Our new to us 300DA

1hot87gt

1hot87gt

Active Member
Oct 18, 2022
147
Long Island, NY
Boat Info
2004 Sundancer 300
Engines
5.0’s w/Bravo III outdrives.
1197C1E6-015C-4CF2-BC20-B11318F39400.jpeg
410D05F2-C49B-41F0-B581-532B6DC566B8.jpeg
556345CE-A4BB-4A82-8BAB-A5A1D4D3D41D.jpeg
549238DE-E0E0-41C7-AFC3-FA95E646EFDB.jpeg
B51B7C84-C1BF-4F88-8A1E-C0EFCD74BF3D.jpeg
I’ve posted a few times here already but have not formally introduced myself. This fall we purchased a 2004 Sundancer 300. We had previously owned a 1995 Penn Yan Outrage 225 with a 5.7 Mercruiser I/O and an Alpha 1 drive. We had bought that boat from my Dad who was the original owner. Never thought it would ever leave the family, but as my daughter gets older and wants to bring friends out with us, apparently not cool to hang out alone with your Mom and Dad, we realized that it was simply just too small and didn’t suit our needs anymore. We looked at a lot of boats, from Chapparals to Rinkers and a bunch of Sea Rays. All in the 29 to 31 foot range. This boat turned up in NJ. The guy I bought it from was meticulous. OCD, in a good way. Exactly the kind of guy you want to buy a boat from. Story was he purchased it from the original owner after he had only owned it for its first season, so this guy has had it for practically all its life. 375 hours on the two 5.0 Mercruisers, Bravo III outdrives with SS duo props, all new black canvas, was originally tan, from Great Lakes canvas company including mooring cover, Kohler 5kw generator with 48 hours on it, AC/Heat, dual fridges, windlass, FP Marine switch and EIM upgrade, new upholstery in a chestnut and tan two tone to mimic what the newer interiors look like, and apparently about $20k in preventative maintenance work done the season before we bought it which included new risers, manifolds and elbows as well as gimbal bearings, bellows etc, etc, etc. We also negotiated in the deal the custom tri axle 18k lb aluminum trailer it was sitting on. Trailer is a 2008 but looks brand new. Boat is immaculate, hard pressed to find a mark or scuff anywhere on it. I think we got a good one here. Only time will tell. We boat on the North Shore of LI. I don’t ever think I’ve been this excited for spring.

You will be sure to see me post a bunch here as this boat and all of its systems are VERY intimidating. As excited as I am, I am equally as nervous. I have a lot of experience on the water, but this is ALOT of boat. At least to me. My last boat was very simple and I could maneuver it like a pro. Never driven a boat with dual engines, although everyone I talk to says it easier. We shall see. I attached some pics of my new obsession. At least that’s what my wife is calling it. Look forward to getting to know all of you.
 

Attachments

  • 8F9A3DE6-7A9C-4118-8166-3EBF3A88BD6F.jpeg
    8F9A3DE6-7A9C-4118-8166-3EBF3A88BD6F.jpeg
    283 KB · Views: 111
Sorry for the way the pics posted. Not sure what I did wrong. Will work on that so I can get some good in water pics in the spring
 
Welcome, very nice vessel. If you crop your pics slightly, they will show up in the correct orientation, nobody can explain why that is.
 
That thing looks clean! Very nice.

A thought for you to consider - challenge yourself to run that generator every time you go out this year, the entire time you're on the water. Generators hate low hours more than life itself. That thing isn't even broken in yet :)

Where will you be boating?
 
Lol. Yeah, I’ve heard. My buddy who is a very well respected marine technician was not happy about those low hours either.
 
We boat on Long Island Sound. Boat is kept in a marina in Mt Sinai, NY.
 
And hopefully as I learn more about the boat I can post and help some of you have been already been giving me some good advice.

Here is my first contribution. Don’t put a 12v bulb in a 110v socket. Lol. Thankfully I didn’t turn it on. The guy at Marinebeam told me it’s a common mistake. Apparently Sea Ray is the only company that makes those interior lights that have both the 12v pin and 110v e14 base bulb in the same fixture.
 
Thanks for that. Finishing up the Xmas lights because we have another 50 degree day here on Long Island, but I will definitely sit down and read tonight.
 
I love mt Siani. My wife loves to have lunch at MSYC on the porch overlooking the harbor. We travel from Bridgeport , CT about once a month in season.

You should update your signature to show your boating area as it helps the reply’s you’ll get.

The boat looks great! Btw - what is that main display?
 
That display is a Raymarine e90w Hybrid Touch GPS/fish finder/radar combo. Looks nice, but don’t know squat about it. Lol. Another thing I will have to play with.

Yes, we love Mt Sinai too. Marina is like a 5 minute drive from our home so it’s very convenient as well.

As it sounds like you are from CT, are there any nice places over there to go by boat? We have been to Blackrock once with the old boat, and that was pretty cool. Wife wants to explore more with new boat. I told her to relax. I’m not going anywhere until I know this boat inside and out and feel comfortable maneuvering it like I did my old one. Lol
 
1hot87gt said:
That display is a Raymarine e90w Hybrid Touch GPS/fish finder/radar combo. Looks nice, but don’t know squat about it. Lol. Another thing I will have to play with.

Yes, we love Mt Sinai too. Marina is like a 5 minute drive from our home so it’s very convenient as well.

As it sounds like you are from CT, are there any nice places over there to go by boat? We have been to Blackrock once with the old boat, and that was pretty cool. Wife wants to explore more with new boat. I told her to relax. I’m not going anywhere until I know this boat inside and out and feel comfortable maneuvering it like I did my old one. Lol
Click to expand...
We are at Captains Cove in Blackrock so that is probably where you visited as we have a restaurant, bar and small shops with free transient docking. There is a band on the deck every Sunday from 3 to 7 if you choose to return.
The next harbor over is Bridgeport and they have a really nice restaurant across from the ferry (Boca). Be warned it’s not for the faint of heart when you go to pay, but it’s good and there are usually yachts docked there to google at. You will pay for the dock time.
There are many places that make sense for you to visit. Milford harbor has a dock at the end and there are several places to eat in walking distance. The Housatonic river also has places to stop.
When you get to that point pm me and I’ll guide you, or maybe even meet you on our boat.
Learn that GPS and develop routes ahead of time so it’s not so stressful on game day.:)
 
Thank you very much boatrboy. Once I get comfortable with her I’ll probably take you up on that.
 
Congratulations on the new boat. I have that exact year so just hit me up if you have any questions.
 
1hot87gt said:
...this boat and all of its systems are VERY intimidating. As excited as I am, I am equally as nervous. I have a lot of experience on the water, but this is ALOT of boat. At least to me.
Click to expand...
'Same here! We went from an old 18 foot runabout to our 30 foot, twin engine beast.

1hot87gt said:
Never driven a boat with dual engines, although everyone I talk to says it easier. We shall see.
Click to expand...
It is. When you "cross-control" the two outdrives (one forward, one reverse), the boat will almost pirouette around its center, making for some easy (easier?) slip maneuvering. And remember; never approach anything faster than you would want to hit it. A boat this size has a lot of stored-up momentum once it begins to move.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,465
Members
61,034
Latest member
Lukerney
Back
Top