Official 280 Sundancer Thread

I’ve looked all over the internet and can’t seem to find what the fuel consumption is for my boat. I have a 9- 280 searay with twin 5.7 mercs
 
What's been your personal experience with your 280?

As I make offers for the purchase of my next boat - a 2004 to a 2008 280 DA - I'm curious what those of you that have bought used 280's have experienced?

I am an experience boater (have owned from a used 24' Carver to a new 38' Chris Craft and several other used in be tween) and do understand checking things out, having a local, certified surveyer check it out and ALWAYS going with my gut feelings. BUT... no matter how good it looks and feels, used-is-still-used. I'm estimating paying between $30k to $70k buying AFTER this summer's boating season is over (preferable time for better pricing). I'm figuring about 10% over the purchase price (specifically ONLY beginning with a 280 that is in EXCELENT condition at time of my purchase). Baring any catastrophic failures or running into immovable objects, I figure it will cost an additional 10% per year for upkeep (the preverbal hole-in-the-water theory).

So what 's been your PERSONAL experience?

P.S.: Mine will have the twin 5.0 Merc and Bravo outdrives as well as the 5KW Generator. All with reasonably low hours.
 
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What's been your personal experience with your 280?

As I make offers for the purchase of my next boat - a 2004 to a 2008 280 DA - I'm curious what those of you that have bought used 280's have experienced?

I am an experience boater (have owned from a used 24' Carver to a new 38' Chris Craft and several other used in be tween) and do understand checking things out, having a local, certified surveyer check it out and ALWAYS going with my gut feelings. BUT... no matter how good it looks and feels, used-is-still-used. I'm estimating paying between $30k to $70k buying AFTER this summer's boating season is over (preferable time for better pricing). I'm figuring about 10% over the purchase price (specifically ONLY beginning with a 280 that is in EXCELENT condition at time of my purchase). Baring any catastrophic failures or running into immovable objects, I figure it will cost an additional 10% per year for upkeep (the preverbal hole-in-the-water theory).

So what 's been your PERSONAL experience?

P.S.: Mine will have the twin 5.0 Merc and Bravo outdrives as well as the 5KW Generator. All with reasonably low hours.

I absolutely loved my 2008 280DA. We had it for 4 seasons and it still ranks as my favorite boat of the ones we've owned over the years. With that said, once you own it and start to spend more time on it, there are things you start to notice that you wish you could change.

Overall, it's a great boat but not as big as you think.

Here's my opinion on pros & cons...

Pros:
1. It's an easy boat to handle solo. I often went out by myself and had no problem departing and returning on my own, tying up to the dock, etc. It's super easy when you have a routine. I had a single screw. It would be even easier with twins.
2. Cabin layout is great and it's not too big or too small. I often overnighted with our 2 boys who were 10 & 11 at the time and it never felt crowded. We'd grill dinner on the swim platform, play cards or watch movies in the cabin at night, and make breakfast in the cabin in the morning.
3. Tons of storage throughout the boat. Not so much on the topside, but the cabin had a ton of storage.
4. The generator allowed us to spend entire weekends on the lake.
5. Cabin AC kept the climate perfect on on hot, humid days/nights.
6. The head was decent size and doable for average size people - whether it be showering or doing your business.
7. Aft cabin was perfect size for 2 kids or one adult.
8. Engine room was easy to access access and ample room to perform maintenance. Some far areas were hard to reach but not as bad as some engine rooms.

Cons:
1. Small cockpit. My current 23' open bow has way more cockpit space. The 280 is comfortable for 2 couples and that's about it. There's hardly any floor space so you're tripping on each other when you move around. Especially when docking. You have to make sure everyone stays in there place when you dock so you have the freedom to move about when handling lines, etc.
It's a great boat for 2 people or a couple with 2 small kids.
2. Cockpit seating is not great. I always wished it had dual captains chairs vs. the port-side lounger. I always felt the lounger was worthless especially while underway because it had no view. You always were looking back and the view was obstructed by the forward facing backrest. If you faced forward on the lounger, all you could see if the sky. You were too low to see over the bow and too low to look out the side window. Also, if you went out with a buddy, he/she would have to stand next to you in order to have a conversation. Plus, the standing wasn't easy because of the step down into the cabin was right where you'd want to stand.
3. Bow seating wasn't great. The boat doesn't come with bow cushions so I created my own from patio furniture pads. They were great except that the bow is arched so you alway felt like you were going to roll off the bow when you laid on the them.
4. Cabin door track is prone to breaking. I had to replace the rollers twice while I owned it... not a fun job.
 
Our experience has been a good one, but finding a low hours boat likely means at least "some" deferred maintenance that if you’re picky you will want to take on. We were looking in the same range and found an 04 that was very lightly used but that hadn’t been beat up or abused in any way. 200hrs on engines, 19 on gen. We’ve taken on lots of projects from functional (drive service, tune ups, impellers, fluid flushes/changes, etc.) to many cosmetic (sea dek, buffing/waxing, cabinet hardware, lighting, audio, etc. etc.). If you enjoy the "fiddly" boat projects like I do, it's been a lot of fun to be able to learn the boat inside out to tackle these little things on the "list". I regularly am asked what year our boat is, and generally get a response of disbelief when I tell them it's an '04.

Overall, to answer your question directly, it's been a great experience. The hull is very versatile, it entertains and overnights easily, and handles both calm and rough water extremely well for a boat it's size.
 
