SD220 mechanical check - remote

[brstephe]

Found a potential buy. Head is swimming as I contemplate driving 3 hours to see. It's Sunday. How do I go about a test drive or mechanical check? Do mechanics come to you, do I need to trailer to a nearby marina, etc? How much to expect, what all should I have inspected. What's a reasonable expectation from the seller, i.e. time spent by me doing all this, getting to water, etc. Boat is in NW section of Augusta, GA and nearest water looks a bit away. I've left VM for 2 marina's. Don't know if they do much Sea Ray and nearest Sea Ray authorized marine max's too far away.

Any and all advise welcome.

 

[brstephe]

Re: SD220 AlphaI power

I think I'm on my way. Shot in the dark but the marina service owner I spoke to ironically has maintained this SD.

Can anyone advise if a 5.0MPI AlphaI is adequate for the 220. Or will this be sluggish and underpowered?

If all checks out I may be a new owner yet this week.

 

[Lazy Daze]

What year 220SD? What do you want to accomplish with the boat?

 

[Scottzzzy]

We had a 2005 220SD with the 5.0 Bravo III and it was a great boat. I can speak to the motor and durability but not to the Alpha I.

Good luck!!

 

[brstephe]

Thanks Lazy. 2002 220 SD. I've been looking for awhile and this one is clean, available and not overpriced.

Wife and 2 kids under 12 years old. I figure there will be alot of anchoring and beach time, bay swimming and quite a bit of tubing, skiing, wakeboarding. I'll have to think over time we'll be on it with friends too... maybe 2 adults and 2 kids additional from time to time.

I'm overly analytical by nature and am second guessing.... wondering if i should just hold out for the Bravo III. It does look like Nauticus tabs would be a good backup plan if ever needed. My thinking was that the 5.0A1 would be perfect for 200 or 210 but just wondered if it were ok on the 220, that's alot of boat.

Maybe just wanting someone to tell me to go for it and quit the worrying. This is a 1 time shot, for me there isn't line of site to upgrading to a different boat anytime soon.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The "roomy" nature of the boat lends itself to having more people sitting further aft in the boat, which will affect planing time. Sitting more people in the bow or adding the tabs will help offset it - so can changing the prop. But the reality is that, for the way you want to use the boat, you'd be better served to get it with a Bravo III. You certainly can make it work with the Alpha, but there is a very marked difference in performance from the Alpha to the B3.

I don't want it sound like I'm trying to spend your money, but if it was me, I would absolutely wait for the B3. However, if I was only going to keep the boat for a year or two (kids and their friends are still on the small side), I might rethink.

 

[brstephe]

Re: SD220 mechanical and Alpha1 power

Hey thanks all for the input. Sounds like my gut is right. Hard to think straight through this first time stuff as you get so excited. That darn boat was pristine at 130hrs and hard to walk away from... seems there isn't alot of SD sales in my area. I think I'll continue searching. Some of you I'll be in touch with offline, for others selling bring it on.

Lazy... I like how you factored in the kids growth. I'll add incremental gut growth and age too for myself, lol.

I'd suggest a title change here too, how do I do that? I've seen Alpha I vs. BravoIII covered elsewhere but not specific to the 220SD.