Official 280 Sundancer Thread

Getting ready to pull the trigger on a late model 280 Sundancer and was wondering if anyone on this thread can share their thoughts and or experiences with the single 300HP engine. With full fuel and four-five on board...Is it enough power? Thanks
 
Getting ready to pull the trigger on a late model 280 Sundancer and was wondering if anyone on this thread can share their thoughts and or experiences with the single 300HP engine. With full fuel and four-five on board...Is it enough power? Thanks

Assuming by “late model” you mean 2010 or newer. If so that’s a smaller hull than most on this thread have, so power opinions would be different for sure. Have you checked out this thread? Lots of good info on your question here. http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php...enough-power-for-the-new-sundancer-280.71717/
 
Ok, so I installed the Vesselview Mobile (Bluetooth) device last night. Very simple install, takes about 10 minutes to do. You have to remove the cover off the top of your engine (at least on my 2003 280 Sundancer with the 496MAG) and find the harness - which was on top of the engine block, right side, on my engine. Then I ran it along the wiring behind the engine and zip tied to the wiring above the fire extinguisher as it shouldn't get too hot there. For some reason when adding photos on this forum they are always upside down for me. Story of my life.

Make sure you have the P/N 859318T1 Mercury Marine SmartCraft Yellow Junction Box Terminator. I got a used one off Ebay for $5.

Once running the engine I immediately had 5 fault codes, so now I need to figure out if they mean anything at all.
-Code 451-25 Pilot Pressure (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 701-24 Level sensor tank A (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 1031-24 Steering Position (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 1012-25 Engine or drive trim position (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 702-24 Level sensor tank B (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
 

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Ok, so I installed the Vesselview Mobile (Bluetooth) device last night. Very simple install, takes about 10 minutes to do. You have to remove the cover off the top of your engine (at least on my 2003 280 Sundancer with the 496MAG) and find the harness - which was on top of the engine block, right side, on my engine. Then I ran it along the wiring behind the engine and zip tied to the wiring above the fire extinguisher as it shouldn't get too hot there. For some reason when adding photos on this forum they are always upside down for me. Story of my life.

Make sure you have the P/N 859318T1 Mercury Marine SmartCraft Yellow Junction Box Terminator. I got a used one off Ebay for $5.

Once running the engine I immediately had 5 fault codes, so now I need to figure out if they mean anything at all.
-Code 451-25 Pilot Pressure (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 701-24 Level sensor tank A (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 1031-24 Steering Position (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 1012-25 Engine or drive trim position (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)
-Code 702-24 Level sensor tank B (The input circuit for the sensor is below the valid limit)


Thanks for the detailed write up! Sorry to hear that the VV mobile found issues, but it has me wondering if you can clear codes with the VV mobile or by disconnecting battery, then see if they come back? I know in a lot of cars, the codes/faults get "stored" that may have been a one time occurrence rather than a persistent problem.
 
Thanks for the detailed write up! Sorry to hear that the VV mobile found issues, but it has me wondering if you can clear codes with the VV mobile or by disconnecting battery, then see if they come back? I know in a lot of cars, the codes/faults get "stored" that may have been a one time occurrence rather than a persistent problem.

You can silence them, block them, or clear them (at least thats what it appears you can do). I haven't done any of that yet until I find out if they are "legit" issues or nothing of concern.
 
Thanks for the write-up. I tried searching those codes on google and didn't find anything resembling those numbers. Wonder if some of the codes relate to accessories not installed - for instance; steering position.

Please keep us posted on what you find out.
 
Just got the below from Mercruiser - they have always been pretty quick to respond - nice job Merc!

"All the faults you mention below are for optional sensors, some are not installed on most boats. Basically the engine is looking for sensors that are not installed and don't need to be there. You can ignore or silence these faults within the vesselview mobile app. Dealers have service manuals and software that lists faults for the engine. The idle RPM for your engine seems normal. If you have some of these sensors installed, for example a smartcraft style fuel tank sender, have a dealer diagnose the sender and circuit for problems. Glad to hear you are enjoying the app.
Thanks,
James
MerCruiser Consumer Support"
 
I want to change the fridge in my boat but I've read about people having trouble removing the fridge from the galley in some sea ray sundancers due to the door not being wide enough.. Does anyone know if it's the same in our 280:s?

