Update: 1998 250 Sundancer

D

douglee25

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2008
4,761
Dallas, TX
Boat Info
Cruisers 3575
Engines
Twin 7.4l
I figured I'd update everyone on the 250 Sundancer I had my eyes on. I had scheduled to meet with the marina mechanic to pressure test the outdrive because I had seen what appeared to be a possible oil leak at the prop seal. When I got there the mechanic told me they ran into a problem in that they couldn't even take the lower drain plug out. Now normally I don't get banged up on a corroded screw or bolt, but the drain plug is taken out usually 1 - 2 times per year to change the fluid. Knowing that this plug hadn't been pulled for quite some time, I just had an uneasy feeling in my gut.

The one thing that also threw me for a loop was the fact that the boat had no bottom paint and it looked like it rolled off the show room floor.... but the lower end of the outdrive looked like $hit for some reason (we boat in fresh water too). It turns out the mechanic remembers the boat being slipped which the owner failed to mention. Again, this just wasn't sitting well with me so I just sent an email confirmation with the sales manager telling him to refund my deposit.

I have since looked at a couple of other boats that I have my eye on. We will see how they pan out. None of them are Sea Ray though :huh: :grin:

Doug
 
It sounds like you made a wise choice to pass on that boat. To many "what if's"

Nothing wrong with looking at other brands, IMO.
 
I am sorry, that is disappointing. I happen to know a girl in MO who has a 250DA for sale:smt001 but I have no trailer, no bottom paint either, we have MM take it out at the end of the season and clean it, we have debated the bottom paint issue many times.

Good luck finding what you want....don't give up...summer is coming:thumbsup:
 
how was the boat slipped if it had no bottom paint and the bottom looked showroom new??? it doesnt make sense. was it on a lift and the lower unit left hanging in the water??
 
sclancypb said:
how was the boat slipped if it had no bottom paint and the bottom looked showroom new??? it doesnt make sense. was it on a lift and the lower unit left hanging in the water??
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I couldn't understand either. The mechanic said the yard uses an acid wash that cleans up the bottoms very well.

Your guess is as good as mine. If you looked at the boat you would swear the outdrive didn't belong on the boat.

Doug
 
I would bet the bottom was white, but not shiny like the gel coat above the waterline.
It sounds like an acid wash, and scrub job.
They probably just did nothing to the outdrive, and it sounds like it need a cleaning,stripping and a re-paint.
 
KayKook said:
I would bet the bottom was white, but not shiny like the gel coat above the waterline.
It sounds like an acid wash, and scrub job.
They probably just did nothing to the outdrive, and it sounds like it need a cleaning,stripping and a re-paint.
Click to expand...

Oh, the bottom was definitely clean!! I honestly couldn't believe it myself. It's still probably a decent deal. Even if you invested in a new lower unit, you'd still be under retail for the boat.

Check the pics out yourself.

Doug

http://www.thesaltydog.com/search/viewListing54663.aspx
 
douglee25 said:
That's exactly what I couldn't understand either. The mechanic said the yard uses an acid wash that cleans up the bottoms very well.

Your guess is as good as mine. If you looked at the boat you would swear the outdrive didn't belong on the boat.

Doug
Click to expand...

My 250 had a trailer and I wet slipped it for weeks at a time. No bottom paint and the bottom was shiny white like the day it came from the factory. It's really easier than you would think. No acid wash, just IRON OUT.... I'd pull the boat every 3 or 4 weeks, pressure wash the growing stuff, then mix 4 caps of IRON OUT into a 2 gallon pump sprayer, spray it on and the bottom turns white in seconds. It's the real deal and the Ohio River tub ring is completely eliminated.... Good luck with your quest for a 250... I really enjoyed that boat
 
Hello Doug, That boat looks Sweet! I own the same boat with the 7.4 Mercruiser coupled to a B-III. It is a fast boat! 47MPH.. I'd think twice about shooting that one down. Get it Surveyed! Al W.
 
Rideaur said:
Why don't you go back to the seller and let him know what your concerns are about the boat.

ie: negotiate a deal.
Click to expand...

Already did. The seller is basically unloading the boat because he's going through a divorce. He has no money and he has a payoff, so he basically can't do any better on the price. I asked him to think on it for a couple days just to make sure that was his final word.. I told him I'd do the same. He didn't contact me like he said he would, so enough is enough. I am in the process of getting my deposit back.

Doug
 
Doug,

There is a ton of other boats out there. If a deal doesn't feel right it probably isn't. The seller's personal problems are not yours. If you like the boat, find out what it would cost to have the outdrive put in the condition you want it in and make an offer accordingly. If he doesn't accept, wish him luck and keep looking. I have always found that anytime I lost a deal, I usually found a better one.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Shawn
 
Good Luck on getting your deposit back. It sounds like your seller is in the do-do and has probably spent your deposit.

I would not be surprised to hear that the boat gets re-poed.
 
Rideaur said:
Good Luck on getting your deposit back. It sounds like your seller is in the do-do and has probably spent your deposit.

I would not be surprised to hear that the boat gets re-poed.
Click to expand...

Luckily it's a brokered boat and the contract dictates that I get my deposit back. :grin:

Doug
 
Same boat.

You will not believe this but all this time the marina/broker has been lying to me and to the seller (surprise surprise). The seller called me personally yesterday and asked if I was still interested in the boat. Long story short, I asked if his export deal had fallen through? He said what export deal? I said didn't you talk to the marina lately? No, haven't talked to them in over 2 months. I said did you know I pulled my deposit? No, I wasn't aware of that either. I explained to him that I have an email sitting right in front of me from the marina stating that he (meaning the seller) raised his price because it was going to require an hour or so of the marinas time to remove the drain plug. The marina also stated in the email that the boat was going to be exported. The seller said again he hadn't spoken to the marina in 2 months because his mom has been in the hospital!! So here the whole time the marina is screwing him over by charging him storage fees while his boat sits there. It's not getting any exposure and it's being misrepresented so the marina can try and make the most from the sale. I listed the boat for the guy on Craiglist and told him to buy me a beer. I believe he's going to pull it from the marina now and take it home. I feel for him.

Doug
 
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