Official 1998 Sea Ray Sundancer 290 Thread

[Jeff Delbuono]

Im up. Ill join ya with some fat bottom girls

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

Hey Group, I didn’t do a search so shoot me later, What is everyone using or not using on the cockpit and dash fiberglass to make it shine? I use the StarBright vinyl guard on everything and like how it keeps the seating clean but i would like more shine on the fiberglass. Thank!
Jon

 

[290YVR]

Hi everyone,
New to the forum as of today. Great info that's been shared over the years on the 290! Something that's come up a number of times has been re-propping from 3 to 4 blades. 2nd summer upcoming with my 290 with 3 blade props and thinking of moving to 4 for the reasons many have posted about previously (holeshot, lower rpm cruise). I have the 4.3ltr with Alpha 1's. I'm hoping there might be some good advice from the forum on optimal size of 4 blade to run with this configuration. Any help is appreciated!
Bill

 

[Tacoma290]

Welcome, Bill! I can't provide the exact answer you are looking for. For my 290, with the twin 350 5.0L engines, we ran with 4-blade stainless 19" x 20P 'Sea Ray cupped'. That setup was super responsive and worked well for the boat.

 

[290YVR]

Welcome, Bill! I can't provide the exact answer you are looking for. For my 290, with the twin 350 5.0L engines, we ran with 4-blade stainless 19" x 20P 'Sea Ray cupped'. That setup was super responsive and worked well for the boat.

Thanks Tacoma290! Appreciate the info.

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

Hi everyone,
New to the forum as of today. Great info that's been shared over the years on the 290! Something that's come up a number of times has been re-propping from 3 to 4 blades. 2nd summer upcoming with my 290 with 3 blade props and thinking of moving to 4 for the reasons many have posted about previously (holeshot, lower rpm cruise). I have the 4.3ltr with Alpha 1's. I'm hoping there might be some good advice from the forum on optimal size of 4 blade to run with this configuration. Any help is appreciated!
Bill

Hey Bill, I have the same engine setup and the PO put 4 blade 14 3/8 x 18 (I think, it’s a little hard to read and sorry it’s upside down). I think they are great around the dock and we hardly ever get over 2500 rpm at about 10 mph. We can run the entire length of Lake Norman, about 26 mile round trip on about 1/4 tank. Boat struggles to get to WOT rpm. My .02

 

[290YVR]

Thanks GirlyGirl1999! We struggle to get the WOT RPMs as well (have changed plugs, checked engines etc. but no dice). We tend to cruise on plane around here, and the bigger issue is getting out of the hole with more than 4 reasonably sized adults on board. Hoping that going 4 blade will help with that. Appreciate hearing from you!

 

[jonl21]

I need opinions..... Going to redo my whole canvas and don't know if I should keep the beige, or swap to black. Does the black have downsides, like heat, Salt Stain, fading? The Beige photo is my current canvas the black is an internet search.

 

[Tacoma290]

My 290 had the beige. Downside was seagull droppings.
My 340 has black canvas. Downside is seagull droppings and the heat. Even here in the mild pacific northwest, on a sunny day, ALL the side and front canvas has to come off to be comfortable. You just feel the radiant heat of the black canvas. When the black top on the 340 ages out, I will switch this boat over to beige.

 

[Little Ducky]

I had a 260DA with Black and it was an oven.

My current 290DA is Green and it's a bit cooler.

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

We went blue because the PO started a blue theme in the cockpit. It’s a little warm, we have had it 2 years now and no fading yet.

 

[Starting Over]

Did a quick search but haven’t turned much up on it… has anyone replaced the Standard Horizon NOVA VHF radio? And.. how was the matchup with the mounting in the dash?

 

[Starting Over]

Welcome, Bill! I can't provide the exact answer you are looking for. For my 290, with the twin 350 5.0L engines, we ran with 4-blade stainless 19" x 20P 'Sea Ray cupped'. That setup was super responsive and worked well for the boat.

Tacoma did your 290 have 5.7s or 5.0 engines? I ask because I am dying to add four blades to my 5.0s on my 98 290 in a couple weeks… I was thinking 17s or 19”p would work well…

 

[290YVR]

Update on my re-prop project:
Switched out the PO's Quicksilver 14 x 19 3-blade props for Solas Rubex 14.5 X 17 4-blade. Totally different and much improved boat. Pops up on plane right away (used to take quite a while), planes at 3500 rpm and a lower speed (would previously fall off plane at 3700), and appears to have improved top speed performance (which doesn't make a ton of sense). Also with previous prop setup could never get RPM's into WOT oem spec range - would max at 4200 and now achieving 4500 pretty easily (4400-4800 is spec).

A few possible confounding variables:
1. removed 3.5kw gen set - not repairable and won't be replacing.
2. Engine tune up (however had not been long since last performed)
3. New bottom paint (however had that done when I bought the boat and was never able to get this performance, so think that can be ruled out).

@Starting Over - I have the twin 4.3's so not going to be directly applicable to your question unfortunately.

Thanks again for the input and advice all!

 

[Tacoma290]

Tacoma did your 290 have 5.7s or 5.0 engines? I ask because I am dying to add four blades to my 5.0s on my 98 290 in a couple weeks… I was thinking 17s or 19”p would work well…

Twin 5.0Ls with Bravo II with the 4-blade stainless 19" x 20P never felt under powered.

 

[Strecker25]

I need opinions..... Going to redo my whole canvas and don't know if I should keep the beige, or swap to black. Does the black have downsides, like heat, Salt Stain, fading? The Beige photo is my current canvas the black is an internet search.


View attachment 141410 View attachment 141411

hey, that's our old boat

We much preferred the black canvas for looks and heat generally isn't much of an issue in western NY. In the spring and fall it's actually preferrable to be black so it heats up the cockpit a bit in the cold months.

 

[Strecker25]

I need opinions..... Going to redo my whole canvas and don't know if I should keep the beige, or swap to black. Does the black have downsides, like heat, Salt Stain, fading? The Beige photo is my current canvas the black is an internet search.


View attachment 141410 View attachment 141411

here’s another

 

[Starting Over]

Twin 5.0Ls with Bravo II with the 4-blade stainless 19" x 20P never felt under powered.

Ah, my 98 has Alpha outdrives… I am finding that it looks like 14.25” x 17p for the best hole shot and top speed combo… and 14.25 x 19p for a slightly better top end and a better hole shot that the factory stainless 3 blades

 

[jonl21]

here’s another

View attachment 142443

Hahaha well thank you for posting your original photo because it inspired me to got black. Its only half finished, he is still working on the on the glass and camper panels, but already looks way sharper in black.

 

[Strecker25]

Hahaha well thank you for posting your original photo because it inspired me to got black. Its only half finished, he is still working on the on the glass and camper panels, but already looks way sharper in black.

looks great! This is obviously personal preference, but I would think about maybe removing that gold boot stripe and leaving the black?