Official 280 Sundancer Thread

Has anyone replaced the gold-colored vinyl moulding on a 280DA? On ours, the gold color is partially deteriorated, and I'd prefer to just replace it with black. I haven't pulled any of it up yet, but my first thought is that it looks like "vinyl T-moulding", which is inexpensive and readily available.

Same issue..... I would love to replace it. if you come up with anything let me know and ditto for me
 
Thanks for your replies. I don't have photos but the shade on the hatch that I am referring to is the shade that you would draw closed on the hatch over the V birth to keep the sun out. It also has an insect screen to be used when the hatch is opened. The shade does not recoil all the way in.

I have a couple of other questions. Is it an easy fix to remove and realign the steering wheel so that it is in line when driving straight? Mine is slightly off. Also, I have one engine that is running 4 to 5 degrees warmer than the other and the oil pressure is slightly off at the same rpm. This is my first twin engine boat so I don't know what would be considered normal. I have an extended warranty so I want to make sure that I get everything dialed in.

Thanks, KV
 
I believe it's just a nut that holds the wheel on under the emblem, i'm pretty sure it's an easy thing to do.

The engine gauges suck!!! They are not accurate. Just remember where everything is at and note any changes from their normal position.
 
Hatch issues I'd like to know also.

Steering wheel. Keep in mind a boat is not like a car and the wheel will always be a bit 'off' because to make the boat go straight, the rudder/sterndrive may be angled to compensate for wind or current.

But to answer the question of how to straighten the wheel;
The center section of the steering wheel that holds the Sea Ray emblem can be pulled off easily. The center piece has three 'arms' that go over each of the three spokes. The arms just pop off. Under the center cover the steering wheel is attached to the steering hub with 8 (10?) allen head cap screws. Undo the allen screws and adjust wheel position.

To prevent having to do this a couple times get an idea of how far the wheel is off by driving the boat. So drive the boat and get it going in a straight line. Mark the 12:00 position on the hub (piece of masking tape with a pencil mark). Now you can drop the hook, go back to the dock etc and remove the steering wheel and align the wheel with the hub.

Henry
 
ever thought of switching to the silver that the current year has? I have had no problems with it.
The silver does look great, but there's so much other gold trim on the boat (under the counter, on the head door handle, all cupboard knobs, etc.), that I think black would make the best color choice. My biggest question is whether or not it is actual standard vinyl T-moulding, or is it specially made for this appliaction?
 
Thanks for your replies. I don't have photos but the shade on the hatch that I am referring to is the shade that you would draw closed on the hatch over the V birth to keep the sun out. It also has an insect screen to be used when the hatch is opened. The shade does not recoil all the way in.

I have a couple of other questions. Is it an easy fix to remove and realign the steering wheel so that it is in line when driving straight? Mine is slightly off. Also, I have one engine that is running 4 to 5 degrees warmer than the other and the oil pressure is slightly off at the same rpm. This is my first twin engine boat so I don't know what would be considered normal. I have an extended warranty so I want to make sure that I get everything dialed in.

Thanks, KV

Sorry no experience with the shade hatch. Mine has worked well. Possible there is debris or something else in the track? How long has it been since the impellers where replaced? My 4.3's run within a degree of one another per smartcraft.
 
Hey guys new here but have been in my 280 for 4 years now, just now getting real comfortable with her! I have twin 4.3 EFIs and was curious what you all consider cruising speed and RPMs... I feel like my gas consumption has gone to hell but more so I'm getting confident in taking her on longer hauls potentially from Washington DC to VA beach and I'm curious how I should plan my gas refueling path!

Thanks!
 
Hey guys new here but have been in my 280 for 4 years now, just now getting real comfortable with her! I have twin 4.3 EFIs and was curious what you all consider cruising speed and RPMs... I feel like my gas consumption has gone to hell but more so I'm getting confident in taking her on longer hauls potentially from Washington DC to VA beach and I'm curious how I should plan my gas refueling path!

Thanks!

I have found my optimum cruising speed is at around 3400-3500 RPM (around 30 MPH). At this engine RPM I get around 1.6 MPG.
 
