280DA advice for newbie

Mcole1170

Member
Jul 24, 2017
126
Long island
Boat Info
2006 sundancer 280
Engines
4.3 alpha
Hello All
Great forum!. Totally new to boating-All my friends are in sea ray so I have decided to join the club. Need advice on my purchase. Looking at a 2005 (325) with a generator kohler and a 2006 (280 hours) no generator. Basically same price, same featurs low 50s. Everyone says Ill want a genertor but Ive heard a 10+ kohler generator is problematic so should I avoid this one?

Thanks
 
Right, but of those 10+ with issues.....if they had a do over, would the opt for a no genny boat? To me , a generator is more desirable. Our last boat was a 2005 280 without a genny and we anchored enough to learn I wanted one.

My only caution is to use it. It's the low hr engines that seem to be the first to break down.
 
You mentioned a 10+ Kohler. If you are talking kW, the genset that comes on 280's of that vintage is a Kohler 5E. Get the boat with a genset, you'll be sorry if you don't! Outside of a tuneup, replacing the zinc, and oil changes, the only work we've done to ours is replace the carb and anti-dieseling solenoid. It was "hunting" and wouldn't hold RPMs steady. I use it constantly
 
You mentioned a 10+ Kohler. If you are talking kW, the genset that comes on 280's of that vintage is a Kohler 5E. Get the boat with a genset, you'll be sorry if you don't! Outside of a tuneup, replacing the zinc, and oil changes, the only work we've done to ours is replace the carb and anti-dieseling solenoid. It was "hunting" and wouldn't hold RPMs steady. I use it constantly
I read it as 10+ years old/original to the boat....but agree with the rest of your statement, regardless.
My gen was original, also, so 24-ish when I bought the boat, and most likely hadn't been well maintained, yet treated us well for two seasons after we did some basic maintenance/repairs playing catch-up. If parts weren't so hard to come by--not to mention a mechanic who's willing to work with such a beast--it probably would be running still today!!
 
Couldn't imagine not having a generator.
 

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