New 280 Sundancer

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Rigg315

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Mar 5, 2007
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Lake Mead
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Did Sea Ray make the new 305 Dancer to replace the old 280?

280 (new) - 28'8" LOA
280 (old) - 31'1" LOA
305 (new) - 33'3" LOA


I suppose Sea Ray is making the 305 replace the old 280? The website shows that the new 305 is 2' longer than the old 280, but is the same weight? I don't see how it could weigh the same, seems like a heavier boat for trailering purposes.
 
I think you are spot on, paying attention to the weight of boats in relation to length. I have been pretty bewildered by the musical chairs nature of boat naming conventions. Sea Ray used to be under the limits (and I have taken advantage of that with dockage, among other things), but now I am beginning to wonder...and have started paying close attention to the listed weight as a starting point. I saw a Regal 33 the other day that was clearly several years old, but it had a swim deck that had to be the length of an Airstream travel trailer, and the nose looked like a sailfish, it was so long and tapered...boat couldn't have weighed what a comparable Sea Ray 240DA did). I think, going forward (although it will be a while for me) weight will definitely be in the equation, even without trailering.
 
2010 260DA = 2009 250DA
2010 280DA = 2009 270DA

After a long, well-deserved run, the 2001-2009 280DA was officially retired.

The 305DA is a model only available outside N. America, and I don't really know too much about it. Looking strictly at the pics, it appears it could be at least loosely based on the older 280DA. It's possible the 33' LOA listed for the 305DA could be a misprint. This is just a guess, though.
 
I agree with Dave- If you look at the 2010 310DA it most closely matches the 2001-2009 280DA. Looks like they gave it 5 more inches of beam and took away the single option.

Jason
 
Well, we're sort of talking about two different things. The new 310, though, is noticeably larger than the old 280DA. The new 280DA is easily smaller than the old 280DA. The 310 would generally be considered the replacement for the old 280 as the 310 is the first cruiser with a dinette, that is true.

But, as the OP was originally asking about the 305, take a look at that and you'll see it very closely matches the old 280DA - at least as far as the lines of the boat are concerned.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Well, we're sort of talking about two different things. The new 310, though, is noticeably larger than the old 280DA. The new 280DA is easily smaller than the old 280DA. The 310 would generally be considered the replacement for the old 280 as the 310 is the first cruiser with a dinette, that is true.

But, as the OP was originally asking about the 305, take a look at that and you'll see it very closely matches the old 280DA - at least as far as the lines of the boat are concerned.
Click to expand...

From the pics, the cabin looks more open in the 2010 310 than than the previous 280 but the cockpit does not look as big not the seating not as well laid out. That is just pics though. Overall length is actually 1 inch less on the '10 310 but the beam is 6 or 7 inches more. The '10 310 looks to be a good bit heavier than the previous 280 as well. Nice looking boat for sure but I can't imangine upgrading to that from a 2001-2009 280DA. Since the 305DA is International, it looks like they have started actually making the international version different than the US version instead of just rebranding it (i.e. 2001-2009 280DA=315DA International)

I wonder why Sea Ray would have changed their Model Numbering for 2009 and again in 2010. I would think the resale market would tend to be confused with some 2009 Sundancers if the buyer did not understand the changes well. Imangine comparing a Used 2009 310DA and a Used 2010 310DA in 2012? The 09 is a lot more boat! I guess that is what we are here for- to keep track!

Jason
 
burwellj78 said:
From the pics, the cabin looks more open in the 2010 310 than than the previous 280 but the cockpit does not look as big not the seating not as well laid out. That is just pics though. Overall length is actually 1 inch less on the '10 310 but the beam is 6 or 7 inches more. The '10 310 looks to be a good bit heavier than the previous 280 as well. Nice looking boat for sure but I can't imangine upgrading to that from a 2001-2009 280DA. Since the 305DA is International, it looks like they have started actually making the international version different than the US version instead of just rebranding it (i.e. 2001-2009 280DA=315DA International)

I wonder why Sea Ray would have changed their Model Numbering for 2009 and again in 2010. I would think the resale market would tend to be confused with some 2009 Sundancers if the buyer did not understand the changes well. Imangine comparing a Used 2009 310DA and a Used 2010 310DA in 2012? The 09 is a lot more boat! I guess that is what we are here for- to keep track!

Jason
Click to expand...

I agree. Some may do it for aesthetics or because the layout suits them better or just to have a "new" model, but it certainly doesn't make much sense in terms of having a "bigger" boat.

To help explain the weight difference (aside from the beam), I would think that the 310 actually has a little more usable length (more fiberglass) since the platform is not quite as big and is integral. Also, I wonder what an '09 280DA with twins would weigh?

