Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

[lncoop]

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/boa/2125257124.html

Just ran across this. I'd love to hear what anyone thinks about it and about Sunchaser boats in general. I'm not familiar with that line. I think they're connected to Lowe maybe? The power plant is a 120 horse Johnson. He readily provided the name of his mechanic. It's eighteen years old, but it sure looks nice. Thoughts?

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

Don't know anything about the Suncruiser, but the photo's look good. The price seems reasonable, especially if the trailer is included.

Those old Johnson's were real work horses so I would not hesitate to buy an 18 year-old engine if the price is right. A compression check might be in order just to make sure it was never run without oil.

Good luck and Happy Holiday's

 

[lncoop]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

The only name I've seen tied to the Sunchaser line is Smokercraft. Sure would like to find out who made the thing.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

My first pontoon was a Smokercraft and at that time (1987) was manufactured in LaGrange, Ga. they were a subsidiary of Sylvan out of Indiana.

I've just googled and found that a lots has changed since then but the Sunchaser is still being made.

http://www.smokercraft.com/videoclips/video.htm

 

[lncoop]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

Think I figured it out. The guy has three photos of a Lowe Suncruiser deck boat and one photo of a Sunchaser party barge in the same ad. It's just a Lowe deckboat, and '92 was the first year those were made. Does appear to be in very good shape, but I'm not sure my girls would like the ride of the metal deckboat.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

This pretty well confirms my suspicion. Not the boat but identical. Thinking the ride would be plenty safe but a little rough and wet.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1992-Lowe-Suncruiser-97080441

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

My wife and I love those older deck boats. Probably the best combination of speed, manuverability and wide deck comfort available.

But then, maybe not really good at any of it!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

Don't know about Sunchaser but Suncruiser was part of the OMC mess, they bought a bunch of companies in the mid 90s, suncruiser and Lowe among them.

Suncruiser only made pontoons originally then after OMC callapsed someone bought Lowe and Suncruiser and started branding other boats with the name.

I worked for Suncruiser for 9 years, actually the core group that is now at Bennington all came from Suncruiser we just called all the best people from there and started Bennington, worked out pretty well so far.

So ya, the boat is a Lowe wioht different stickers on it.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

Don't know about Sunchaser but Suncruiser was part of the OMC mess, they bought a bunch of companies in the mid 90s, suncruiser and Lowe among them.

Suncruiser only made pontoons originally then after OMC callapsed someone bought Lowe and Suncruiser and started branding other boats with the name.

I worked for Suncruiser for 9 years, actually the core group that is now at Bennington all came from Suncruiser we just called all the best people from there and started Bennington, worked out pretty well so far.

So ya, the boat is a Lowe wioht different stickers on it.

So knowing that, what's your general opinion on one like this? In my mind it's basically a giant mod-v john boat, but I don't know what the guts are supposed to look like. For instance, would the stringers be wood? The ad says "all aluminum, no wood to rot", but surely he's not referring to the stringers and transom. Do you think there would be enough stringers to prevent vibration and general rough riding? I suspect the ride would be rough and wet, which is great in some cases, but not when it comes to boats. I'm just not that familiar with boats that have internal structural components. Help me out here.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

My wife and I love those older deck boats. Probably the best combination of speed, manuverability and wide deck comfort available.

But then, maybe not really good at any of it!

Mr. Crabbs, did you ever own one similar to this with an aluminum hull? If so I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

The transom may have wood but the hull is all aluminum, I sort of remember seeing one and it had a pretty decent super structure in the hull, almost a grid of welded box aluminum so it should be pretty solid.

I was on the toon side in Elkhart IN and they sent up an unfinished hull from Missouri, the welds weren't super dooper but it was alot of structure and not a peice of wood in site.

As to ride, Ya being that wide and having a shallow dead rise it would probably ride alittle rough.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Sunchaser; Tell Me What You Think

Interesting. That's what I was looking for. Thanks 5150.