might get a 268 sundancer, help me out

[Wee_Isle]

268 Sea Ray Sundancer 1989 268 SUNDANCER CABIN CRUISER
350 - 260 HP BRAND NEW RISERS AND MANIFOLDS, NEW PWR STEERING PUMP,LOWER UNIT COMPLETELY RESERVICED, NEW IMPELLER KIT AND ALL SEALS
LARGE COCKPIT 8.6 BEAM TEAK SWIM PLATFORM
3 BIRTHS / AFT CABIN/GALLEY DINETTE/V BIRTH
SINK 2 BURNER STOVE
ON BOARD A/C AS WELL AS $1100.00 CARRY ON A/C

IT NEEDS IS A NEW TRANSOM PUMP FOR THE A/C, THERMOSTAT INSTALLED,NEW SHORE PWR SWITCH INSTALLED AND YOUR READY TO GO. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS EXCEPT THE PUMP FOR A/C

I talked with him for a while. he says shore power works just fine, and that he can plug into anothers genny. It just had a bottom coat on it, it also has 2 batteries and a switch.

Is this a good deal? it looks decent and seems like he's done his work. It's in the water and he takes it out alot. It has 600hrs on it est. He says it needs a power inverter for sink/toliet pump to work?? he also said he replaced the P/S pump with a refurbished one and it's not working still...

what do you think? sorry for the long read.

 

[mwph]

You ask .... "is this a good deal?" We don't know what the asking price is.

The more experienced guys may chime in soon but my two questions would be;
1.) Why the need for a carry on unit? Tripple check the on board air system & the actual replacement of the "Transom Pump for the AC" & "Thermostat".
2.) The refirbished ps pump didn't help the steering system. You'll need to find out why.

 

[Larry]

I am reading between the lines hear and see allot of undiscovered problems (i.e. A/C, Steering system, electrical system). These are all very costly items to have someone repair, and it does not seem like you have the mechanical know how to undertake these issues yourself... plus don't forget about the problems that you don't know...

And if that stuff isn't bad enough, I will tell you that this boat is very underpowered (having to run a S/B Chevy @ 3600-3800 RPM to stay on plane is way to high!!)

You would have to steal this boat to make it worth while... $2000- $4000 if it was structurally sound and intact, Maybe....

 

[Mooner]

Larry,
I must disagree slightly with you, but I may also be a bit biased. True, it seems there are many unanswered questions about this particular boat. I would have a marine survey done...that should help immensely, especially if you don't know exactly what to look for.
As for the power...I would say my 268 is slightly underpowered....not "very underpowered". I can keep mine on plane easily at 3000 RPMs, and that's on Lake Erie, where conditions are not always favorable for cruising long stretches at a time. I love my 268, though it's a Weekender, and slightly different from what you're looking at. My suggestion...don't get hooked on one boat. Do your homework. There are tons and tons of boats out there, and it's a buyer's market. Take the boat for a test drive, and have an experienced person with you when you do it. Be patient. There's a boat out there for you....somewhere.
My 2cents...

 

[Wee_Isle]

sorry the price is 5500 for it all freshwater lake use.
he has a carry on A/C he plugs in at shore. he doesn't use the a/c on it because it's water cooled and the pump needs replacement. He says everything is ready to be wired in it's just missing the inverter which is around 200$. I do have the mechanical/electrical knowledge been swapping engines and doing Hvac last 10 yrs so I feel I could do most of the work the boat requires.
I'd check it out this weekend but he's out with it at a tailgate/rafting party on the lake it's on.

 

[Larry]

Let's look at what we know so far:

1- A/C inop- why would he go through the work of using a carry on A/C unit were it would be less work to just change the pump? I would bet that there are more issues with this then he is telling.

2- Power steering inop- Let's see, he misdiagnosed the steering issue and it still has a issue which I would bet is either the steering cable is bound up or the piston has corosion on it and causing it to bind, either issue is significant.

3- "He says it needs a power inverter for sink/toliet pump to work" WTF???? Again I am reading between the lines here (I have bought and sold more then 20 boats in 25 years) this boat may have issues beyond what the seller either knows or wants to let on.

This boat is grossly underpowered, when on another posting you asked about putting 5 people on board, this boat will never give acceptable performance with this load without undue stress to the engine causing premature failure.

In this market there are many other boats that will give you acceptable performance for the same money and be in better mechanical condition, so don't feel this is a "sweet deal"

FYI: Mooner, there is a 500 lb difference between your boat and this one, not to mention that your boat is overproped with you getting only 4200 RPM (should be 4400).

 

[Mooner]

Larry....overpropped? I've read thread after thread in here about the 16X16 being the prop of choice for the 268. Seems to be just fine for me.

 

[Larry]

Mooner,

It my be fine for you performance wise in the mid range but it is like driving a car up a hill in top gear, you are stressing the motor by keeping it from deloping the proper RPM.
Your engine my be showing signs of wear, botton maybe dirty, or prop my not be in good condition if it can't deveolop the correct WOT RPM, if others in the same boat are getting proper WOT with that prop.

These motors are stressed pushing these heavy boats, if your not getting the WOT range that is in spec for the motor you will start there demise at an earlier date...

 

[Wee_Isle]

another concern of mine was with the AlphaI drive and the 350. I thought AlphaI's were rated for 300? He says he resealed/replaced bottom, which I thought. Did he break it from the choice of motor? Guess I can always have someone survey it, but from what you guys are saying is that I should move on.
this would be for me my girl and her kids

 

[techmitch]

350 eng. = 260 HP is OK for the alpha drive but that doesn't mean that this is the right boat for you. Be diligent!!!

 

[Larry]

The alpha drive is rated up to 300hp, but this boat that your looking at is only 260hp (5.7/350 ci engine). If you found this boat with a big block 330hp (7.4/454 ci) that would be adequate power. Most of these had alpha drives too, they will hold up OK if you don't run them too hard (no hole shots!!). These are great boats but you have to be selective, and in this market you can. I have a friend that just picked up an 88 268 Sundancer with twin engines, radar arch, and A/C for under $4000.

Give it some time, you will find the rite one....

 

[jcjones]

From my recent experience buying my current 260 EC, my advise would be that $5500 for the 268 you're looking at with the problems it has is too much money. I also have to question needing an inverter for the fresh water system, every 260 to 300 I looked at between '76 and '89 had a DC pump for the fresh water system, not AC. I also agree that a single 350 will be underpowered for that boat, I had the 260hp 350 in my 20' SRV-195 it that seemed slightly underpowered. I have twin 3.8 V6's in my EC and while it can get on plane in a hurry and has good performance I wouldn't complain if it had at least twin 350's if not 454's.