1982 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer quality?
Scott Collins
Sundancer. I'm wondering about the build quality of Sea Rays from this time
frame (pre Brunswick) but have not had much success finding any information.
I'd like to know some general history of Sea Ray boats from this era before
we spend the money on a survey. Why waste the money on a survey if the
general consensus is the boats from this time are not worth the effort? Are
there any specific websites that could address this, or do the posters here
have any general comments?
Thanks in advance,
Scott Collins
Newcastle, WA
Gould 0738
In 1982, Sea Ray was the second largest builder of pleasure boats. Right behind
Bayliner. The company was owned by the original founder, Connie Ray, until
1986.
I can't find any record of a 260 Sundancer from 1982. There was a 270 built
from 82-88. If the boat has a ten foot beam, it's a 270. Any boats in the 260
series have 8'6" beams.
Sea Ray introduced the mid-cabin configuration about 1982, and that is
technically what separates a "Sundancer"
from an express cruiser.
Sea Ray has always built a decent boat.
Some contemporary detractors will moan,
"They don't build 'em like they used to....."
but by 1982 Sea Ray had been building boats for a little over two decades and
had earned a solid reputation.
That said, a 20 year old boat of *any* brand can be junk, or in good shape.
Depends a lot on how its been maintained.
Your 1982 Sea Ray started off as a pretty good boat, but only a thorough survey
will reveal if it's still worth owning.
Scott Collins
8' beam, but the seller's ad says 8'6" beam. Also, NADA shows 2 engines for
this model, and this boat has only one. Weird. I have seen some '82 260
Sundancers for sale on Boattrader.com also. I'm inclined to believe it is a
"Weekender" as opposed to a "Sundancer" but it does have the mid cabin.
I've been out to look at it yet, so I'm just going off the information from
the ad and from my father-in-law. Anyway, it sounds like it it worth
pursuing with inspections, sea trials, survey, etc.
Thanks!
Scott Collins
Newcastle, WA
"Gould 0738" <goul...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030817011820...@mb-m01.aol.com...
Larry
>Some contemporary detractors will moan,
>"They don't build 'em like they used to....."
>but by 1982 Sea Ray had been building boats for a little over two decades and
>had earned a solid reputation.
>
There's a big difference between a Sea Ray (before Bayliner-Brunswick
bought them) and the new Brunswick. Here, take a look:
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/Fiberglass_Boats.htm
Dealer Gould's hype aside, most all the new boats are built just like
you see in the pictures, now. Overpriced pieces of crap designed to
maximize manufacturer and dealer profits at the expense of value,
resale prices, safety and consumer confidence.
A great old boat that's been meticulously cared for is a much better
boat than the FRP (fiberglass reinforced PLASTIC) crap being produced
today. The pictures speak volumes for themselves of what's actually
inside the hulls being made now.
Your old Sea Ray isn't made like this. Now all you have to do is
worry about how the last guy took care of it and how he drove it like
a maniac on drugs....(c;
Gould's right about one thing, the surveyors know the truth and if
they haven't been bribed off by the local dealers and brokers to make
everything look as rosey as a boat magazine, he'll tell you what he
thinks of it. You just have to find the right one who still has his
pride.
Larry
Extremely intelligent life must exist in the universe.
You can tell because they never tried to contact us.
William P. Kolashinski
good, hand laid fiberglass, no machine to cut cost, everything is fiberglass
sides of boat at least 3/4 to one inch thick and the bottom is even thicker,
no wood in sides or bottom to rot like today's boats . The floor is wood but
laid in fiberglass on all sides, very well built boat , Can handle 10 ft
seas very well .
There is a website of searay classic boats at www.captainrononline.com He
can answer any questions of that type of boat.
Good Luck
Pat
"Scott Collins" <scott.c...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:WDD%a.162621$o%2.68394@sccrnsc02...
Gould 0738
>you see in the pictures, now. Overpriced pieces of crap designed to
>maximize manufacturer and dealer profits at the expense of value,
Good grief, Larry. Your first mistake is this: I'm not a boat dealer.
Your second mistake is that David Pascoe actually speaks fairly highly of new
Sea Rays, (at least as highly as he speaks about any boat)
From his website, the summary of a "review" of a 250 Sea Ray;
*****************
Summing up: On the outside, the overall quality is pretty good. Not much
chintzy hardware, and the basic structures are holding up well. With care, it
still looks good. The rub rails aren't all loose, dented and falling off, and
stress cracking is minimal. As a used boat, it offers excellent value. As a new
boat, they're still hard to beat quality wise, but the quality margin over the
competition can be a pretty thin line at times.
**************************************
How long will you keep throwing up Pascoe's site to trash Sea Ray when he
states they're "hard to beat quality wise"?
Larry W4CSC
>>Dealer Gould's hype aside, most all the new boats are built just like
>>you see in the pictures, now. Overpriced pieces of crap designed to
>>maximize manufacturer and dealer profits at the expense of value,
>
>Good grief, Larry. Your first mistake is this: I'm not a boat dealer.
Coulda fooled me. I thought you were a Sea Ray dealer from your
staunch defense of the brand name.
>
>Your second mistake is that David Pascoe actually speaks fairly highly of new
>Sea Rays, (at least as highly as he speaks about any boat)
>
>From his website, the summary of a "review" of a 250 Sea Ray;
>
>*****************
>Summing up: On the outside, the overall quality is pretty good. Not much
>chintzy hardware, and the basic structures are holding up well. With care, it
>still looks good. The rub rails aren't all loose, dented and falling off, and
>stress cracking is minimal. As a used boat, it offers excellent value. As a new
>boat, they're still hard to beat quality wise, but the quality margin over the
>competition can be a pretty thin line at times.
>
>**************************************
>
>How long will you keep throwing up Pascoe's site to trash Sea Ray when he
>states they're "hard to beat quality wise"?
>
As long as boats are made like the pictures clearly show. It's a
piece of crap, just like most of the rest of them....
Larry W4CSC
Maybe we could get the power grid fixed if every politician
regulating the power companies wasn't on their payrolls.
Gould 0738
>piece of crap, just like most of the rest of them....
>
>
An opinon to which you are certainly entitled. Your error is to constantly
advance David Pasco as an expert who shares it.
By the way, that white goo is *still* a lousy repair. :-)