Upgrading From 1994 200 Overnighter - Need Advice

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down2earthlandscaper

New Member
Dec 4, 2023
17
Boat Info
1994 20 Foot Overnighter
Engines
Mercruiser
Need advice on which used boat to choose.

I’m planning on upgrading from my pristine, low hour 1994 Sea Ray 200 Signature Overnighter to something a bit roomier and with a true enclosed head for the convenience of the family.

The boat will be used almost exclusively on Lake Washington for day cruising, dining, anchoring up in our favorite little spot near Seward Park, water sports (towing the kids, possible water skiing if wake isn’t too big) Possibly a yearly outing to the San Juan Islands.

Ideally I’d like to keep the boat on it’s trailer to avoid moorage slip costs, as I do with my current boat.

Tow vehicle is a 2021 Ram 1500 with a 5.7 liter Hemi and the factory tow package.



Here are the boats on my short list:



  1. 2008 Crownline 275 CCR Looks to be in very good condition other than the rub rail was pretty chewed up. 425HP EFI 8.1 liter 496 Mercruiser w/ Bravo 3. (Engine and engine room look Pristine) Closed cooling system. 1 owner. 46.8 original hours. Extensive service records. Hauled out and stored inside in the winter at the same shop where it has been serviced for the life of the boat. (The owner maintained a home in Seattle but played in the NBA from 2000-2020 and after seeing the different teams he played for and where they were on the map, it makes perfect sense to me that the hours are so low)
  2. 2005 Crownline 250 CR (Appears pristine inside and out) 5.7 liter Mercruiser w/Bravo 3. Raw Water Cooling System. 3 Owners. 416 hours. No Service Records. My concern is that it has been in salt water and the current owner says he does his own maintenance. I tried to find out if he religiously flushes after each use without asking directly. I just asked him if there’s anything I need to know about the raw water cooling system, as I have never had one. He didn’t seem to know what the difference was between a closed system and a raw water system
  3. 2001 Sea Ray 245 Weekender (Looks to be in excellent condition) 305 EFI Mercruiser w/ Bravo 2. 1,265 hours. Closed cooling system. 3 owners with some service records. The boat is in the water (fresh water lake) in covered moorage. Has brand new full Bimini and camper enclosures with the isinglass. This one looks really good but my concern is the high hours 1265.
  4. 2010 Regal Commodore 2665. (Looks to be in good condition and has been professionally maintained on a regular basis, according to the owner). 350 Mercruiser Mag MPI w/ Bravo 3. 210 hours. Raw Water System. Owner says it was a fresh water boat up until the last 2 years where it has been moored and used in salt water. Sounds like he is original owner and has service records.
Any advice, red flags, etc would be much appreciated

Thanks!
 
Anything more than the 245 weekender might be a handful to tow regularly. Would add to the no longer fun category. Other than that they will all have their pluses and minuses. Good detailed inspections would be in order.
 
Our 310 Da. did really good on a trailer. Depending on your area it is considered a wide load.
 

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Skybolt said:
A 24 sundeck would be a great upgrade. Anything larger as @Golfman25 said will be a challenge to trailer.
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I appreciate the feedback. Yes, my only concern regarding the 27.5’ Crownline was that it might be too much of a pain to trailer.

Were you referring more to weight or the sheer bulk and length of the bigger boat that would make it tough to trailer?

Dry weight of Crownline 275CCR is 6700 pounds.
-SeaRay 245 Weekender is 5100 pounds.
-I also saw a 240 Sundancer and that is 5593 pounds.

I’m not sure how much the weight would be a factor or if it would more be the length.

The Crownline 275 is at the dealership (they finally offered to buy it from the NBA player since he was basically paying for maintenance and storage every year and not using the boat)
They are willing to drive it to my property to see how difficult or easy maneuvering it will be, prior to the sea trial…

If need be, I have a 2021 Isuzu NRR diesel dump truck that I’m certain would be able to pull that weight. It’s a crew cab though and has a longer wheelbase then my RAM…
 
Skybolt said:
A 24 sundeck would be a great upgrade. Anything larger as @Golfman25 said will be a challenge to trailer.
Click to expand...
Skybolt said:
A 24 sundeck would be a great upgrade. Anything larger as @Golfman25 said will be a challenge to trailer.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the feedback.
The 245 Weekender seems a lot more manageable as far as trailering. The hours are actually about 1295 on that boat. Is that pretty high on a mercruiser?
 
