Is a Sugar Sand right for you?

[pmorita]

I brought the old one in and they gave me one that looked the same but was for a 65 ford pickup. I ordered an OEM one, but it works just fine.

 

[zamorapaul313]

Having purchased a rather neglected 2004 Mirage in late 2017 and nursing it back to health, along with perusing this board often since then, I think I’ve acquired enough knowledge to formulate a seasoned opinion on the subject with respect to a purchase decision. While by no means is my experience the be-all-end-all, it can serve as both a deterrent and encouragement to the first-time buyer.

If you read about my experiences in the series “When Nice Boats Go Bad” you’ll see that I had to be a VERY resourceful DIY’er to not end up spending two fortunes just to make mine seaworthy. And not a few owners on this forum have spent cubic-dollars fixing a blown motor. Just finding parts can be a daunting task, not to mention Mercury Marine stopped support of the powertrain years ago. It took me months just to figure out what kind of latches were used for the bow cushions as mine were completely gone, and then who to source the replacements from. (FYI - Southco MT-01-10-7 - bisco industries) As for repair help, my local trusted Merc dealer won’t even touch a Sport Jet due to lack of OEM parts.

Consider that Sugar Sand Boats Inc. capsized in 2008 (with brief resurfacings only to go under again). This means that every single Sugar Sand (barring one or two newer prototypes) is at least 13 years old. Many are in their late teens and early 20’s. For private aircraft, similar years are considered WCASW (who cares and so what), but for used trailer boats, this is not insignificant.

Careful consideration should be done, along with a certified report from a licensed marine surveyor before purchase, unless one is taken in as a “donation.” Even then, buyer’s remorse could set in quickly and suddenly.

That said, I love my Mirage, and guests I’ve taken on it have said that they love it too. For its light weight, it has a pretty decent ride. It’s fun and nimble and versatile. It doesn’t make the most efficient use of space, but it still has a reasonable amount of storage for your gear. It’s not a gas-hog and doesn’t beat you to death in weather. Even non-boaters appreciate the swoopy lines and say she’s a real beauty. Would I do it all over again? Hell’s yeah!

Now, if someone asked me if they should buy a Sugar Sand, my questions to them would be:

• Do you enjoy detective work? Because the clues may be hidden.
• Are you easily frustrated? Because the rewards may not come quickly.
• Are you on a tight budget? Because the costs might be prohibitive.
• Do you relish a challenge? Because challenged you will be.
• Are you self-reliant? Because many times you’re on your own.

There are some GREAT people on this forum, many who know much more than I about a number of subjects related to repairs and maintenance of this boat. And they’ve been of no small help to me in my adventures. However, while they can be there to help you with questions, they can’t be there to do it for you. You either find someone you can trust who is willing to work on it within your budget, or you do it yourself. There are no other choices save walking away. YMMV.

P.S. I’ve love for others to chime in here to add your $0.02. You can call me a doomer or call me a savant, but just don’t call me late for supper!

Is any body still on this thread? I just bought a 1995 sugar sand mirage with mercury sport jet 120. (Somewhat decent running shape but does need some general maintenance at the very least)
I'm somewhat familiar with 2 strokes but this is my first ever boat in not opposed to taking it to a shop to work on if need be but I would like to do as much of any work/ maintenance/ tuning as I can by myself and was hoping there was some people on here that are familiar with these boats if/ when I have some questions come up.

Any and all responses are appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[WILL IHNE]

Is any body still on this thread? I just bought a 1995 sugar sand mirage with mercury sport jet 120. (Somewhat decent running shape but does need some general maintenance at the very least)
I'm somewhat familiar with 2 strokes but this is my first ever boat in not opposed to taking it to a shop to work on if need be but I would like to do as much of any work/ maintenance/ tuning as I can by myself and was hoping there was some people on here that are familiar with these boats if/ when I have some questions come up.

Any and all responses are appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[WILL IHNE]

Most of the engine parts are still available on some web sites like www.mercruiserparts.com
You're also welcome to join the Sugar Sand Boats on Facebook if you have a Facebook that is.

 

[zamorapaul313]

Most of the engine parts are still available on some web sites like www.mercruiserparts.com
You're also welcome to join the Sugar Sand Boats on Facebook if you have a Facebook that is.

Good to know ill check out the website and ill join the fb group, thank you