Potential 2000 290 Sundancer Owner...

SeaSides

New Member
May 3, 2009
14
Connecticut River / Long Island Sound
Boat Info
290 Sundancer 2000, Raytheon RL70
Engines
5.0 w/Bravo II's
I'm looking at purchasing a 2000 290 Sundancer that has been repossessed. It seems very clean, has 248 hours on twin 5.0's, no genset, RL70 radar and some funny engine flush system I've never heard of (Guardian RT-2000). I need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly from you fellow 290 owners. What issues should I be looking for?

I know Sea Rays are high quality boats (I've previously had a Bayliner....hold the jokes...it was VERY good to us!), but have no experience with them.

Help me Obi Wans....
 
Great all around boat, as far as issues our 2001 has been really good. Earlier years (I have 4 friends who own them)had some water leaking issues...usually into the mid cabin, originating at the arch area,watch for ac condensate line clogging that will also flood the mid cabin. Stress cracking at the bends of the arch. Our twin 5.0 liters are very adequate, w/2 people and full of fuel and water will plane reasonably well without tabs (B3's). With 6-7 average people on board with a head wind or current you will get alot of bow rise and long planing time, but it will climb up and out and be rock solid, fuel useage is reasonable (about 1mpg if I remember correctly from our trips). Hope this helps, probably know some more, just not in boating mode yet! Good Luck
 
There was a change in 1998 (very late 1997 actually), where the 290 hull was made larger, and the cockpit and cabin were redesigned, so most of my experiences won't apply to the 2000 you're considering. However, a marina buddy had a 2001 290 for many years, and loved it.
 
Last Fall I purchased a repossessed 1999 290 with twin V8's. Low hours on the motors that looked to be in great shape - much cleaner than the rest of the boat. I noticed water in the mid-cabin storage compartment in my review of the boat which seemed to correspond with other posts I have read on this forum. The boat had been uncovered for a month prior to my purchase as the bimini-top was worn. What I found was when it rains water tends to run down the arch on the port side and down the back side of the sunlounger and into the mid cabin. The custom cockpit cover I purchased appears to have eliminated this problem, together with a bead of caulk on the back of the lounger. In terms of power, I think this boat with the V6's would be a little underpowered and am glad I have the V8's.
I hope this helps. Good luck.:thumbsup:
 
Thanks! Well, the owner (bank repo) has accepted the offer, now for the survey....

Question: Where on earth do you fit a cooler and what size is it?? Doesn't look like it fits under the rear seat, but, maybe I'm mistaken.

Also, do any of you run your A/C off a portable genny? I'm looking at the Honda E2000ui to run the A/C while on the hook (16.37amp surge), but have seen varying comments from "Yep works fine" to "Doesn't work, trips the genny's breaker".

What do I know. I'm just a noob (or is that nob?).
 
SeaSides,

Looks like you have got yourself a boat. The 290 is a fine one indeed. Stick around you'll love this site.

As far as the generator,... here we go again!
 
Cooler can be tricky - depending on how big it is. The rear facing seat behind the helm may have a space for it underneath. My 270 has a built in cooler with a drain, etc. It's not big enough for a real outing so I added a cooler on the port side in front of the transom door. On yours that would be between the door and the sink. I used this to mount mine.

For the generator you will want to do a search as it usually turns into a not so pleasant discussion.

Here's probably the most recent....

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14805&highlight=honda
 
I have a 1998 290 and love the boat. Just the right size for the bay and I like the styling of that model period. I have seen some owners store the cooler on the swim platform. As for the Honda generator, I have one but have not used it on the boat. I did however try it to see if it would run the AC. It will but it cannot be set for eco-mode and it runs "throttled-up." Good luck with the boat and hope the survey goes well.
 
Cooler can be tricky - depending on how big it is. The rear facing seat behind the helm may have a space for it underneath. My 270 has a built in cooler with a drain, etc. It's not big enough for a real outing so I added a cooler on the port side in front of the transom door. On yours that would be between the door and the sink. I used this to mount mine.

For the generator you will want to do a search as it usually turns into a not so pleasant discussion.

Here's probably the most recent....

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14805&highlight=honda

:wow: AAAAHHHH!!!!! I wish to retract the question. Moreover, I wish to fold it, spindle it, mutilate it, macerate it and any other destruction method I can think of!

So....Generator either in, or out == BAD. Got it!:smt101

Signing off!
 
:wow: AAAAHHHH!!!!! I wish to retract the question. Moreover, I wish to fold it, spindle it, mutilate it, macerate it and any other destruction method I can think of!

:smt043:smt043:smt043


Good luck with the survey - I think you'll love the boat!
 
OK...while I'm asking;

Any of you guys replaced the "factory" TV/VCR with a flatpanel? What sizes have you installed?

How have you installed them?

Sorry to be the annoying Noob!:grin:
 

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