Sundancer vs. Weekender

[Acb4boss]

To start I'll give a little background as I am a newbie (though I've previously read a lot from this site :thumbsup.
I've been involved in boating for 25 (ish) years since I was just a lil' guy. My parents had a 255 Amberjack, a 28 carver, and finally a 38 Carver. I got into having my own boats when I bought my first house, as I was selling my motorcycle for a little cash to buy things like furniture or whatever I was offered a trade for a boat. The softballs replacing the wife's eyes wouldn't allow me to say no. As the family grew and the needs changed, so did the boats; from a sweet little speed boat to a bow-rider, and now in the need for something else.

On to the real question:

I'm looking to get something I can keep on the Great Lakes and weekend on. I truly love the styling of the late 80's Sea Rays. As an immediate family there are 4 of us so the sleeping accomodations of a weekender are ok, but if I choose to take my dad, a buddy, and his dad on a weekend fishing trip I would rather not be bunking with someone so a Sundancer makes more sense there. Knowing that the Sundancer was the more popular model, but the Weekender has a better cockpit layout for fishing I was wondering what the GREAT people of the Sea Ray forum had to say. I'm also interested in knowing what specific things to look for in these models, little things that people with experience are keen to seeing and could share with me. I plan to get a survey, but I have no interest in having 20 surveys done before finding the "one" if I can eliminate some candidates on my own.

And as for the B-rider, I have an option plan for that. Option one: I keep it because it's 5 minutes from home on a 1,000 acre lake and it's fun. option 2: I sell it and buy a..uh...um...pontoon? (Hate those things but their so dang practical!)

Thank you all in advance for the help and support.
Al

 

[Acb4boss]

Thanks so much for the reply, however I was looking more between the 270 Sundancer and 300 Sundancer/Weekender. The larger boat would be an hour away and the smaller boat/pontoon smt009 shame as I hate them too) would be closer on a small inland lake.

As my parents get up there in age (58/62,) my dad cannot get on to the lil bowrider, how ever a 'toon would be a little more realistice for him. So I hope the reasoning could be accepted as a means of not being disqualified from the site?

My reasoning for the 270 vs the 268 is the 10' beam for stability and the reliability of the twin drives. I am fairly adept at engines so overhauling is no issue, as well as I am confident with wood and fiberglass work. So to me replacing a transom or stringers if need be is acceptable if the $ is right.

I'm looking for oppinions or experiences and any other knowledge the great people at CSR have.

Thanks so much for your reply sfergson727,
Al

P.S.
Please, for the love of (insert deity here as this is American and we have freedome of religion) please do not bar me for purchasing a pontoon. I will own a Sea Ray before then I promise!

 

[dpvandy01]

I would be asking myself how often I would need the comfort of the larger accommodations versus how often the added cockpit space would be needed for fishing. If it's likely that you will spend more time with your wife and children in which case the additional cabin space would be desired then the Sundancer is in order. If you are more likely to spend time fishing with Dad and buddies then the cockpit setup for the Weekender seems more logical. Everything is a balance and a trade off with these boats however I think I'd rather find a way to "make it work" fishing on the Sundancer than "have to make it work" getting the family comfortable on the Weekender. Just my .02

 

[speakrdude]

Do as I did. get em both!!!!

 

[Petehalsted]

I bought my 86 300 sun dancer this summer. I was also looking at a 86 300 weekender. I went with the sun dancer because it was the sounder boat.

Main differences would be

1. Weekender doesn't have the step up to get to the helm. You can swing the seats around and have a huge wide open deck.
2. Weekender is true inboards with freshwater cooling. I will leave it to you to decide which is better.
3. The sundancer has power assist steering, weekender is manual. Might have just been boat I was on but that was a big difference.

Bottom line both are great boats you can't go wrong with!

 

[dpvandy01]

I bought my 86 300 sun dancer this summer. I was also looking at a 86 300 weekender. I went with the sun dancer because it was the sounder boat.

Main differences would be

1. Weekender doesn't have the step up to get to the helm. You can swing the seats around and have a huge wide open deck.
2. Weekender is true inboards with freshwater cooling. I will leave it to you to decide which is better.
3. The sundancer has power assist steering, weekender is manual. Might have just been boat I was on but that was a big difference.

Bottom line both are great boats you can't go wrong with!

and ummm the weekender has no aft cabin correct? That's kinda a big one if you are looking for overnight accommodations for 4...

 

[Petehalsted]

Yeah I thought that one was kind of a given based on first post.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Previous boat... 1989 300 Weekender. Loved the boat, but my buddy had a similar size Sundancer with aft cabin and it slept 4 a whole lot easier then my previous Weekender.

 

[Acb4boss]

Do as I did. get em both!!!!

:smt038 That's kind of like cheating lol. If there would be 2, one would be a true afte cabin boat with three state rooms. But let's face it, I'm not that rich :grin:.

I think it's going to have to be the 'Dancer, thanks for all the input. Are there anythings I should be looking for on these boats? I know the transoms can be trouble, anything else that was problematic with them and tell tale signs to look for?


Thanks for all the input,
Al

 

[290sundancer]

yeah the sundancer has a mid cabin its big enough for me and one other person and im 6 feet tall and the v-berth is also big enough for two u can turn the dinette into a bed but just for one adualt or two children so u can sleep 5 adualts or four adualts 2 children and there is room in the back u can put a cot for one if u have camper tops so i would say u can sleep 7 if they like being on a boat. the weekender is way too small. i think maybe i could get 9 drunk people to sleep ok on the sundancer lol.

 

[2005SR300DA]

The dancer is definatly the better choice. You can always change the cockpit lay out but you can't add an aft cabin on the weekender.
BTW pontoons have come a long way since they first came out. They are big on Lake Wallenpaupack in PA. If you are looking for one, make sure its wheel chair accesible, since your dad is getting older. I sell the Manitou pontoons up here but also have 2 sea rays, the Manitou is a great boat and is manufactured in Lansing Michigain.

 

[Acb4boss]

The dancer is definatly the better choice. You can always change the cockpit lay out but you can't add an aft cabin on the weekender.
BTW pontoons have come a long way since they first came out. They are big on Lake Wallenpaupack in PA. If you are looking for one, make sure its wheel chair accesible, since your dad is getting older. I sell the Manitou pontoons up here but also have 2 sea rays, the Manitou is a great boat and is manufactured in Lansing Michigain.

I know that he's not actually THAT:smt043old, but playing college football, then being a pro-boxer, and falling off a 20' scaffold in a factory leaving back and knee problems makes him less than agile. Not to mention a quad by-pass, being diabetic, and the only person in his family to ever make it beyond 55, I'm happy he's here, no wheel chair yet but I'm more than willing to accomodate :thumbsup: as he was for me for so many years. They live on a lake about 5 minutes from my home and the Dancer will be about 1hr or so away.
At one point he owned a 255 AJ, then a 28' Carver Mariner, and finally a 38' Carver. So I asked his opinion on this subject and he said, and I quote: "Carvers are over priced and the quality is just not there for the price." He also said to get the "Weekender over the Sundancer because the extra room would come in less handy than I really think" but I'm sold on the 'Dancer because A) It woould be neat for the kids to have their own bed and B) If I do take a couuple guys I refuse to cuddle!
I'm still looking for "tell tale" warning signs and things to run away from and if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them.
Thanks,
Al