Official 1998 Sea Ray Sundancer 290 Thread

[GirlyGirl1999]

No bragging here, but it was 65 and sunny inside my shed yesterday. Not bad for Michigan this time of year. LOL.

Fixing little things like drawer latches, door tracks, ignition switches. Fun little winter projects. The boat's warm and beers are cold.

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You are bragging by the way, but I've always said "it's not bragging if you can do it"

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

Yes. Click it up and it turns the power on. Then click it again and it turns it off. You will know by light on the rocker when its powered on

By the way Jeff, the lights out on my switch adding to the confusion. New switch and cover ordered.

 

[Getaway]

You are bragging by the way, but I've always said "it's not bragging if you can do it"

LOL! Well, gotta do what you can during these winter doldrums.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

I have not been feeling well (Covid test pending) at all this week I have not been down but my dock mates text me she is still floating, having put the bilge heater in I'm not AS concerned. Will be down tomorrow or Friday no doubt.

Negative by the way, time to quit moaning and get on with it, to friggin cold today. Tomorrow for sure.

 

[Starting Over]

Negative by the way, time to quit moaning and get on with it, to friggin cold today. Tomorrow for sure.

Yeah this cold snap has been pretty lengthy this time... ready for SPRING! Gonna get to mid sixties this week but maybe a little rain with that. Boat is sitting pretty in her slip but I am grabbing gas cans in the morning and putting in 36 gallons of dead dinosaurs... first sunny day above 50 degrees and she'll be running the lake for a while.

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

Yeah this cold snap has been pretty lengthy this time... ready for SPRING! Gonna get to mid sixties this week but maybe a little rain with that. Boat is sitting pretty in her slip but I am grabbing gas cans in the morning and putting in 36 gallons of dead dinosaurs... first sunny day above 50 degrees and she'll be running the lake for a while.

Excellent! If you get out and want to stop by we are slip H1 Kings Point. You can actually moor up on the outside of our slip if you would like to visit. We are seconds from Port City club as well. Our fuel dock is back in operation, not sure about pump out and no water back on the dock yet.
Jon

 

[TheSTRdude]

Just got pointed this way by another forum member and thought you guys could help me with some questions. We're looking at a 1998 Sundancer 290 w/ 5.7s

One question - it seems the 1998 was kind of a 'tweener' year based on some reading? What is it that separates it from the 1997 and the 1999 models?

Also here's what we're looking at with some info from the previous owner. Please feel free to give me your thoughts!

640 hours on twin 5.7s with alphas
350 hours on Kohler 4esz generator

Current owner has had the boat 3 years and bought it from a good friend. Recently replaced:
-Gimbal Bearings
-Shift cables
-starter replaced on starboard engine and generator
-all anodes

Boat is washed once a week and buffed and waxed every year. Bottom paint is 4 years old.

Pics attached... looks awfully clean.

 

[Little Ducky]

Welcome aboard TheSTRdude.

I can already tell you are looking at a late model 98 which is more in line with the 99 model year. The boat in the pictures probably has its interior flipped compared to the early 98's that most of us have plus you have 2 more skylights. The early 98's had 2 floor plans available where the 99's only had one and they brought back the banquet seating arrangement.

 

[Strecker25]

Just got pointed this way by another forum member and thought you guys could help me with some questions. We're looking at a 1998 Sundancer 290 w/ 5.7s

One question - it seems the 1998 was kind of a 'tweener' year based on some reading? What is it that separates it from the 1997 and the 1999 models?

Also here's what we're looking at with some info from the previous owner. Please feel free to give me your thoughts!

640 hours on twin 5.7s with alphas
350 hours on Kohler 4esz generator

Current owner has had the boat 3 years and bought it from a good friend. Recently replaced:
-Gimbal Bearings
-Shift cables
-starter replaced on starboard engine and generator
-all anodes

Boat is washed once a week and buffed and waxed every year. Bottom paint is 4 years old.

Pics attached... looks awfully clean.

A carbon copy of my old boat. You’ll love it, and it looks like a very nice example. No major issues to point out. The Gen can be a pain to service but is great to have in a boat that size. The alphas are on the brink for a boat this heavy, but do ok if you go easy on hole shots.

a 4 blade prop really wakes them up and reduces minimum cruise speed by a bit. We hit 1.2-1.4nmpg in ours after the prop upgrade.

