Official 240 Sundancer Thread

Re: Igloo Yukon Cooler

groundchuck said:
Well I picked up a cooler for our boat. I went with the Igloo Yukon 50. It's a really very nice cooler. It ended up being a bit bigger than I had planned though. I was hoping to move it between the back of the driver's seat and in front of the rear access door but it's about an inch too long to fit in front of the rear access door. So it pretty much needs to stay behind the driver's seat. We'll see if I want to stick with it or not. I'll try to attach a picture as a size reference for you.View attachment 32441
Click to expand...

Can the handles be cut off to give it a smaller footprint? Maybe put some rope handles on it.
 
230DA - Where should I go?

I'm trying to learn about my recently acquired '95 230DA.
I figured that Club Sea Ray would be a good start before I went to the non-brand specific boating forums.
Although there's more than 145 pages of threads dedicated to the 240, there's not even one full page for the 230!
Back in July I posted this thread on the Sport Cruisers thread asking for some guidance. I thought I'd be directed to folks with the same model. I didn't get a single reply. I'm starting to think that the 230 is the black sheep of the sport cruisers. Am I right or was there a very limited number made, explaining the lack of information/discussion about this model?
If the answer to both question is yes, what can I most closely compare the 230DA to, the 220 or the 240?
I have many questions about this boat that include:


how to minimize the roll when loaded at or near capacity (I wish I'd sea-trialed it in rough waters with 4+ passengers).
fresh water system
what goes into waste and what drains overboard?
What exactly is the macerator?
how do I discharge/pump waste?
bilge system
aftermarket side windows?
where I can find a supplemental manual in .pdf
how to properly use the cabin table as a table or sleep platform
using the stove
using the icebox
common issues to look out for (leaks, failing components, etc)
winterizing


Thanks for any help!
J.P.
 
Re: 230DA - Where should I go?

jptl said:
I'm trying to learn about my recently acquired '95 230DA.
I figured that Club Sea Ray would be a good start before I went to the non-brand specific boating forums.
Although there's more than 145 pages of threads dedicated to the 240, there's not even one full page for the 230!
Back in July I posted this thread on the Sport Cruisers thread asking for some guidance. I thought I'd be directed to folks with the same model. I didn't get a single reply. I'm starting to think that the 230 is the black sheep of the sport cruisers. Am I right or was there a very limited number made, explaining the lack of information/discussion about this model?
If the answer to both question is yes, what can I most closely compare the 230DA to, the 220 or the 240?
I have many questions about this boat that include:


how to minimize the roll when loaded at or near capacity (I wish I'd sea-trialed it in rough waters with 4+ passengers).
fresh water system
what goes into waste and what drains overboard?
What exactly is the macerator?
how do I discharge/pump waste?
bilge system
aftermarket side windows?
where I can find a supplemental manual in .pdf
how to properly use the cabin table as a table or sleep platform
using the stove
using the icebox
common issues to look out for (leaks, failing components, etc)
winterizing

Thanks for any help!
J.P.
Click to expand...

JP
Yes there are many characteristics that are common to the 230DA and 240DA, but design-wise, when the 240DA took over, it addressed many of the functionality and use of space quirks the 230DA has. The one thing I always found odd with the 230DA was the helm. I've sat in a couple and felt like an adult sitting on a trike. Have a look at the PDF of the 230DA.
http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company1729/1C1_27_74DERNRDR801.pdf
 
Re: 230DA - Where should I go?

Nehalennia said:
JP
The one thing I always found odd with the 230DA was the helm. I've sat in a couple and felt like an adult sitting on a trike....
Click to expand...
I agree with the pilot seating. It's odd when you find yourself seated with your legs crossed at the shins. I liken it more to sitting on a log at a campfire :smt009
I miss the swivel pedestal seating in my old Cuddy.
I suppose the design challenge was to allow for the rear berth headroom without raising the pilot seating and overall height of the helm higher than it already was. Like many others, I find the 230DA to be overly tall in proportion to its width. It makes for a tippy sensation - almost like being at a flying bridge. It does take some getting used to.
I'm curious - in designing the 240, how did Sea Ray address the narrow/tall characteristics of the 230DA and the helm seating?
 
