Looking at Buying a 1987 Sundancer 270

[mkultra]

I am looking to upgrade from my 1989 Sea ray 220 CC to a 1987 Sundancer 270

It has the infamous twin Mercruiser 470 170hp/3.7L engines

The boat exterior and cabin etc look to be in really good shape and clean. The boat has lots of extras including a Dinghy, windlass anchor etc

The motors and engine bay are very clean well maintained. The owner also appears to be a guy who has all of the work done by a mechanic and has it regularly worked on


The price is also seems right $11000 where the bidding stopped. I haven't paid him yet as I need to see it start and pulled out of the storage for a full 360 degree inspection this week. What I have seen so far I am quite excitied to buy BUT:

I'm scared though and having second thoughts the more I read people bash the engines? :huh:

Anybody have any positive stories with a similiar set up?

 

[Summer Fun II]

I'd keep looking and 11K is a little high for that boat. :wow:

 

[mkultra]

I'd keep looking and 11K is a little high for that boat. :wow:

Man Nobody likes this boat:huh:



$11000 is really not that high when you do a nation wide search for that boat and triple axle trailer $11000-15000 is what I have consisently seen

I really like the way the boat looks.

 

[Summer Fun II]

when you do a nation wide search for that boat and triple axle trailer $11000-15000 is what I have consisently seen

Seeing and getting that price won't happen, Its still a buyers market out there. :thumbsup:

If you're in love with that boat then buy it. :smt001

 

[mkultra]

True

What do you think is a good price for that boat.

I haven't paid him yet. I did make an offer though and he accepted. Quickly now that I think about it. He wanted 13900 so the psychology of a sale took over....

 

[Summer Fun II]

If it was me, I'd offer him 7k or I would walk away.

Ping or PM Just Me , I think he's selling his boat.

 

[mkultra]

Anybody else have any opinions

I think 7000 is a tad on the low extreme; unless of course you end up having to replace both motors. It is a well kept boat and has all the extras everybody wants

But scooter wayne and others on the forums got me thinking now.....

 

[lv2bunderwater]

To me, it depends on if you want a boat to take the family in every weekend and not need to do anything mechanical wit it ever, then I would keep looking for $11k. If you absolutely want to step up to a larger classic Sea Ray, you can do a lot of the work yourself, willing to mess with transom replacement and stringers, and plan to keep the boat forever to pass it on to your kids... buy the boat and don't look back.

Yes, there maybe a better bargin out there and you could spend your time climbing in and out of serveral boats and be just a disappointed if you ran across an issue that needed immediant attention. The emotional roller coaster too. If you have the cash, love to work on these great solid hull boats, and the wife is good with.. go for it!

My two cents!

 

[mkultra]

I agree with your logic. I highly doubt 11000 is going to buy a better boat than I already own that isnt going to need repairs in the future. The 270 looks like it has a lot more room to work in the engine bay than the 220 I have. Just a lot more boat to have towed if I break down.

The wife is good also so i have to byt when the light is green

Geez I was hoping to get between 5-6000 for mine but if scooter wayne was to make an offer it would be around 1100 bucks

I'll keep reading

 

[Summer Fun II]

Geez I was hoping to get between 5-6000 for mine but if scooter wayne was to make an offer it would be around 1100 bucks

Maybe, :smt001

Offer him 7k and go from there. :smt001.

 

[Jack380AC]

I had an 86 270 and we absolutely loved that boat. The price you should pay (IMHO) is relevant to the condition of the boat. A real close examination/survey should identify what is/might be needed. With that, you can guess the cost of ownership and value to you and your family.

When we had ours, it was our first boat and our two kids were young. That summer we were on it every weekend rain or shine. We were hooked.

 

[skyscraper88]

We just bought a 1988 270da for $11,250. It is everything we could have asked for. I am 6'9" and although i can not stand up in the cabin, i most certaintly have plenty of room to manouver in the boat. ours came with a trailer to boot!

 

[Pachanga Boy]

just bought our 88 270 end of last season, and we love ours to bits. I paid $13k for mine. it was a little more then I wanted to pay, could I have bought one for less?....sure, that said I don't regret it. it is in great condition, had all the options I wanted, newer canvas, newer electronics and low hours. there was a cheaper one I looked at, but it wasn't in as good condition, it's canvas needed work, had higher hours, and we didn't like the color scheme as much. and I won't lie there was a convienance factor of not having to transport it to my location. I figure I would have probably come out with the same invested by the time I fixed everything anyways so why torture myself.
in the end buying an old boat and bragging to everyone about the great deal you got is sort of like setting fire to a pile of money, then bragging to your neighbor what a good deal you got on the matches.

 

[CV-23]

It's Spring and prices will be a tad higher. Those motors are solid and run well. The 270 will not be a speed king with that power but they are reliable motors. I think 4.3L twins would be worth $12,000 or a bit more.....it is a buyers market. I would sea trial it and see if your happy with it's power. I would have to go for a ride, Mike.

 

[mkultra]

Update.... Scooter Wayne was right on this one. Once I got the boat in the sunlight and had a longer conversation with the owner I soon realized that this boat was going to be a money trap

7000 + 5000 in cleaning and refurbish maybe

Thanks

 

[Summer Fun II]

CSR boaters are here to help ya when we can. :smt001

 

[270win]

If you decide to sell your 220cc let me know, I'm looking for a nice one. Had one a few years back and want another one.

Thanks!