The official '99-'04 260DA Sundancer thread

We have the 36 qt that on longer trips will keep some things in under the cockpit sink. Primarily though we have a 50 qt Igloo that is on the transom. I installed some tougher stainless footman loops on the cooler and the Kennedy Tie down system
prod_cooler.jpg

 
Thanks for the response Dennis. Was thinking of stashing them under the bench seat but felt they would get pretty crappy/moldy with the amount of moisture under there unless I can get a container to put them in that will fit under there.

Good tip on removing the back panel under the sink. If not, only a 24 qt cooler will fit under there. to remove the back panel are there four screws in each corner that you need to remove?

What I would really like to do is put an ac/dc fridge under there like a lot of the new boats have these days.

I've been stashing jackets under the seat for a few years - no real mold problems that I can think of. They do get used once in a while so it's not like they're there 24/7. But it's good so far. You could slide them out when you leave the boat, if needed.

Screws? Honestly, I don't remember how many. Just feel around for the screw heads - probably at least the four corners - maybe one or two more along the bottom, middle. I "think" I had to remove the sinkbox, first though - but it's been a while.
 
Continue to have alarm issues. it is definitely intermittent. Whenit happens i can turn off the engine and restart and it will go away for awhile. Last year I suspected it was the oil pressure sensor but over the winter/spring I had both the oil pressure sender and sensor changed. the oil pressure gauge was reading around 45 and temp was about 173 which seem to be normal. I'm becoming more and more convinced i have some electrical issue. I did install new batteries. I decided to disconnect the alarm and be done with this annoying problem. Hate to give up on it though but have run out of ideas and chasing an electrical ghost is not my idea of fun. Any other ideas?
 
Ron, here's an idea. Now, I haven't done this (to this extent) but it seems like something that would help you narrow down the issue. There's only three things that cause that main alarm to sound - gear lube, oil psi, water temp. Since it seems like the alarm goes off on a regular basis, disconnect two of them at a time and run for a while until you would normally have heard the alarm. Then do the next. You have your gauges so you can still monitor things - you just don't have the idiot buzzer. The only thing I don't know is whether or not removing the psi or temp gauge will CAUSE the alarm to sound. The gear lube won't - I've just never tried the other two. I this works as planned, you'll at least figure out which system is flaky.

Or... assuming removing the wires won't cause the alarm to sound... When the alarm sounds by itself, disconnect one sensor at a time until it stops.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Dennis. That's a good idea. Do you know where the temp alarm wire connection is located?
 
The temp alarm wire is on the left hand side of the thermostat housing (big thing on top center front of the engine with the hoses)

Mine just pulls off, there isn't a securing clip holding it on.


Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
 
Oh... And the alarm will sound when pulled but you can just short it to ground to disable it.
 
All
New to Sea Ray (and to "modern boating" after parting with an old 30' Trojan). Scheduled for sea trial and survey on 2001 260 Sundancer w/5.7 tomorrow. I posted my concern about power and performance of this setup on a separate thread before knowing this dedicated forum existed. Got good feedback from Ron and others which put my mind at ease. I expect I will be satisfied with performance on sea trial and will finalize the purchase in the next few days. The boat is in great shape with about 250hrs.
I spent yesterday evening reading the entire history of this thread and found many interesting things. I am already forming a project list in my mind! First step, though, will be thorough cleaning/waxing to make her truly mine. I look forward to communicating with many of you and am glad there is a place to go for the many questions I am sure will follow. Stay tuned....
Al
 
The forward(bow) side of the cupboard next to the microwave. I believe one of the 260DA or 240DA owners has posted that type of install here. When I get home ill try to find it.

I mounted my TV to the front of the microwave cabinet, so you might be talking about me Todd. I think the picture is in the 240 thread. I used a swivel mount and can turn it around so it can be watched from the helm seat too. Works like I want it to.

The picture is located in the official 240 thread. Page 128 post 1274.
 
Last edited:
OK, here's my fist question as an actual owner of a 260 (2001). I bought the boat without a GPS and plan to add one right away - essential for our waterways (hampton roads). I am looking at Garmin 740s and could use comments/suggestions. Also, I have looked at a lot of pics on 260's for sale and see that some flush mount their GPS to the lower left of the wheel. I like this look much better than dash-top mount, but fear it may be impractical to operate and reference in that position. Anyone else mount in that location? Any problems?
Thanks all...
Al
 
I've got a 2011 260 DA.
maybe aslightly different dash layout, but i installed a flush mount Lowrance HDS -9 touch, overlayed Sirius Weather on it. Looks great and very bright, even in the sun. no problem to use at all.
i did not want to interrupt the beautiful view on the top of the dash out the windshield...
 
