Newbie considering 260 Sundancer

MN is a great place to buy boats, that is where mine came from. For some reason there are quite a few of them there... could all the great fresh water lakes. When we decided on it the first task was getting it back to Oregonm the rest was lots of great times. Kind of scarry to buy from out of state, the prices that you can find from a non home state can really help make the decission.

Make sure you allow enough time to answer any question you may have and decide without pressure.

Scott
 
I regularly handle my 320 by myself. Practice and practice, and when you are done practicing, practice some more. You will gain confidence behind the helm and you will enjoy your boat much more. :thumbsup:

I have seen first hand people at my marina get bigger boats only to be afraid of them, and then it is only a matter of time before I hear them say “I am selling my boat”.
 
:smt001 I bought my boat knowing I wll dock by myself and have a friend who boat is docked by him self all summer, I watched him and he reads how the boat handles coming to the slip and then backs right in like on rails, slow and in gear is how we steer:thumbsup:
 
I'd sure like to see what you are looking at. The $27,500 price does sound very good, and hopefully the cosmetic condition meets your expectations and the mechanical condition is solid all around. When I bought my 260 the cosmetic conditions was dirty but it was all there and virtually unused. The cabin looked like brand new except for a couple small stains in the carpet. The cockpit was also dirty but in great condition except a small tear in the vinyl in the aft seat that I've since had repaired and a small scratch from the PO's small dog. The canvas clear vinyl was shot.
The OD was completely corroded and the PO paid for a new one to be installed. The engine only had 94 hours on it and runs like a sewing machine. I now have over 300 hours since Dec 07, everything runs great and I'm very happy.
What I'm trying to say is that look it over well and view the potential with some elbow grease. Make sure the mechanical items are in good condition and everything works, that's where the $$$ adds up.

I take mine out frequently by myself or with just my 7 year old twins. You will get used to it. I came from a 230OV and that boat handled probably similar to your boat. The 260DA is a little more corky in the water, but once you accimate to the size, the boat handles very well.

Show us the pics.
 
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Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions - and most of all support! I appreciate it. I wish I were as confident in my ability to handle this as you all seem to be! Alot of my questions have been answered - for example- I wondered if the boat could be pulled with dock lines toward the pier (I can do this easily with my SS and sounds like you all do this with the 260DA).

Some additional info - I have seen pics of the boat and have been told the history (one owner, meticulously cared for, stored in a boat house and run only in fresh water). I'm told it is very clean and mechanically sound and the pics would support that. I have contacted surveyors and will have a survey done if I pursue this. Cost to ship would be about $1400 and do not know what kind of deal I can negotiate which would include delivery. I've also thought about negotiating storage and winterization - though I gues it does not matter if that is done here or there.

Though my wife is OK with proceeding, she is concerned about size and cost (it'll cost me $300-$500) additional to fly up, plus the cost of winterizing and storing two boats. She loves our current boat (as do I - but this DA has everything I want in an upgrade - and I especially want a head compartment and pump out as I am sick of the porta potti :wink:).

Other thoughts - especially about price (since I think the consensus is that with experience most think this will be as easily handled as my SS)?

Thanks again for the help!
 
Looks Good. I got my 1998 250 5.7 Bravo-3 Sundancer w/ Trailer & new 440s GPS for 21K. but spent 5K for Engine for repairs including Risers and Raw water pump ect.
If you get a great price ther is more room for unexpected repaires. Still very happy. Good luck.
John G.
 
Sweet looking boat! She appears to be well cared for.

I'd get a friend (who can drive a truck/trailer) to fly out there one way on a Thursday or Friday, stay in a hotel, meet the surveyor and get the thumbs up, and then rent something to tow her home with. U-Haul or Hertz should be able to fix you up. Just be aware that a lot of rental trucks have a 65mph governor on them (don't ask me why I know that). Plan accordingly. Even with a couple of nights in a hotel, truck rental, fuel. a couple of steak dinners, beer, and cigars, you'd still probably come in at right around or under the same $2K that you'd be spending on airfare and hauling. Not to mention the opportunity that it presents for a pretty cool "mission" with a friend. Quite a few of by best friends and I don't get to see each other very often, so this kind of thing would be a great way to catch up (and maybe get into some, ahem... "trouble" along the way). :grin:
 
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Have you tried to negotiate on that listed price any? My 2001 was listed at about that same number all last winter and when I finally bought it - I was able to get the price down by several thousand. No one wants to pay for winter storage on a boat they are looking to sell today and not many folks buy boats in the fall - especially in the north, even in good economic times. A really good price can help when it comes time to repair / replace those inevitable items that you will find on a 9 year old boat - even a very well maintained one.
 
haven't started the negotiation yet and will likely offer less than asking and include delivery in the offer (if I proceed). Prices seems close to NADA value given how it is equipped and can't find many lisitings that are in this range. Have seen many listed at 5-10K more.
 
