New powerboater with an old 240 saying hello

[alan-bc]

After 50 plus years as a sailor, I just bought myself, sight unseen, a lovely old Sea Ray, a 1982 240 DA.

The dealer is a company I trust, the pictures looked so good and the price was so low and the 2021 survey so positive that I just said "what the heck".

I pick it up next week, with the shakedown cruise being a six hour trip across the Strait of Georgia; man, I hope it's calm!

The story is that I have three little rescue dogs and all of them dislike sailing, which means I haven't spent a night at anchor in 8 years. They're all OK with my little runabout though, so MAYBE ...

Anyway, I can't imagine there's much documentation available but that's OK, I'm pretty good with old boats .. pretty handy. However, if anyone has any links to any documentation, I'd appreciate it.

The survey listed only three "deficiencies".

1. There should be a CO detecter and smoke alarm. These are obviously easy.

2. The batteries should be in insulated boxes with a lid. This is also easy for me, as I'm an electrical/electronics kinda guy. In fact, I may redo things in a bigger way. The pics show a bit of a rat's nest of connections right at the batteries and there's no shore power connection; the battery charger is a portable clip-on device.

3. The engine was replaced a few years ago with a sea water cooled Volvo Penta 4.3. The survey suggested that a heat exchanger be added. I agree; pumping salt water through an engine block just seems wrong.

Again, any hints, tips or experience appreciated. I could just buy the Volvo parts, but that would increase the boat cost by 50%!

Well, that's it for now .. today I look for moorage!

 

[scoflaw]

6 hour shakedown cruise with a sight unseen boat, what could possibly go wrong?

 

[Espos4]

Any gas stops in your travels across the bay?
6 hours running x gallons per hour…
How big is the tank?

 

[alan-bc]

6 hour shakedown cruise with a sight unseen boat, what could possibly go wrong?

ALL KINDS of things could go wrong, I get it, I really do. But only an hour or so will be in genuinely open water and I'll pick a smart day weather-wise.

I'm well aware of the foolishness of the action, but that's what makes it exciting. I'm afraid I've reached an age where I've crossed my last ocean; the rest of my life will be within sight of land. So this might well be my last real adventure.

And I do trust the dealer, who knows the boat well, knows the area, knows my intention and finds it no big deal.

So fingers crossed!

 

[alan-bc]

Any gas stops in your travels across the bay?
6 hours running x gallons per hour…
How big is the tank?

Only four hours at speed, an hour at the beginning and an hour at the end (getting in and out of the harbours) will be in the 5 knot range.

There IS gas available more or less the middle of the trip if need be.

But the survey says it's got a 260 liter (69 US Gallon) tank. Surely that's enough fuel for two hours of puttering and four hours of 2/3 throttle. (I am looking into these number though, just in case.)

 

[alan-bc]

Any gas stops in your travels across the bay?
6 hours running x gallons per hour…
How big is the tank?

Found some numbers.

At 3,000 RPM .. a reasonable cruising speed, methinks, consumption is 23 liters per hour. 260 liter tank, 11 hours of fuel. Slow down to 2,500 and the trip takes 30 minutes longer, but the fuel lasts three hours longer. I think I'm OK on fuel.

It's just the cost that I have to get my head around. Filling the tanks will cost me about five hundred of my dollars. The whole summer of sailing last year cost me twenty dollars.

The other thing to get my head around is being dependent upon a single source of propulsion. My sailboat has an electric kicker that I never use .. it's really there for the dinghy .. a diesel that's very very reliable and SAILS. And I'm pretty confident in my ability to sail.

The new boat .. a single gas engine.

To be fair, I did have a problem with the diesel in the sailboat a couple of years back .. "overheating" .. that turned out to be a gauge problem, not an engine problem. I was able to sail back through all the freighters at anchor, sail through the channel, under two bridges and into False Creek, a 90 degree turn at the marina, another 90 degree turn and right into my slip, coasting to halt at just the right point, all with no one around to see it! It seems it's always the fumbled dockings that have a crowd on the dock.

(The Coast Guard actually pulled up along the way to see if I needed help and to ask what the heck I was doing. It was legal to sail there, but NO ONE had ever actually done it. I explained the situation, and added that I felt I didn't need help. They just smiled, then let me know their last "emergency" call was for someone who'd dropped a PFD over the side and they didn't know how to retrieve it. "Sorry guys" I said "I'm OK")

If you hear from me in a week, you'll know I made it!

Alan

P.S. I do appreciate the concern!

 

[Gofirstclass]

Alan, welcome to CSR and we would like to see photos of your new baby. Actually, we have a long standing rule on CSR that goes like this: "Without pics, it didn't happen."

So when you do your maiden voyage, please take us along with you. We all like to see pics of boats, where people go boating and the owners using their boat(s). Have fun and be safe!

 

[Golfman25]

6 hour shakedown cruise with a sight unseen boat, what could possibly go wrong?

One engine quits in the middle of the lake. You can’t get restarted because it’s still in gear?

 

[Scott215]

Want to see how this works out

 

[Pirate Lady]

Any gas stops in your travels across the bay?
6 hours running x gallons per hour…
How big is the tank?

First thing I tought of. I got 100 gallon tank and no way can i get 6 hours. Granted bigger engine but still.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Is the shake down cruise to bring the boat from dealer to your area/marina?
If yes, I would tell dealer, “I will pay you to deliver it. You trust the boat? You go first, I’ll have cold beer waiting “.

 

[mdolesh]

Following

 

[Scott215]

Excellent idea

 

[Thornton69]

Welcome to CSR. Was interested in your model and this was the first one that popped up.
Sea Ray 240 DA 1982 Used Boat for Sale in North Saanich, British Columbia - BoatDealers.ca
I would confirm that it doesn't have a lot of growth on the bottom before attempting your crossing.
Your fuel guestimate is pretty low IMO as well. I would expect 35+ at cruise.
Our '81 245, although somewhat heavier, is 40 lph at best running lite with a clean bottom. It jumps up to 45 with an additional 1200 lbs in it.
Nice to see another BC member on here.

 

[Pirate Lady]

If that’s it, solid boat, same model as mine, probably SR longest running model. Can handle serious water. Not a bad choice. Best of luck.
Not sure how it ended up with a VP. Came with a Merc and pretty sure a VP and Merc horse collar dont fit same transom hole cutout.

 

[alan-bc]

Is the shake down cruise to bring the boat from dealer to your area/marina?
If yes, I would tell dealer, “I will pay you to deliver it. You trust the boat? You go first, I’ll have cold beer waiting “.

They will deliver, for a price. But the price is pretty high, although given my location and the difficulty in getting the captain back, I really can't blame them.

I see this as a genuine adventure and it might well be my last adventure, given my advancing age and declining health.

But I will hedge my bet and buy a C-Tow membership!

 

[alan-bc]

If that’s it, solid boat, same model as mine, probably SR longest running model. Can handle serious water. Not a bad choice. Best of luck.
Not sure how it ended up with a VP. Came with a Merc and pretty sure a VP and Merc horse collar dont fit same transom hole cutout.

Yup, that's it. It's hoped it will be a replacement for our 15 foot Boston Whaler .. a runabout with a head, basically, with the possibility of a very occasional overnight.

The Volvo Penta was added in 2010, but that's all I know.

 

[alan-bc]

Welcome to CSR. Was interested in your model and this was the first one that popped up.
Sea Ray 240 DA 1982 Used Boat for Sale in North Saanich, British Columbia - BoatDealers.ca
I would confirm that it doesn't have a lot of growth on the bottom before attempting your crossing.
Your fuel guestimate is pretty low IMO as well. I would expect 35+ at cruise.
Our '81 245, although somewhat heavier, is 40 lph at best running lite with a clean bottom. It jumps up to 45 with an additional 1200 lbs in it.
Nice to see another BC member on here.

I'll find out!

The good and bad thing is that it will be EMPTY, and so as light as it will ever be. I'm well aware of how boats get heavier over time! Empty is good for fuel economy of course. But empty to the point of not having even a screwdriver on board .. unnerving.

I'll be bringing some minimal tooling along, although as I'll be flying over on a float plane with severe luggage weight limits, what I bring will have to be carefully considered.

But for sure, I'll be keeping an eye on the fuel gauge and will adjust my route accordingly. (The most likely route has me near a fuel dock that's not TOO far off course 2 hours in.)

 

[alan-bc]

First thing I tought of. I got 100 gallon tank and no way can i get 6 hours. Granted bigger engine but still.

It's about 75 nautical miles. About 5 miles will be at low speed in the various harbours so (hopefully) very low consumption. So 70 miles @14 knots .. about half throttle .. 5 hours. 260 liter tank .. I simply cannot imagine burning 50 liters per hour at half throttle.

But I guess I'll find out.

 

[Timeflys]

So…when was the last time the tanks was cleaned out, fuel filters etc. and how old is the gas in the tank? I think I would be doing a local cruise for a hour or so to find out if there are any surprises before I buy…and if the dealer is one you trust, will he come and tow you back, just in case?
And from the dealers pov…..here’s a guy willing to buy a 40 yr old boat, sight unseen from pictures…..they’re thinking ..we can’t let this one get away…imo.