Great Lakes - Help! Wife wants cruiser, I want a get-up-and-go

We're at an impasse. She wants a nice 27+ cruiser with sleeping accommodations and entertainment space for 8 people. I would like a smaller, cuddy cabin or bow-rider 24 ft or less with some oomph. We both want to entertain on the boat and have plenty of space. We need something solid to handle Lake Erie. Ideally I would like to be able to ski off of it, but she is more concerned w/cruising and taking waves easily.

Thanks for you're help!

24 ft. or less will only handle Lake Erie on some days a 27ft will handle it on more days but not everyday still have to watch the weather. Almost no one goes sking on Lake Erie at least in 30 years I haven't seen them.

My vote is 270 Sundancer with 454 B3. Or 290 Amberjack with Twin IO 260s

Let your wife know that you will not be able to entertain 8 people on a 27 footer or ever a 32 footer.

Bowriders are generally not good boats for Lake Erie as a wave over the bow can swamp you.

I think your expectations are a bit out of line.

Take a trip to a couple of marinas and look at the various boats docked there. You may get an idea of what make/model and length best serves your purpose.

I'm with OSU . . . 8 entertained on a boat better include 4 that love to float in the tube! ;)

This is a compromise that doesn't look to end well.

Thanks guys. After a few discussions, we've been able to compromise on a 24 cabin cruiser. Sea Rays and Chaparral's are the ones that we've been able to agree on so far. Any thoughts on Chaparrals?

To be specific, we are looking at a 2000 Chaparral 240 Signature w/ a Merc 5.7 L 250hp.

south shore has 2004 Chap Sig merc 350 Mag B3. I know a little about that one. My trade-in. Nice boats but maybe not to fish from. Cruising and water sports entertain five, sleep two. That one WOT 40mph best cruise 24-28.

To be specific, we are looking at a 2000 Chaparral 240 Signature w/ a Merc 5.7 L 250hp.

I have heard nothing but good things about Chaparrals.

The 240 Chaparral that C-Dave traded in was in fantastic condition. Sold and delivered last weekend. NICE BOAT. Nothing real similar in our current inventory - but that changes daily this time of year.
Steve @ South Shore Marine

just traded in a 2000 Rinker 242 and a 2003 Larson 27 cabrio at Happy Days Boating; www.happydaysboating.com (http://www.happydaysboating.com) they aren't online yet, but will be soon also have coming a 2000 Sea Ray 245 Weekender soon;

Thanks! We're set on a 240 Sea Ray Sundancer. If anyone has one in good shape, low hrs, clean etc. for a competitive price let me know.

Happy boating!

Thanks! We're set on a 240 Sea Ray Sundancer. If anyone has one in good shape, low hrs, clean etc. for a competitive price let me know.

What price range are you working with?

25k and under

... is what you want ! More in line with her needs than yours ... but one SOLID boat that will take anything Lake Erie can throw at it !

Here is the link to the Doctor M : http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2010/Boat-2335520

Good luck with the impasse !

Wow! Beautiful vessel. A bit much for our first boat, maybe we'll upgrade in a few years :)

http://panamacity.craigslist.org/boa/2474125743.html

Phone number in the ad is no good.

How bout this? Just replaced u-joints, gimbal bearnings, exh/drive/shifter boots, shift cables, thermostat necks (ss), manifolds, risers, and much more, bottom painted july 3rd. This boat has twin 260hp 350 chevrolets, starboard has been replaced and has 3xx hours port has 6xx hours on it. It runs right at 40 mph on gps. Ad should $6000 in parts and labor in the last 6 months

http://panamacity.craigslist.org/boa/2474125743.html

Phone number in the ad is no good.

How bout this? Just replaced u-joints, gimbal bearnings, exh/drive/shifter boots, shift cables, thermostat necks (ss), manifolds, risers, and much more, bottom painted july 3rd. This boat has twin 260hp 350 chevrolets, starboard has been replaced and has 3xx hours port has 6xx hours on it. It runs right at 40 mph on gps. Ad should $6000 in parts and labor in the last 6 months

Problem is..........according to the pictures posted in your photobucket account at http://s717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/tomanyboats/ the boat appears to have been torn apart by a hurricane. What is up with that?;?;?

ahaha.. thats the whole album and that boat your looking at is the one that went down a few weeks ago enrout to orange beach ( I think).. gotta look in the searay 270 folder!

http://s717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/tomanyboats/searay%20270/

Sorry. I should have looked closer.

Does it come w/the guns?? Not planning on going from Lake Erie to Cuba anytime soon;)

Before you make your final decision, take your wife to some boat shows. It will be much easier to show her the options than trying to explain them.

How much are you wanting to spend on this get up & go boat???

