Official 1980's Weekender/Sundancer 300 thread

I'm sorry for you but I gotta say this. Folks down here think I'm nuts because I'm putting the money aside for two new engines and transmissions for my old girl.

SeaRay built one very tough boat back in the 80's, it took me 18 years to find this girl and for the last 4 she has done me very well. From what I understand from the PO she did him well too.

I think you are doing a damn good thing!
 
trflgrl said:
DA folks: is your forward bilge pump fully automatic, strictly manual, or both? (I'm targeting DA because the WE drawing appears to have a separate sump/switch for the shower, but feel free to chime in if your setup is more like mine!)

Ours is manual only via a switch in the head, but I haven't dug in to see if that's by design of the pump, design of the wiring, or missing/bad wiring. When we got the boat, the switch wiring had been cut so we restored the obvious connection and left it alone. I'd prefer it be fully automatic or hybrid rather than manual only--it just seems like a good idea in case of human error when showering/bathing. I don't like leaving the sump switch on the whole time the AC is on, either--especially since the volume of condensation/runoff from the AC varies so much. (I may be overthinking that one if this type of pump motor is built to withstand long run times regardless of volume of draw....?)

I haven't researched switch models to know what options exist, but would appreciate thoughts on pros/cons/other considerations.
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My forward bilge on my 1988 DA is automatic, I can turn the pump on at the dash. When the pump is on there is a red light that comes on below the switch. If there is power to the pump a green light above the switch is on.

Ken
 
dwna1a said:
I'm sorry for you but I gotta say this. Folks down here think I'm nuts because I'm putting the money aside for two new engines and transmissions for my old girl.

SeaRay built one very tough boat back in the 80's, it took me 18 years to find this girl and for the last 4 she has done me very well. From what I understand from the PO she did him well too.

I think you are doing a damn good thing!
Click to expand...
If I was going to keep mine, I would be putting in a pair of 383's (6.2's). Now with plans for moving south next year, a smaller trailer boat makes more sense for us. Im looking for a 215EC.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
dwna1a said:
I'm sorry for you but I gotta say this. Folks down here think I'm nuts because I'm putting the money aside for two new engines and transmissions for my old girl.

SeaRay built one very tough boat back in the 80's, it took me 18 years to find this girl and for the last 4 she has done me very well. From what I understand from the PO she did him well too.

I think you are doing a damn good thing![/QUOT
In 2014.when I lost the port engine I planned to eventually report the boat with new engines, just couldn't afford to do both at same time. I got almost two extra seasons out of the original starboard engine, so the plan sort of worked. This will complete the repower and give the boat about 130 extra horsepower.
We have the boat outfitted to our liking and she is in great shape. If I got a different boat, I could have the same or more issues. I know this boat and it's systems and you are right, they built them tough back in the day. I look forward to many trouble free years after the repower.
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dwna1a said:
I'm sorry for you but I gotta say this. Folks down here think I'm nuts because I'm putting the money aside for two new engines and transmissions for my old girl.

SeaRay built one very tough boat back in the 80's, it took me 18 years to find this girl and for the last 4 she has done me very well. From what I understand from the PO she did him well too.

I think you are doing a damn good thing!
Click to expand...

I put two brand new engines from Michigan Motorz in my 300 Sundancer 4 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did. The boat itself, and all other systems, were solid. The new motors breathed new life in to the boat and I had 4 fantastic seasons with it before I sold it. The new owner is having a great summer with it.
I made a few other great changes when I re-powered including counter rotating drive on port side, fresh water cooling, e-coated manifolds and risers, remote oil filters, peanut size starters, and all new gauges. The boat was as reliable as a brand new boat.
The down side: That reliability led to greater distance multi night trips, which led to a desire for a separate shower stall, which led to the sale of the boat and the hunt for something bigger.
 
I did the same upgrades as you except for the e coated manifolds and risers. They are rating these engines at 315-325HP depending on manifold choice. I've noted that my new port engine uses less fuel than the old 260HP did. I assume the Vortek heads and Edlebrock carb are the reason.
I think we'll be keeping this boat for the long term so not worried about two footitis just yet, but you never know :).
 
The 30' is perfect for the area I do my boating but I do love the 34' beside me.

