Sundancer How long is too long

[Siboatguy]

Ive had a Sundancer style boat now for many years 20+... Coming up on buying forever boat... Debating on 42 to 44 Sundancer or flybridge If I did a flybridge I would prob go a little bigger. Def doing diesels as we love to travel. Just not sure if I can used to the slow speed of a flybridge boat.

How many nights is the most you spent on a Sundancer?

 

[ZZ13]

Ive had a Sundancer style boat now for many years 20+... Coming up on buying forever boat... Debating on 42 to 44 Sundancer or flybridge If I did a flybridge I would prob go a little bigger. Def doing diesels as we love to travel. Just not sure if I can used to the slow speed of a flybridge boat.

How many nights is the most you spent on a Sundancer?

Why do you feel flybridge is slow speed? They go as well on plane as the same length Sundancer. And you can actually see the water in front of the bow.

 

[Siboatguy]

Why do you feel flybridge is slow speed? They go as well on plane as the same length Sundancer. And you can actually see the water in front of the bow.

What can you cruise at? A 420 can cruise at 25 Knots

 

[Skybolt]

My 46 express cruises as fast as a DB. I cruise at 22-23 MPH or 20 Knts. Most 40+ boat's do not cruise at 25knts unless it's an Ocean or Viking. Most Sea Ray's cruise 20-22 knts at best if your running the 80% throttle rule.

EDIT: This does not include PODS!

The longest I have stayed on my boat is two full weeks. Spent time on the hook and at marina's and that's with my wife and dog. I wouldn't have an issue staying longer, just haven't done it with this boat.

 

[bbwhitejr]

Having owned a 420DA and a 44DB, both cruised in the 20 knot range at ~80% of WOT. Both with Cummins diesels.

Bennett

 

[ZZ13]

What can you cruise at? A 420 can cruise at 25 Knots

I would do 24 knots with the factory 24 pitch props at cruise RPM of 2200 rpm on Cummins 6CTA engines. Since then I’ve reduced the pitch to 22.7 and I’m at 21 knots at the same rpm. With that pitch my WOT is 2700+ rpm.

 

[quality time]

Most 40+ boat's do not cruise at 25knts unless it's an Ocean or Viking.

@Skybolt I'm offended! 28 knot cruise here from a lowly old bridge boat.

 

[Shaps]

26-27 knots at 80% load
We have done 12 days straight on the boat and were happy to be out on it again the following weekend

 

[SeaNile]

2004 50 SunDancer here and we routinely spend 3-4 nights with 4-6 people. We have an absolute blast. Nice big open cockpit with shade, AC, heat, wet bar and seating for a ton of people. There have been times when I'd look back and count 18 people hanging out on my boat.

 

[Skybolt]

I knew I would get some slap back on that. My friend(s) 420/390/480 all early 2000(s) that are shaft driven go that speed. @Shaps your pod's that doesn't count!

Sorry @quality time I mentioned Ocean/Viking and left out Post, my bad. But was referring to Sea Ray specifically.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Cruise 20-24 kts depending on water condition and 24 days straight...

 

[wwotman]

Ive had a Sundancer style boat now for many years 20+... Coming up on buying forever boat... Debating on 42 to 44 Sundancer or flybridge If I did a flybridge I would prob go a little bigger. Def doing diesels as we love to travel. Just not sure if I can used to the slow speed of a flybridge boat.

How many nights is the most you spent on a Sundancer?

I prefer an express. But lots of room on a fly bridge

 

[Siboatguy]

I wish I could do a 50 but not in the budget.

 

[Skybolt]

The boat that I am a very big fan of is @Jaybeaux's boat. The 48 dancer with shafts. That is the perfect size boat for just about anywhere. If it's not that then a step up to what @ttmott has, the 52 sedan bridge. But I have found that mid forties are easier to get in marina's. I don't mean physically, but reservations.

 

[Siboatguy]

The boat that I am a very big fan of is @Jaybeaux's boat. The 48 dancer with shafts. That is the perfect size boat for just about anywhere. If it's not that then a step up to what @ttmott has, the 52 sedan bridge. But I have found that mid forties are easier to get in marina's. I don't mean physically, but reservations.

I have to agree with you on that. I hear that a lot is that anything under 50 is best for transit.

 

[Sgrochow]

Ive had a Sundancer style boat now for many years 20+... Coming up on buying forever boat... Debating on 42 to 44 Sundancer or flybridge If I did a flybridge I would prob go a little bigger. Def doing diesels as we love to travel. Just not sure if I can used to the slow speed of a flybridge boat.

How many nights is the most you spent on a Sundancer?

We have a 1998 40 DA, just (2) of us plus a 6 pound dog. We live aboard for the summer. My house is approximately 20 minutes away, we pop in to do laundry and pick up the mail on occasion.

A few recent trips away from the marina were:

Buffalo to NYC via Erie Canal and Hudson River - (7 weeks)
Buffalo to Rideau Canal via Erie Canal and Lake Ontario - (5 weeks)
Buffalo to Seneca Lake via Erie Canal, loafed around on canal for - (7 weeks)
Buffalo to Cleveland via Lake Erie - (3 weeks)

 

[Jaybeaux]

We have a 48 Dancer. Travel/speed is just a math problem. We did 18 days last year cruising around the Chesapeake Bay.

 

[Jaybeaux]

The boat that I am a very big fan of is @Jaybeaux's boat. The 48 dancer with shafts. That is the perfect size boat for just about anywhere. If it's not that then a step up to what @ttmott has, the 52 sedan bridge. But I have found that mid forties are easier to get in marina's. I don't mean physically, but reservations.

Aw....how kind! We're planning to stop by your place this August. Dinner is on me!

 

[Jaybeaux]

The boat that I am a very big fan of is @Jaybeaux's boat. The 48 dancer with shafts. That is the perfect size boat for just about anywhere. If it's not that then a step up to what @ttmott has, the 52 sedan bridge. But I have found that mid forties are easier to get in marina's. I don't mean physically, but reservations.

@Blueone You hear what @Skybolt said? Huh?

 

[Jaybeaux]

I need another glass of bleach.