New to forum with 79 200 CC

[harv72]

Hi! I've been lurking around this site, and especially the Classic section, for the last several months after buying our first boat. It is a 1979 20 CC, which according to the archives on searay.com is a cuddy cruiser. We love the boat and put as many hours on her as we could. It is all original, which I really like, especially the teak. I'm the third owner, and the previous owner had it for 20 years. He only put 120 hours on it during his time and stored it indoors.

It has a Mercruiser 898 (305 2 bbl), with power steering and the stock prop. I don't really have any major plans for it, other than a full width swim platform. I'd also like to find a camper enclosure. We've camped in the cuddy, but only in the driveway! My wife thinks I'm nuts because she comes home to find me and our 3 boys eating dinner in it......while on trailer. Can't help it.....just love spending time in it.

I also wanted to say "thanks" for all of the information that I've already found on here.

 

[kybishop]

Welcome aboard, you have come to the right place. About the only classic Searay forum out there. We spend weekends on the 210 CC and it is quite comfortable for that. Have you checked out the Searay archived brochures? They are a lot of fun to look at. Yours looks to be here, page 16.

http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company1729/1C1_27_74DERNIZC281.pdf

Looks like your 200 CC has the window built into the side stripe similar to our 1982 210 CC. Looks very nice. Some pictures of ours here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/31259971@N04/

post some more pictures when you get a chance, we enjoy looking at well preserved classic Searays. That is really low hours for a 30 year old boat. Glad to hear of a fellow teak lover!

 

[Matt89GT]

I have the exact boat, here is a coupe pics I just aquired the boat half way through this summer and its taken me until the end of summer to get it wet here is a couple pics the first one is when I first got there and uncovered it after it sat for three years after it was winterized and the outdrive stolen.Note as where I removed all the old stripe.

this pic is after I got it home and cleaned out the cuddy and found the bimini and snap down mooring cover and a ton of other equipment.

here is a shot of the motor

and now the finished product, and countless hours of buffing

 

[harv72]

Here are some more pictures. You both have good looking boats!

Just one quick question. Do both of your boats have a removable section running down the center of the floor to access the fuel tank? I have one that runs from the teak panel covering the cabin bilge to the engine cover. Its about the same width of cabin bilge cover.

 

[kybishop]

Yes, the 82 210 CC has the section running down the center of the floor to access the gas tank. It sounds like it is very similar to the panel in your floor. It is carpeted (Original) and is held in with stainless screws.

 

[Matt89GT]

yes mine has an access panel as well that runs from the step down pump back to the bildge

 

[harv72]

Kybishop-

Can you tell me more about your camping experience on the 210? Did you anchor, or beach? How many people did you have on board? I would have five (wife, me, and 3 boys). Waking up while in a small cove sounds like a lot of fun. We do a lot of camping with a fifth wheel, but I like the idea of being alone on the water.

Matt89GT-
I like the look without the stripe. Do you have any more pictures of it? I've thought about doing the same because the window seems to blend into the stripe.

 

[KRB64]

Kybishop-

Can you tell me more about your camping experience on the 210? Did you anchor, or beach? How many people did you have on board? I would have five (wife, me, and 3 boys). Waking up while in a small cove sounds like a lot of fun. We do a lot of camping with a fifth wheel, but I like the idea of being alone on the water.
QUOTE]

Welcome! Kybishop's brother here.

When we were young we'd "camp" on the 190. Adults on the fold down seats, one of us on the rear "sun pad" and the other laying on the motor. Coolers taking up floor space, etc. Very primative compared to a cuddy or larger but we thought it was the greatest thing at the time. Every year we'd lock up to the Ohio and then down to Madison for the July 4 speed boat races. Other than firecrackers landing in the boat and drunks coming aboard it was great fun. If we were in one spot for more than a day we'd throw up a tent.

The cuddy seems to make a huge difference: "private" toilet, sleeping space for 2 out of the sun and rain and dew. But it is cramped and can get hot real quick.

But I'll let him fill in the details as most of my overnight experience has been on the 240 & 260.

 

[kybishop]

Very enjoyable camping in the cuddy. We usually nose in and tie off. There are some nice soft shale beaches on Dale Hollow Lake where we keep it.

No experience anchoring but need to try it as there may come a time one would need to anchor in a storm or other emergency.

We sleep 2 comfortably up in the cuddy. 2 more sleep on the back to back chairs that fold down to make beds or loungers. The 210 has a very deep V and the back seat goes all the way across the back for a nice sized place to sleep. Your 200 looks very similar to the 210. It looks like you could sleep across the back if needed, maybe a small camp air mattress or something if the engine hatch is not cushioned.

We do have a camper top, came with the boat. The original owner never used it so it looks almost new. Some of the glue for the zippers was coming un-done so I had them sewn on. We put the camper top up at night and it keeps the dew off. Usually don't put the sides up unless rain is expected. So far this year the nights have been cool and has made for comfortable sleeping. I slept on it Friday night and had to put an extra blanket on, it got a bit chilly. If you zip it all up tight it can get stuffy like most tents.

The head (toilet) is a big plus out on the water, especially for the females. It has not been a problem at night yet. It could be if one had to wake another during the night to use.

The smaller cuddy's are a nice compromise for all around use. I bit of a cross-over I guess. A slight step up from primitive camping and not quite to "RV" camping. No sink or water. The weekend steps up with a small kitchen and a seperate head which is nice. The Sundancer is tall enough for standing room and seperate place to eat other than a table in the berth. It has an aft cabin too which you can seperate those that may have had enough together time!

There are four of us typically and everyone seems content and comfortable for the most part. Sometimes the guys will sleep out up top and the girls in the Cuddy. Sometimes adults in the cuddy and kids up top. You would really enjoy a camper top if you can find one or someone to make one. You will really enjoy the versatillity of the cuddy though I think.