I absolutely loved my 2008 280DA. We had it for 4 seasons and it still ranks as my favorite boat of the ones we've owned over the years. With that said, once you own it and start to spend more time on it, there are things you start to notice that you wish you could change.

Overall, it's a great boat but not as big as you think.

Here's my opinion on pros & cons...

Pros:
1. It's an easy boat to handle solo. I often went out by myself and had no problem departing and returning on my own, tying up to the dock, etc. It's super easy when you have a routine. I had a single screw. It would be even easier with twins.
2. Cabin layout is great and it's not too big or too small. I often overnighted with our 2 boys who were 10 & 11 at the time and it never felt crowded. We'd grill dinner on the swim platform, play cards or watch movies in the cabin at night, and make breakfast in the cabin in the morning.
3. Tons of storage throughout the boat. Not so much on the topside, but the cabin had a ton of storage.
4. The generator allowed us to spend entire weekends on the lake.
5. Cabin AC kept the climate perfect on on hot, humid days/nights.
6. The head was decent size and doable for average size people - whether it be showering or doing your business.
7. Aft cabin was perfect size for 2 kids or one adult.
8. Engine room was easy to access access and ample room to perform maintenance. Some far areas were hard to reach but not as bad as some engine rooms.

Cons:
1. Small cockpit. My current 23' open bow has way more cockpit space. The 280 is comfortable for 2 couples and that's about it. There's hardly any floor space so you're tripping on each other when you move around. Especially when docking. You have to make sure everyone stays in there place when you dock so you have the freedom to move about when handling lines, etc.
It's a great boat for 2 people or a couple with 2 small kids.
2. Cockpit seating is not great. I always wished it had dual captains chairs vs. the port-side lounger. I always felt the lounger was worthless especially while underway because it had no view. You always were looking back and the view was obstructed by the forward facing backrest. If you faced forward on the lounger, all you could see if the sky. You were too low to see over the bow and too low to look out the side window. Also, if you went out with a buddy, he/she would have to stand next to you in order to have a conversation. Plus, the standing wasn't easy because of the step down into the cabin was right where you'd want to stand.
3. Bow seating wasn't great. The boat doesn't come with bow cushions so I created my own from patio furniture pads. They were great except that the bow is arched so you alway felt like you were going to roll off the bow when you laid on the them.
4. Cabin door track is prone to breaking. I had to replace the rollers twice while I owned it... not a fun job.

I agree with your comments except pro no.8. On the single engine version there is decent room in the ER. Add second engine w/B3s and it is extremely tight.
 
Ok since there is none, I'm planning on adding two USB/12V-oulets in the cabin.. Any ideas where it would be easiest to put them?

I'm thinking maybe pull power from the cables to the TV to an outlet by the galley and also from the stereo/amplifiers to someplace in the stereo compartment should be pretty good and easy?
 
Ok since there is none, I'm planning on adding two USB/12V-oulets in the cabin.. Any ideas where it would be easiest to put them?

I'm thinking maybe pull power from the cables to the TV to an outlet by the galley and also from the stereo/amplifiers to someplace in the stereo compartment should be pretty good and easy?

Did you check for an outlet behind the sliding door under the microwave? As I mentioned above, that's where mine was located.
 
Did you check for an outlet behind the sliding door under the microwave? As I mentioned above, that's where mine was located.
Yes I saw you reply.. when I looked for the 12V outlets I only saw a 110V outlet there, but I will have another look next time I'm at the boat. I might have overlooked it. Thanks!
 
Tonka Boater, stg099 and JimT: Thank you for your input and impression on the 280DAs. Hope to have mine in the Sept./Oct 2019 timeframe. Still good boating in and around SOCAL!!!
 
Does anyone know the part number or have a url for a replacement toilet seat in our boats? Mine broke in the hinges. All model years seem to have the same toilet model (Dometic 500-series?), mine is bone-white..
I've contacted dometic here in Sweden and sent them the product number for my toilet but they can't find a part number for the seat.. I'm thinking maybe I should order it directly from the US instead
 
Does anyone know the part number or have a url for a replacement toilet seat in our boats? Mine broke in the hinges. All model years seem to have the same toilet model (Dometic 500-series?), mine is bone-white..
I've contacted dometic here in Sweden and sent them the product number for my toilet but they can't find a part number for the seat.. I'm thinking maybe I should order it directly from the US instead
Contact these guys:
https://seacoastservices.com/toilet-seat-large-343829-343831/

To be 100% honest though I do have this seat but I swapped the bowl too because my bowl had a crack in it. The bowl was cross reference part for the old bowl so the seat should work on both. Again just ask them to confirm they had a great customer service.
 
Does anyone know the part number or have a url for a replacement toilet seat in our boats? Mine broke in the hinges. All model years seem to have the same toilet model (Dometic 500-series?), mine is bone-white..
I've contacted dometic here in Sweden and sent them the product number for my toilet but they can't find a part number for the seat.. I'm thinking maybe I should order it directly from the US instead

I just replaced my broken hinges last year with the ones off of this seat. See attached link.

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/official-280-sundancer-thread.10064/page-312#post-1012831
 
Hi guys, hoping someone could give me some insight. I purchased a 2006 280 with the single 496...360hrs. Boat tested great where purchased. Tried to start it yesterday and the starter engaged but wouldn’t turn over and made a loud smacking noise. Tried one more time and the same. Starter now just spins. Oil is clean, batteries are new. I’m just sick that I might have a major and expensive problem. Freshwater boat. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 

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