Official 280 Sundancer Thread

mark guthrie said:
I would like to remove the upholstery piece that is the backrest for the stern seat that faces forward. I think it is pretty easy as my mechanic has done it, but don't want to bug him about this.

Does anyone know how?

Thanks, Mark
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I would PM CSR member- Henry Boyd about this if he does not see it and respond first. I think he had to remove the same cushion to raise the hatch up far enough to get his engine out not long ago but it may have been someone else.
 
Yes it's me. I couldn't get the cushion off because there is one(2?) fasteners located directly above the water heater. The majority can all be accessed from the transom locker. I was under time pressure to get the engine out so I couldn't really think it through. In retrospect the fasteners may be accessible by removing the panel inside the transom where the water and shore power plugs are.

If the bolster has been removed before you might luck out and find the fasteners in that corner may not have been replaced.

Also keep in mind over the years and between factories the methods used to secure many of the interior and upholstery parts have differed.

Henry


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
i'm about to close on a 06 sundancer 280 with 325 hours on the twin engines. it spent 7 years on a fresh water lake and the last 2 years in salt, the whole time on a lift slip, never kept in water. i'm looking at 59k for the boat. looks good in the pictures, but going to see it in person on Saturday. Do you think that price is in line? buying from marinemax, who is recertifying as they always do. let me know your thoughts and anything else about the 280. its just for me and my wife to spend the weekends on lake lanier in Georgia. nervous about buying a 9 yr old boat with 300 plus hours, but from what I hear, that is relatively low mileage. this is my first boat purchase ever
 
It sounds a little high, but if the boat is in great condition and runs great, maybe not so high. I like the fact that it was used mostly in freshwater. The other thing is that it's a twin. I looked hard to find a single screw 280, since I only boat on a relatively small lake. I couldn't' see the added expense of maintaining 2 engines. It proved to be a smart idea, and it's been great for the lake. Also, do you have a generator? You have to take that into account, since it's an expensive option, and one you wouldn't want to add on later. Another thing, does it include a trailer?
 
Danny Troy said:
It sounds a little high, but if the boat is in great condition and runs great, maybe not so high. I like the fact that it was used mostly in freshwater. The other thing is that it's a twin. I looked hard to find a single screw 280, since I only boat on a relatively small lake. I couldn't' see the added expense of maintaining 2 engines. It proved to be a smart idea, and it's been great for the lake. Also, do you have a generator? You have to take that into account, since it's an expensive option, and one you wouldn't want to add on later. Another thing, does it include a trailer?
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Yes it does have a generator, which was crucial. Marinemax overhauls the engine before they do it, which they said is a couple thousand dollar value. not sure if that is really the case, but for ease of mind, i'll do add that over the course of the financing loan. what would you say is a realistic overall yearly cost on this boat (gas, maintenance, docking, etc...). I was going for a 240 b/c it was a little cheaper, but when we looked at some 280's, that was for me (basically my wife's decision lol)
 
chalttunen said:
Yes it does have a generator, which was crucial. Marinemax overhauls the engine before they do it, which they said is a couple thousand dollar value. not sure if that is really the case, but for ease of mind, i'll do add that over the course of the financing loan. what would you say is a realistic overall yearly cost on this boat (gas, maintenance, docking, etc...). I was going for a 240 b/c it was a little cheaper, but when we looked at some 280's, that was for me (basically my wife's decision lol)
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The yearly cost will obviously vary depending on your slip costs, loan payments, etc. My '08 280DA ran me $10k-$12k annually. My slip fees were $3800/yr, fuel was $1000-$1500/yr, then the rest was divided between annual maintenance, winterizing, insurance, supplies, etc. -- and I did not have a loan payment.
 
