Sea Ray 230da

D

dlcope

New Member
Aug 15, 2011
18
Dover, DE
Boat Info
1992 Sea Ray 230 Sundancer
Engines
5.7 260hp
Hey all, I am new here but have been boating for the last 10 years. I recently acquired a 1992 Sea Ray 230da. It needs some work but have made steady progress on it. I have rebuilt the seats with new wood and foam (the vinyl) was in decent shape, previous owner never covered it. I have to install an outdrive. I havent heard the motor run but I did compression test which all checked good and verified oil pressure when cranking over. I have to fix little things like install power steering pump and alternator and install starboard exhaust elbow. What I need is some pictures of the engine bay. I want to see if any of you with a 220, 230 or 240 and a 5.7 powerplant could take some pictures of your engine bay so I can see what brackets I need and what goes where. Any help would be greatly appreciated and I hope you all faired well during Irene.
 
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DL.
I don't have a 230DA but I have the 5.7.
Here is my engine bay. I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for but hopefully it helps. What do you have to add or replace on your outdrive?
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Engine712-27-07.jpg

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Engine12-28-073.jpg

Re-launch1-02-088.jpg
 
Those pictures are awesome. I have to replace the entire outdrive. What the previous owner told me was his dad was towing the boat and somehow he backing the boat up and ran it into a dirt pile or small hill or something. The outdrive packed full of dirt and the dad never did anything to clean out. The boat was launched in the water with the outdrive packed full of dirt and and a blown engine and froze outdrive were the result after they tried to run in the water. So the previous owner replaced with a jasper engine and tossed the outdrive. Prop and all. So I was able to track down a guy in New Jersey who sells used outdrives which he pressure checks. I was able to get one for $660 shipped to my door. I am going to replace water pump in the outdrive. When the previous owner replaced the motor, he was also working on another boat and was robbing parts from this boat. Basically I just need to see how all the accessories on the front of the motor are installed. My set up is not serpentine or closed cooling system. However it does have the remote oil filter, power steering pump, and alternator. I'm not sure if it has the remote oil reservoir for the outdrive or not. I need more pics of a v-belt set up without the closed cooling system. I really appreciate your pics though because I was planning on installing a closed cooling system anyway so thanks a bunch.

Also I see there are a whole bunch of dedicated threads to every boat except the 230da. Are there not that many out there are they just embedded with other sundancers?
 
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I know there's a 220DA thread. You should start a thread dedicated to your era of 230DAs
 
Welcome from NZ. Crikey, those seats were rotten! I've just done the same job on mine.
Seakamp (US) make a nice kit. It is a bit more expensive but works well. I have a V6 but the belts are the same. Let me know what you need and I can take photos.
Best mods I have done:
1, Adding a windlass and bowsprit.
2, Adding a blackwater tank and macerator.
3, Enlarged trim tabs.
4, Adding freshwater cooling.
 
Awesome pics Annie, Hey is it possible for you take some inside pics of anchor. And also do you have info like manufacture and install info. I want to def put a windlass on my boat to but I was wondering which one to use. I seen your sig pics on other posts and like your boat. What do you tow it with? any info you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all for the info!
 
dlcope said:
Awesome pics Annie, Hey is it possible for you take some inside pics of anchor. And also do you have info like manufacture and install info. I want to def put a windlass on my boat to but I was wondering which one to use.
Click to expand...

Hi again,
It's an Italian made Quick, Aster. I scanned the owners manual so you can compare. It's the 500watt one and at 1,400 lbs max pull it just about pulls the bow under when the anchor gets stuck. There is heaps of good brands with the same layout, grunt etc and there is heaps of room in the anchor locker for most makes.

The Anchor system is a Sarca Excel, It's Australian made. I bought the bowsprit (Sarca) and modified the mounts as you can see. The previous owner had fitted a winch off to the side which is hidden by the strange shaped stainless plate. I took the anchor hatch out and made up a 1/4" aluminium plate (doubled to 1/2" at the windlass location) which is glued and screwed to the top deck.
Watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxBTqsFXOyA if you have some time. It had me sold.

dlcope said:
I seen your sig pics on other posts and like your boat. What do you tow it with? any info you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all for the info!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the complement, I think the 230 is a great looking boat, It doesn't handle the best but with enlarged trim tabs it is a lot better. When you get yours in the water i'm sure I have some tips for you.
I tow with a Toyota Landcruiser, 4.7 ltr V8, sucks gas but makes me smile so all good.

All the best, I'd better head off to work.
Cheers Mike.
 