J.P.
Post some pics if ya got 'em. We love lookin' at pictures. We had a 1986 Sea Ray Seville 6.3 mid cabin that was similar to yours, only worse probably. It even looked funny just sitting on the trailer because it was so tall and narrow. I think these were some of the first versions of the "Sundancers". It was advertised as 20' 10" hull length and had the enclosed porta potti, small galley with ice box and sink, and an aft cabin that we used for storage. Like I said in your PM, keep as much weight as low as possible. Ours was very tippy but we got used to it. That was one of the best all round boats we've ever owned. It's a safe ride in rough weather if you keep your bow pointed in the right direction, it gets fantastic fuel economy, and for us, it didn't have a lot of gadgets to keep up with. I sold it because I became too large and old to be hanging upside down above the engine compartment and fixing things with mirrors and by feel. Engine access was the biggest negative with that boat. We changed out the double helm seat for 2 adjusting bucket seats from Garelick. Not a cheap upgrade but definitely a good one. We JUST bought a slightly larger and newer mid cabin cruiser after trying the cuddy cabin thing for a few years. Sometimes I wish I still had that little 6.3 and I had modified the cockpit liner to give me more access to the engine. This 240 DA that we just bought has tons of room to work down there but it doesn't have all the gadgets that yours has. Just pressure hot an' cold water, shower, fridge, and shore power. I especially like the self bailing fiberglass cockpits on these boats. They shed water really fast if you happen to stuff the bow or spill an adult beverage or two. How's engine access in yours?
 
Re: 230DA - Where should I go?

jp, we now have a 240 but did have a 230 for several years and enjoyed it. It is a top heavy boat and you will learn to get better utilizing the trim tabs as time goes on, but that's just the way it is with this model... the 240 and 260 also suffer from the same issue but it is really bad on the 230 which has even less beam than the others. Our fresh water system did not have a waste/gray water container, all went overboard. We also did not have a macerator (basically a waste shredder for your toilet) but had a simple sani-potti with pumpout. We discharged our waster via the pumpout on the starboard gunwale. The cabin table should been stored on a rack in the head, and there should be a post to insert it on to use as a table stored probably under the cushions in the v-berth. There should also be a couple of square aluminum pieces to insert in the middle of the vberth to lay the table on at seat depth to convert to a sleeper with additional pad. You probably have an alcohol stove; do a search to learn how to use it. Use denatured alcohol, light some in the bowl to heat it up enough to fume until it burns down, then turn on the burner and light again. The icebox is truly and icebox not a frig. We froze large chunks of ice in basting pans and stored them in the top of the icebox to keep items cool in it. I also attached additional insulation to the icebox to help it keep cool. I hope some of this helps, and welcome!
 
Re: 230DA - Where should I go?

Gerald/Chris,
Your input absolutely helps. I have renewed faith in this forum being a good resource for educating myself about my new-to-me Sea Ray.
I've messed with the trim tabs and have started to learn their effect on this boat. It's high center of gravity makes it more susceptible to off-balance weight than shallower hulls with wider beams. If I had most passengers sit in the cabin, they'd serve as a better ballast, but that would defeat the whole purpose of pleasure boating.
Passengers should be able to sit where they choose, but this exaggerates the off-balance sensation in this boat. A very minor trim tab adjustment seems to level that out easily.
The cabin table has me a bit perplexed. I see three round aluminum poles, two of which appear to be used as supports for the deck sunning platform/table. The longest one clearly is used as the cabin table support. The strange thing is that I only see one rectangular stock section that clearly fits into notches to support the table when used as a sleeper. If you say that there should be two, that explains why I'm having a tough time turning the table to a sleep platform - not enough support pieces.

Getting to know the waste water system is the time-sensitive feature that I need to become educated in, since I'm about to winterize. Your insight will help me identify what I have.
Thanks again for the replies.
J.P.

GJarrett said:
jp, we now have a 240 but did have a 230 for several years and enjoyed it. It is a top heavy boat and you will learn to get better utilizing the trim tabs as time goes on, but that's just the way it is with this model... the 240 and 260 also suffer from the same issue but it is really bad on the 230 which has even less beam than the others. Our fresh water system did not have a waste/gray water container, all went overboard. We also did not have a macerator (basically a waste shredder for your toilet) but had a simple sani-potti with pumpout. We discharged our waster via the pumpout on the starboard gunwale. The cabin table should been stored on a rack in the head, and there should be a post to insert it on to use as a table stored probably under the cushions in the v-berth. There should also be a couple of square aluminum pieces to insert in the middle of the vberth to lay the table on at seat depth to convert to a sleeper with additional pad. You probably have an alcohol stove; do a search to learn how to use it. Use denatured alcohol, light some in the bowl to heat it up enough to fume until it burns down, then turn on the burner and light again. The icebox is truly and icebox not a frig. We froze large chunks of ice in basting pans and stored them in the top of the icebox to keep items cool in it. I also attached additional insulation to the icebox to help it keep cool. I hope some of this helps, and welcome!
Click to expand...
 
