Yep, you read that right... I'm picking up a 1986 Sea Ray 270 Sea Ray Sundancer with twin 470 Mercruisers for $500.
The gentlemen I'm purchasing it from bought it because he wanted the trailer it was on, and though he would like to, he doesn't have time to take on the project.
The scary part is that it's been sitting, uncovered since 2003... however, he purchased it from the original owner, who took great care of it until he became too old to do so; it was winterized and has sat ever since.
It is in surprisingly good shape all things considered... nothing even close to a soft spot felt anywhere, the cabin headboard has no sag nor stains (which is unusual for a boat of this age), the engine bay is fairly immaculate, none of the hoses seem brittle, all of the stainless as well as the window surroundings etc. are in oddly perfect condition; I pulled a few plugs and found no rust, which leads me to believe it was fogged properly (though I haven't tried turning it over yet)... it is absolutely filthy from sitting, but I believe there is a great boat underneath. I have no reason to suspect that anything is seriously wrong with it.
I just so happen to be an auto and marine detailer and am fairly mechanically inclined (my '93 Four Winns has never seen the inside of a shop, and I've done quite a bit of work on it), and am able to store it next to the detailing shop, and I love these types of projects, so I'm very excited.
I did my research on the motors and outdrives, and have a pretty good understanding of what will need to be done a boat that has been sitting (drain/clean fuel tank, impeller, change all fluids, full boot replacement, plugs, wires, grease everything, shift cables, etc.), and luckily I've done basically all of that on my Four Winns so I'm not too intimidated. I also plan on taking the recommendations of others and doing an alternator and electronic ignition conversions. And I certainly know how to clean it up, as that is my current profession.
However, I am not familiar with this vintage of boat, so I have some very basic questions.
Such as: the boat has four battery trays. Does each battery serve a different purpose? Ie., do the starboard batteries run the accessories and the port batteries run the motors?
I threw in a battery in the rear portside tray to see if I could get any of the lights, etc. to fire up, but no luck (and yes I turned the battery switch on). I'm wondering if I simply had it in the wrong position?
Also, I've noticed that some 80's 270 Sundancers have radar arches; was this an option, or a year-specific thing?
I'd like to add one, either fiberglass or aluminum, because I have basically full Raytheon radar/chart plotter electronics, just not the radar unit itself.
Anyway, if anyone has any input/suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it, and though I don't have any right now I'd be happy to post some pictures of my progress as I go along.
Corey
The gentlemen I'm purchasing it from bought it because he wanted the trailer it was on, and though he would like to, he doesn't have time to take on the project.
The scary part is that it's been sitting, uncovered since 2003... however, he purchased it from the original owner, who took great care of it until he became too old to do so; it was winterized and has sat ever since.
It is in surprisingly good shape all things considered... nothing even close to a soft spot felt anywhere, the cabin headboard has no sag nor stains (which is unusual for a boat of this age), the engine bay is fairly immaculate, none of the hoses seem brittle, all of the stainless as well as the window surroundings etc. are in oddly perfect condition; I pulled a few plugs and found no rust, which leads me to believe it was fogged properly (though I haven't tried turning it over yet)... it is absolutely filthy from sitting, but I believe there is a great boat underneath. I have no reason to suspect that anything is seriously wrong with it.
I just so happen to be an auto and marine detailer and am fairly mechanically inclined (my '93 Four Winns has never seen the inside of a shop, and I've done quite a bit of work on it), and am able to store it next to the detailing shop, and I love these types of projects, so I'm very excited.
I did my research on the motors and outdrives, and have a pretty good understanding of what will need to be done a boat that has been sitting (drain/clean fuel tank, impeller, change all fluids, full boot replacement, plugs, wires, grease everything, shift cables, etc.), and luckily I've done basically all of that on my Four Winns so I'm not too intimidated. I also plan on taking the recommendations of others and doing an alternator and electronic ignition conversions. And I certainly know how to clean it up, as that is my current profession.
However, I am not familiar with this vintage of boat, so I have some very basic questions.
Such as: the boat has four battery trays. Does each battery serve a different purpose? Ie., do the starboard batteries run the accessories and the port batteries run the motors?
I threw in a battery in the rear portside tray to see if I could get any of the lights, etc. to fire up, but no luck (and yes I turned the battery switch on). I'm wondering if I simply had it in the wrong position?
Also, I've noticed that some 80's 270 Sundancers have radar arches; was this an option, or a year-specific thing?
I'd like to add one, either fiberglass or aluminum, because I have basically full Raytheon radar/chart plotter electronics, just not the radar unit itself.
Anyway, if anyone has any input/suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it, and though I don't have any right now I'd be happy to post some pictures of my progress as I go along.
Corey
Last edited:
