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So here's the story...

1997 was one of many years that I went downtown Detroit to the boat show at Cobo Hall.  I was always attracted to Sea Ray boats and at that point owned a 23' Weekender.  I looked at the boats on display and picked up a brochure.  

In that brochure, which has had a home in my magazine rack for the last 21 years, was the 330 Sundancer.  

I said, "that's the boat I'm going to own someday".

Well, "someday" arrived.  Here is our 1997 Sea Ray 330 Sundancer.

I feel SO fortunate to be able to realize this dream.  

Here's the details.

I found this boat through "Houseboats Buy Terry" at the Conley Bottom Resort Marina on Lake Cumberland near Monticello, KY. 

BTW...the houseboats down there are really something to see.  They're basically a mobile home on a barge.  Some are little more than that and others are quite luxurious.  Docking one of those things in a crosswind must be a challenge.

But back to the subject at hand...MY "houseboat"...

It's a 1997 Sea Ray 330 Sundancer.  The tale of the tape...

LOA       33' 6"
Beam     11' 5"
Weight   11,200 lbs.
Built at the Palm Coast Florida Sea Ray plant. 

The seller was the original owner and used the boat primarily for day cruising.  I have a clean slate for navigation electronics as there are none on this boat.  It is unusual to find one of these that also don't come with 20 year old electronics.  Another rare feature on this boat is cockpit air conditioning and heat.

The cockpit interior is in remarkable condition.  Light use and a covered slip in a temperate climate probably had a lot to do with that.

The co-pilot has her own throne in this boat.  An ice maker is under the port side seat with a wet bar behind it.

It's powered by 680 horses.  Twin 340 hp 7.4L MPI fuel injected inboards.  There's a 4.5KW Westerbeke generator for electrical power when "aweigh" from the dock.

The interior has the layout with the settee to starboard ahead of the mid cabin conversation pit.  Both areas make into additional berths.  We would have preferred the dinette layout that was available in this model but in the used market, some concessions have to be made.  We can live with this arrangement.  It actually makes the cabin feel a bit more spacious.

On the port side is the head...

 ...and then the galley with sink, range, fridge and microwave.

Forward is a queen berth with port and starboard hanging lockers.  The A/C unit is located under the berth with ducting throughout the cabin.  An "antique" TV/VCR is on a pull out shelf in the forward cabin.  The TV was an item that still has the factory stickers on the screen.  The sellers obviously didn't use it although there is a TV cable hooked to the boat at their Lake Cumberland slip.  Extra cushions and pieces of the canvas top system are still factory packaged as well.  It's really quite amazing.

The next hurdle is to have the boat shipped to Michigan.  Unfortunately, Lake Cumberland doesn't connect to any of the river systems that are connected to the Great Lakes but a cruise of that length would be more than I'd be comfortable with...on an unfamiliar boat.  Kind of like when we took off on a 5000 mile trip with a 15 year old RV that we owned for a week.  But then AAA is much more accessible on a highway than a river.

I'm thinking I might enjoy a week or two on Lake Cumberland in the spring before northern Michigan thaws out and get the boat prepped for shipping. That said, I'll be really glad to get the shipping part accomplished.  That's the part I absolutely have to rely on professional help to get done.

So another chapter begins.  More updates as they develop over the next several months.