Low hour boats being bad news???

[masilobes]

I just purchased a 2003 280da sundancer with only 40 hours!! I am reading all the bad talk about low hour boats and its got me worried. As far as i know the boat was slipped in salt water and barely used every year due to health issues of the previous owner and it has been in storage winterized for the past 2 years now. He basicly had the open checkbook approach every year with maintance like impellars, winterization, bottom paint...all at sea ray dealership where he bought new. The boat is pristeen!! It could go back in the showroom as new!! Now i know in the spring I will be pumping some cash into the boat due to the layup, impellars ,seals,bellows, etc.. but am I going to regret this purchase???

 

[sbw1]

You will probably be fine if those are truly the number of hours. Fix the simple stuff like belts, hoses and even impellars if there is any doubt. Then keep up with what the manuals say.

 

[Quint4]

Internal combustion engines do not like to set for extended periods without being ran.
It is a recipe for internal corrosion as well as rubber parts drying out and rotting. It is good for the internals to be bathed in oil. When sitting idle for long periods the oil eventually all settles in the lower part of the motor, leaving much exposed to air and resultant rusting. Others will probably chime in with a better explanation.

 

[my3sons]

I bought my '95 330 in '99 with 55 hours on it, I never had any problems and owned it for 9 years, loved it, it is now owned by another member here.
The 360 I own now, was slipped in salt in CT, where the owner moved it after buying it from Hyannis in MA, also salt.
I bought it late '08 with 49 hours on it, like brand new, and so far...fingers crossed....no problems, We have run the clocks to 250 hours in the two seasons we have had it.
Sounds like you have looked into all the maint. records, and you already own it, so relax and enjoy

 

[my3sons]

The best thing to do is to get it out on the ocean, after all, if anything's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there.

Exactly what we thought when we cruised ours to lake Erie from CT, instead of hauling it...560 miles right out of the gate.....if anything was going to happen, might as well get it over with :lol:

 

[rcknecht]

I used to put a lot of hours on my boats, not so much any more, too many kid things now... But when I sold my last boat it had more hours than most other boats on the market... I took a hit on it because of the hours... I had a neighbor that during the same time (4 years) only put 50 hours on his 280, and I put almost 500 hours. He did not do much if any maintenance, other than winterization... He traded his '01 280 in for a new 240 sundeck. He traded it so he would not have to do any maintenance... It all depends on how the boat was maintained. I prefer a boat that was used rather than neglected...

 

[speakrdude]

I wish I had that "low hour" problem.

 

[andy k]

The best thing to do is to get it out on the ocean, after all, if anything's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there.

haha nice quote from the movie captin ron :smt038:thumbsup:

 

[northern]

A little late to ask if you got a good boat. The summer will tell. The retired mechanic that used to work on my boat would always have some thing to fix. I expect you will be the same. The fun part is working on it then seeing how well you fixed things. Good luck let us know what problems you have, these focks will help.