Looking hard at used Sea Ray Sundancer

MS Tarheel1

Member
Oct 4, 2019
56
Glendale, AZ.
Boat Info
2002 Sundancer 240
Engines
5.0 Mercruiser w/ Bravo 1
Looking hard at a 2002 S/R 240 Sundancer. Currently have a 2004 B/R 180 Sport. Just to hard for my wife to get in and out of.
Found this 240 Sundancer. Engine has 305 hours. At a local car dealer. They took as a trade-in. They took boat to reputable marine dealer. Spent $3234 on maintenance and needed repairs. See attached repairs. Also did compression test which results are shown on PDF as well.
The big issue is the anti-fouling paint coming off. I shared pics with local repair shop who specializes in hull painting/gel restoration. Prices range to get hull in shape to around $3k. Plan to dry-dock at local lake so would prefer gel coat and not the paint.
In addition to hull paint...stereo inop, horn inop, fresh water pump doesn't pump.
Like to hear any advice or concerns. Price with trailer is very attractive. Thanks for the advice.
 

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Yep, boat needs a bottom job - that paint has failed. $3K seems a little high for just media blasting, but could include repaint and perhaps epoxy barrier coat. And filling any voids.

The media blasting is going to roughen the gel coat surface. It will never be super smooth again. You'll want to apply some type of paint, like an epoxy coat. Adding an antifouling won't hurt any and most ablatives are multi-season.
 
Tarheel, if you're pretty handy at fixing things yourself instead of hiring it done, that boat could turn out to be a good purchase. If you have to hire the work done the cost of parts and labor to install and fix the things that don't work could make this an unattractive purchase. The bills for repairing things ALWAYS come out to be higher than what was originally estimated.

That boat looks like (from the photo of the bottom) that it's been neglected. If the bottom is in that bad shape, what else on the boat is also questionable? What else has been neglected?

I'm not the handiest guy in the world so if I was looking at this boat I'd continue looking. Try Yachtworld.com, boattrader.com and some other used boat sites. Also, you might try looking further than your own neck of the woods to find a boat that doesn't need all the work.

Also, consider looking a bit larger to expand the number of boats available. A 260 isn't that much bigger but might suit your needs better. Also, don't neglect to look at other brands. There are some pretty nice boats out there from other boat makers that could suit your needs.
 
Looking hard at a 2002 S/R 240 Sundancer. Currently have a 2004 B/R 180 Sport. Just to hard for my wife to get in and out of.
Found this 240 Sundancer. Engine has 305 hours. At a local car dealer. They took as a trade-in. They took boat to reputable marine dealer. Spent $3234 on maintenance and needed repairs. Also did compression test which is ok.
The big issue is the anti-fouling paint coming off. I shared pics with local repair shop who specializes in hull painting/gel restoration. Prices range to get hull in shape to around $3k. Plan to dry-dock at local lake so would prefer gel coat and not the paint.
In addition to hull paint...stereo inop, horn inop, fresh water pump doesn't pump.
Like to hear any advice or concerns. Price with trailer is very attractive.

Soda blast the bottom. Then put on a couple of coats of barrier coat and followed by a couple of coats of bottom paint and you will be fine. If your dry docking it that should last you a while.

Stereo should not be a problem to replace - if you want to do it on the cheap you can probably find a drop in replacement from someone online upgrading.

The little horn up front is not to bad of a job and the fresh water pump is a few screws and hoses - probably just in a bad location to work on. Check for fuses first.

Since it's a 2004 make sure the "peanut" switch pad controller and EIM work for everything hooked up otherwise replacing that can be expensive. Most likely at least your horn and fresh water pump are controlled there. Also knowing what maintenance was done could help rule out anything expensive (like manifolds and exhaust) that may be coming up.

Otherwise it's a lot of boat for it's size. Only thing I would suggest is projecting your anticipated use a few years out. If you think you will need a bigger boat then it may be better to look into in now. I had a 260DA and loved it but when the kids got bigger it was time to upgrade.

-Kevin
 
Kevin-

Thanks for the reply. I just uploaded the repairs the local auto dealer paid for in August 2019. Do you see any major maintenance that was misssed? Thanks for your advice.

Mike
 
Kevin-

Thanks for the reply. I just uploaded the repairs the local auto dealer paid for in August 2019. Do you see any major maintenance that was misssed? Thanks for your advice.

Mike

Not sure when your manifolds and risers were replaced and the waters that they were previously used in. In salt water they typically last around 5 years. If in fresh they will last longer - others can comment.

With the lower compression in #3 and #5 I would think that they at least require an inspection. If they need to be replaced you are probably looking at parts in the 1250-2000 range (depending on where you get them - online vs dealer) and about 4-6 hours of labor.

Not sure when the last tune up was done. Batteries may be due. I would check the function of the head and galley items.

I would still recommend a survey to go over all the systems - especially if your not that familiar with a boat like this and all the systems. Plus a sea trial to see how the engine performs under load and if it can reach proper RPMs at WOT. You may want to have your own (ie independent) mechanic check over the mechanical.

Since this was traded in at a car dealership I would want to make sure the boat was not just dumped on a dealer that in turn put in only the most limited maintenance (which at this point was already alot).

I would make any offer subject to surveys and sea trial.

-Kevin
 
Definitely get a proper marine survey on the boat.
 
Thanks to all for the replies. Impressed with this forum.

Went by the dealer last night and was able to spend significant time checking items including the trailer systems. Trailer has new tires this year. Lighting is functional. Spent alot of time inside the boat trying various systems as well as cabin inspection.

Attached are some new pics.

1-Peanut cluster-Can someone assist me in identifying certain designated buttons?
2-The dashboard cluster for the original L/R depthfinder needs to be replaced. Does come on. Impossible to read due to age. I assume this is available on after-market.
3-Verified the trim tabs are at least functional as well as the motor trim.
4-Electric Anchor works. What a benefit to have.
5-Unlike the initial report, the stereo does work.

Dealership very cooperative. Setting up a sea trail at local lake this week. I called the local marine dealer who did the repairs and was able to talk to the tech. He says the boat is 100% water ready. The boat has been registered in fresh water states when I ran the hull ID through NADA. No recorded accidents etc.

The boat from both the hull perspective as well as the cabin/cockpit needs TLC and some $$ in terms of anti-fouling paint as well as cleaning/detailing etc. All seating is in great shape considering the age as well as the cabin. Needs major detailing which I have all the tools to do. I am pretty good mechanically so I am able to do many things in terms of maintenance and/or repair.

Still evaluating my decision but getting the boat and trailer for a very attractive price.

Again...thanks everyone for your valued input.

Mike
 

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You may want to look into the flounder pounder EIM replacement for the peanut pad. It’s $1500 for that boat, but will address some of the electrical gremlins. My horn quit working and bilge pump switch only works when the engine is running, turned out to be the EIM.

the depth finder is a Lowrance 3500, it’s a 192khz unit that is no longer supported/repairable so you have to replace the gauge and transducer. No off the shelf replacement, but you can patch together unit for $200-$500 depending on how much of the customization you want Lowrance/Humminbird to do.
 
On your peanut pad,
1 - Bilge pump
2- Navigation lights (red/green/mast light)
3 - Mast light only, for anchoring
4 - interior courtesy lights
5 - Freshwater pump on/off
 

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