New boat W/ PICS 79' SRV-260

F

Fordiesel69

New Member
Nov 1, 2009
75
Erie, PA
Boat Info
Looking for Sundancer 245
Engines
Looking for 260HP
Just picked it up at a car auction. Won;t go into the boring details but bid on the wrong one and am stuck with it.

http://community.webshots.com/album/580196384aPstiD

Can someone tell me a little about this beast. What kind of cruise speed would be a close estimate and also wide open?
The fact these are pre-alpha drives, neither is a counter rotation, is this a bad thing? Can an alpha one style SEI drive be put on to make it counter rotation?
This is equipped with twin 470's so I will ahve my work cut out for me.
 
Looks pretty good! I like that era. Needs a little buffing and oiling huh? But otherwise apears all original.

What are the motors and outdrive like? Will it run?

And what did you THINK you were buying? :)
 
You will have a lot of time to work on it. Summer in Erie is on Auguust 3rd - all day! :smt001
 
Is that a door leading to the V-berth? Nice. You usually don't see that until you get up to around the mid-30' range. You definitely got yourself a project! Best of luck with her.
 
Good Luck, better you than me... I would see if it would run as is, and try not to put too much money into it...
 
rondds said:
Is that a door leading to the V-berth? Nice. You usually don't see that until you get up to around the mid-30' range. You definitely got yourself a project! Best of luck with her.
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Yes!!! I will be impressed if it is somewhat turn key. I know it will have issues, I just hope minor........
 
Looks just like my '81 260 as far as the layout. Front bulkhead with door to the v-berth is nice. Very stable on the water. Hopefully you won't have to sink too much $$ into it. Good luck!
 
Are you new to boating?? Do you know what to look to look for as far as the systems are concerened? You have your work cut out for that s for sure but if the boat was maintained by it's former owners you may be ok. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
wvsundancer said:
Are you new to boating?? Do you know what to look to look for as far as the systems are concerened? You have your work cut out for that s for sure but if the boat was maintained by it's former owners you may be ok. Good luck and keep us posted.
Click to expand...

Sept 09' was my first time owning a boat. I picked all the wrong stuff in my bayliner 20'. Too light and to rough on 2' chop. I have always wanted a sea ray and I thought this was a 87' Sundancer 268, so I gave the go ahead for a friend of mine to bid (car dealer). It was NOT the boat I went out and looked at the week before. My fault completely and I could not back out or he is not allowed back.

I am overwhelmed with the crammed up engine compartment. But I *think* I can handle it.

The PO claimed it has new water pumps and new head gaskets. It came with no batteries so I cannot even try things out.
 
My boat is a '78 or '79 SRV-260. All my documentation says '79 but when I registered it they said it was a '78. Regardless, looks very similar to your setup. I also have a buddy who owns the same boat as well. With a single 350 close to stock he was getting a top speed in the mid-20mph range. He did extensive engine and outdrive work and his now does about mid-30s on GPS. With twin 350s ... I'd say high 20s, low 30s wouldn't be out of the question. Of course, the faster you go the more fuel you use!

The problem I had on mine was I bought it cheap and the transom was rotted and engine ran but had a cracked block. So I've spent 2 years on and off (mostly off) getting it redone.
 
Lets assume that it turns out sea worthy, are these 470's with proper maint really that bad? Some people own them and think they are just fine, others would tear them out on the first day of ownership.
 
Forgive my ignorance but what are 470s? Not GM I guess??
 
470's are a propritary mercruiser engine from the ground up. They use ford 460ci head on a built in house 4 cylinder aluminum block. It is a high horsepower engine for its displacement. I know nothing about its internals other than what I read in the service book & forums. I have not real experiance with them to speak of which is why I ask if they are really as bad as people make them out to be.
 
So is that the Merc 4 cylinder 3.7L engine - the one without an alternator - more of a outboard-motor type charging system?
 
AH, ok. I had that engine in my first boat - a 1988 Regal 19' cuddy. I had the carb'd version - 165HP mated to an Alpha One drive. Boat couldn't get out of its own way with 4 adults on it, but would go forever on a tank of gas. I had no problems with it mechanically in the 4 seasons I owned it (1998-2001). I know there is an aftermarket kit to install an alternator but I never did the mod. The charging system seemed to work fine.
 
Was this hull ever offered with 165HP inline six engines? If so is it hard to yank the 470's, sell them, and install a set of inline 6's.
 
I think your choices are the 3 liter 4 cyl or the 4.3 liter V6. Not sure what would fit.
 
I have a friend who has a very simular set up in his late 70's Marathon. I have not driven the boat but he has had this boat up at Summersville lake over 20+ years. Do you have the ability to get a leakdown test done? I would do as much research as possible before I opened the check book.
 
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