All
New to Sea Ray (and to "modern boating" after parting with an old 30' Trojan). Scheduled for sea trial and survey on 2001 260 Sundancer w/5.7 tomorrow. I posted my concern about power and performance of this setup on a separate thread before knowing this dedicated forum existed. Got good feedback from Ron and others which put my mind at ease. I expect I will be satisfied with performance on sea trial and will finalize the purchase in the next few days. The boat is in great shape with about 250hrs.
I spent yesterday evening reading the entire history of this thread and found many interesting things. I am already forming a project list in my mind! First step, though, will be thorough cleaning/waxing to make her truly mine. I look forward to communicating with many of you and am glad there is a place to go for the many questions I am sure will follow. Stay tuned....
Al
Congrats and welcome.


I mounted my TV to the front of the microwave cabinet, so you might be talking about me Todd. I think the picture is in the 240 thread. I used a swivel mount and can turn it around so it can be watched from the helm seat too. Works like I want it to.

The picture is located in the official 240 thread. Page 128 post 1274.
Thanks.
I've got a 2011 260 DA.
maybe aslightly different dash layout, but i installed a flush mount Lowrance HDS -9 touch, overlayed Sirius Weather on it. Looks great and very bright, even in the sun. no problem to use at all.
i did not want to interrupt the beautiful view on the top of the dash out the windshield...
Welcome. There is another thread that is 260DA specific and has more info on the newer models. This one is dedicated to the '99-'04 260DAs.

Take a look at this thread for some GPS mounting options.
http://clubsearay.com/showthread.ph...done?highlight=Some+positive+projects+started

I put mine in the exact same place as Todd did and am happy with the location.

Araxton.
As Westie noted, I mounted mine as shown. It works great there. I have a nice stainless clamshell covering the wires here now. The issue I would have had mounting a GPS unit in the helm access door is that it's out of the line of sight and tough to see or use easily without crouching down taking your eyes off the water.


 
Al,
I have the same GPS as Todd and I feel it is a good size for the dash on these boats. I mounted mine on that first level of the dash way to the left. It does block my vis on the far left gauge which I think is the gas gauge but not a big deal for me. The only reason I mounted it there is because the previous owner mounted one there and there was already a hole in the dash. I still think i would have mounted it there anyway. On the 740s I think it is an awesome GPS but my opinion is that it is too big to mount where Todd mounted it and where I mounted it. Good luck!
 
Todd,
every time I see pics of your boat I am jealous of how awesome it looks. It looks like it just came out of the showroom and its friggin 13 years old. Did you replace the steering wheel? If so where did you get it? Mine is cracked and needs to be replaced.
 
Al, I mounted my 545s in that area of the access panel you are considering - to the lower left of the wheel, just below the trim tab switches - flush mounted. It works great, the display is out of the sun and always very bright. It is easy to see when sitting and not all that difficult when standing. The controls are easy to access. I have had it there for two years and am happy I chose that location. The only negative I have ever found with it being there was that it is low enough there for a toddler to get to it. My second son went through a period last year at the age of 4 where he just couldn't keep his hands off of it. This year he seems to have lost interest in it.
 
Hello, I just purchased a 2000 260 da and would like to know if anyone has replaced the bulbs in the switch panel. Some of my buttons do not light up when pushed.
Thanks
 
Cockpit sink cabinet drawer project -


It all started when the Igloo cooler that came with the boat stopped doing what it was supposed to do – keep things cool. So I removed the top and hinges and we now use it as a dry storage tote for various food items that don’t need cooling. But then I complained at how clumsily it fit into that sink cabinet, so I decided to build a drawer that would hold the topless cooler.

Since plumb and level were never going to happen, I decided to use the door frame as my reference and base all my measurements and angles on that. I started by firring out the left side with a piece of cedar (sealed on all six sides), which is held in place and off the floor by stainless L-brackets. The left drawer slide would attach to this board. The right side didn’t need to be firred out, although it did need to be shimmed out at the back, since it was out of square relative to the door frame. Once that was done I installed 24-inch 100 lb-rated stainless steel slides. The slides have a detent when fully closed, but I dropped the back ends of the slide about 1/8-inch so that the drawer will tend to slide shut instead of tend to slide open.

Now on to the drawer: I figured I would make a prototype first, then once it’s been tweaked and working as intended, use that while building the permanent one. I scrounged some lumber and ¼-inch melamine for the bottom, and quickly put together the drawer box using construction adhesive and staples. Once complete, I placed the Igloo cooler in it to make sure it fit okay, which it did, so I took it to the boat and attached the drawer box to the slides. The cooler is easy to get in and out of the drawer, and the drawer is not in the way of the door when it closes, so I’m calling it good for now. I’ll use this drawer for the summer and build a good one over the winter.
IMG_1253_ML.jpg
IMG_1254_ML.jpg
IMG_1255_ML.jpg
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,872
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top