Forum,
I am a new 2010 280 Sundancer owner as of February this year. I have a generally good knowledge of boating, but my experience with this boat has been horrific. I have drafted the below letter to my MarineMax of Clearwater, FL dealer, and I would appreciate any input anyone else may have with regards to this letter or what Sea Ray has done in the past. Also, if there exists an email address to send this letter to please let me know.
Thanks,
Anthony
Letters as follows with names omitted for privacy:
Mr. NAME,
I am addressing this letter to you as you have been assigned as my new sales representative after the retirement of Capt. NAME who I procured my 2010 Searay Sundancer 280 from. Let me first address in this letter that the level of service and satisfaction I have received from you, Mr. NAME, and MarineMax has been excellent. My issue is with my 2010 Searay Sundacer 280 with Hull #OMITTED, and not with MarineMax of Clearwater.
Since purchasing the vessel for $136,095+electronics in February of 2010, I have had the following issues with my vessel:
• Impeller on Engine
• Impeller on Generator
• Carbon Monoxide Detector throwing multiple faults causing generator shutdown
• A/C not driving water pressure through the cooling system • New CO Detector
• Numerous issues with the generator throwing random faults such as Low Coolant, Numbered
errors, etc.
• A refinishing of the bathroom door so it would shut, and it still doesn’t
• A replacement of all screws holding the circuit panel in place after it fell out many times
• A replacement of the door leading to the berth locking mechanism
• A replacement of the transom door handle/screws
• A replacement to the power steering column
MAJOR ISSUES:
• A replacement of the trim mechanism in the bilge, which caused me to cancel a business
meeting planned on the boat
• A currently needed replacement of parts of the gimble joint / crankshaft (assuming)
• A currently needed replacement of the automatic bilge opener as the entire unit came unscrewed from the base of the bilge.
• Other misc. items, which can be found on the service sheets at MarineMax of Clearwater
I am understanding of most issues with owning a boat such as impellers breaking, but the boat has been having issues after every weekend. I have also performed every requested service stated to me including a full detail. In fact, since February, I believe MarineMax emergency service or actual service has been called out to my vessel 15-20 times. It has been like clockwork that I end up placing a call to MarineMax service 9am on Monday mornings after a boat trip. Even the folks at my marina told me to be happy I had a warranty because they never saw such issues.
The issue that caused me to finally compose this letter occurred this Labor Day weekend. Since owning the boat, my fiancée, my best friend, and his girlfriend have attempted two lengthy trips in the boat. The first trip in late July was a failure because the CO monitor kept causing the generator to shutdown, and as such, our trip to Sanibel was cancelled as was a seemingly waste of $400 in food and beverages we spent for the trip. Second, this past weekend, we wanted to brave the trip again. Upon placing the boat in the water, the generator began smoking, and we could not make the trip. Moreover, the boat was making a horrific sound when turning. We decided to camp out on the boat that night, and we waited for emergency service in the morning. The generator needed a new impeller, and the technician advised that the noise just sounded like the Gimble Joint needed some lubrication. Nothing to worry about. Therefore, we decided to stay local, and again cancel our trip to Sanibel. At approximately 4pm ET on September 5th, 2010, a storm began to come, and we left Clearwater Beach for our Marina at Marker 1. On the way back, the noise that occurred when turning got progressively worse along with the conditions of the water getting progressively worse. Alas, in the pouring rain, the boat all of a sudden lost 99% of its power right near marker 12 between Clearwater Beach and Dunedin. Eventually, the engine just shut off. All passengers onboard the boat were horrified because we were on a dead approach of hitting the pylon. We eventually hit the pylon with minimal damage to the boat, and no way of avoiding it except to push off as hard as we could. From there, the boat decided to beach itself on a sandbar where we had to wait for TowBoat U.S. to bring us back to the marina – the third time since February.
At this point, I have lost all confidence in owning this vessel. I am fearful to take it out to sea more than a mile or two in case something breaks. I feel that the money and time spent preparing meals and packing for a nice trip to visit various parts of western Florida is no longer worth it as my vessel never seems to be up for the task at hand. Moreover, I have had business associates in town when issues came up with the boat that ended up canceling our trip. This has been an unbelievably horrible experience, and at a cost of over $2,000 per month between payments, insurance, and marina fees, I am very upset. This money would be better spent on a Cruise once a month then owning this SeaRay. I cannot even partake in the Halloween trip to Key West with MarineMax because of this lack of confidence, which was a trip my fiancée and I were looking forward to. I thought these things were supposed to be the joy of boating?
Finally, I considered asking for you at MarineMax to take this boat back from me at the cost I outlaid since February, and then, using that money towards a new boat. However, I no longer feel like owning another SeaRay would ever instill the boating confidence I would like to have on the water. This boat has been a headache since ownership, it has caused me and my fellow travelers numerous stresses and fears, which now outweigh any fun memories. If this was an automobile, I would easily be covered under lemon law, but alas, I am currently in the hands of you at MarineMax along with SeaRay as a company to make this purchase right. On a final note, I do want to remain an active boater, and I am asking for help to do so.
