1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

[Bill Mason]

I need some advice. I have an 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer with twin OMC V6 3.8 engines. Also the old sterndrives. <br /><br />I love the boat because it is in nice shape and has some nice teak. It is not all plastic like the newer ones. <br /><br />I have run it for about 8 or 9 years in the San Francisco Bay. It is not fresh water cooled but I do have the flush out system that I had installed when I bought the boat used. I have always flushed it with fresh water after every run. Every one. <br /><br />That got me 9 years of fun. Now one of the motors is frozen and two mechanics haven't been able to turn it over no matter what they tried. <br /><br />So, I guess both engines are shot. <br /><br />My question is what now? I have asked about repowering it but it will cost about $30,000 I am told because the newer motors will not fit the old mounts.<br /><br />Is it possible to rebuild the old blocks? Lots of salt erosion I would guess.<br /><br />Should I give the boat away? How bad off am I. <br /><br />One good thing. The wife loves this boat so at least I don't have that problem.<br /><br />bill

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

haven't we been through this already on this boat? Maybe that was another identical boat that was discussed. Or another board...<br /><br />I can get you short blocks - GM rebuilds cheap.<br />You can get drives- there are several sources<br /><br />If you got 9 years before - you should get another 9 years for about $10 grand in parts, a combo of good used freshwater parts and new stuff.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

by the time you do a first class reman with heads and manifolds and go through both intermediate housings and drive assy's your looking at about 15K and you still have a setup that was rather marginal when new.<br /> if you have to hire the work out your looking at 40 hours per engine anyway and maybe 30 hours per engine.<br /> if the fuel tank is aluminium it is most likly comeing to its lifes end as well.<br /> to repower may mean extensive transom reworking.<br /> most water intrusion issure start at the ex manifolds and risers then progress to holes corroded through the intake manifold passages and cyl head passages.<br /> most shops I work with and me personally wont touch it.<br /> to much time and saltwater coupled with the decreasing avalibility of parts.<br /> it may be better to hunt for a newer boat and donate yours and take the tax writeoff.<br /> thats a decision you and your wife and the facility your trusting to do the work need to place on paper.<br /> comes a point sometimes that either ya spend way more than its worth or take some pictures and let it go.

 

[KaGee]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Boont,<br /><br />You can get rebuilt 3.8's still. If I had it to do over, I think I'd have upgraded over to 4.3L. From what I know, the 4.3 bolts up the same.<br /><br />$30,000 is alot for sure. I'm sure they are planning on worst case scenario. I would believe you need to replace the manifolds as well. Seeing how you are in salt water, getting things apart on those sterndrives might get sticky.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

oops - wrong one... deleted post<br /><br />during the last discussion, I had linked somewhere to a similar freshwater only boat with rebuilt 3.8 twins in VGC for sale for around $7K to $9K US... gone looking

 

[Bill Mason]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

What would be a source for the rebuilt 3.8 or 4.3's? It is a little confusing when one person says my boat is worthless and he won't even work on them and others say repair and go another nine years. <br /><br />boont

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

boont, you have to look at in in two ways. 1st you have a 23 Y/O boat with a rusted up motor. resale value not much. if you really like the boat, the money you are not going to get back the money you put into it. it is money spent for the pleasure of running a 23 Y/O boat.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Take a look at ebasicpower.com.....How much work you are willing/able to put into it yourself? You don't mention the condition of your drives, that would be my major concern....The engines are easy.....JK

 

[Bill Mason]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

I tried ebasicpower. They do not carry the 3.8 motor. They suggested that I stick with the 3.8 so everything else would fit back on. <br /><br />My drives were ok when I stopped running the boat but it has been in the water for some time. I never really had any trouble with themn.<br /><br />boont

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Did you try Jasper Engines? They have alot of the older engines and a good warranty too.<br /><br />www.jasperengines.com

 

[Bill Mason]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

I just called Jasper. They say they can provide me a duplicate of my 3.8 OMC motors. Complete marine engines sans starter, carb, etc. for about $2400 each, delivered with my old motors as trade-ins. <br /><br />That is a good start. Thanks for the help. <br /><br />boont

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

does that include intake and exhast manifolds? and now we move on to the tilt system,the intermediate housing and the drive units and seawater pumps. there is a lot more to it than a set of long blocks.

