Thoughts/comments on these two 2003 34 Sundancers

[SeaNile]

Still in shopping mode but have found two boats which I am interested in at this point and want some veteran Sea Ray ownership opinions.

Boat 1-2003 34 Sundancer, brokerage boat, 285 hrs, new risers, manifolds, has radar, shows well, ideally needs new canvas (would add camper back) and has a 3 year extended Marine Max.Sea Ray warranty. Boat has been used and kept in salt water.

Boat 2-2003 34 Sundancer, one owner boat but currently sold as brokerage, no radar, needs carpets cleaned, maybe a new cushion or two, could use new canvas but current canvas is OK, could use new cockpit area snap in carpet, no warranty, been in fresh water it's entire life, 190hrs. Shows OK but really just needs a good cleaning and detail job.

Market is showing repos going 79K and although the 2003 boats are advertised from 99-120K the sales people are saying the real world sales numbers are between 90-95K with 90 being a better number due to conditions and season ending.

Any thoughts or comments on the two boats I mentioned? They are advertised as 10K apart with #1 being the more expensive boat. Assuming seatrial and survey find the boats identical which would be preferred, a fresh water boat or the one with warranty and new risers and manifolds?

Thanks for the help.

 

[HUMPH]

I would choose what's behind door #1 if it has closed cooling. Boat #2 may have too few hours for its own good. Too little use is no good. The radar helps make me lean that way as well as how it seems the PO took more care. I am not a fan of salt water boats over fresh water but if they are taken care of properly they are fine.

 

[fwebster]

and, how about door #3 ?.............with no worries about salt water mechanical issues.


"........This CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED cruiser comes with a pair of NEW 6.2L Mercruiser crate engines including a 12 month factory engine warranty from date of purchase. Less than 5 running hours. Cruise in style and air conditioned comfort.
NEW 6 YEAR EXTENDED MOTOR WARRANTY CAN BE PURCHASED FOR THE NEW ENGINES."

This boat is not brokered but is owned by my local SR dealer and they replaced the engines. PM me if you want contact info for the sales manager at the dealership.

 

[SeaNile]

and, how about door #3 ?.............with no worries about salt water mechanical issues.


"........This CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED cruiser comes with a pair of NEW 6.2L Mercruiser crate engines including a 12 month factory engine warranty from date of purchase. Less than 5 running hours. Cruise in style and air conditioned comfort.
NEW 6 YEAR EXTENDED MOTOR WARRANTY CAN BE PURCHASED FOR THE NEW ENGINES."

This boat is not brokered but is owned by my local SR dealer and they replaced the engines. PM me if you want contact info for the sales manager at the dealership.

We are pretty set on a 2003+ 340 DA with the 8.1's, Now if I could find a 340 with Yanmars that would be a different story!

 

[Alegria]

Hi SeaNile,

I am assuming you are working through White Marsh? My thoughts would be to look hard at #1. Assuming it's a trade I bet you have more wiggle room. Once I get the price down then I would negotiate on maint. items. I would ask for the new canvas or a good portion paid if you want camper, which I think is a great idea! Also would ask for new cockpit carpets. That would make the boat more attractive. I would expect the #1 boat to be closed cooling??? If so is it a bit early hrs wise for new manifolds, elbows, etc? Maybe not.

Second boat will need what boat #1 has had done sooner or later so you really have to consider that. Manifolds Merc OMC versions are not a cheap replacement if you are paying for the labor...

Best of luck to you in your search. I love the 340's great boats!!!

Take Care!!

 

[SeaNile]

Tom,

Thanks for the advice. #1 is in dealer stock and the story is the buyer bought the boat but never took delivery. Risers and manifolds were replaced in an effort to make the boat be completely turn key with the 3 year warranty as an added bonus.

I was in OCNJ and looked at #1 there and took a road trip to Chester, MD (Clarks Landing) and then to Joppatown on the way home to check out the private #2 boat. I've looked at about 6 2003 340's in the past week. First I need to sell this car and then decide if I want to buy now or wait till the offseason in the hopes the prices drop a bit more.

 

[fwebster]

I think it works just backwards from that............

You probably have the most leverage between now and Oct 1. After that, the dealer will likely have hauled and winterized his inventory and has factored into his budget holding the boat till spring. If you buy during the winter the deal gets thorny because the dealer will demand that you close on a boat you cannot sea trial or survey.

Figure out what you think you'll pay for the boat in the winter, then call the salesman and say these words: "I'd like to make an appointment to come and buy that 340DA from you". Say nothing else except to confirm the time. The salesman thinks he's got a done deal and it throws him off his game when you ask for a contract form and start scratching out terms and filling in numbers. Offer what you will pay in the winter and explain this is a one time end-of the year offer that goes away if they can't get very close to your number......Florida has a lot of boats for sale in Dec -March, while he's beating snow off boats he failed to sell in the fall.

Good luck ...........

 

[Hampton]

Dang, I like that info. Don't forget to include a check to let them know you're serious ($5,000?). Also, be ready to own the boat.

 

[Nehalennia]

Listen to Frank's advice. He has always provided a solid angle to help those interested in buying a boat. His perspective assisted me buy my boat almost 3 years ago. When I'm ready to upgrade I'll certainly seek his opinion again.

