Jared, welcome to TF. Sorry, but I can't help you with the answer to your question, I just wanted to say "Hello".

What part of MI are you in?

 

Jared, welcome to TF. Sorry, but I can't help you with the answer to your question, I just wanted to say "Hello".

What part of MI are you in?

I’m in southern mid Michigan in Lenawee county.

 

The late 80s weekenders were nice, but the inboards where 30 feet and too wide to generally trailer. In your size range you're looking at IOs. Good luck.

 

I like my 89 268Da it's well powered with a single 7.4 and robust Bravo 1 out drive earlier year models have the Alpha one which is adequate if you baby it. If you go for a 268 in weekender or sundancer configurations you would be wise to look for one with a big block many with small blocks find them underpowered, hi and.welcome

 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I’ve always been a believer in having more and not needing it than needing more and not having it! That’s why when I bought my truck I got the V8 and not one of the V6’s! Thanks for the input. Are weekenders with 454’s common of that era?

 

There is a 86' SeaDancer for sale on our dock 26' I think. Twin 350's 1 1/4 shafts. Very few were built. Welcom and good luck on your quest

 

I love the idea of twins as far as maneuvering as well as having a “backup” engine if something goes awry while at sea... but double the maintenance, don’t love that notion. How are these on fuel? Since two engines are pushing her and not working as hard as one is efficiency comparable to say a single 454? I’m not opposed to twins, just don’t want to have an enormous fuel cost. As for this boat you mentioned, is it a V-drive setup? Where’s it located? Thanks

 

The boat is in Jamestown Va. Straight shafts. I'm not sure we're all the boat is listed, I think CL and Facebook Sale? If it's something you want to know more about I can ask where it's listed.

As for mine it has 350's and yea it took me a couple of months to get used to twins but to be honest I will never go back to a single! Backing is easier, fuel consumption is good, and power to weight, she loves right along nicely. 454's would be mighty tight down there

 

Jared, on the question of fuel economy, let me say that most boaters will tell you that fuel cost is one of the smallest costs of boat ownership.

I/O's will get about 5% to 10% better fuel economy than a v-drive boat but that comes at the cost of poorer maneuverability.

As far as one engine vs two on fuel economy, it's going to take a certain amount of power to push a given boat through the water, and a certain amount of fuel to accomplish that. A boat with twin engines will maybe use more fuel than a single engine boat of the same size, but unless you are using the heck out of the boat or taking it on looooong trips, you will hardly notice the difference.

If you ask people who have owned single engine boats then move to a twin, they will almost always tell you they would not move back to a single engine boat. There are so many advantages to twins over a single engine it would take pages to list them.

 

Jared, on the question of fuel economy, let me say that most boaters will tell you that fuel cost is one of the smallest costs of boat ownership.

I/O's will get about 5% to 10% better fuel economy than a v-drive boat but that comes at the cost of poorer maneuverability.

As far as one engine vs two on fuel economy, it's going to take a certain amount of power to push a given boat through the water, and a certain amount of fuel to accomplish that. A boat with twin engines will maybe use more fuel than a single engine boat of the same size, but unless you are using the heck out of the boat or taking it on looooong trips, you will hardly notice the difference.

If you ask people who have owned single engine boats then move to a twin, they will almost always tell you they would not move back to a single engine boat. There are so many advantages to twins over a single engine it would take pages to list them.

Yeah I hear you on fuel costs vs boat ownership, a drop in the bucket haha. Thanks for the insight on twins vs singles... food for thought. Been looking around and seen a few what looked like deals... one I wished I’d jumped on was a 250 sundancer, 1986 I think for $5300 with trailer asking price. Looked clean enough. I’m a mechanical guy and also a carpenter by day so I’m not afraid of one that need some wood work or mechanical stuff, just don’t want a black hole of a project. Others I’ve seen were either more or didn’t include a trailer. Not sure it’ll happen this year unless a good buy falls into my lap.