I am thinking of offering 25K to include winterization/storage and delivery in the spring. They are asking $27,500. My cost for shipping would be $1400 and winterization would be about the same if I were to pay for it. Think it is an unrealistically low offer. Not sure if their cost on those things would be the same...
 
Have you tried to negotiate on that listed price any? My 2001 was listed at about that same number all last winter and when I finally bought it - I was able to get the price down by several thousand. No one wants to pay for winter storage on a boat they are looking to sell today and not many folks buy boats in the fall - especially in the north, even in good economic times. A really good price can help when it comes time to repair / replace those inevitable items that you will find on a 9 year old boat - even a very well maintained one.

I see you're pulling a 260 with a 1/2 ton SUV. I'm looking into buying something in this size range in the next year, but I'm not sure what my Yukon XL can pull (tow package, 4x4). Sure I know what it's rated for, but I live on the Coastal plain and will only be driving 20 minutes to the marina.
 
OK - looks like the deal will be the list price of $27,500 but will include winterization/storage and transport and delivery from Minneapolis to Erie,PA in the spring. Thoughts and suggestions?
 
Marineguy - Yes I pull my 260 with my QX56, which is the same truck as the Nissan Titan / Armada. With 390 lbs of torque and a 9,100 lb towing capacity - I have no problems with this set-up. The auto airbags on the rear axle level the load out perfectly after I attach the boat. The truck came with the factory tow package which includes tranny cooler and fluid temp. gauge. The only change I have made is to change out the rotors with heavier slotted & dimpled aftermarket units and the pads to ceramic. (These trucks are notorious or being under-braked, even without the towing) Anyways, I have towed the boat with this rig on several trips over 200 miles from Raleigh on both interstate and secondary roads and have had no problems. All in all I am towing about 90% of the rated weight between trailer, boat and payload. Good luck with yours. That is a pretty stout truck you have from what I have seen and heard.

emlevins - Do you think the boat market will improve or deteriorate between now and the next boating season which looks to be about 8 months from now in your neck of the woods? (grew up in Buffalo myself) Also, that is a lot of money to invest for that period with no interest or return and that's assuming you are purchasing with cash. Paying actual interest and loan payments all winter long on a boat you haven't been able to use even once might be awful painful. And that boat will be close to a year older by the time you launch next year. Really, why buy now at all if you are going to have to just put your new toy to bed for a long winter?
 
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OK - looks like the deal will be the list price of $27,500 but will include winterization/storage and transport and delivery from Minneapolis to Erie,PA in the spring. Thoughts and suggestions?

Sounds REALLY good to me!

RAB - don't forget about your "loaded" weight - your boat/trailer will come in closer to 9,500lbs loaded up. One of our customers weighed his rig and it was 10,000lbs (triple axle trailer and big block). Plus, whatever you put in your truck, besides you, gets subtracted from your rating. I'm not mentioning this to try and change your mind - just want you to have "all the facts" so you can make an informed decision.

Marineguy - if you're only going 20 minutes, just be careful. I'd definitely recommend a 3/4 ton truck (or Suburban), but I think I'd make it work if I was in your situation. Be sure the trailer brakes are GOOD. You may need to add some help to the rear suspension.
 
If you are on the fence you could walk away and keep the offer on the table, a hungry seller may jump after they think about keeping it for 5 months when they really need to sell it. There are some valid points since you really will not be using it until spring. On the flip side the 27 k seems to be a pretty good end of the season price. In the spring there of course will be more buyers, remember if the jobless rate is 7% that means 93%(+or-) of the people are working and a percentage will be buying boats when it gets warm.

We were thinking of upgrading this winter if the right deal lines up... you never know when you might find your next boat.
 
Dennis - Don't want to hijack the thread from emlevins concerns about his purchase, but I did weigh my boat and trailer when I first bought it. Aluminum trailer (added a spare tire later) and the boat was pretty much empty of stuff and fluids. Combined, they tipped the truck scales at just under 7,900 lbs. Remember, I have a small block and no genset.

I don't travel with much of any of the major fluids in the boat (fuel, freshwater or holding) and my family only weighs 150 lbs total (petite wife & 2 little toddlers) Add an estimated 600 lbs of other gear, tools and spare parts (which I monitor like a hawk) and my loaded weight is between 86 to 8,700 lbs total. So, more like 95% of my rated towing capacity. Close to the max. - but just never been any kind of problem starting, stopping or motoring along with my particular 1/2 ton SUV.
 
Dennis - Don't want to hijack the thread from emlevins concerns about his purchase,

Gotcha, we'll keep it short and then back on track... Yup, if you're trailering light and using an aluminum, that can surely account for the lighter weight you have.

emlevins: have you found any other 260's that have caught your eye at a comparable price?
 

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