Official 280 Sundancer Thread

I found the hinges at the marine store. I will tell you how that goes....$10 bucks or so. I can buy the black ones but they are $300 or so for the whole piece (electronics and all). AND it doesn't match so I'd need to by both sides which wouldn't match the rest of the panel. The buttons all work but I'm afraid of the waterproofing now that the wood trim has cracked and broken off around it..
My plastic wood trim on the Starboard side cracked years ago, I used some Crazy Glue to hold until the new plastic wood trim with buttons came in. Never installed it. Crazy Glue has been holding for 5+ years and I have to look hard to see where the crack is.....if you have the broken pieces, glue it on up. Crazy Glue to start, then maybe some epoxy behind to help hold together longer....
 
Hi all
purchased 06 sundancer 280 with old clarion and no cockpit remote. upgrading the entire setup and wanted to know which route (how) do I run wires from cockpit over to panel (radio location). basically starboard to port

thanks
Basically, you have to pull the panels in the cabinets in the aft cabin (above the amps), pull out the switch panel and radio in that cabinet near the aft cabin (at least that's how it is in my 2003), then run wires from those locations into the bilge, up under the cockpit sink, up to the dash. I pulled the breaker panel out to get wires and my hands from under the sink to the breaker panel area, up to the dash. Make sure to do it on a real hot/humid day so its more fun.
 
My 2002 5.0mpi's are running rich. I smell it and see a sheen in the water after shutdown. Anyone deal with this?
 
I have an 06 with clarion and the cockpit controls should have a speaker button. With or without that button, the clarion sound stays inside cabin (so you don't need a remote switch at helm). Only if you have optional amps and outside speakers does sound go outside. I have that stuff but still have to go inside to turn on amps. It's a screwy set up. In other words why would you want an exterior off on switch to control sound only heard inside?

I wouldn't change anything unless or until you have exterior sound. In my stock 06 system I still have to turn something on both places to get sound in both places.
 
Hmmm, Thats odd.. I turn my speaker/Radio on my pod and my stereo comes on ?
 
Just wanted to stop in and introduce myself. I've read this thread front to back while considering a 280 Sundancer and my wife and I are currently under contract to purchase a 2004 280 with twin 4.3 and a generator. Working on setting up the survey/sea trial and engine evaluations now, but am looking forward to learning more from this group and sharing our experiences as we embark on this new adventure! We will be keeping the boat on the north side of Chicago (no slip assigment yet) so it will remain a great lakes boat.
Off the bat, something I noticed was the the boat has noticeable mildew on the interior side of the camper canvas, it's the dark blue canvas. Is there a particular product or process that has worked for you to remedy this? Per the sunbrella site, they recommend 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water, which seems like a lot, is this safe for the color? The site even recommends that the bleach quantity can be increased if the mildew is significant.
Also, it's a blue-hulled boat, which I realize has to be a labor of love and I'm good with that. It definitely is in need of a good compounding and was curious if there was a recommended product or grit that you have had success with to begin. I'm very experienced in detailing and compounding car finishes over the years, from lacquers to clear coats, but I've never worked with a gel coat.
Thanks for all the information thus far in the thread and I'm excited to jump in and contribute what I can!

Thanks,
John
 
Just wanted to stop in and introduce myself. I've read this thread front to back while considering a 280 Sundancer and my wife and I are currently under contract to purchase a 2004 280 with twin 4.3 and a generator. Working on setting up the survey/sea trial and engine evaluations now, but am looking forward to learning more from this group and sharing our experiences as we embark on this new adventure! We will be keeping the boat on the north side of Chicago (no slip assigment yet) so it will remain a great lakes boat.
Off the bat, something I noticed was the the boat has noticeable mildew on the interior side of the camper canvas, it's the dark blue canvas. Is there a particular product or process that has worked for you to remedy this? Per the sunbrella site, they recommend 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water, which seems like a lot, is this safe for the color? The site even recommends that the bleach quantity can be increased if the mildew is significant.
Also, it's a blue-hulled boat, which I realize has to be a labor of love and I'm good with that. It definitely is in need of a good compounding and was curious if there was a recommended product or grit that you have had success with to begin. I'm very experienced in detailing and compounding car finishes over the years, from lacquers to clear coats, but I've never worked with a gel coat.
Thanks for all the information thus far in the thread and I'm excited to jump in and contribute what I can!

Thanks,
John
Welcome
 
Just wanted to stop in and introduce myself. I've read this thread front to back while considering a 280 Sundancer and my wife and I are currently under contract to purchase a 2004 280 with twin 4.3 and a generator. Working on setting up the survey/sea trial and engine evaluations now, but am looking forward to learning more from this group and sharing our experiences as we embark on this new adventure! We will be keeping the boat on the north side of Chicago (no slip assigment yet) so it will remain a great lakes boat.
Off the bat, something I noticed was the the boat has noticeable mildew on the interior side of the camper canvas, it's the dark blue canvas. Is there a particular product or process that has worked for you to remedy this? Per the sunbrella site, they recommend 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water, which seems like a lot, is this safe for the color? The site even recommends that the bleach quantity can be increased if the mildew is significant.
Also, it's a blue-hulled boat, which I realize has to be a labor of love and I'm good with that. It definitely is in need of a good compounding and was curious if there was a recommended product or grit that you have had success with to begin. I'm very experienced in detailing and compounding car finishes over the years, from lacquers to clear coats, but I've never worked with a gel coat.
Thanks for all the information thus far in the thread and I'm excited to jump in and contribute what I can!