I bought my 05 for $50k 2 seasons ago and the market was a bit softer. I think the deal is right depending on how it's equipped and its condition. I think many will agree that records trump hours. You will hear many people state that low hours is not typically a good thing. Engines like to be run. I bought my boat with 250 hours on the engines. For comparison mine had 5.0 bravo 3's, the engines are fresh water cooled, gel coat dash, spot light, windlass and factory radar. Also has the usual heat and ac and head system with vacu-flush along with hot water. I felt $50k was the right deal. What I am finding is that when a boat reaches that 10 year mark it's time to budget for potentially expensive repairs. Since I have owned it I have rebuilt a drive, replaced a hot water heater and new cool fuel module. That's around $6k....in addition I have replaced the cockpit carpet and have new canvas on the punch list. All that in additon to the normal items for winterizing, tune-ups, impellers, etc. I wish I was more savvy she. I bought the boat...I would have pushed for some of these items to be replaced.
 
Madifonzo said:
I bought my 05 for $50k 2 seasons ago and the market was a bit softer. I think the deal is right depending on how it's equipped and its condition. I think many will agree that records trump hours. You will hear many people state that low hours is not typically a good thing. Engines like to be run. I bought my boat with 250 hours on the engines. For comparison mine had 5.0 bravo 3's, the engines are fresh water cooled, gel coat dash, spot light, windlass and factory radar. Also has the usual heat and ac and head system with vacu-flush along with hot water. I felt $50k was the right deal. What I am finding is that when a boat reaches that 10 year mark it's time to budget for potentially expensive repairs. Since I have owned it I have rebuilt a drive, replaced a hot water heater and new cool fuel module. That's around $6k....in addition I have replaced the cockpit carpet and have new canvas on the punch list. All that in additon to the normal items for winterizing, tune-ups, impellers, etc. I wish I was more savvy she. I bought the boat...I would have pushed for some of these items to be replaced.
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Thanks for the info....have you had any friends that have bought a boat recertified from MarineMax? Not a brokered boat, but a boat that MarineMax bought and recertified
 
Danny Troy said:
It sounds a little high, but if the boat is in great condition and runs great, maybe not so high. I like the fact that it was used mostly in freshwater. The other thing is that it's a twin. I looked hard to find a single screw 280, since I only boat on a relatively small lake. I couldn't' see the added expense of maintaining 2 engines. It proved to be a smart idea, and it's been great for the lake. Also, do you have a generator? You have to take that into account, since it's an expensive option, and one you wouldn't want to add on later. Another thing, does it include a trailer?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info....do you have any folks that have bought from MarineMax, not a brokered boat but actually owned by MarineMax that was recertified?
 
There are probably several advantages to buying from a dealer, as compared to a private party. You will have better luck with the dealer if something goes wrong right after you take possession. With a private party you are pretty much out of luck and have to resort to a lawsuit. The dealer will want to make things right and avoid the legal dealings, and a tarnished rep. As far as choosing the 280 over the 240, that is a good move. You would inevitably opt for a larger boat after a season or two of owing the 240. 95 percent of the time it's just my wife and I on the boat, and a 40 pound dog, and it's just about the right size for us. I came from a boat about the size of the 240, and it was definitely cramped. The 280 for me, and for the lake I boat on, is the "sweet spot".
You should still have the boat gone over before purchase, if not by a marine surveyor, a good mechanic that knows boats.
 
I'm closing on my first boat, 2006 Sundancer 280 on Monday! Very excited...Just curious, as I don't know much about owning boats. What do ya'll say the annual cost of fuel is for this type of boat? I will be using at the Lake and cruising from restaurant to restaurant, but also be docked up to other boats for socializing atleast half the time. My wife won't drive it much or atleast until she gets comfortable, so we won't be opening it up all that much. I was thinking probably 5- 10k annually?
 
chalttunen said:
I'm closing on my first boat, 2006 Sundancer 280 on Monday! Very excited...Just curious, as I don't know much about owning boats. What do ya'll say the annual cost of fuel is for this type of boat? I will be using at the Lake and cruising from restaurant to restaurant, but also be docked up to other boats for socializing atleast half the time. My wife won't drive it much or atleast until she gets comfortable, so we won't be opening it up all that much. I was thinking probably 5- 10k annually?
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You are kind of over the top on your fuel estimates. For the sake of argument you put 100 hours on the engines over a season. That seems high to me given the profile you provided. Don't know what engines you have, but let's take a pair of 5.0s. At max throttle I'm guessing 35 GPH total x 100 x $3 = $10k ish. BUT, you won't be going full tilt all the time. Actual average GPH will most likely be a quarter to third of full throttle. My guess is is about 2k even if you go completely crazy. But I think it will be lower.

