My first Sea Ray

S

Squid_Bait

New Member
Jul 7, 2009
12
Lakeland FL
Boat Info
1980 Sundancer 245
Engines
Twin Mercruiser 470's
Alpha I outdrives
Ok, I have happened across an old abandoned Sea Ray that has been sitting on foam blocks for about 2 years in the brutal FL sun. She needs some serious TLC but all the goodies are there; though damaged, faded/cracked and or torn.

I will probably be around here quite a bit and just kind of wanted to introduce myself and this mess of a boat I'm about to get into. It's not my first boat rebuild but is the largest to date. Me and 2 other friends are all going to work on rebuilding her back to original.

First off a couple of questions, I am trying to find out the exact model of this boat. The HIN number is SER44M820380-245DA242-80.

So, from this I figured it is, of course, a Sea Ray 245 DA made in March 1980. Now, I see they have Sundancers, and Weekenders, and various other models in their 1980 catalouge, but no specific "DA". The 245 model they show in that old catalouge has only one motor and this one has twin Mercruiser 470's. (I have read many a story about this motor and I am already a little weary.)

Any tips on how to figure out the exact model or is it a 245 DA (Sundancer).

Here is the only picture I have of her at the moment, looks pretty bad but it is all there. Looking forward to stripping it down and pouring in some much needed sweat, blood, and tears.

DSCF0001.jpg


P.S. Total cost for the boat with clean open title $0.00.

Friends uncle gave it to me.
 
I ,look forward to your progress. I bought a functional basket case, and have done most of the outside, now looking towards the interior...

j
 
Welcome aboard. It looks like the first year you won't be going to the lake all that much. You should know the boat pretty well by the time its floating. I love my old boat. They clean up pretty well and I don't have any payments.
rgds,
 
Thanks for the welcomes! I got ahold of Sun Ray direct and she is indeed a "Dancer". They do not however have any manuals or wiring diagrams or parts manuals for this boat.

Looks like I have my work cut out for me. I am noticing one missing thing, or so I think it is missing. The rear bench isn't there, I see other boats this year on google image search and they all have a wrap around rear bench. Thats the first missing piece I am aware of.

To my surprise though, this boat is equipped with radar, the monitor is still mounted and the actual radar was stored in his shop.

Good times ahead!
 
Yeah it's a Sundancer. Welcome to the site. Yes, you have lots to do ahead of you but it all looks like it's there. Just check for rot before you invest a ton of $$$$.

Good luck.
 
Looks a lot like my boat when I first got her which is an 80 DA as well and had been sitting a couple of years also.
SeaRay.jpg

Don't get discouraged, wash her, use some buffing compound on the oxidized hull, and give her a bunch of coats of wax and she will clean right up. These are tough boats.

Interesting that you have a 245 with twins, I didn't know that was an option in the smaller DA's. They only made a couple of 260's with twins, most were single 350's.

Hey at least if the engines are shot you can drop 2 350's in there and have a pretty sweet setup for a heavy old boat :thumbsup:

I remade my rear bench seat, if you do a search on the forum all the info is there. I love having it and couldn't imagine going back to two deck chairs after having the bench.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'm becoming pretty familiar with these old girls!
 
BillyT0020 said:
Don't get discouraged, wash her, use some buffing compound on the oxidized hull, and give her a bunch of coats of wax and she will clean right up. These are tough boats.

Interesting that you have a 245 with twins, I didn't know that was an option in the smaller DA's. They only made a couple of 260's with twins, most were single 350's.

Hey at least if the engines are shot you can drop 2 350's in there and have a pretty sweet setup for a heavy old boat :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I know that one of the 470's is still in running condition, the head is off of the other one, it is in unknown condition. Boat was last tagged in 05 and it appears it was used in salt water judging by the corrosion on the outboards.

I am going to start on the hull this weekend, have a couple of scrapes I need to fill and smooth out then its buff and polish time. I'll try to take pics every step of the way for fun and for information for others.

Here's hoping! :smt001
 
ahoy Good Boat to start with,get her covered and cleaned have a good look at the hull for blisters or swelling, if all is dry and solid do the math fir$t and buy the best You can afford,you will thank yourself later on the water running back to port from a storm.:smt038:thumbsup:
 
My first task is to get her home and in my back yard, then get a covering over. The hull is solid all the way around no soft spots or bubbles, floor is solid all over except for one corner by the lid to the engine bay.

Going to build an A-frame and yank those twin 470's out and take them to the shop and completely rebuild them with the alternator kit, 4" heat exchangers and pick up the sleeve kit for the camshaft seal issue that I have read about.

Hoping nothing is seriously wrong with the 2nd motor, but if worse comes to worse I can pick up a long block for under 2k local and have a "parts block" sitting around.

You guys know of any other major failure points in these blocks? Main ones I read about were overheating due to impeller failure, stator overheating and the camshaft seal issue.

Time to dedicate a piggy bank to the boat fund. :grin:
 
the fresh water cooling system has been replaced with new system:thumbsup:
 
K-9 May be talking about the Water System being upgraded on an engine with a Bravo Drive (like his because he re powered). They got rid of the water pump in the outdrive's on Bravo's and went to an impeller that is in the bildge. I would do this if I were you since your already rebuilding, those Alpha Pumps Suck and require to pull the boat and outdrive to replace. When I repower to the 454 I'm building I'll def have to go this route as well.
 
Sounds good, adding it to the "Fix Manufacturer defects list" :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
Welcome Squid.

Do a signature block with all your boat info in it.

Get the serial numbers off the blocks, then call Merc (Merc engines?) and get the manuals for the engines tranny etc. This will include wiring diagrams for the engines.

Wiring is pretty much straight forward as well as the plumbing.

I am 1 year into my restore and I find Christmas every Monday when the FedEx guy drops by to deliver the latest package.:thumbsup:

Good luck and you will find that your boat will become your daily therapy. :grin:
 
Me and my buddy (went from 3 to 2 due to wife issues...) are leaning towards the name Serenity.

I can slip in the cabin and even though it is weathered and old it still feels like home away from home.

...I forsee a couple nights spent on those cushions if I spend too much time working on her and not with my wife... :grin:


Question: Any easy way to identify the sterndrives? Between Alpha and Bravo assemblies? Being that fact that the boat is almost 30 yrs old, wondering if it can possibly all be factory.
 
aHoy,When you pull the motors give the fuel tank a GOOD inspection, my tank was just about rotted thru!! and had new tank built of stainless steel and set up for the new power package.I feel better knowing and can sleep with my family onboard/co detector is a MUST in cabin!!!:thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the tip, I had inspected the aluminum tank, appears solid but I want to have the welds tested. Borderline on replacing it regardless due to an age of almost 30 years.

Everything else is getting replaced/updated... so might as not skimp on the tank!

Anyone have a parts manual or similar breakdown for this model? Sunray has been 0 help on this except for identifying that it is a Sundancer...
 
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