PLEASE help me decide which SeaRay 260da to buy!

J

jattea

New Member
Sep 5, 2008
102
Buffalo, NY
Boat Info
2003 260 Sundancer
Engines
350 Mag / Bravo III
I have posted a few times about buying a used 26' cabin cruiser, and I've narrowed my search down to two SeaRay 260 Sundancers for sale right now. I need your help deciding which to make an offer on, and how much my offer should be.

Boat number One is a 2002. The broker is asking $48,500, and I believe I can get it for $42k. Here are some photos.
Pros:

-Lower price

- Biggest engine (6.2L Mercruiser)

- Has the aft table

- Color scheme (white hull, tan canvas)

- Has bottom paint

- Has a bow pulpit

- Has a spotlight



Cons:

- Not as clean as the 2003 (it's got typical wear for a '02, but it doesn't even compare to the '03. Crumbs on the floor, some of the pinstriping is peeling, the carpet has some minor discoloration, etc.

- No Trailer

- Cabin's table and trim are just formica

- Higher hours (365)

- Some water staining on interior

- Bottom Paint needs some touch up

- Noticable wear

- No camper top or cockpit cover

- boat's care is questionable.



Boat number two is a 2003, and the broker is asking $54,500. My feeling is I can get it for $50k. Here are some photos.

 Pros:

- Unbelievably clean. the owner is meticulously anal about the boat. You could lick any surface on this boat.

- Comes with a really nice trailer

- Cabin trim and table are wood

- Lower hours (245)

- Has the heat and air conditioning unit

- Camper top

- Cockpit cover

- confident that the boat is well cared for

- has an "ondrive cooler". (picture) Has anyone heard of this? The owner told me he installed this contraption himself. it supposedly picks up water and deposits it on the drive, cooling it. I've never heard of this.
- My wife likes it more.

Cons:

-Would need to paint the bottom, as I'll have it slipped.

- Has the arch, which I don't like

- No aft table

- Color scheme (cream and green)

- Higher price

- Smaller engine (5.7L Merc)



So basically the 2003 is cleaner, newer, has fewer hours, and will probably cost $10k more.

The 2002 is a little dirtier, has more engine hours, but has the biggest engine, and costs less.

What should I do??



Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Hmmmm. . . big factor for me would be the engine. Boats can be cleaned. Engines are hard to upgrade.

Of course. . the real truth will come out in the Seatrial. Probably want to have a mechanic (not just a surveyor) do the engine survey.
 
Buy the 2003, sell the arch to Nehallenia if it will fit. Lower your price WAY down and make them come to you. Boats are cheap right now and I think you can go even lower on both boats! The values you are seeing on line, aren't keeping up with the actual values since they are sinking. There is usually a lag. With fall coming up and winterizing and storage becoming an issue (I don't know WHERE you are!) that is an expense the owners don't want to incur! I'd start at least $10K lower and see what kind of response you get. I'll bet if you look online, you can find some "comps" that are much lower.
 
I paid $30K for my 2000 260DA and I can't see your pics either
 
The cooling contraption is an outdrive shower. There is a company that makes them and it does just what he says. Apparently some drives run hot and the water on the top of the drive helps it run a few degrees cooler extending the oil and drive life. They are designed to work when the boat is on plane and the drive is out of the water. It takes the water from below the cavitation plate using your forward momentum or water from the prop flow to move the water up to the top of the drive to keep it wet. Very simply and effective.

Trudeaus' Sea Ray here in Spokane has a 2002 260 for $37,500 on the trailer. It's in GREAT shape!
 
Last edited:
I like boat #2. The outdrive looks brand new and it has AC which is a big plus. You dont like the arch??? Give it to Todd(Nehalennia):thumbsup: Also the 5.7 300hp motor was an option on the 2003. Standard was the 5.0 liter 260hp. There wont be much of a difference with the extra 20hp on the 6.2 liter. Now if a big block was available...that's another story. 60K is too high however.
 
Why would a guy who takes that good care of his boat, have, and take pictures of, an oil leak in the bilge? And a pretty substantial one at that.
 
If you do get it and don't want the arch, I'd be interested.

Best of luck
 
jg300da said:
Why would a guy who takes that good care of his boat, have, and take pictures of, an oil leak in the bilge? And a pretty substantial one at that.
Click to expand...


I noticed that that too.

But this boat would still be my preference hands down based on it's pristine condition and the fact it has an arch (preferred by most owners). I would surely find out about that oil in the bilge though. I had an oil leak on my 350MAG that required them to pull the engine to repair it.

And if you are serious about buying it then be sure to get a complete survey of both hull and mechanicals as well and make your offer contigent on passing the survey.
 
The camper canvas is nice on the 260 especially in cooler climates. Stripes can be replaced and clean up is possible. If you slip your boat and have to sling it. The stripes will get torn up over time.
 
I like the 03......
And you'll appreciate the camper package.
Prices are still high, but very nice boat.
It is worth it to pay more for a meticulously maintained boat.
make a lower offer.
 
Last edited:
Indeed, both bilges were concerning, with the oil in there. The Green one was very clean and well kept other than that.
 
I would get an answer on the oil in the 260 - bilge. But, it could be from a messy oil change or a leak in the tilt trim pump.
 
Given my experience with a wet slipped salt water 2000 260DA, I'd want to look very closely at the condition of the BIII outdrive, the use of proper anodes and whether the Mercathode system(s) are working properly. I had to replace the lower half of my outdrive at only 6 years old because of horrific corrosion during the previous owner's tenure.

I'll also add my voice to the many that call for a survey.

Best of luck!

Bill
 
Someone here at CSR told me when I was looking as I just picked up my boat on August 30, 2008. look at 20 boats and make a low ball offer. Some one will be interested. I got my boat for much less then the seller was asking. Even the insurance agent could not believe the price. So keep looking

I had been looking since June, even had a 340 surveyed which I turned down, boat was fine, non-motivated seller.

Good luck no matter how it turns out

:thumbsup:
 
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