You don't want to go much more than 7500 with a 1500. You have a lot to factor in like fuel, equipment, people. And total GRVW. Which is all of it combined
 
Good point on total weight. 6700 dry but add 80 gallons of fuel and various equipment etc and it would get up there.
The 245 Weekender seems so much more manageable both in size and weight. Does 1295 hours seem really high though? That’s my only hesitation on that boat
 
I have a 93 250 EC that I pull with a 21 Ram 1500 hemi. Full of fuel and gear on an aluminum tandem axle trailer goes down the road like a dream.
 
@down2earthlandscaper So not to deter you from a lager boat. I am just referencing going from a 20' boat to a 28' boat is a big difference when trailering. Also the dry weight of a boat doesn't always include the engine. It definitely does not include fuel and water. So your 6700 can turn into 10000 real fast if that is the case.

It is also very easy to look at the inside of that boat compared to your 20' and fall in love with it. All of the amenities and such.

But yes, maneuvering a boat that size can be tough if your not that guy. But things that you wouldn't think of like options on a trailer come into play with something that size, dual axels, electric/hydraulic brakes - can your truck really handle ~8-10K lbs going up a hill.

Just food for thought.
 
Let's face it. Trailering anything -- PWC to an express cruiser is a PIA and takes some of the fun out of boating. The larger the load, the higher the PIA factor. You don't want to buy a boat and then not use it because it's a PIA to transport. If I were still trailering, I would go as small as possible and remain functional.

As for the 1295 hours on the 245, it all depends. How was the engine maintained? Well maintained and frequently run, you can go above 2000 hours. If you're seriously interested in that boat, save some of your budget to have a compression check, oil analysis, etc. done.
 
I think it's a nice boat
I don't want to go down hill with 11000 pounds. It's just not safe. Safety 1rst
 
If specs on my RAM are true:
When equipped with the available 5.7L HEMI V8 engine with Class-Exclusive eTorque Mild Hybrid Technology, the 2021 Ram 1500 gets a maximum gas towing capacity of up to 12,750 lbs, so you can tow what you need to with less hassle.
 
I would never tow something that weighs over 8000 with a 1500. You need to look up combined vehicle weight. Problem is not towing. It's stopping, you need to look at total weight, I would not tow the 11000 that my Silverado says it can
 
Scott215 said:
I would never tow something that weighs over 8000 with a 1500. You need to look up combined vehicle weight. Problem is not towing. It's stopping, you need to look at total weight, I would not tow the 11000 that my Silverado says it can
Click to expand...
The dual axle trailer that comes with the boat has electric brakes on all tires (but that would really suck if the brakes failed!)
 
Scott215 said:
If you step up to a bigger boat, get a 2500 and keep everyone safe
Click to expand...
I actually have a 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 HD that is one of my work trucks. I could always use that for towing. Just would have to get my guys to throughly clean it first! If they needed they could use my RAM for work if I was towing the boat, but they would have to keep the RAM clean!
 
Update: just went to view the 245 Weekender. It is in a covered wet slip. The boat is super clean. This guy has WiFi enabled thermostats/humidity monitors in the cabin and engine compartment, and a dehumidifier in the cabin that is draining in the sink.
I feel from our conversation and our interactions that he takes good care of his stuff.
The side panels I found out are not issinglass but Makrolon? Very clear. The Bimini/Camper/Makrolon are all about 2 years old.
That storage bay under the cockpit floor is actually huge! Nice boat for sure.
 
I'd shy away from a 23 year old sterndrive boat kept in the water with 1300 hours.

Of the boats you mention, I'd probably lean toward that first Crownline. The size of the boat and the big block motor will make it the best performing boat of the bunch with the most space and comfort. You mention you have options for a larger tow vehicle if need be.

I've towed a lot of boats a lot of miles for decades, including both the ones in my signature. Overwides can be a pain, but otherwise, it isn't much difference to tow a 20 footer vs a 30 footer in my experience.
 
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