My my mechanic would love me to switch them out and says I could sell mine now for a good price. Both are running nicely and have new manifolds and risers.
 
I am so torn on which way to go. This will most likely be our last winter in Florida, sell our winter house in the spring. I really want to go back to the North Channel as we did every summer for 6 years in a row. I guess it was 7 years ago we spent 7 weeks on the boat only 2 nights at a marina the rest anchored out. It was the best holiday I think we ever had. After a few weeks the boat seems really small this time we will be doing it with a 4 year old Siamese cat. A 380 sure would be nice to find, the wife wants a 440 but there is no way we can get one that big and stay in our marina. We are staying there 2 maybe 3 years at the most, maybe we should wait and get the 440DA once we leave. I know if we go north this next summer in the 300DA it will tell me if we need to go bigger or not.

Ken
 
Seven weeks mostly anchored out in a 300DA WOW! I'm impressed. I would think even a 440 would feel small after that long.
I've always liked the 89 390 series, big and roomy but still sleek and stylish. I doubt we'll ever go that big since the kids are growing up and don't come as often. The 300 is a nice size for the two of us and it's easy to handle and slips are not a problem to find. The 390 wouldn't fit in my slip and where I boat, slips are hard to come by.
 
SCORPIO said:
I did the same upgrades as you except for the e coated manifolds and risers. They are rating these engines at 315-325HP depending on manifold choice. I've noted that my new port engine uses less fuel than the old 260HP did. I assume the Vortek heads and Edlebrock carb are the reason.
I think we'll be keeping this boat for the long term so not worried about two footitis just yet, but you never know :).
Click to expand...

My boat was very economical for it's size with the new motors. I was running 15.5 X 17 Stainless Steel props which made it jump up on plane quickly, and stay up at between 3100-3200 RPM.
I did a trip with the boat last year that was 140 miles each way. The first 140 miles was at mostly varied speed because we did a lot of sight seeing and picture taking so the fuel burn numbers varied a lot.
We ran mostly on plane on the 140 mile return trip. The only time we were off plane was a quick refuel stop, then again when we pulled in to a marina for an overnight, then pulled out the next morning for the last leg home, and having to slow to 5 MPH 3 times for bridges over the two days.
My overall fuel burn for the return trip was 1.3 MPG at an average speed of 29 MPH as measured by my Garmin GPS with Garmin GFS fuel flow sensors tied in to the network.
Conditions on the Hudson River, in the Ocean, and in the Great South Bay were all very good for the return trip. Weight was fairly reasonable with just my wife and I on the boat, it had no arch or generator, but did have AC, and the fresh water tank was pretty full.
I miss the boat even more than I thought I would, especially after having a couple of conversations with it's new owner who is enjoying the heck out of it, but I keep telling myself that I'll enjoy the next one even more.
 
Iprof said:
I am so torn on which way to go. This will most likely be our last winter in Florida, sell our winter house in the spring. I really want to go back to the North Channel as we did every summer for 6 years in a row. I guess it was 7 years ago we spent 7 weeks on the boat only 2 nights at a marina the rest anchored out. It was the best holiday I think we ever had. After a few weeks the boat seems really small this time we will be doing it with a 4 year old Siamese cat. A 380 sure would be nice to find, the wife wants a 440 but there is no way we can get one that big and stay in our marina. We are staying there 2 maybe 3 years at the most, maybe we should wait and get the 440DA once we leave. I know if we go north this next summer in the 300DA it will tell me if we need to go bigger or not.

Ken
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I've been shopping for an 03-04 380 since last winter, but have started thinking that a year or two older 410 with diesels may be a better choice.
380's with diesels are rare as hen's teeth, and the few I've seen were pretty nasty and priced the same as a 410 of that vintage because they are so rare.
My kids are 16 and 19 and won't be making many more trips with us, but if they do, the 410 gives a little bit more room, a sliding door for privacy in the aft berth, a 2nd head, and the greater percentage of them for sale are equipped with diesels so there are more boats to choose from.
The 380 with gassers still performs decently for what it is, but that's about the limit for gas engines. The 410 with diesels is a real nice combination. Also, I know that some consider it cheating, but I really want a bow thruster. A dock neighbor has one on his 420, and seeing the way he uses it I really think that in conjunction with the maneuverability of diesels, it adds to the usability of the boat in windy or tight conditions. Anything that makes me want to use the boat more is a good thing.
 