To the best of my knowledge, the re-badging was to stay on the level with other manufacturers who were branding their models based on overall length.

But, heck yeah, it's confusing! And this is just what the final outcome is - there's always more that goes on behind the scenes! :smt101
 
The 305DA's hull looks like last years 280DA hull. First Sea Ray put the 305 on their US web site.......then they took it off.......now they put it back on there again. Are they really going to sell that boat in the US or not? Who knows :huh:

Dennis what do you know about this?

Dave
 
Dave S said:
The 305DA's hull looks like last years 280DA hull. First Sea Ray put the 305 on their US web site.......then they took it off.......now they put it back on there again. Are they really going to sell that boat in the US or not? Who knows :huh:

Dennis what do you know about this?

Dave
Click to expand...

They put it back on the US site but is now has a disclaimer stating is available outside the US and Canada.

"Please note: This model is available in areas outside the US and Canada. Please contact your authorized Sea Ray dealer for more information."

Jason
 
Dave S said:
The 305DA's hull looks like last years 280DA hull. First Sea Ray put the 305 on their US web site.......then they took it off.......now they put it back on there again. Are they really going to sell that boat in the US or not? Who knows :huh:

Dennis what do you know about this?

Dave
Click to expand...

Yeah, totally agree with the hull looking like the old 280. And that 1" more of beam really means nothing. It could be a typo, could be a measurement miscalculation (with either the 280 or 305), could even be a different manufacturer was sourced for the rubrail - all it takes is a 1/2" on each side.

Right now, I don't know any more than what we've been speculating here in this thread on the 305 issue. Well, to be more specific, I know of no plans to bring the 305 to North America.

However, my guess would be that it doesn't happen... seeing as how close it already is to the 310.
 
I got to thinking... If the 305 is really just an '09 280... how long has it been around. Now, I'm still assuming that the 33' LOA is a misprint... but...

In 2002, an international boat called a 300DA was introduced and it looks like it was really the 280DA. Eventually that model became a 315DA and the specs didn't change - just a re-badging. There are no 2010 models on the international site, but it was called the 315 up to 2009.

I *think* Sea Ray did away with hosting two different sites for monetary reasons. Which is why you see the international ones on the US site, now. I can't say that for sure, but it does make sense.

http://international.searay.com/sport_cruisers.asp?modelid=111714&modelyear=2008

On the plus side, it appears you can still get parts and owner's manuals on the international site the same way you used to be able to get them here.
 
Dennis

I think Sea Ray's web site is still wrong. Look at the pictures that scroll at the top of the page when you select "sport cruisers". Both the 350 and the the 370 dancers show up and are exactly the same. A week ago the scrolling pictures showed all the 2009 models instead of the 2010 models including the 270 Amberjack which has been discontinued for 2010. Clicking on the 330 Sundancer brings up a picture of the 350 Sundancer! :smt021 The 220 and 240 Sunsport still shows up on the sport boat section as well. Is that right since these were only international models last year?:huh: And if they are discontinuing the internationl site, why would they leave the international site available? There are probably other issues on the web site as well that just are not as obvious to me.

I guess I don't understand why Sea Ray doesn't do a better QC check on their own web site. So I suppose we can all continue our speculations for now. :smt043

Dave
 
Yeah, I dunno, Dave. The website certainly has some issues!

I don't know much about hosting a website, so I was only thinking what I mentioned because there are no 2010 there's, instead they are on the US site. Maybe the cost is very minimal to keep the site active... just not update it?

Oh well, at least it gives us something to talk about!

The other thing that's taking them a long time to "get it done, already" is the older models. Some years there are only 1/3 of the models available.
 
As posted, the 305 is only available outside the US and Canada.
 
I guess the 310 is the new 280. Same length, but they certainly didn't make it the same trailerability for those that are looking at a ~30' sundancer as a trailer queen.

old 280 - 113" wide, exceeds the legal limit by 11", but doable with a basic wide load permit.
310 - 120" wide, exceeds the legal limit by 18" which is pushing it for a trailer queen.


Maybe they will offer the 305 in the states, 2' longer than the 310(go figure) but 7" narrower.

I think there will be a strong demand in the used boat market for the 2001-2009 280 Sundancers. Great boat!
 
agreico said:
Just checked Sea Ray's website. The 280 is listed as available. The 290 is not listed.
Click to expand...

The "new" 280DA is the exact same boat as last years 270DA ................which is the exact same size as the prevous generation 260DA (2005-2008).................. which incidentally is also 28.5' in length :smt101:smt101:smt101.

It is going to be fun trying explain all of this to boat buyers as time goes on.

:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021
 
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