thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

[tashasdaddy]

it has this for power twin, Engine(s): Mercruiser Engine(s) HP: 370 Engine Model: 8.1 Horizon FWC, which i know nothing about, and will not service myself. has 50 hours on it. planning a survey. will be 2nd home.
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...nits=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=25066&url=

tell me what you know, please.

EDIT" clarification, my sister is thinking of buying this, to live aboard.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

Man TD is that a sweet boat!!!
Did you win the lottery???

Can i come down and go for a ride???

 

[mthieme]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

FWC is a real good thing, but as I understand this particular setup, the manifolds are not FWC. Why they did that, I have no clue.
This is the only thing technical I can pass on.

I work with a girl who has a 50' 'Ray that she, her son and significant other live on all season. She says they are very comfortable. (go figure - my house is 50'!)

Sweet boat - nice choice ( even if weren't biased towards SeaRay.)
Why am I getting visions of pink flamingos stuck on the transom?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

did not win the lottery, My sister is an empty nester, in a 4,000sqft, $400,000 house. it was vandalized last week, so she has been hashing selling, and has decided to do it. she will use this as a Live Aboard, for her, until her contract with her work terminates in 4 1/2 years.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

I hear ya TD..was just joking about the lottery...

I sure would love to live on that for 4 years...

 

[chiefalen]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

Is there a way to lease to own the boat ?

In other words say she don't like it in six months she can pack up and book.

I have heard of this kind of arrangement, where the money on the lease went to the final closing cost.

And she would have, say a year to close on the boat.

Would the owner of the boat go for such a deal ?

Ok this is a twin screw boat ?

Velvet drives ?

 

[lkbum]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

It's probably not that important to your sister, but Boating magazine did tests on this boat with conventional inboards and Bravo III's. Both were coupled to 7.4's (I think). Anyway, the I/O's had a top end over 10 mph higher than the inboard's and got got near 1 mpg better fuel economy at cruise. The only place the inboard did better was at idle and around the dock. The explanation was less drag with the I/O's and that they had never really been evaluated on larger cruisers. This type of performance has recently been validated with the POD drives. If I had a choice, I'd definitely go with the I/O (if you could find one), but I would probably be cruising a lot more than sitting and not headed out to blue water.

 

[QC]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

I have a couple of questions/comments . . .

1) Why are you reluctant to service? Pretty simple setup with your skills. They need plugs, oil and impellers once in a while . . . Tranny has oil in it, and there are packings for the shafts.

2) An Express Cruiser seems like an odd choice for a Liveaboard. Does she (you) plan to run her much? Does she need the speed?

 

[Bondo]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

Ayuh,...

Sweet Barge,.....

The motors I believe are Merc's state of the art electronic...
Turn the key,+ Go...

I saw No mention of the drives,.. Inboards,..?? I/Os,..??

Overall,...
It looks nice,+ New,+ comfy...

From a 4000sq.ft house to a 34" Sportcruiser is going to be a 'ell of a Culture Shock....

 

[abj87]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

I saw No mention of the drives,.. Inboards,..?? I/Os,..??

i think it may be v drives because the engines are backwards.

Diesels would be nice but thats not bad

 

[newport dave]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

I would recommend that you have someone who is very familiar with those engines check them over and, if possible, have the seller agree to pay for the 100 hour service before you buy.

I've evaluated more 8.1's than I care to think about, and overall they're a very nice running and reliable engine. A big problem on the older ones was corrosion of the aluminum exhaust manifolds, but that one should be equipped with cast iron manifolds. The most common problem on the newer ones is raw water leakage at the Gen III Coolfuel module, so take a look at them.

 

[torcano]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

If the pictures are a true representation of the condition, the boat looks to be in excellent condtion. It looks like new. I was looking at a 2005 300 Sundancer a few months ago and they were selling in the 90K range. The price seems very reasonable for that boat. My previous boat was a SeaRay and I have nothing bad to say about it. I agree with QC if her primary objective is to live on board , then other configurations (sedan bridge, trawlers) might be more conducive to long term stays.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

she was planning on buying a boat like this in the near future. she had been looking at Four Winds, but this one popped up. looking at what i'm finding on the web for comparable boats, the price is not bad either.

QC, i've had one I/O, i personally hated it. we have the Chris Craft 230 which will be kept. i've done a little to it. but major is going to the shop. i'm too old and stiff, to be on my belly, using the brail system to install plugs, etc.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

I see holiday mansion true house boats all the time. They are alot less expensive, and like 48 feet.

What if she don't like it, you need to get one that you can sell easy.

And in this economy might not be that easy.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

she will keep it. if she does not like living aboard, she will go to an apartment, and use the boat on weekends. she and i are quiet alike, i had the big house also, went to 800 sq ft for 5 years, and loved it.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: thinking of buying 2005 340 Sundancer Searay

So enjoy it to the fullest with good health, and may you and your sister, have nothing but good luck, with all your endeavors.