As my brother mentioned, we used to camp for days on a SRV 195 with no cabin. Seemed to work fine for us. If I recall correctly, my brother slept across the back which was no wider than a foot or so. I think I slept in the floor between the seats. That was a long time ago. We still have that 76 195, needs a good bit of TLC and we keep threatening to give it to her.

Does the head work do you know? Does it have a pump out? I mention this to save you some headache that I experienced. The head on the 210 was never used by the original owner, I have had it a couple seasons. First time I went to pump out and it wouldn't. I thought the hose was old and possibly losing suction. I removed the hose and it looked okay. I went to put it in and it was quite difficult. I tried from both directions fishing through with hangers and rope, no luck. I fabricated a cone shape for the end hoping that would transition it enough from the wire to the hose diameter and make for a smooth fish through. Still quite difficult. I finally got it back through Friday night. Now, all this and I think it was not my system at fault at all but the marina's pump out. Seems there system does not work that well as the Sundance had issues getting pumped out there. There is another marina that has much better service and a much better system I am going to try next time.

A camper top or canvas of any kind can be quite expensive. But, a camper top is well worth the money for sure. It would have been a blessing on the 195. The 240 Weekender has a really nice one. Even with the space of the 260 it would benefit greatly from a camper top. We play games, eat and just talk with the camper top up at night.

Keep us updated and take it out for an evening...one without much chance of rain.

 

[kybishop]

I also might mention that if you are tied up in a cove the raccoons can be quite brave. At least on Dale Hollow in central Kentucky they can be. I have not had it happen yet but they have boarded the boat at night while my brother was out and tied into a cove. They board via the swim platform.

 

[harv72]

Camping sounds like alot of fun. I was planning to have mom and dad in the cuddy, one boy on each fold down seat, and one across the back. Like you mentioned, I'd have to get an air mattress for the back. The seats are at the same level and the motor cover is padded, but the seats are much cushier than the motor cover....not too comfortable.

We have a spot for a porta potty under the center cushion in the cuddy, but the boat didn't come with one. Do you have a table on your cuddy? I've been thinking about making something the folds up from the motor cover just for snack time. I'm also looking at a way to mount a little gas grill off the side using an existing fishing pole holder. I would also like to have a fresh water sink. We don't use the built in cooler on the port side because its too small, but I've thought about putting in a hand pump and a small water tank under the cuddy seat on that side.

We love this boat and I still think it looks much bigger than a 20 footer. It has so much storage, rides nice, and just looks good in the water! I'd like to move up to a 230 or 240 Sundancer some day, but for now, this is perfect.

I don't think I'll mention the racoon thing to my wife......but if I did, that would solve the problem of somebody sleeping across the back!

 

[magonzo]

I was lucky enough to get a great deal on my 79 20CC. It was repowered in 95 with a new 5.0 Merc with a Gen II drive. It runs great. The interior was trashed so I put an old set of back to backs in and cleaned it up a bit.

I use it on the coastal Atlantic and the lower Chesapeake Bay, rides great in 1-3 ft sea.

Happy Boating. I loved all the pics you guys posted. (Please excuse my fishing buddy's butt in this pic)

 

[harv72]

I might be a bit biased, but I think these boats have some of the nicest lines, especially when sitting in the water. Magonzo's second picture is a good example. They seem to sit high in the water and look bigger than a 20' boat.

 

[kybishop]

I like the lines a lot myself. Very deep V on the 210 Cuddy I have and the 200's look to be deep as well. Nice all around boats for camping and playing. I like the full width deep seat across the back on the 210. They look really nice on the water and yes they do look bigger than they are at times. My brother was out in ours and he pulled up to the marina and signalled with the horn. I looked and kind of waved and thought, who is that. It was our boat but I thought it was a bigger cruiser at first.

 

[Matt89GT]

I wanna do away with my two single seats on each side of the engine console and build a new bench seat across the back of my boat, I have already stored the boat for winter and need measurements and some ideas on where to start with this, if either of you could help I sure would appreciate it

 

[kybishop]

I can take some pictures of mine and some measurements if you like. I store it in the covered slip on a lift for the winter so I am not sure when I will get down there. Be glad to do it though. I need to go soon to check on everything.

 

[Matt89GT]

whenever you can, I appreciate it, any ideas on a nice custom bench, a friend of mine owns an upholstery shop and she might do it for cheap. we will see

 

[harv72]

I would also be interested in any photos of your interior.

Mine has seat bottoms on each side that are removable, with storage underneath. The top of the engine cover is padded and covered, so it looks like a solid bench across the back. I've been thinking about taking the boxes under the side cushions out to give me more floor space when needed, but I would need to find a new home for the anchor and battery.

 

[Matt89GT]

yea, I am familiar with what your referring to however mine is a factory from sea ray engine cover with cup holders into the front of the hatch on the console with seats that sit down into each side of the console, nothing like a bench at all, I have the boat stored for the winter at my buddy's in one of his storage garage' and he's busy with winterizing and storing other boats this time of year and don't wanna bother him as to go measure and take pictures but I just may so I can get my new bench seat/ engine console built and upholstered. the cabin has already been reupholstered by the previous owner. I store my anchor where the port o potty was under the center cushion as you go into the cabin. if you was wondering where you could relocate your anchor to.

 

[kybishop]

Here is one picture I have that shows a bit of the back of the boat. My daughter and her friend are kneeling on it looking out the back. I will try and get more detailed pictures. It is real simple really. Three large cushions. One slides into place on top of the motor. Then there are wood side rails for the two side cushions to rest on. The cushions have metal brackets that slide on to the wooden rails.