The above is just an estimate based on my best efforts. As they say in the commercials go", your mileage may vary"

Henry




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Yes, I do about 1500.00 in gas, but don't do much cruising. The 496 is a guzzler, but no worse than twins. I pay about a dollar more a gallon at my marina, as compared to a local gas station. They know they have us and we have no choice. Bringing gas in gas cans isn't an option, for obvious reasons. I would say boating on a lake (mine is 11 miles x 2 miles) would usually mean less gas consumption, unless you do a lot of cruising and pulling towables.
 
Danny Troy said:
Yes, I do about 1500.00 in gas, but don't do much cruising. The 496 is a guzzler, but no worse than twins. I pay about a dollar more a gallon at my marina, as compared to a local gas station. They know they have us and we have no choice. Bringing gas in gas cans isn't an option, for obvious reasons. I would say boating on a lake (mine is 11 miles x 2 miles) would usually mean less gas consumption, unless you do a lot of cruising and pulling towables.
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I didn't consider towables, but you are right, the few times we've done it gas consumption really went up. Also our gas prices are a little lower as the local yacht club tries to keep their gas prices down, so our differential is about $0.50 between pump and the gas dock.

Henry
 
chalttunen said:
I'm closing on my first boat, 2006 Sundancer 280 on Monday! Very excited...Just curious, as I don't know much about owning boats. What do ya'll say the annual cost of fuel is for this type of boat? I will be using at the Lake and cruising from restaurant to restaurant, but also be docked up to other boats for socializing atleast half the time. My wife won't drive it much or atleast until she gets comfortable, so we won't be opening it up all that much. I was thinking probably 5- 10k annually?
Click to expand...
I don't know how much winterinzing you need to do in Georgia, but if you did the full winterizing and did it yourself, you would save between 500.00 and 1000.00 (depending on the marina). Mine is closer to 1000.00, so I made some adapters and do my winterizing, and have it down to where I can do it all in an hour. Of course, the engine winterizing is done out of the water, and that takes an additional half hour or so. If you have a genny there are 5 systems that have to be winterized, which is why it's so expensive. All I pay for on my boat is for shrink wrap and the winter storage fee. So, for me it's about $3800.00 for the summer slip, around $1500.00 for the winter layup, $1500.00 in gas while in water, and maybe $500.00 for any other repairs, which I mostly do myself. Of course you will need insurance, and after Sandy it went up dramatically, but it's still not too expensive.
 
Welp, thought nothing of only having one set of keys to my boat. Lost them this week somehow. Would I be able to contact Sea Ray with my boat info and they would be able to provide me a key number so I can get keys cut? Twin engines and cabin door...
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Kevin
 
I am looking for a sprayer for the Galley faucet. Does anyone know where the best place to find it is? (Part # 1908592 sprayer)

Thanks
 
LiL Nauti said:
Welp, thought nothing of only having one set of keys to my boat. Lost them this week somehow. Would I be able to contact Sea Ray with my boat info and they would be able to provide me a key number so I can get keys cut? Twin engines and cabin door...
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Kevin
Click to expand...

Contact Todd Olason (Nehalenia) he is among other things a locksmith.

Henry
 
Hi All,

My pride and joy was lifted back into the water a couple of weeks ago. Instead of being towed back to her berth the Marina decided to leave her tied up in the holding area used for dry stack boats, a high traffic area.

I took a trip to visit her yesterday and found that she has been hit on the rear starboard quarter buy an unknown vessel. There's minor damage to the gelcoat but the blower cover has been smashed off and lost.

I've done some searching around on the web over the weekend but haven't had much luck in finding one. Can any give me some clues where I may locate one. The part number is 1473743 I believe. It's the cover that sits over the blower vents on the rear starboard side.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Ian
 
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