Very kind regards,
Anthony
I am a new 2010 280 Sundancer owner as of February this year. I have a generally good knowledge of boating, but my experience with this boat has been horrific. I have drafted the below letter to my MarineMax of Clearwater, FL dealer, and I would appreciate any input anyone else may have with regards to this letter or what Sea Ray has done in the past. Also, if there exists an email address to send this letter to please let me know.
Thanks,
Anthony
Letters as follows with names omitted for privacy:
Mr. NAME,
I am addressing this letter to you as you have been assigned as my new sales representative after the retirement of Capt. NAME who I procured my 2010 Searay Sundancer 280 from. Let me first address in this letter that the level of service and satisfaction I have received from you, Mr. NAME, and MarineMax has been excellent. My issue is with my 2010 Searay Sundacer 280 with Hull #OMITTED, and not with MarineMax of Clearwater.
Since purchasing the vessel for $136,095+electronics in February of 2010, I have had the following issues with my vessel:
• Impeller on Engine
• Impeller on Generator
• Carbon Monoxide Detector throwing multiple faults causing generator shutdown
• A/C not driving water pressure through the cooling system • New CO Detector
• Numerous issues with the generator throwing random faults such as Low Coolant, Numbered
errors, etc.
• A refinishing of the bathroom door so it would shut, and it still doesn’t
• A replacement of all screws holding the circuit panel in place after it fell out many times
• A replacement of the door leading to the berth locking mechanism
• A replacement of the transom door handle/screws
• A replacement to the power steering column
MAJOR ISSUES:
• A replacement of the trim mechanism in the bilge, which caused me to cancel a business
meeting planned on the boat
• A currently needed replacement of parts of the gimble joint / crankshaft (assuming)
• A currently needed replacement of the automatic bilge opener as the entire unit came unscrewed from the base of the bilge.
• Other misc. items, which can be found on the service sheets at MarineMax of Clearwater
I am understanding of most issues with owning a boat such as impellers breaking, but the boat has been having issues after every weekend. I have also performed every requested service stated to me including a full detail. In fact, since February, I believe MarineMax emergency service or actual service has been called out to my vessel 15-20 times. It has been like clockwork that I end up placing a call to MarineMax service 9am on Monday mornings after a boat trip. Even the folks at my marina told me to be happy I had a warranty because they never saw such issues.
The issue that caused me to finally compose this letter occurred this Labor Day weekend. Since owning the boat, my fiancée, my best friend, and his girlfriend have attempted two lengthy trips in the boat. The first trip in late July was a failure because the CO monitor kept causing the generator to shutdown, and as such, our trip to Sanibel was cancelled as was a seemingly waste of $400 in food and beverages we spent for the trip. Second, this past weekend, we wanted to brave the trip again. Upon placing the boat in the water, the generator began smoking, and we could not make the trip. Moreover, the boat was making a horrific sound when turning. We decided to camp out on the boat that night, and we waited for emergency service in the morning. The generator needed a new impeller, and the technician advised that the noise just sounded like the Gimble Joint needed some lubrication. Nothing to worry about. Therefore, we decided to stay local, and again cancel our trip to Sanibel. At approximately 4pm ET on September 5th, 2010, a storm began to come, and we left Clearwater Beach for our Marina at Marker 1. On the way back, the noise that occurred when turning got progressively worse along with the conditions of the water getting progressively worse. Alas, in the pouring rain, the boat all of a sudden lost 99% of its power right near marker 12 between Clearwater Beach and Dunedin. Eventually, the engine just shut off. All passengers onboard the boat were horrified because we were on a dead approach of hitting the pylon. We eventually hit the pylon with minimal damage to the boat, and no way of avoiding it except to push off as hard as we could. From there, the boat decided to beach itself on a sandbar where we had to wait for TowBoat U.S. to bring us back to the marina – the third time since February.
At this point, I have lost all confidence in owning this vessel. I am fearful to take it out to sea more than a mile or two in case something breaks. I feel that the money and time spent preparing meals and packing for a nice trip to visit various parts of western Florida is no longer worth it as my vessel never seems to be up for the task at hand. Moreover, I have had business associates in town when issues came up with the boat that ended up canceling our trip. This has been an unbelievably horrible experience, and at a cost of over $2,000 per month between payments, insurance, and marina fees, I am very upset. This money would be better spent on a Cruise once a month then owning this SeaRay. I cannot even partake in the Halloween trip to Key West with MarineMax because of this lack of confidence, which was a trip my fiancée and I were looking forward to. I thought these things were supposed to be the joy of boating?
Finally, I considered asking for you at MarineMax to take this boat back from me at the cost I outlaid since February, and then, using that money towards a new boat. However, I no longer feel like owning another SeaRay would ever instill the boating confidence I would like to have on the water. This boat has been a headache since ownership, it has caused me and my fellow travelers numerous stresses and fears, which now outweigh any fun memories. If this was an automobile, I would easily be covered under lemon law, but alas, I am currently in the hands of you at MarineMax along with SeaRay as a company to make this purchase right. On a final note, I do want to remain an active boater, and I am asking for help to do so.
Very kind regards,
Anthony