 

[Getaway]

You are definitely looking at a late ‘98, closer to ‘99 model.

Here’s my early ‘98. No side windows and only one hatch up top.

My floor plan has the pull out couch/bench on the starboard side and no dinette.

You will like the 5.7's! Great find!

 

[TheSTRdude]

A carbon copy of my old boat. You’ll love it, and it looks like a very nice example. No major issues to point out. The Gen can be a pain to service but is great to have in a boat that size. The alphas are on the brink for a boat this heavy, but do ok if you go easy on hole shots.

a 4 blade prop really wakes them up and reduces minimum cruise speed by a bit. We hit 1.2-1.4nmpg in ours after the prop upgrade.

I went to a 4 blade prop on our byliner and it made a huge difference. It was drastically underpowered before. What props did you upgrade to?

 

[Strecker25]

I went to a 4 blade prop on our byliner and it made a huge difference. It was drastically underpowered before. What props did you upgrade to?

I went cheapo 4 blade 14x19 aluminum as a test before going stainless but they worked so well i ended up sticking with them. If you go stainless you'd probably need to drop the pitch an inch, the aluminum flex on a boat that heavy so I was able to still spin up to 4600 or so. Lost only 2mph on the top end and was able to stay on plane down to 16mph and somewhere around 2800rpm if I remember correctly.

 

[TheSTRdude]

I went cheapo 4 blade 14x19 aluminum as a test before going stainless but they worked so well i ended up sticking with them. If you go stainless you'd probably need to drop the pitch an inch, the aluminum flex on a boat that heavy so I was able to still spin up to 4600 or so. Lost only 2mph on the top end and was able to stay on plane down to 16mph and somewhere around 2800rpm if I remember correctly.

That's awesome - what was your top end speed?

 

[Pirate Lady]

Just got pointed this way by another forum member and thought you guys could help me with some questions. We're looking at a 1998 Sundancer 290 w/ 5.7s

One question - it seems the 1998 was kind of a 'tweener' year based on some reading? What is it that separates it from the 1997 and the 1999 models?

Also here's what we're looking at with some info from the previous owner. Please feel free to give me your thoughts!

640 hours on twin 5.7s with alphas
350 hours on Kohler 4esz generator

Current owner has had the boat 3 years and bought it from a good friend. Recently replaced:
-Gimbal Bearings
-Shift cables
-starter replaced on starboard engine and generator
-all anodes

Boat is washed once a week and buffed and waxed every year. Bottom paint is 4 years old.

Pics attached... looks awfully clean.

He should have done all bellows when he did gimbal and cable. Ask him. If yes, you good for 5 years at least.
Engines are clean- good sign.
Props- it’s shallow in my part of the bay. First boats I was fixing aluminum props 3-4 times a year. Switched to ss and haven’t fixed one in many years. Nothing but SS for me.

 

[Strecker25]

That's awesome - what was your top end speed?

still mid30’s. I want to say somewhere in the 35-36mph range with full fuel, water, 2POB. That was a fast boat

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

Just got pointed this way by another forum member and thought you guys could help me with some questions. We're looking at a 1998 Sundancer 290 w/ 5.7s

One question - it seems the 1998 was kind of a 'tweener' year based on some reading? What is it that separates it from the 1997 and the 1999 models?

Also here's what we're looking at with some info from the previous owner. Please feel free to give me your thoughts!

640 hours on twin 5.7s with alphas
350 hours on Kohler 4esz generator

Current owner has had the boat 3 years and bought it from a good friend. Recently replaced:
-Gimbal Bearings
-Shift cables
-starter replaced on starboard engine and generator
-all anodes

Boat is washed once a week and buffed and waxed every year. Bottom paint is 4 years old.

Pics attached... looks awfully clean.

Looks great Brother, Mine is a 99 and it looks like we have the same boat, most everyone here teases me that my (now our) galley is on the wrong side. I have twin 4.3’s, adequate for pooping around on the lake. I too have the GenSet, very nice for hot NC days. Keeps the cabin cool and the ice maker for Margs doing it’s thing. The Queen and I have overnighted many times at the slip and always enjoy it. It gets a little tight when the grown up college girls come with boy friends, but no one stays for overnights. I did full extended camper canvas and a custom Sun pad, Queen is happy, we can get out of the NC T-Storms if needed. I thought my ER was crowded, yours…yikes. Issues I’ve addressed,
Engine trim relays…(Tech Mitch is going to scold me, outdrive trim solenoids) parts are inexpensive getting to them is a whole different story.
GenSet choke, mine was trash…not normally the case…very expensive but easy to fix…go figure
Shift cables very stiff, bought a motorcycle cable lube kit. FANTASTIC.