I haven't removed the fridge yet but you can see it has an angle in the back left part of the inside.. Is that because there's something behind the fridge so I have to make sure the new one is the same or is it just the standard design of this particular fridge?
 
I want to change the fridge in my boat but I've read about people having trouble removing the fridge from the galley in some sea ray sundancers due to the door not being wide enough.. Does anyone know if it's the same in our 280:s?

I haven't removed the fridge yet but you can see it has an angle in the back left part of the inside.. Is that because there's something behind the fridge so I have to make sure the new one is the same or is it just the standard design of this particular fridge?
Don't have an answer for you - but just curious why you want to remove it? Completely toast or just not getting cold enough? If the latter a fix could be made.
 
Anyone have a chartplotter with nmea 2000 capabilites and have it hooked to their engines? Thinking of doing this since i need to upgrade my inop gps and erratic tachometers.
 
Anyone have a chartplotter with nmea 2000 capabilites and have it hooked to their engines? Thinking of doing this since i need to upgrade my inop gps and erratic tachometers.

I've got the chartplotter with the capabilities to do it, but haven't yet explored displaying engine data. On my list for next season at some point so I'd be interested to hear how your install goes.
 
Anyone have a chartplotter with nmea 2000 capabilites and have it hooked to their engines? Thinking of doing this since i need to upgrade my inop gps and erratic tachometers.


Not an expert with mercruisers but I did it on my Center Console with a Yamaha outboard. With Yamaha it was dependent on the year manufactured - anything after 2006 was N2K capable. It required a special plug and setting up a N2k backbone - between the two items excluding the chartplotter it was about $400. in parts and had to run N2K cable from the engine to the backbone and then a separate cable from backbone to the chartplotter.

I think a simpler solution might be vesselview mobile (see post 6264) might be easier and provide you with the info you're looking for - except to a tablet or phone. No wires to run and you don't have to set up the backbone which requires separate current.

FYI I typically only used the chartplotter engine screens on start-up and shutdown since I used the charting feature while running.
 
I am looking at a late model 280 that does not have the camper canvas option and was wondering if anyone has the option field installed and if so looking for approximate cost. Upper Chesapeake area
 
I am looking at a late model 280 that does not have the camper canvas option and was wondering if anyone has the option field installed and if so looking for approximate cost. Upper Chesapeake area

I'd be interested as well. However, I do have the stainless frame just don't have the canvas.

Also can trhose with it post pictures - I'm curious how much strataglas you have and also do you have screens.
 
I'd be interested as well. However, I do have the stainless frame just don't have the canvas.

Also can trhose with it post pictures - I'm curious how much strataglas you have and also do you have screens.


I will post a picture when I'm back at the boat, bur 280 came with the camper top. The back curtain was in bad shape, so we replaced that along with all the forward isinglass. I bought the replacement panels from great lakes boat top and they fit perfectly, however the replacement aft curtain did not have a screen and zip out window like the one that came with the boat. I presume that the original owner had this added. My camper sides were in good shape, and the windows zip out and have screens built in. Again, I don't believe this was a factory feature, rather something they added. The only changes I plan to make is to add a zipper "door" in the aft curtain above the transom door, as well as adding zippered "U" sections to the front glass so that I can get airflow in the cockpit without having to unbutton the whole panels.
 
Does anyone know the approximate weight of a Kohler Generator 120V/60 installed in a late model 280 Sundancer?
 
Does anyone know the approximate weight of a Kohler Generator 120V/60 installed in a late model 280 Sundancer?

Per Kohlers spec sheet the 5e is 205 lbs wet (oil and coolant). I would assume the weight of wiring and muffler would be in addition to that figure
 
Thank you...I should have thought of checking a Kohler spec sheet. Just trying to determine if 300HP is enough power for 280 Sundancer plus generator. Also a "shoot from the hip" ball bark figure for the camper canvas along with tubular structure will be around 4K.
 
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