I'd suggest looking around at local boat/yacht clubs, find one you like and learn from the locals, check out their boats, they may even take you out. Most likely, if you take my advice you will end up buying a different, and more suitable boat than if you don’t take my advice. I belong to yacht club and many of the guys start out with criteria similar to yours, which is by no means wrong, but once their wives step on a 33+ footer they always want their husbands to get a bigger boat. Are you trying to stay trailerable? I satisfy my need for speed with a 40hp tiller steer outboard on my inflatable. :0

I'd suggest looking around at local boat/yacht clubs, find one you like and learn from the locals, check out their boats, they may even take you out. Most likely, if you take my advice you will end up buying a different, and more suitable boat than if you don’t take my advice. I belong to yacht club and many of the guys start out with criteria similar to yours, which is by no means wrong, but once their wives step on a 33+ footer they always want their husbands to get a bigger boat. Are you trying to stay trailerable? I satisfy my need for speed with a 40hp tiller steer outboard on my inflatable. :0

1. Read my previous posts to this thread.
2. No need to go to boat/yacht clubs. Everyday marinas are just fine for us regular joes.
3. Sorry, but you come on like a yacht club snob.

3. Sorry, but you come on like a yacht club snob.

:rofl::rofl:

1. Read my previous posts to this thread.
2. No need to go to boat/yacht clubs. Everyday marinas are just fine for us regular joes.
3. Sorry, but you come on like a yacht club snob.

Reading back I can see what you mean, it's hard to talk about a yacht club without coming off that way. But in real life, I work my butt off to repair and maintain my boat that I bought as a fixer upper, I was the one down in the bilge cleaning and painting when my waste tank started leaking, but I know I'm a yacht clubber so that automatically means I have more money than brains, it's not for the reason that my slip at the yacht club is 700$ a year, the cheapest around or that other guys at the club actually lend a hand from time to time. I find myself explaining this often because people have a cliché idea of what a yacht club is, you know what they say "don’t scratch my anchor" or "hey lets go for a ride, alert the crew," In reality it's a bunch of blue collar guys like myself that like fishing and boating. I’m sorry if I came off as a snob, I see it sort of looks like I’m saying he has to get a bigger boat, But I see a lot of 2foot-ites and I was just trying to help, the larger boats are going for next to nothing, and there's no reason why the thought shouldn’t cross his mind, especially with the slop we all have to deal with in the great lakes. The Hull Truth is not the only place to find out about boating, why wouldn’t you want to meet other people with similar interests? Bye the way, I love your boat!

We're at an impasse. She wants a nice 27+ cruiser with sleeping accommodations and entertainment space for 8 people. I would like a smaller, cuddy cabin or bow-rider 24 ft or less with some oomph. We both want to entertain on the boat and have plenty of space. We need something solid to handle Lake Erie. Ideally I would like to be able to ski off of it, but she is more concerned w/cruising and taking waves easily.

Thanks for you're help!



I sent you a PM re: Sundancer 290

I really like my 268DA Sundancer with the Big Block. She's no speed demon, but she's alright. Entertaining 6 people along with few kids running around is not a problem. Handles 8-10ft waves in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan with ease..,.been there, done that several times.

Here's one I found on-line with a souped up 454 that would really scream!
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/Sea-Ray-268-Sundancer-2138162/Isleton/CA/United-States

I really like my 268DA Sundancer with the Big Block. She's no speed demon, but she's alright. Entertaining 6 people along with few kids running around is not a problem. Handles 8-10ft waves in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan with ease..,.been there, done that several times.

Here's one I found on-line with a souped up 454 that would really scream!
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/Sea-Ray-268-Sundancer-2138162/Isleton/CA/United-States

Getaway,
Sorry, I gotta call BS on a 27 footer handling 8-10 "with ease." Having boated on the Great Lakes and Atlantic for 30 years on boats from 25-52; I'll comfortably say not even a 24,000 lb displacement 36' Grand Banks trawler handles a fresh water 8-10 chop with ease.

Can your 4,500 lb displacement, 21 degree deadrise SeaRay take a beating in 8-10 for an hour or so while you run for cover? Sure, but the only 8' waves this boat handles with ease are ocean swells with a 9 sec period with no chop.

Not itch'n for an argument, but there are limits a buyer should recognize before making a decision on questionable data.

Getaway,
Sorry, I gotta call BS on a 27 footer handling 8-10 "with ease." Having boated on the Great Lakes and Atlantic for 30 years on boats from 25-52; I'll comfortably say not even a 24,000 lb displacement 36' Grand Banks trawler handles a fresh water 8-10 chop with ease.

Can your 4,500 lb displacement, 21 degree deadrise SeaRay take a beating in 8-10 for an hour or so while you run for cover? Sure, but the only 8' waves this boat handles with ease are ocean swells with a 9 sec period with no chop.

Not itch'n for an argument, but there are limits a buyer should recognize before making a decision on questionable data.

Not saying it was fun, just saying it handles those sea's and we never felt unsafe. The last time we were caught in those sea's it was blowing 35 steady and we were running in a head sea for 25 miles from Glenn Arbor to Frankfort in Lake Michigan. Made it back and the boat handled it fine and we were safe.

Since you seem to be the all-knowing, I'll step back and let you make suggestions on what the guy should buy.

