New here, and shopping

[turboduane]

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a while, but this is my first post. I'm in Texas and am starting to shop for a 24-26' classic cruiser. I've been looking at the classics due to budget constraints. Don't get me wrong, if the wife would sign off on it, I'd get a newer boat, but she wants to send the last kid to college for some reason :smt017, plus she's one of the 600k people laid off last month :smt009.

I've been looking at the Sea Rays, along with the Four Winns, and will be checking out a Four Winns this weekend. However, I have reservations on the OMC leg, even though a new Jasper unit has just been installed.

Feel free to give me boat shopping advise, as I'll take it all. I'm mechanically skilled, so most repairs and maintenance will be done by me.

My boating history includes three sailboats ranging from 15' to 26', I have lots of experience with a variety of ski boats up to 23' and have rented and piloted houseboats up to 66'. So I feel I am experienced with boats, but I've been away from the water for a few years, and am re-acquiring my sea legs, and have never owned an i/o boat. For me, I/O's are a little scary as most owners I've personally known have always had so much more trouble with them than I did with my o/b's. Most problems seem to be related to either weak transoms, alignment issues, or water leaks from the baffles and such.

Thanks,
TD

Sorry, this was supposed to go in the Newbies forum. Moderators please feel free to move.

 

[CaptainH]

Hello!
I became a first time owner last April. My boat is aged but is still in very good condition. The previous owner had a repower and only 60 hrs on it now so it has a good solid drive. No problems with any other mechanicals or leaks. The hull still shines and has no problems. Or course there are many things that have to be worked on with a boat this age. I am currently working on rewireing the instrament/switch panel. I have replaced some vinyl but more needs to be done. The interior has held up fairly well. So if you need advice on buying an older Sea Ray I can tell you from my limited experiance that if the boat has been cared for you will find a good craft.

 

[keokie]

I have a buyer for the 260 below. I'd highly recommend the 240, 250, 260, and 268 as great boats of that vintage. Look hard for dry rot in the decks, transoms, stringers, etc.

I am very familiar with outdrives. The very best are bad enough. A OMC stringer series is a deal breaker at any price.

 

[NorCal Boater]

Welcome. Always glad to have another boater on board. I have had several older boats. Wait a minute....I still have an older boat. I guess I mean older smaller ones.

Out drives are like any other piece of machinery. It must be properly maintained and if it is, it will be mostly pain free.

I echo Keoki's thoughts on the OMC stringer drive. Run like a thief in the night away from these. My last boat was a '91 26' 4Winns with a 454 and an OMC Cobra drive. It was OK but after having several Sea Rays it just wasn't the same. We had that boat for only 6 months and went back to Sea Ray.

There was thread a while back about "Why Sea Rays" or something to that effect. One of the common thoughts was that you don't see people putting money into older 4Winns, Regals, Bayliners, etc. The Sea Rays are just better.

There are a lot of great older boats out there for sale and like CaptainH said, you can find them with newer power and drives. If you find something that interests you, post a link here and ask for opinions. Just be careful what you ask for....you'll get plenty.

Good Luck and welcome back to boating.

 

[dpvandy01]

My brother-in-law's cousin (how's that for convoluted?) has a 1985 of 86 268DA, and I love that boat. very practical layout esecially in the cabin. not sure on his enginge or drive though...

 

[CaptainH]

I have the invoice from the marina that did the repower work end of 2006, just under $10,000. I bought the boat with trailer for $10,000 last April. So looks like I bought a motor and drive and they threw the boat/trailer in for free!

 

[turboduane]

Thanks for the replies guys. My wife says I'm not ready to buy yet:smt021, but thats OK, I'll window shop until I "am" ready, and will use this "not ready" time to really discover what I want (she needs a job, lol).

So since I'm apparently "not ready", I thought I'd share about the boat I was going to survey. It does have the OMC Cobra. Boat looks like it was well cared for and is at a good price. Click here

 

[NorCal Boater]

Thanks for the replies guys. My wife says I'm not ready to buy yet:smt021, but thats OK, I'll window shop until I "am" ready, and will use this "not ready" time to really discover what I want (she needs a job, lol).

So since I'm apparently "not ready", I thought I'd share about the boat I was going to survey. It does have the OMC Cobra. Boat looks like it was well cared for and is at a good price. Click here

As you window shop I will offer my 2 cents worth. I had a '91 265 Vista and here is what I found.

• Dinette is also the v-berth. Had to make a latch to hold the table in place when used as a bed because in the middle of the night the table would fall to the floor
• Mid cabin had a very low overhead. Very clastraphobic(sp)
• The head was not big enough to go in, sit and close the door
• Forget the shower. You aren't gonna use it.
• The laminate surfaces on all the cabinets were coming off. I also saw this on a '90 31' 4Winns so beware
• The boat ran good, had a good cockpit layout and one of the most comfortable captain's chairs I ever sat in.

And the boat you are looking at is 2' shorter that the 265.
I am not trying to talk you out of it. The price looks good. I would sugest that you and your wife spend a LOT of time on that boat before you piull the trigger.

 

[Jack380AC]

Our first boat was a mid-eighties 270 Sundancer. This was a GREAT boat. Our whole family LOVED THAT BOAT. It had twin I/O's that never gave a lick of trouble. It was wider than most that size with a beam almost 10 feet. This made for a real stable ride and extra space in the cabin.

 

[Tail Chaser 661]

Everytime I look at a new 26' boat.
I'm thankfull I have my classic.
Stay away from OMC.
These boats are heavy. A big block is a better option.

Get ready to pounce if you find a good.
Even without the wifes OK.