New to Sea Ray

First Born said:
As to boltman's comments about us southerners, just introduce me to any southern person that moved north, I have yet to meet one, I wonder why that is? :huh:
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It would require direction....

Snowbirds and northerners go south in the winter and north in the summer....now THAT's smart....
 
First Born said:
Now I am just being a pain but you will want to add the model, there are quite a few sundancers out there :huh:

As to boltman's comments about us southerners, just introduce me to any southern person that moved north, I have yet to meet one, I wonder why that is? :huh:
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ummm, afraid to cross the Mason-Dixon line maybe? it's not the edge of the world.:grin:

Welcome to the board isitsummeryet! This is a great place to get lots of good info, and some good kidding and camaraderie.
 
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Welcome to CSR.

Congratulations on your boat!

Our previous boat was a 1998 240 Sundancer with the 5.0L (305) V8 + Alpha I gen II. We had the porta potti with pump out hose and full camper top enclosure. Here are some photo's of this boat:
http://presentationrentals.blogspot.com/2007/05/sea-ray-sundancer-240-cabin-cruiser-w.html

This is a versatile, fun, economical family express cruiser. This is the perfect sized express family cruiser. The size is not too big for skiing, tubing, or fishing and not too small for 4 adults to spend the night in the cabin. The cabin has a galley with dual voltage refrigerator, sink with pressurized water, a separate head compartment and a table that can be lowered for an oversized V-berth for two adults. Abaft the galley is a mid-birth that is plenty large enough to sleep two additional adults. Also, the boat has a swim platform with a shower / wash down and boarding ladder.

On a calm day our top end speed was 40 MPH per the GPS. Not bad, it’s not a speed boat.

Fuel consumption was about 2.4 MPG. That is very good for this size boat.

We could plane in about 6 seconds. I could pull my wife up on 1 ski. The wake was big but we did ski behind this boat. We also pulled the kids in tubes.

The boat’s center of gravity is a bit high because it’s an 8 1/2’ beam boat with a mid-birth. This gives you that extra birth in the cabin. The down side is you need to adjust the trim tabs often. To keep the boat level you are adjusting the trim tabs often, several times a minute.

How I adjusted the trim. Start with the taps all they way up. To get the tabs up you press the “Down” button. I had a rule that I would only adjust one tab. If the tab got all they way back up (by pressing down) and I still needed more then I would use the other tab. Initially this is a challenge. With experience this process becomes second nature like riding a bicycle.

In ruff chop – put the drive all they way down, ditto with the trim tabs. You will be driving the bow into the water. This allows you to hold plane as slow as about 17 MPH. You can also do this when pulling young kids on the tube.

We enjoyed the boat a lot. We have many fond memories. In addition to more room we wanted things like air conditioning, heat, generator, microwave, much more fresh water capacity, a flushing head, hot and cold running water, two engines for redundancy, radar, and windlass anchor, on and on. I am happy we made the move however there are times I do miss our 240 Sundancer. Great memories, many ‘firsts’ and it was much simpler and more economical. It was our first ‘real boat’ not counting a wave runner and inflatable. So, to a degree, the 240 Sundancer got our boating cherry. LOL.

We spent so much time onboard that we decided we wanted more creature comports and room so we sold the 240 and got a 280.

My memory of small technical things fades more each day but I’ll do my best if you have any specific questions.
 
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Thanks Presentation, that was a ringing endorsement. Like I said, I am coming from a 24 Celebrity Cuddy with a 454 pushing 365 horse, so I know I am in for a decline in power. I was just worried about plaining, but at 6 sec give or take, i can definately live with that. Besides, my wife didn't like going over 40mph on the water anyway.
Our plan is similar to yours and we intend on keeping the 240 for about two seasons and then step to a 27 or 28'. I have alsway loved sea ray and I think when it comes toime to sell, the Sea Ray should go no problem. I'll tell you though, its hard to find a clean one, so the wife and I got real lucky. I am super pumped about the sea ray because I know its quality
 
At what point would a boat be considered high hours? I was thinking that 600 is borderline?? My plan is to keep the boat just under 600 then sell, any advice?
 
isitsummeryet said:
At what point would a boat be considered high hours? I was thinking that 600 is borderline?? My plan is to keep the boat just under 600 then sell, any advice?
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How long is a piece of string?

Just like with a car, there is no universally agreed to number of hours that defines the word ‘high hours’ on a boat. The single most commonly agreed to number for a marine I/O engine life before the need of replacement or rebuild is 1,500 hours.

You may want to talk to your marine insurance company. Some change the coverage at a specific age. With my insurance company, the line is 10 years. After this there are additional requirements like a survey from a certified surveyor.

Like with a car, many can fail well before 1,500 hours plus poor maintenance + hard use + age + salt water use can significantly shorten the engine life. On the other side, a well maintained, gently used and cared for I/O can sometimes go well beyond 1,500 hours.
 
IsItSummerYet.
Welcome. Sounds like you have found a nice boat. Hopefully you can post some pictures.
I'm glad I didn't post before so I missed being called a loser
 
isitsummeryet said:
Does anyone know if there are any extended swim platforms available for the 240? I was looking but had no luck
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Yes and it looks great.



240_sundancer.jpg


240_sundancer2.jpg


http://www.swimplatforms.com/
 
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This is the ‘Pandora’s box’ or Achilles heals of the small express cruiser.

Yes, you can add this, that and the other thing. Where you draw the line is the big question.

We were close to adding an extended swim platform as well as some other things.

Untimely we decided to move up in size and get a boat that had as many of the things we wanted already on the boat.

Of course you need to decide what is right for you.
 
boltman said:
I sincerely apologize for offending anyone with my reference to the word LOSER, again if I hurt anyone feeling I apologize.. No harm intended..
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No harm taken... I keep my feelings locked up in a tiny box in a dusty corner of an old closet...

:thumbsup:
 
isitsummeryet,

Welcome to CSR from another michigander!

Season is almost upon us. 3-4 weeks until launch!

Gregg
 
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