Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

[heatz1express]

My question is should i even be considering the purchase of a 1978 30 foot Sea Ray Sunbridge w/twin 440's and borg/warner trans.
The boat would be a move bigger for us and twin screws would be new to me! Wife and I want to go bigger and boat price is within our budget (bit of a fixer upper but I am handy enough. needs work inside and guy's got the floors torn up and has started replacing.)
Are these boats known for any problems? Are the engines worth the extra trips to the pump? Should I stay away from Inboards and stick with I/O or outboards? The guy says that mechanically she runs and goes great!
???
We do our boating on Lake Simcoe and the Trent System. Any insights would be appreciated . I spent two hours going over this boat as best I could and told the guy I would get back to him today so this is sort of time sensitive!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

My question is should i even be considering the purchase of a 1978 30 foot Sea Ray Sunbridge w/twin 440's and borg/warner trans.
The boat would be a move bigger for us and twin screws would be new to me! Wife and I want to go bigger and boat price is within our budget (bit of a fixer upper but I am handy enough. needs work inside and guy's got the floors torn up and has started replacing.)
Are these boats known for any problems? Are the engines worth the extra trips to the pump? Should I stay away from I/O and stick with sterndrive or outboards? The guy says that mechanically she runs and goes great!
???
We do our boating on Lake Simcoe and the Trent System. Any insights would be appreciated . I spent two hours going over this boat as best I could and told the guy I would get back to him today so this is sort of time sensitive!

Ayuh,... Bein' a '78, if ya go into it thinkin' that ALL of the wood needs replacin', aka: not just the decks, but stringers, 'n transom as well,...
You can decide for yerself...

'n,... That's an Inboard,... Not an I/O....

along with those points, Chrysler has been Outa the Marine business for nearly 35 Years now...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

So you're talking about a 35 year old boat with floors already rotted and a pair of obsolete engines? What do you think the answer is?

 

[wrench 3]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

It sounds like a good set up if you can afford to feed it. The inboards should be no problem in the Trent system if your sticking to the red line, but realy watch your charts if you explore off the beaten path.
I'm running a 454 in a boat that would more comanly run a 350. If your not pushing it, it is a little harder on fuel but not a drastic change. I'm afraid I haven't heard any chatter on the fuel consumption with the 440s.
Hope this helps.

 

[heatz1express]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

Sounds crazy I know, but we like the style and the layout and are'nt Sea Rays known for good construction and sea worthiness? I think I can bring her back. Just don't know if it's worth the trouble! the boat would be for us not resale.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

When it comes to a 3-dacade-old boat, the manufacturer badge on the side means next to nothing in terms of quality. The fact that it is having the floors (and likely needs the stringers) replaced should tell you exactly what you have to work with. If I were you, I'd just assume that nothing is good except for the engines/transmissions. If you can stomach replacing most of the interior/flooring/electrical and any other odds/ends, then it will be a good project for you. If the thought of replacing all of that seems like more trouble than it's worth, then I'd walk away. You wold likely drop several thousand into the boat to get it right, not including engine/transmission work. Your call, chief.

 

[wrench 3]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

We picked up our 1986 26' aft cabin really cheap with a blown engine, no convertible top, all the exposed wood looked like it came off of the side of a barn, almost every electrical and hydraulic system needed some kind of work, also one bulkhead and one stringer needed repair. But, two years later we had a good looking boat with a rebuilt engine and new canvas for a total of $5,500.00.
It all depends on how good a deal you can get on the boat and how much time you want to invest.

 

[heatz1express]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

Anybody got experience with the "Sunbridge" style or the 440's? Is she top heavy or good in the rough? Are the 440's "da bomb" or are they a pain in the tail end? The sunbridge is an extension of the flybridge which allows for up to 6 or more people up there. This boat was the flagship of the Sea Ray fleet in '78!

 

[heatz1express]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

there must be at least one old salt on these forums who remembers the 1978 30ft Sea Ray Sunbridge and the 440 engines. Any last words ya'll before I make my decision?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

Lets ask the REAL question... how much money does he want for this boat.... To even be worth considering it would need to be next to nothing.

 

[heatz1express]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

Lets ask the REAL question... how much money

I am thinking of offering around $5000.00

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

WAY WAY WAY too much

at $500 I'd have to look at it... for $5000 you can find one that you can use while you fix up the cosmetics.

EDIT:
Whoops... just noticed you are in Canada... I hear that boats cost a LOT more there so that might make my advice a bit under priced for you.

 

[heatz1express]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

WAY WAY WAY too much

really? I have seen them for as high as 24,900 and a few between 10000 and 20000. thought for five I could afford to put five into it!

 

[hottoddie]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

I would not consider making any offer on that boat unless it was subject to a satifactory survey and sea trial. That's coming from someone who bought a 1986 Sea Ray Express with 454's 2 years ago. The boat needed some work but had really good bones. If the survey shows wet stringers and or decks, I would not take the boat if it were given to me.

 

[heatz1express]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

that is the way I am looking at it-needs some work but good bones. since the floor is out I got right down in with the stringers and prodded around checking for mush/rot-stringers solid enough-boat can be used while upgrades are done.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

really? I have seen them for as high as 24,900 and a few between 10000 and 20000. thought for five I could afford to put five into it!

you DID see my edit right?
example, I bought the boat in my sig for $500 and I have under $4000 in it total now

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

care to import one? can you do glass work?
Sea Ray Cruiser 340 Low Hours Sandy victim in Powerboats & Motorboats | eBay Motors

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

that is the way I am looking at it-needs some work but good bones. since the floor is out I got right down in with the stringers and prodded around checking for mush/rot-stringers solid enough-boat can be used while upgrades are done.

So YOU checked the stringers and transom? If you are ABSOLUTELY positive the stringers and transom are good, then if you want to do the floor work, I guess you could. How much of the floor is rotted and torn out?
As stated above, make sure you can get marine specific parts (exhaust manifolds mainly) for the no-longer-produced 440 engines.

 

[wrench 3]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

Just a final note from the great white north. I've been fooled before by rotten wood that was frozen solid. Check carefully.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Sea Ray Sunbridge project--TAKE IT ON OR RUN ???

If the 440s are fresh water cooled crusaders there is no problem getting parts in my area.

I assume this is the flybridge model, as I can't see a Sunbridge model listed on Sea Rays 1978 archive.

I've heard older Sea Rays are built fairly well but age will take its till. If your certain shes structurally solid and the motors run well the boat might not be a bad deal. I prefer older boats with inboard power so I might be of the opposite opinion than most here.