Seeking Opinions on Mid 1990's 290 Sundancer

[SWRay]

The family is growing and it is time to move up from our first SR 1987 230 Weekender to a larger version. I'm looking for opinions on mid to late 1990's 290 or 280 Sundancers. I know that 1998 saw big changes in design and so am wondering what are the pros/cons of buying pre-1998.

We boat almost exclusively at Lake Powell, Utah which is about 150 miles from where we live and have been trailering our 230 Weekender each time we go.

I am currently looking at a 1995 290 Sundancer with twin 4.3 mercs with alpha 1 drives. Both motors were rebuilt about 100 hours ago, total of around 1,000 hrs on the boat total.

thanks.

SWRAY

 

[Stee6043]

Are you looking for a boat you'll trailer or leave in the drink? I think a 290 is going to put you into the "wide load" category in most states. If I recall correctly the 270 still has an 8.5 beam but anything larger is going to be over-width.

And I won't be the only one to say this - but a good survey is a must. Especially with boats of this vintage. Get the motors looked at too...

 

[dvx216]

Making the jump from a trailerable 230 wk to something bigger was my winter past time . Wife and I started looking at 270 then 290 what opened the flood gate when we realized that we were done with trailering a boat and the time wasted putting the boat in and out and always wanting to kill some idiot at the ramps.When we were younger there were always friends wanting to go with us and it was great then the friends kids started having commitments and one by one the couldn't go any more.I loved my 1988 230 wk great boat .I to considered 270 and 290 but both were pushing the limits of my 2000 GMC 2500HD gasser. The friends that you find when you slip a boat at a marina is well worth letting go of the security blanket of having your boat on a trailer when your not using plus you still can be on the boat when then weathers not the greatest. This is my story how my next boat went from a 270 Da. to a 310 Da. One thing about twin 4.3's is they have the same width as a 5.7 so there is no more room to work on them.

 

[SWRay]

Pulled the trigger on a 1996 270 Sundancer. Picked it up and drove it straight to the lake for a long weekend.

 

[SWRay]

Thanks for the reply. We decided on a 1996 270. Funny I have the exact same truck and just pulled this boat from Salt Lake City to Lake Powell and then home to SW Colorado. And although the truck did great, it is about all it can handle.

 

[romanservices]

Congrats.. I hope all went well