Wife has Ok'd moving up

Prater

Prater

New Member
Jun 29, 2010
405
Oklahoma
Boat Info
1989 220DA Sundancer
Engines
Mercruiser
We decided after spending every weekend the last month or so on the 220DA that its time to move up a bit. I still need to trailer and have a 3500 Duramax set to bumper pull 16K. I really like the Flybridge models and was wondering if you feel trailering one without a hardtop would be too dificult. I dont want to go ever 30 feet and want to stay with the early 90's boats if I can find one close. The other option is a 280 to 300 Sundancer also in the early 90's models. I have some time to start looking as I first need to set aside the money, it would be great for someone looking to downsize or find a dealer that wants my 220 in trade. I figure I will wait until after the season to try and find a good deal. Now if I can find the right buyer for a Formula project? Or maybe something needing a repower, wow how bout 2 600HP engines in a dancer...LOL
 
Good job on getting mama to decide you need a bigger boat. One thing to consider is the beam of whatever you're looking at. If you go over 102" you should have wide load permits when you haul. Notice I said "Should Have", not must have. I trailered my 330 'Dancer several times for short distances without getting permits. If you're towing on the freeways and run into state troopers they likely will know the rules about wide loads and are more likely to stop you than city and county cops who generally aren't as familiar with the wide load laws. Also, city and county cops usually have better stuff to do than pester boaters. Things like "real law enforcement" stuff. It's been said that troopers only chase taillights so they bone up on the laws so they can write more tickets.

If you go with a flybridge model, keep in mind that a flybridge boat on a narrow beam (8 1/2') might be very tippy in a beam sea. If you get a chance to sea trial a 8 1/2' flybridge boat, do it on a choppy day, put it in neutral and see how it reacts in the chop once it gets beam to the wind. The higher the flybridge, the more you're going to notice the swing the flybridge. That can make passengers very queasy.

Here's a video I took on the way up the Columbia from Portland to our home marina. It shows pretty well what it's like being on a flybridge when you get into a beam sea, and our boat has a 15'5" beam. We were only in about 2' waves at the time, and a narrower beam boat would rock even more.
[video=youtube;n29RDXu4urE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n29RDXu4urE[/video]
 
I know SR didn't offer a bridge boat in the 90s and beyond. Last one was the '89 300DB. For that matter, does any boatmaker offer a 30' or less bridge boat? I think Bayliner may.

The 300DB is 12' wide and height is a problem for trailering b/c of bridge/power wire clearances (unless you take the bridge and arch off).

If you want to trailer, you're better off sticking with an express type boat ('Dancer or other equivalent).
 
I can't imagine a Fly bridge boat with only 8 1/2 foot beam. Maybe a center consule with a tower that tilts.
 
Tom
You took your arch off - that's cheating! Also, your boat is not as high as the later generation 300DB. The '89 is the same height as me, and there's an '85 two boats down from me - it's bridgedeck is probably 9 or 10" lower than mine. I suppose it can be done but it's a pain in the butt!
 
I can get a yearly oversize permit for $10 in Oklahoma. Just cant pull it on the interstate on holidays. How much more room does a DB have? I would not mind going to an 80's model on the DB, but dont want to move backwards if I go with an express.
 
Ron,

That is nice, but I have to get my ducks in a row before I can get serious. I want some nice cash in hand to bargain with when the time is right...
 
Prater said:
Ron,

That is nice, but I have to get my ducks in a row before I can get serious. I want some nice cash in hand to bargain with when the time is right...
Click to expand...

Ask Obama...
 
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