Not saying it was fun, just saying it handles those sea's and we never felt unsafe. The last time we were caught in those sea's it was blowing 35 steady and we were running in a head sea for 25 miles from Glenn Arbor to Frankfort in Lake Michigan. Made it back and the boat handled it fine and we were safe.

Since you seem to be the all-knowing, I'll step back and let you make suggestions on what the guy should buy.

I join Salmon in saying your claim is BS. The '89 270 Dancer (longer and wider beam than a 268) that I owned many years ago could not handle a capping Lake Erie very well and 3-5 footers would have kept her at the dock, although it was a solid boat and built like a tank.

Not saying it was fun, just saying it handles those sea's and we never felt unsafe. The last time we were caught in those sea's it was blowing 35 steady and we were running in a head sea for 25 miles from Glenn Arbor to Frankfort in Lake Michigan. Made it back and the boat handled it fine and we were safe.



Not trying to start a pissing contest here but an 8-10' HEAD sea and 35 knot steady winds in a 26' narrow beam Sea Ray for 25 miles? I have to call BS to, I don't think your idea of 8-10' is the same as others here.

I've got the boat! Luhrs 320 Open, It will handle Lake Earie with ease.
It is listed on this For Sale - 1999 Luhrs 320 Open

You don't understand women, you are shopping for a boat, she is looking for another nest.

See if you can find a Pursuit 2470 Denali, little cabin, great entertainment space, room for a ton of people in the cockpit and they run great in lake slop. The Denali line is popular among yacht club folks too so there are many with 400 hours at 10 years old that have been maintained really well.

24,000 might get you one.

Another great choice if you want some speed and a great ride is a Formula 260 Sun Sport, they are tough as nails, have a great interior and will run well with a single big block. Better built with better materials than most, they have a long running surface (but not as long as Pursuit) and they are still easy on the eye

I'll make you a deal on my eclipse 250...lol

You want to entertain 8 people on your boat???? I have a 340 Sea Ray Sundancer. My boat would be packed with 8 people aboard.

Getaway221v I find it very, very hard to believe that you were out in 8 to 10 ft seas on the great lakes. They may have felt and looked like 8 to 10 but were probley 4 to 5's

Getaway221v I find it very, very hard to believe that you were out in 8 to 10 ft seas on the great lakes. They may have felt and looked like 8 to 10 but were probley 4 to 5's

8 to 10 feet frequency maybe?

I boat on the Great Lakes. I wouldn't take a 265 5 miles in 10-12' if you would give me the boat. Besides I already have owned one. Took it from Port Austin to Port Huron in 3-5'. That sucked. No room for error in those steep, closely spaced waves. Of course that's me.

See if you can find a deal on one of these, it's a Monterey 302. This is mine it's a 2006. The cockpit will easily seat 9 and 10 if you want. It's one of the only boats in this class that has a door to the aft cabin instead of a curtain. The forward area converts into a V-berth and the dining table are can also be used as a small bunk. This boat tops out at 50 and will cruise all day at 30. It has twin 5.7's. It's LOA is 32' and beam 10.5'. It's not a boat for 10' seas as none in this class are. 3' is no problem, it will handle 5' but that is also my personal limit on this boat.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z254/thunder747/DSC00080.jpg

I bought a Bayliner 246 4 years ago. My wife wanted it. She still loves it.
We've crossed Superior in it with about 3-4' seas and it was fine.
While it will reach water skiing speeds, it would be pretty expensive to use for that application.
Superior gets COLD. The 246 is one of few boats this small with a hardtop.

Great Lakes waves are almost always a steep tight chop and 3-5's are pretty miserable in most boats. The lake usually clears off when it get's 4'-6' and I'm yet to see any boat that's up and running in 8'-10's much less doing so in a 26' Sea Ray. Remember, 3-5's amost always have the ocasional 6 or 7 mixed in so even if you're comfortable with the 4's you're still going to get pounded. I log 150-250 hours a year on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan and NOBODY runs on plane under those conditions regardless of the boat.

Great Lakes waves are almost always a steep tight chop and 3-5's are pretty miserable in most boats. The lake usually clears off when it get's 4'-6' and I'm yet to see any boat that's up and running in 8'-10's much less doing so in a 26' Sea Ray. Remember, 3-5's amost always have the ocasional 6 or 7 mixed in so even if you're comfortable with the 4's you're still going to get pounded. I log 150-250 hours a year on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan and NOBODY runs on plane under those conditions regardless of the boat.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: I boat out of the Eastern Basin of Lake Erie and 8- 10 in a 26 Searay isn't going to happen unless they weren't watching the weather and now trying despertly to get back to shore. Like you said 4-6"s the lake is cleared off for the most part.
Used to have one of those Ray's.Even with the 4-6er's there is alway's one of those unexpected beam waves.

With all the excitement, I failed to tell y'all that we got an 02 Sea Ray Sundancer 240, love it!! Thanks for your input. Is it spring yet??!

With all the excitement, I failed to tell y'all that we got an 02 Sea Ray Sundancer 240, love it!! Thanks for your input. Is it spring yet??!

Nice job! Love those Rays.