Need some help ,`99-2000 290 Sundancer

H

helodriver

New Member
May 19, 2008
3
Hi everyone,
My wife and I are looking to to move up to a 290 Sundancer but we are a little confused. What are the diffrences between a Sundancer vs. DA ? Any know problems with this model ?
We are currently owners of a `93 Sea Ray 20` bow rider w/outboard, are we moving up to fast, to big or.....?
Any advice is very welcome!
Thanks,
Helodriver

1993 20` Sea Ray bowrider
 
Hi,
Just bought a 2001 290 and love it. As the others have said , go for it and don't let 4.75 a gal gas deter you
 
helodriver;

youre moving from a open day boat to a cruiser and with this you'll have more freeboard. the bigger the boat the easier it will actually be to handle out on the water. the Biggest things I would recommend when stepping up that I didn't get is - an anchor windlass - you can't pull up the anchor on these babies solo when the wind blows even a little bit (every day I go out in my 240DA I wish I had one). also a generator is very nice to have so that you can turn the A/C on and let the little ones (if you have any) get out of the sun and heat. it can really extend you fun factor.
 
I just took delivery of my "new" 1998 290 DA on Sunday. I have always like this style of Sea Ray. I have the 4.3's and although I have had limited time with them, they moved the boat along well even in rough seas. I find this to be the perfect size Sea Ray as it is not too big and not too small. However, even just moving up from a 26 foot "other brand boat," this boat seems really big when it comes to maneuvering and docking! So moving up from a 20 footer should be a big step. But I'm sure you will enjoy the boat.
 
We moved up from 19' to 25' and it was a good move. Some things did take some getting used to, though. Primarily for me, it was the increased height off the water. At the helm, it took me a few weekends to not have a bit of 'pucker-factor' from being up so 'high' off the water.

:)

It took longer to get used to the look aft when on plane. Being higher on the 250 than on the 190, looking back was also somewhat looking down. When looking back, even though the boat was on plane, it looked like there was still significant bow rise. By mid-summer I was past that, too.

These were very small things, though. Especially when compared to the extra room, the enclosed head, the galley, the camper canvas, and the extended swim platform. Overnighting rather than having to head for home, was a joy. Also, the weather was no longer much of a factor. With the 190 we'd watch the weather and choose which day would be the better of the two. With the 250 we'd go out all weekend and 'button up' when the thunderstorms came by -- after heading in if we were out on the lake, of course.

You should love the move up.
 
We bought a 290da in February. We love it. It is a fuel hog compared to a smaller bowrider be ready for it. Generator is a must otherwise you've got a large day boat that's too hot to enjoy the salon.
 
I started with a 20' bowrider, then a 24' Sundancer, and just moved up to my 290DA. I have only had it on the water 3 times but love the extra room and comfort so far. It is a very different feel than running a bowrider. We spend weekends on the boat and love overnighting on board.
 
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