1993 Sea Ray 270 Sundancer

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BobMod

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Hi

This is my first forage into the motorboat world and I have seen a 1993 Sea Ray 270 Sundancer (I spotted the difference on the sea ray site between Sundancer and Weekender). It is quite cheap compared with other similar boats and I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on them? Usability? Build quality? handling? etc...

It is a twin petrol version and I was wondering if anyone has any running costs for this config?

Finally, when I am being swayed by beautiful lines and the excitement of my first boat, what am I missing? What should I really look out for? It has been sitting for a year in fresh water... I will be getting a survey if my offer is accepted etc..

Any advice and guidance will be very much appreciated..

Bob
 
OK,

The key Word is Twin Petrol! Do not touch one as they are very thirsty and expensive to run. A US style 27ft boat only needs a single petrol. The european versions will have a single diesel.

I bought a Twin Petrol and thought it good value...that is until i tried to sell it! With the cost of petrol you are much better looking at single engine boats, diesel or if available in your area Petrol.

Welcome as well!

Paul
 
New Boat

Questions you need to ask (yourself)

What do I expect the boat to do ?
What will I use her for ?
How often and for how long will I use her?
What are my running costs (insurance/moorings/servicing/fuel)

Having a chat with boat owners around the area you intend to use her will give you invaluble info.

My advice would be to look for a diesel engined boat - for reasons made apparent above - although I have had two petrol boats and offset the fuel costs against the premium for diesels, but selling them was much harder than the equivalent oil burner.
 
BobMod said:
This is my first forage into the motorboat world
Click to expand...
Well, welcome to it - and to the forum, too.
There's one suggestion I wish I had received, more than anything else, when I was in your situation: go for the most resaleable boat you can find.
Which surely can't be a twin petrol 27 footer, unless you can buy her at a ridiculously low price.
See, no matter how perfect she looks now for the usage you have in mind, you'll soon realise that you should have gone for something different.
Mind, this sort of virus actually becomes chronic for some MoBoers, so I'm not suggesting that you won't be equally affected with your second or third boat.
But even those between us who sooner or later manage to see the light, were invariably affected upon their first experience.
Good luck!
 
You are about to make a classic newbie mistake, twin petrol, US sport crusier with outdrives probably old and neglected. In fact almost any other boat would be better:D unless you live in the US of course.
 
Full service history, light fresh water use, very cheap as owner desperate to sell.. I realise the saleability is low and the boats were actually built in the UK.. I dunno, it is the youngest and best kept boat I have found for the price.. I am ex RN and miss the days of flying about in RIBs whilst needing cheap accomodation for 3 days a week close to contracts.. It'll go anywhere on a river I want whilst easily getting me to the channel islands and back should the mood take me..

Feedback on the build quality and the engines seems good from all over the world.. beside a slight concern about the exhaust design and rotting that I will ensure the surveyer pays special attention to.. All others in the class are a good £10k more and diesels........ Ouch 2.5 times the price.. If I cannot sell her in 2 - 3 years time I will have saved so much on renting a house that I in theory would be in the black with the boat (inc maintenance and mooring fees etc) and it wouldn't owe me a penny..

Based on worst case fuel usage I would have to do in excess of 11000hrs to make up the difference in price for a comparable diesel boat.

Again, I am a total newbie to the world of owning a motorboat and I appreciate and have taken on board (pardon the pun) all of your feedback..

Cheers chaps..

Oh and being a self confessed petrol head with a conscience.. I promise to ride my bicycle from the Marina to work... I do not however promise to not open this baby up full throttle when it is safe and legal to do so... :-)
 
Bob,

On a river, you will be using 1-2 gals per hour. On the sea, 30-40 gph. On the river, you may have to fill from jerry cans, as availabiltiy is poor. 10 gals is no problem, but many marina's do not allow filling of petrol in a marina due to fire hazards. Getting to channel isles and back is going to be a mortgage job at £6 per gal.

Are you sure she was built in the UK? To my knowledge, Sea Rays are US built. Mine was anyway. They are a cut above most US builders, but at that age there will be a lot of maintenance and putting right the things that the previous owner could not afford to do.

