getting a good deal.

So, tell us more! What color hull? Which accessories come with the boat? Have you taken her for a test spin yet?
 
We have not taken a test spin yet. The dealer has three of them on the lot. They are all almost identical in setup. All with generator, windlass, gray water system, accu flush etc.
He has three colors: Tan, Black, Blue. We were thinking black or blue, since it makes the boat look bigger.
Our decision process lead us from a cuddy cabin (23') to a cruiser in the 24 to 26' range. We will use it for weekending and also as a vacationing platform to cruise the gulf coast.

:smt001 Ernst
 
I have one thought on color since you are trailering and cruising in the Gulf. Consider getting a white hull. It is so much easier to keep clean. The salt spray really shows up on the dark, hot colors. And, since you are trailering, there will be trailer and road rash to contend with. It's a lot easier to touch up a white hull than the various colors. There are a few recent posts about colored hulls on this board.
 
Good choice of boats.............of course I would say that since I have one too. :grin:

How it gets equipped is always a personal choice. The 496 is a great motor but quite an expensive option. If you can Sea Trial one with the 496 and one with the 350MAG you might want to do that before you decide if the 496 is a "must have". The generator is another one of those things that should be decided on based on how you will use your boat. As far as price goes, it is somewhat difficult to comment. Many times discounts are a lot less on boats that are in high demand and many times those demands vary based on where you live. 25 percent off list is a good starting point but I would certainly not hesitate to negotiate the price downward from there.

Keep us posted on your progress.
 
Wow you certainly did your homework. 260DA is a great boat. Generator, windlass, 496 8.1 fresh water cooled engine. Yes you made the right choice, just make sure you get the best deal now. Good luck and congratulations, Brian
 
Hi all:

Thank you so much for your input - makes us feel sooo much better. Yes - I think we did our homework. We spent much time to look at boats at the dealers. We started at Bayliner, went to Larson, looked at Regal, and our last one to consider besides the Sea Ray, was a Chaparral. The boat itself is great, and build almost just like a sea ray, but I've read many bad things about the dealers and their service. There are quite some horror stories about that.
After looking at the 260 dancer, we made up our minds. I wanted to cover a few more just to make sure, but the next day we went back to the sea ray dealer to look and 'feel' again. And it 'feels' right to us. The layout is perfect, the size is too, and the setup is also what we had in mind. The only thing that is not 'perfect' is the entrance and size of the midberth, but I think we can manage. That's really the only negative point we could come up with - BEDSIDES THE $$$ - hahaha
Thanx again!!!
:smt038 Ernst
 
Ernst The 260 is a great boat looked at long and hard before we got the 240SD. Just could not give up the sport boat yet :lol: Mater of fact still looking at them every time I go by the dealer. Couple thoughts What are going to pull the boat with when trailering it? Would go with the light color hull, the comment about road grim etc is right on the money.
 
the 260 is real nice, i am still considering it.

can you tell me what kind of price you have been quoted? this would help both of us...also, there's a sharp looking 2006 260 DA with Blue Hull and all the goodies that they have priced VERY well here in MarineMax Pompano....lemme know if it interests you.
 
The ones we are looking at price at the Sea Ray website at about 143gs. The dealer told us we would be around 97 to 105g depending on the boat. They are all equipped the same, but were purchased by the dealer at different times - that's the reason for the difference.
Whats the $'s on the 2006??

:) Ernst
 
Just keep in mind that u can get a lightly used 280 for less money and have the added luxury of twins and a much bigger cabin. I was dead set on buying the 260 brand new but then realized that i could get a 1 yr old larger boat for less and then decided on the 280.
 
We to own a 260, with my wife and 11 year old daughter (maybe a friend for her) its all the room we need. It allows us to entertain during the day and sleep well at night. Personally I like to ease of towing. I still look at the new 290 from time to time thinking how much easer it would be to get into the bunk but know i would need permits each time i towed it and a bigger truck and .... you get the picture. My only mistake was not reading more on the web sites first to know that get the biggest you can handle or you'll be looking larger after first summer. Enjoy :smt038
 
Hi Ernst,

For what it's worth...my wife and I made the same choice. We bought a 2004 260 after considering all our options. We don't pick up the boat until May.
We could have had a new 260 with everything except AC and genny for around $90k...maybe a little better if we haggled, but we found a 2004 with low hours and decided to go with it.

-Charlie
 
We have had our 260 for 4 years. The cabin layout is very similiar. It gets tight time to time. But we make due. Otherwise it is a great boat.
 
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