 

[srdancer90]

The boat with trhe 6.2's is underpowered. The 340 performs much better with the 8.1 I dont believe in the freshwater salter water stories, I have seen many inboards last 20 years in salt water. salt water does not do any damage to an engine ,sblock, heat casuses the damage. You can see this by the number of I/O that are still around that are salt water cooled. Freshwater cooling was important when you were/are rebuilding an engine. Today the enginesare more likely to be replaced then rebuilt using the existing block. Keep the engines running at their correct temp and the boat will last well beyond your ownership. A note on the risers and manifolds. Sea Ray installed alum manifolds on many of the 8.1s. Find out ifn the boat with the 8.1s has alum manifolds, you can determine it from the factory by giving them the SERT hull number, also you can determine what options were installed at the factory as well.

320 DA t5.7 mie

 

[SeaNile]

Both boats have 8.1's and neither has aluminum manifolds.

On a side note, any thoughts on Cruisers boats? They seem to have a lot of options in the 32-40' range as well.

 

[SeaNile]

Walked the docks again this afternoon and the 2003+ 340 Sundancer keeps jumping out at me. I really like the boat. Just need to sell the car and pick out the right boat and make a deal.

 

[medic3538]

My 3 cents, take the warrantied boat...unless you can get the same warranty thrown into the deal on the fresh. Main concern is warranty. I am about to drop $1500 - $3000 for a engine problem. I had a year and then extended another year and now i am out. Warraties are a low cost item for any big ticket issue that may arise.

 

[SeaNile]

I like the warranty too but want to find out why the manifolds and riser were replaced. Knowing more about the history would make me feel better as well. The other thing is I want to make sure I get a well cared for low hour boat. I know 300ish hours is not a lot for the engines but figure in 2-3 years I could be knocking on on 400-500hours. Maybe I look for a boat with under 200 hours. I also know I can't have everything in this boat which I want to pay about 90K for....

 

[rcknecht]

Hi SeaNile,

I am assuming you are working through White Marsh? My thoughts would be to look hard at #1. Assuming it's a trade I bet you have more wiggle room. Once I get the price down then I would negotiate on maint. items. I would ask for the new canvas or a good portion paid if you want camper, which I think is a great idea! Also would ask for new cockpit carpets. That would make the boat more attractive. I would expect the #1 boat to be closed cooling??? If so is it a bit early hrs wise for new manifolds, elbows, etc? Maybe not.

Second boat will need what boat #1 has had done sooner or later so you really have to consider that. Manifolds Merc OMC versions are not a cheap replacement if you are paying for the labor...

Best of luck to you in your search. I love the 340's great boats!!!

Take Care!!

I highly doubt that boat 2 was run in pure fresh water... :huh: You have to buy a lake boat to get a true fresh water boat... I would expect that boat 2 will need exhausts in the next couple of years too. I would have boat # 1 add in new canvas (cmper package), winter storage, bottom paint, zincs, etc. I would also ask for a slip for the balance of the season to use the boat where it is... I would make a punch list, of warentee things to fix before you take the boat in the spring... If you are dealing with MM, they will do this for their customers. I think you should be able to get the boat with the above for around $95K based on what you said the asking price is... Oh, I would also have them throw in an extended warranty...

 

[rabyers1]

SeaNile - Not to hijack your thread, but are you the same guy who sold that beautiful refurbished '74 Bert I saw over on THT for awhile?

 

[SeaNile]

I highly doubt that boat 2 was run in pure fresh water... :huh: You have to buy a lake boat to get a true fresh water boat... I would expect that boat 2 will need exhausts in the next couple of years too. I would have boat # 1 add in new canvas (cmper package), winter storage, bottom paint, zincs, etc. I would also ask for a slip for the balance of the season to use the boat where it is... I would make a punch list, of warentee things to fix before you take the boat in the spring... If you are dealing with MM, they will do this for their customers. I think you should be able to get the boat with the above for around $95K based on what you said the asking price is... Oh, I would also have them throw in an extended warranty...

Oddly enough they (MM) did offer to keep the boat in NJ at the current slip at no charge, also offered "free winterization and storage" and then would launch me in the spring. Only issue with that offer is the slip is over 2hrs away from home vs 40 min to my marina. Traveling to NJ with a 21month old and an almost 6 yr old to a boat over 2hr away would not make for a fun experience. If my marina was not 40 min away I wouldn't be considering a boat in the first place! I will probably know in about a week if I am buying now or waiting for a better deal/spring. Maybe I will find something at the ACNJ or Annapolis or Ft. Lauderdale boat show Although I doubt it, seems that all the available boats are on boats.com, boartrader and yachtworld.

 

[SeaNile]

My car will be sold this week so now it is time to really consider getting a boat now or waiting till the spring.

 

[SeaNile]

Car will be gone next week. Looking to attend the ACNJ boat show next week and see what is out there.

 

[tobnpr]

SeaNile - Not to hijack your thread, but are you the same guy who sold that beautiful refurbished '74 Bert I saw over on THT for awhile?

Nah...couldn't be. A THT'er owning a Sea Ray?
I got fed up with all the idiots on that site that think if it's not a 40' center console with triple engines it's a POS...haven't been back in six months.