 

[Bill Mason]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

The tilt system is fine as is the rest. I doubt that the intake and exhast manifolds are included. Don't know about the seawater pumps. Everything else had worked fine until this freeze up.<br /><br />Another option are recycled motors from Recycle Marine in Sacramento. These come with an 18 month warranty. Not my first choice but another idea. <br /><br />There is a way to do this but it is like pulling teeth to extract the information. I get one small lead at a time. <br /><br />boont

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Boont, I didn't even realize Sea Ray did anything but Mercruisers.I guess Brunswick purchased them after 1983 ?<br /><br />At any rate,review all these posts,including yours.Now think of a drive system you think is fruitless.I'm thinking of Force's L-Drive system.<br />As you read thru the posts think of this fruitless drive,and let us know what happens.<br /><br />Could you suggest updating such a system ?<br /><br />Bombardier has no interest in stringer drives,or supplying parts.You don't even have a Cobra drive. If you put BIG money into your stringer drive,and need parts in 3 - 5 years,you'll really know what big money is.Or you won't find parts.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Bill Mason]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Could someone interpret DHPMarine for me. I honestly have no idea what he just said. <br /><br />I am to review the posts and think of a fruitless drive system? Who is Bombardier? Who is Force L?<br /><br />I am not a mechanic. But if you guys want to talk electronic feature film editing I can make your head swim with facts and products you've never heard of. Of course I would never do that because there would be no point to it. I would try to help you edit your film. <br /><br />boont

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Sorry Boont,last thing I meant was to confuse you. <br />If your 1983 SeaRay is an OMC drive,I don't advise updating it.OMC was bought out by Bombardier (BRP).And BRP has no interest in sterndrive boats like yours.<br /><br />So if you put $$$$ ?? into your boat where are you in 5 years ? Without parts available ??<br />DHP

 

[Bill Mason]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Thanks for the clarification. So, switch to another brand? Mercruiser or something?<br /><br />Near my office is Stan Laurel's old boat. That is, Laurel of Laurel and Hardy. 1920's boat. Runs great. <br /><br />I have a 1983 boat and it's beginning to look like it is going to the Salvation Army. Should have gone with old technology I guess. <br /><br />boont

 

[paulie0735]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

I think keeping ones eye on the ball here is what’s needed. You have one seized engine and so far if I'm right you don't know exactly what’s wrong with it? Find out, lift the heads and define the extent of the damage, what’s wrong with one may not necessarily be wrong with the other. Your engine may be in fine shape cept for a spun bearing doesn’t have to be corrosion related!! or it may be totaled. But find out first, seems to me you’re happy with the boat and drives but have one seized engine............. fix the engine!! Go boating.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

Near my office is Stan Laurel's old boat. That is, Laurel of Laurel and Hardy. 1920's boat. Runs great. <br />

If you are talking about the Ida May, yes it runs great....... NOW. But at what cost???? <br />Anything can be restored or made better, but is the cost worth it.<br /><br />Found this site, on Laurel's boat, takes about a week to load all the pictures, but just from seeing what was done, my guess is they are over the cost of the boat when it was new.<br /><br /> http://www.idamay.org/Restorationbegins.html

 

[Bill Mason]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray Sundancer

"Spun bearing", thank you for that. It is true I don't know yet what the real story is. I plan to pull the heads and get the facts before I do anything, of course. <br /><br />I have visited the Ida May many times over the years, just to admire it. Someone has just purchased it and is doing a total restoration. However, it did run fine before the total restoration. Which is pretty good for an 80 year old engine that you can't get parts for and that no one will work on. <br /><br />boont