Re: Igloo Yukon Cooler

J.P.
If you can't find your second tube to support the table in the v-berth you can cut one out of any piece of hardwood, or laminate one with strips of plywood. It doesn't have to support a huge amount of weight. If you are unsure about your waste water system not being pumped out you might try calling up the PO to ask if he had it pumped before he sold it. (or has it been used since?) I think holding tanks have a gauge on them to indicate how full or empty they are. All the pump out stations around us are closed for the season so I don't know what I'd do in this case. The RV sani-dump stations are still open but I think they work on a totally different principal. If you indicate what make and model of head system you have maybe someone will chime in with an idea. Have you winterized your engine and fresh water system yet? Also, is it an option for you to leave a small heater running on low in the head? We had to do this one year in our 260 because health issues prevented us from winterizing on time.
 
Hello Everyone,

First time boat owner with a 2000 240 sundancer.

I'm in shock from what i saw under the shower sump pump underneath the stairs.
I was trying to solve why i had some water underneath the stairs,some of the posts
talked about the pump having a crack on the casing or not emptying.
When i removed the sump pump i found a six inch round cutout with a screw in the middle
and small amount of water coming up from that hole on the floor.
What is the reason for the hole and are the stringers now shot?

Thank you in advance

pics

Photo 11.jpg

Photo 22.jpg

Photo4.jpg
 
Your pictures are really small, so it's hard to tell. Could it be the screw was how the base was mounted erroneously? Is the circle match what the bottom of the sump looks like?
 
Thank you for the replies,

I'm stumped also,wtf,Why the cutout and water seeping in?
Does that mean the bottom of my boat is full of water?
Does anyone have a cross section pic or drawing of a 240 2000 Sea Ray hull?
Its like someone wanted to do a hull inspection and found the most discreet spot to do it but didn't
seal it properly.Again wtf.


Replies"
"Could it be the screw was how the base was mounted erroneously?"
The cutout hole is about the same diameter as the base for the table,if thats what you mean.

"Is the circle match what the bottom of the sump looks like?"
The sump pump is the self contained box to the right in the pic,if thats what you mean.
-------------------
 
Any more ideas?



Amber said:
Thank you for the replies,

I'm stumped also,wtf,Why the cutout and water seeping in?
Does that mean the bottom of my boat is full of water?
Does anyone have a cross section pic or drawing of a 240 2000 Sea Ray hull?
Its like someone wanted to do a hull inspection and found the most discreet spot to do it but didn't
seal it properly.Again wtf.


Replies"
"Could it be the screw was how the base was mounted erroneously?"
The cutout hole is about the same diameter as the base for the table,if thats what you mean.

"Is the circle match what the bottom of the sump looks like?"
The sump pump is the self contained box to the right in the pic,if thats what you mean.
-------------------
Click to expand...
 
Window Curtains and Aft Canvas

My 2011 240 Sundancer has only the Bimini top for now. I would like to get the Front/Side Window canvas and also the rear slant Aft canvas. The front/sides will be about $1500 and the rear aft canvas is about $500 from the local sea ray dealer. Is this a typical price? Did everyone get theirs from the local sea ray dealer or are there other places to look ? Maybe on line ? Thanks!
 
Re: 230DA - Where should I go?

A lot of the members here go straight to the Great Lakes Boat Top Company. I believe they are the original contractors who make the tops for the Sea Ray factories. That's where I'll be getting our next one from. Can't beat the quality and I think they have a special on right now.

http://www.greatlakesboattop.com/
 
Amber said:
Any more ideas?
Click to expand...

Amber,

Your pictures are too small to see anything. Is it possible for you to resize them or retake them at a higher setting on your camera? Have you tried sucking the water out of the hole with a shop vac and waiting to see if it comes back. I'm thinking there is probably only bilge under that cut out and it is quite normal to have a bit of water in the bilge. Some of us shop vac it out each time we use our boats. It happens when it rains. The PO may have had a problem with the sump not emptying and chose to defer it to the bilge instead of fixing it properly. I think "Islandhopper's" remedy for the problem was to install a sump from a 260. Keep us posted,, oh,,, and welcome to the forum.
 
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