Hey guys new here but have been in my 280 for 4 years now, just now getting real comfortable with her! I have twin 4.3 EFIs and was curious what you all consider cruising speed and RPMs... I feel like my gas consumption has gone to hell but more so I'm getting confident in taking her on longer hauls potentially from Washington DC to VA beach and I'm curious how I should plan my gas refueling path!

For me to get the best gas mileage, I avoid running my engines at RPMs between 1500 and 3000. Above or below that range is much better. Within that range and my engines are being used to move tons of water instead of fiberglass.
 
well for me, cruising speed depends more on the conditions. I'm still learning a lot about my boat so as new things are learned, I change my habits. When I was on the Hudson river, it was very smooth so I could play around more with drive trim and speeds. Now that i'm on the sound, it's a bit rougher so I play more with speed and trim tabs to get the ride I want.

In rough conditions I pull my rpm's down to 2800, tabs fully down, and I'm cruising at about 14-17 mph. This takes a little practice to remain on plane at this speed. gives me and everyone on the boat a nice ride when it's rough on the water. I have no idea what my fuel burn is but it's not significantly worse. More important is the comfort level of the people on the boat.

In more gentle conditions I cruise at 3200 rpm and i'm doing about 25-27mph. This is my favorite speed for extended cruises. depending on the conditions, I can do about 100 miles on a tank, then i'm REALLY looking for a fuel dock.

I don't do much faster than this in the Sound as it's generally too rough.

I've also been playing around a lot at 1600 rpms which gives me about 8-10mph. This is my "let's go grab some lunch across the way and have a chat" speed. really seems to sip gas at this speed and the noise level is very low. If I had autopilot, I would cruise at this speed a lot more. It also gives me a chance to spot schools of bunker.

You have to take other factors like fuel, water, supplies, people, conditions etc... because it changes my numbers.

Also bottom condition REALLY affects how the boat performs. That was the main reason my performance took a nose dive last year at the end of the season.
 
My throttle forces me to cruise at 3500 rpm. If I set it between 3000 and 3400 it won't hold rpm. It slowly backs down from 3400 to about 3000. Set at 3500 it holds fine. Is there anyway to tighten or adjust the throttle to prevent the loss?
 
On my 280 i do 3700 rpm and cruise at 32 - 33 mph. I feel comfortable cruising at this speed along as conditions allow.
 
My throttle forces me to cruise at 3500 rpm. If I set it between 3000 and 3400 it won't hold rpm. It slowly backs down from 3400 to about 3000. Set at 3500 it holds fine. Is there anyway to tighten or adjust the throttle to prevent the loss?

Do the throttle sticks physically move on their own? As if they are too loose and the tension of the cable pulls them up a bit?
 
Do the throttle sticks physically move?
Honestly don't know. If it does it's not perceptible.
At 3500 I can remove my hand and it holds fine. 3000-3400 I need to easy a little throttle to keep rpm up as it starts to slowly fall. I don't see or feel the throttle lever move but it would be so slight I don't know that I could.:smt100
 
Honestly don't know. If it does it's not perceptible.
At 3500 I can remove my hand and it holds fine. 3000-3400 I need to easy a little throttle to keep rpm up as it starts to slowly fall. I don't see or feel the throttle lever move but it would be so slight I don't know that I could.:smt100


hmmm.

Greg, just for FYI, I do not have this. Until I get down to below 22 MPH and big waves, the boat holds its speed.

Below 22 MPH and with big waves once I hit a few bigger waves in a row the speed gets knocked down then I start to fall off plane.

When you anchor do you alwayse put the cover on your radio? If so, why?
 
On my 280 i do 3700 rpm and cruise at 32 - 33 mph. I feel comfortable cruising at this speed along as conditions allow.

That seems to be in the range of where I am... But then again I think my gauges are a little bit of an art form these days, not sure they are all calibrated to a tee and my MPH gauge has been clogged for a couple of seasons now, been to lazy to clean it out. I seem to cruise best at 25 knots based on GPS readings... I guess that's close to what you all are experiencing as optimal??
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,944
Messages
1,422,730
Members
60,927
Latest member
Jaguar65
Back
Top