Glad to see a 230 DA thread. So far the 220 thread has been the closest fit. I have a 1993 230 DA Ltd ( I don't know if the Ltd is any different than any other 1993 230, but I'll list it anyhow) Absolutely love the boat. Perfect size for lake use, very trailerable, very comfortable boat. I have 5.7 L chevy powerplant, which nicely gets the boat on plane. I'm showing 39.2 mph (gps tracking) at WOT, not sure of tach accuracy, so not sure of actual RPM. using a 14 1/4 inch x 19 pitch prop 4-blade. May look at a 15x19 3-blade next season. I don't have any issues with the boat, so nothing to really add to this thread, with the exception of 2 things. 1) A 40lb bag of play sand under the seats in the v-birth (as far forward as possible) on each side of the boat really stabilized the bow at low speeds, planes better too. 2) Trim tabs, the bigger the better, really help this boat, don't try running without them if you are doing a rebuild, you'll list like crazy depending on speed and weather conditions. BTW dlcope..looks good, you got her looking real nice. Thanks for the thread this is my first-ever post.
 
Hi LM230 and welcome from NZ, 40 mph is impressive and I bet it feels fast also! I'm running the same prop (Michigan wheel company, vortex). Good revs getting on the plane and a good top speed. Do you find you have to run lots of outdrive trim once on the plane? Maybe the "Ltd" edition has some changes? I look forward to hearing them.
Oh... another good mod was adding a tempering valve to the transom shower (dodgy mixer). I Don't have to worry about the kids getting burnt as the water will not go above 36 C.
I measured it at 91C one day after a long run which is good enough for poached eggs but not so good on your back that has sunburn! LOL.
 
Thx annie. I'm real happy with 40 mph top-end. I don't carry a bunch of cargo..I'm a day tripper, so that probably helps the speed issue. I did add a 4 barrel holly racing carb (I don't remember the specificmake/model)...probably helps too. I pick-up about 200-300 RPM when I trim the outdrive on plane at WOT, translates to about 2 MPH. As I mentioned, because I'm usually a little light in the bow, the playsand made a big difference. Home depot...$2.96 per bag. There isn't a ton of info on 90's 230's, so honestly, I don't know what the "Ltd" represents. One add I did make was a Garmin GPS and depth finder. Siliconed the transducer to the hull in the bilge, by the stock transducer...works great. I had to disconnect the factory transducer, it started getting crazy readings when I started the Garmin...I guess I made it's little lorance-brain mad. Yup...I'm diggin' my 230!
 
I'm glad to see a 230 thread also as I have always felt a bit left out....:smt089
You guys will have to post some photos like where you mounted the Garmin? I can't tell if you have an anchor locker dlcope?
I like my 230, I have 2 young kids and our record is 5 nights away in a row. We were ready for some separation towards the end of the holiday but bad weather didn't help.
I'm in the middle of changing the trailer suspension/hubs and stubs at the moment. The old hubs were shot and no longer available. It's an expensive exercise but will hopefully tow better. My brain is fried at the mo from working out mudguard mounts, center of balance and Alignment etc.....I'll post some pics later.
 
Mike this is where I mounted my garmin GPS

DSC_1228.jpg
 
Hey Westie, nice setup. I had a look thru your flickr album and you definitely live in a beaut part of the world. Having a look around Canada is high on my to do list. My dash doesn't have the angled shelf like yours but it could still work.
 
Mike,
I dont have a hatch up top for the anchor but I have the compartment in the front with a drain hole so I was just going to cut a hole in the top and install a windlass. Hey question, where do you tie the anchor to if you dont have a windlass? Just tie to one of the cleats? My last boat was much smaller and had a cleat right up front in the center of the bow.

I love the reactions this thread is getting, hopefully more people will chime in and also would like to see more pics.

Westie, I know you dont have your 230 anymore but would like to see whatever other upgrades you have done. I looked over your other pics and like all the mods you did.

I hope to have my boat out in the next couple of weeks. I have to replace in the gimbal bearing, water pump, and install the outdrive then get the motor running (just waiting on a few more parts) so hopefully i can get a couple weekends in before the cold weather.

thanks to all and keep up the posts with more pics!

Derek
 
Derek,

I guess tying onto one of the forward cleats is an option. It may make it swing a bit? You could make up a bridal to spread the load in bad weather?
I can't picture your anchor compartment sorry, mine had a hatch that hinged from the back and when open exposed the inside hull fwd of the bulkhead. I have a hatch on the fwd bulkhead to access the anchor locker as the top one is fixed now.
The top deck is a balsa laminate so you would want a good thickness of plywood or the likes underneath to take the load....You wouldn't want to be trying to free a stuck anchor and rip your windlass out of the deck.lol splosh.
 
as the proud owner of a 92 230da its nice to see that i'm not alone. if any of you could help me with a few problems i've run into that would be great.

first. i need to replace the anchor locker hatch. i cant seem to find one anywhere. if you know of a company who sells replacement hatches or parts let me know.

second. im having the rear cockpit bolsters redone but the jump seat was not included in the sale of this boat. if you have one you wish to part with i would glady pay and give it a nice home :)
and thirdly i also need a place that would have snap in carpet for the 230 as it was also rotted out and not sold with the boat.

thanks for reading and hope to hear from you soon.
 
Hi dstein, can't help you with much as I live in NZ but I can say welcome and mention the fact you have good taste in boats. Lol.
Has the anchor hatch had it? What do you need?
 
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