However, if you are happy with the price, and smitten with the boat, go for it!!
 
rafiki_ said:
Bob,

On a river, you will be using 1-2 gals per hour. On the sea, 30-40 gph.
Click to expand...

Sounds a bit high, unless we are talking about 8 litre monsters.

I've never run a petrol, but my brothers 5.0GSi was using something like 11gallons per hour at a fast cruise, so I would guess 25 gallons per hour for a heavier boat on twins might not be far off. Does anyone have some actual figures?
 
FlowerPower said:
Sounds a bit high, unless we are talking about 8 litre monsters.

I've never run a petrol, but my brothers 5.0GSi was using something like 11gallons per hour at a fast cruise, so I would guess 25 gallons per hour for a heavier boat on twins might not be far off. Does anyone have some actual figures?
Click to expand...

I may have missed it in the previous posts but I can't see what engines are in this Searay!
I have recently sold my twin engined (petrol 4.3l Mercruiser) Searay 270 1998 and have figures somehwere but right now I'm off to bed!
Let us all know what engines you have and we can help with further advice.
Night night!!
 
So assuming its the one thats for sale at Penton Hook, I would agree with all of the above. I usually defend petrol engined small sportscruisers, but not in this case.

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/17763512-Searay-270.html

As pointed out you can get similar performance with a single 7.4 or even 5.7 at significantly reduced running costs.

The 270 has a decent beam, but is a similar layout to other narrower 8'6" wide boats, there seems little benefit to the extra beam. You can get similar boats for less money and much cheaper running costs.

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/UFZUMjQ4NDkxfnB2dA==-BAYLINER_2655.html

I was with Nautorious when he bought his twin petrol boat, it seemed the deal of the year and the space was huge compared to his previous Chapparal 240, but the dream can turn very sour. He spent about 10k and 18 months trying to sell it, before eventually trading it at a big loss. If you really want this boat I would suggest 12k would be a good price, but I wouldnt buy it for more than 10k.
 
Kipper said:
at 240hp each they sound like old carbed 5.7's. Still not a bad boat but its well over priced as is that Binliner by the way. I would be looking at 10k as your going to be spending on those old engines fresh water or not.
Only advantage of Binliner is it would be easier to sell.
Click to expand...

Thats the point I am trying to make, Bayliner should be achievable for 10k ish and you can sell it on easily. I accept the Searay is a better quality boat, but if it has got twin 5.7's then no matter how cheap it is, I wouldnt buy it.

At Thames prices thats nearly £700 a tank !!
 
FlowerPower said:
Sounds a bit high, unless we are talking about 8 litre monsters.

I've never run a petrol, but my brothers 5.0GSi was using something like 11gallons per hour at a fast cruise, so I would guess 25 gallons per hour for a heavier boat on twins might not be far off. Does anyone have some actual figures?
Click to expand...

I had a 25 footer with a 5.7l engine. She used 12-15 gph.
 
I have asked for more info on the Bayliner but have never been massively impressed with build quality.. As an yachty they remind me of jeaneau's etc.. But I will keep an open mind..

I have been looking for a while for a single or twin diesel (without sails I like the idea of resilient engines) but cannot find anything in my meager budget..

I have also seen this.. http://uk.yachtworld.com/core/listi...c&listing_id=32024&url=&hosturl=nyb&&ywo=nyb& now discounting the petrol issues what would you guys choose if you had no other options?

I fully intend to run up and down the east coast and make a couple of trips south as far as the channel islands and France but for now I have a contract in Berks that means this was convenient.. It is already in my marina of choice (although the pubs are a long way away!! ) and it could be very cheap...

You have all made me second guess my whole thought process which is good because there must have been holes in it... I have £10k (wifes restriction).. :-( I have dreams above my budget!!
 
Twin 4.3LX mercruisers.. 175bhp each. It would be nice to know the perf figures.... Trust me 50p per litre as opposed to £1.60 certainly plays on my mind.. But then I owned an old V8 Range Rover...... It did hurt but the pain went away with the sound of the V8 opening up.. :-)
 
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