Other than that just the easy stuff, search mine and the other crews posts. A ton of great knowledge here. Enjoy!
Jon

 

[techmitch]

Looks great Brother, Mine is a 99 and it looks like we have the same boat, most everyone here teases me that my (now our) galley is on the wrong side. I have twin 4.3’s, adequate for pooping around on the lake. I too have the GenSet, very nice for hot NC days. Keeps the cabin cool and the ice maker for Margs doing it’s thing. The Queen and I have overnighted many times at the slip and always enjoy it. It gets a little tight when the grown up college girls come with boy friends, but no one stays for overnights. I did full extended camper canvas and a custom Sun pad, Queen is happy, we can get out of the NC T-Storms if needed. I thought my ER was crowded, yours…yikes. Issues I’ve addressed,
Engine trim relays…(Tech Mitch is going to scold me, outdrive trim solenoids) parts are inexpensive getting to them is a whole different story.
GenSet choke, mine was trash…not normally the case…very expensive but easy to fix…go figure
Shift cables very stiff, bought a motorcycle cable lube kit. FANTASTIC.

Other than that just the easy stuff, search mine and the other crews posts. A ton of great knowledge here. Enjoy!
Jon View attachment 119930 View attachment 119932 View attachment 119933

1. I don't think I would ever scold anyone on CSR.
(Link to the thread if you could as maybe I missed something and would like to catch up.)

2. Don't you guys ever spend the night or a weekend on the hook on beautiful Lake Norman?

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

1. I don't think I would ever scold anyone on CSR.
(Link to the thread if you could as maybe I missed something and would like to catch up.)

2. Don't you guys ever spend the night or a weekend on the hook on beautiful Lake Norman?

1. I don't think I would ever scold anyone on CSR.
(Link to the thread if you could as maybe I missed something and would like to catch up.)

2. Don't you guys ever spend the night or a weekend on the hook on beautiful Lake Norman?

Sorry Buddy, I accused you falsely, it was Jeff. Post #1851 and he was just being helpful, Comment was tongue in cheek. Not yet on being on the hook, this coming spring though for sure, don’t know if you saw my post a bit ago about rafting up and the state of our anchor gear. All fixed now. Plus it’s hard to go out when we have this view from our slip.

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

Just got pointed this way by another forum member and thought you guys could help me with some questions. We're looking at a 1998 Sundancer 290 w/ 5.7s

One question - it seems the 1998 was kind of a 'tweener' year based on some reading? What is it that separates it from the 1997 and the 1999 models?

Also here's what we're looking at with some info from the previous owner. Please feel free to give me your thoughts!

640 hours on twin 5.7s with alphas
350 hours on Kohler 4esz generator

Current owner has had the boat 3 years and bought it from a good friend. Recently replaced:
-Gimbal Bearings
-Shift cables
-starter replaced on starboard engine and generator
-all anodes

Boat is washed once a week and buffed and waxed every year. Bottom paint is 4 years old.

Pics attached... looks awfully clean.

Hey Brother, if you get a minute would you snap a close up of the starboard engine to water heater hook up please? I want to hook mine up. Boat came from FL, salt water and I’m told most everyone there unhooks it when they replace the WH, mine is new(er) 2014. Lake Norman is as fresh as it can get.

 

[GirlyGirl1999]

1. I don't think I would ever scold anyone on CSR.
(Link to the thread if you could as maybe I missed something and would like to catch up.)

2. Don't you guys ever spend the night or a weekend on the hook on beautiful Lake Norman?

Hey Mitch, wanted to throw this out there, Queen is from Towson and still tosses out the “Hon and winder” comments now and then. Wanted to get to the boat today but its still too friggin cold. Went yesterday just to check on things, A/C-Heat set at 70, very toasty and the aft cabin slider is open keeping the cockpit nice. Hopefully next week … Underway.