Thanks,
John
If your deal goes south, check out this deal down south..

https://orlando.craigslist.org/boa/d/cleanest-2005-sea-ray-280da/6261123277.html

I'll pay for the survey if they find anything and possibly help get boat to you. I have spent thousands on this boat and she has new engines under warranty as well as almost all canvas new.
 
Wow that's a clean boat! and I appreciate the heads up. Sea trial this afternoon and survey tomorrow so if anything is a deal breaker I will be in touch.
 
Wow that's a clean boat! and I appreciate the heads up. Sea trial this afternoon and survey tomorrow so if anything is a deal breaker I will be in touch.
Thanks! I actually had a guy tell me that my boat now is not worth more than 27k because of "the extensive upgrades, new upholstery and new engines!" He said "it is a caution flag that the boat is a salvage from being sunk and that's the only reason someone would upgrade it"! I about lost it:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:! So I guess you are not supposed to "upgrade too much":confused::confused:

I told him to log ont CSR and read my posts as my updates were happening from 2012 and up! I also have ALL original pieces to restore Vberth to factory. Cherry wood table looks new as does the upholstery!
 
Thought the same thing when I read your post. New engines, rebuilt drives, new ac compressor and the new list goes on. I just sold my 06 280, everything original, and it looked and ran like new. Questionable on how a boat that age needs so much new stuff. Just sayin
 
I have an 04 that's mint! You could eat off the floor and all but man!! Yours beats mine for sure. I'd buy it! Love the upgrades.
 
Thought the same thing when I read your post. New engines, rebuilt drives, new ac compressor and the new list goes on. I just sold my 06 280, everything original, and it looked and ran like new. Questionable on how a boat that age needs so much new stuff. Just sayin
It sat inside my shop for the last 4 years.
Thought the same thing when I read your post. New engines, rebuilt drives, new ac compressor and the new list goes on. I just sold my 06 280, everything original, and it looked and ran like new. Questionable on how a boat that age needs so much new stuff. Just sayin
I did not buy the boat brand new. The previous owner was not as OCD as I am. First, if you had a luxury coach remodel business with full cabinet, upholstery and electrical department, would you not use their talent to make something you worked hard for to look exactly like you want it to look...especially if you were paying them whether they were working on customer's coaches or not? Do you not think the new crispy white higher grade (softer) vinyl with the silver piping looks better than the factory crap? The upholstery was actually done a few years ago but has been inside my shop under custom cover as well as a tarp over the whole thing. Which brings us to the engines. I have not posted for a while on CSR due to many life changing events. I had a nasty falling out with my ex partner after purchasing my new facility for 5 million dollars (which I wasn't supposed to have to do for 10 years, but had to in 4 or he was going to sell the property and I would have to move the entire operation. Therefore the boat sat inside untouched due, to lack of time as our business has now grown more than 300% (but profit margin hasn't kept pace with that yet), Finally, we get to point of wanting to use her. First run out I lost a piston on starboard engine. Looks like bad gas. Replace engine. Remove all gas and polish tank thoroughly. While waiting on new engine to arrive, make decision to just change port as well. We do this ourselves and I have an account at Jasper Engines. I changed both engines for less than what you would pay for one! I still have port engine shrink wrapped. While engines are out, what an opportune time to really make the bilge look great and change all the hard to reach parts like bilge pumps and water heater among several other mods I always wanted to do such as making aluminum stands to suspend trim pumps off floor so brackets don't hold water and stain bilge! I realize many people who have to pay others to this just can't wrap their heads around this! When we do it I know it's right and I have faith in it taking out my family! Which brings me to final point. Along the way we had to adopt and now raise our Grand children. When it was just the two of us staying the weekend on the hook in Rock House Creek inside Ponce Inlet all was grand. With a 7 and 9 year old, my wife has now pulled the plug on that idea! So we took the boat out with the kids with brand new engines and she ran better than she ever has. Wife did not enjoy so boat has to go. I sure wish when I'm looking for something I could run across something someone spent so much time and money on!!


Oh, and the "compressor"...not just the compressor, the whole unit! If you recall, Cruise Air had a whole generation of units that the drain pans would rust and stain the boat under the drain. I am a Cruise Air dealer and have been working on Cruise Air since I was 16 years old and was going to Tamp Bay Tech for HVAC, I'm now 50. I mentioned to my rep that mine was rusty and if they still had drain pans. He sent me a factory rebuilt unit instead! And it is the newer more efficient as well as quieter unit.

I think next time I list something I will just leave out what I have done to it because people are so screwed up they think EVERYTHING is nefarious...GEESH!!


BTW if you get some free time, check out our updates on Luxury coaches...

https://www.facebook.com/Donnie-Myers-Luxury-Coach-139219946132109/
 
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floriduramax1, beautiful work on that boat! I really like what you did with the drawer in the compartment to the left of the frig! One of the things that bug me about ours is lack of storage space for silverware, etc. May look at doing that for our's!
 
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