Iprof said:
My forward bilge on my 1988 DA is automatic, I can turn the pump on at the dash. When the pump is on there is a red light that comes on below the switch. If there is power to the pump a green light above the switch is on.

Ken
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FM and I had a "doh!" moment after running down "to do" and "to done" lists in our minds. He reminded me the forward bilge pump did operate by float switch when we first got the boat. In fact, we looked at ways to make it activate at a lower water level than it does, after which I guess we got going on every other project (and having fun in between projects, of course!) and never came back to it. In the meantime the float switch stopped working at all. It was a short weekend so we didn't start tracing power--thanks for the mind jog on dash lights! Both red and green were lit, so using your logic, that may point to the problem being nearer the float switch, possibly the switch itself.
 
T I will email you some pics of the switch later. If the light is on the power is on, please don't kill your batteries
 
JVM225 said:
I've been shopping for an 03-04 380 since last winter, but have started thinking that a year or two older 410 with diesels may be a better choice.
380's with diesels are rare as hen's teeth, and the few I've seen were pretty nasty and priced the same as a 410 of that vintage because they are so rare.
My kids are 16 and 19 and won't be making many more trips with us, but if they do, the 410 gives a little bit more room, a sliding door for privacy in the aft berth, a 2nd head, and the greater percentage of them for sale are equipped with diesels so there are more boats to choose from.
The 380 with gassers still performs decently for what it is, but that's about the limit for gas engines. The 410 with diesels is a real nice combination. Also, I know that some consider it cheating, but I really want a bow thruster. A dock neighbor has one on his 420, and seeing the way he uses it I really think that in conjunction with the maneuverability of diesels, it adds to the usability of the boat in windy or tight conditions. Anything that makes me want to use the boat more is a good thing.
Click to expand...

Had not looked at a 410 but after looking at them on the net I hope I can steer the wife off the 440 and toward a 410 really nice layout.

Ken
 
Ip, there is a 39' here for sale. Gassers 454's. GREAT shape! If you want more info I can send you the name and number.
 
Iprof said:
Had not looked at a 410 but after looking at them on the net I hope I can steer the wife off the 440 and toward a 410 really nice layout.

Ken
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Real nice layout. I've been on several 380's and a couple of 410's. The 410 feels a lot like the 380, but with a little more space all around. The biggest difference is in the aft berth. The hard door and second head are really nice, but the biggest attraction for me is that most of them have diesels.
I really love the 380 and would be very happy with one, but I'm really hoping to stretch the budget if the right 410 comes along. It has to be immaculate, and have a bow thruster for me to justify the extra money in my head.
Dragged my feet on a fantastic one and missed out on it a while back because I couldn't wrap my head around the extra money. I still owned my boat at the time. But now that my boat is sold, things may be a little different.
The earlier 400's are nice too, but they feel like they have a little less head room then the 410's, and the interior is really dated. We absolutely loved the interior in the late 80's sundancers with their wood accents, but really hate a lot of the interiors on the 90's boats. Especially the white cabinets and fabric colors. Nothing classic looking about them.
 
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Yeah. It's sad that it's winding down. I'm going to make it last into November, but then I'm going to pull out to get ready for my big adventure next summer.



 
What a great Labour Day weekend on the boat, well almost. I started cleaning the boat on Tuesday of last week for the weekend. Discovered that the water that leaked in from around the running light had soaked the the headliner under the 4" wide trim piece that covers seam at the rub rail. I removed the strip and found a lot of black mould. I had my spot carpet cleaner and started to clean it and that broke. I was able to spray but not vacuum it up. I took it back to Walmart and they replaced it it was 1 1/2 years old but they replaced it no problem. I bought some mould off boat cleaner and sprayed and cleaned it up as best I could. We went out all three days on the weekend but could not sleep on the boat. I take this as another sign to buy a new boat. The boat ran perfect all three days ran the generator and had the AC on as it was so humid. It really was a nice weekend. Now I just need to make sure the mould is gone and redye the headliner.

Ken
 
you guys let the thread get to page 2 again..

here are some recent pictures of Sunburnt (Bump)

its not actually dirty its a filter





 
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