2003 280 DA

Luckydogs

New Member
Mar 5, 2007
348
Lake Texoma, Texas
Boat Info
2003 3870 Express
Engines
Twin 8.1S (hogs)
Hello all, looking to make the swtich, got my eye on a 2003 280 DA with 8.1 BIII, with gen and trailer. Any advice/comments on this power set up and price range. Looking forward to joining the family. :thumbsup:
 
Crownline. My wife and I are peering at a 260DA, same 2003 yr.
Love to see you get it. It seems like great boat.
 
The 280 is indeed a great boat. We love ours. If you want my opinion on the power options for the 280 I personally think the twin 4.3 setup is ideal. It gives you twin engine agility without a huge weight penalty and similar fuel burn rates at cruise speeds. The additional horsepower makes seems to offset the additional weight (375 HP single vs. 440 HP combined twin) 500lbs heavier on the twin 4.3/alpha setup. Additionally if you plan to keep the boat in the water the Alpha 1's don't seem to have quite the corrosion issues seen with the Bravo III. This is debatable as I am sure you can imagine. The twins do indeed make the engine compartment tighter (width wise) when compared to the single big block... however I find all of service points easy to reach and I am a larger displacement guy (6'1" 285). In some regards it is easier to access some items on the twins versus the big block as the big block is 7 inches longer in length which cuts 7 inches more into the space where you would traditionally stand in the engine compartment. You do indeed have more room on the side... but not many service points there. Only spark plugs come to mind which can be easily serviced on both.

You will use the same amount of oil 8 quart for 496 4 quart x2 for 4.3 but you will need to buy double fuel, double oil, and double inline fuel (if equipped) filters.... about the same amount of drive fluid.... 2x alpha compared to BIII. 12 versus 8 spark plugs.... you get the idea... at the end of the day there are more maint items and more stuff you have to buy with twins.... but you do get easier manueverability around the docks (not impossible at all with the single.... just more work) and limp home capability should an engine fail. I seem to remember fuel burn rates are very similar between the 2. I was able to spend a good amount of time on a single 496/BIII, 4.3/Alpha, and 5.0 BIII 280's before I bought my 280. After driving them all... hopping into the engine compartment... on all.. etc. I chose the the twin 4.3 The acceleration of the twin 5.0's was best... with the 496 and 4.3's not having a noticable difference. The 5.0's (per specs I have seen on the web) burn more fuel than the other options.... for not a ton more performance... plus I would have to wrestle 2 BIII's off the boat for maint.... and a tighter engine compartment (spark plug maint was tighter than I like).

I hope Marqbloq can chime in with his thoughts on the single while owning one....

The genset is a must have on this boat. While it is very possible to survive without one.... it sure makes a ton of things a lot easier. Especially if you like to spend a good amount of time on the hook.

Price range varies a decent amount from place to place... area to area... so input from someone not in your area is likely worthless information in regard to pricing on a boat in your area. It would help if you let us know where you boat. It seems the boat market has really turned in favor of the buyer.... or so I hear... may be a great time to buy.

My best advice is to test run several. Single, twin, 4.3, 5.0, BIII, Alpha... and see what is right for you... we can recommend what "we" like until we are blue in the face... but only you know what's right for you.

Best of luck!! You will really enjoy the 280. Don't forget to get a survey.

Todd .... quit peering your making the boat nervous.... :smt043 seriously sir... you deserve the 260 if it is right for you... now find that "buy now" button :grin:
 
Nehalennia II said:
Crownline. My wife and I are peering at a 260DA, same 2003 yr.
Love to see you get it. It seems like great boat.

Todd,
If you are serious about moving up, you should seriously consider the 28, as it offers much more room and comfort. :thumbsup:
 
I've been in the same debate too. I've been looking at 280's with twin and single. To me it seems there are much more twin 4.3's out there than single's at least in the NY area. Some other things to think about, in addition to those mentioned, that i've noticed between the two.
The twins on this boat seem much more stable while people are walking around the boat because the weight is spread out more. If someone moves from one side to the other, not nearly as noticeable. Your draft is also reduced with the alpha 1's apart as opposed to a BRV3 set in the middle, enough to mean the difference between being able to go into some areas and not. The other thing is price. While you do have two engines and drives, it seems like the parts cost half as much as the big block with the BRV3. You can almost buy two alpha 1 drives for the price of 1 BRV3 drive. I think the only thing that has changed on the 280's since 2001 is where they put the TV. Other than that, everything is identical which means you can expand your boat options by a few more years. I'm going for a spin on a 2003 280 with twin 4.3's today so maybe i'll have more to share.
 
Great feedbacks, that's why I love these boards. I live in N. Texas where I will be doing the majority of my boating. The single attracts me beacause of the weight and maintenance issues. I will be trailering the boat, as I cannot afford the boat payments and slip dues. Although, the ramp is only a mile away from the storage.
 
TurtleTone.... I have to agree with your points on the weight spread and the cost of the drives..... plus you can easily pull an alpha single handed..... not as easy with the BIII... if you like to do your own maint.

The items which has changed from 2001 to current are small cosmetic stuff... i.e cup holders in the cockpit are now polished stainless instead of starboard. Going from pearl to artic white gel happened at some point... the TV when from tube to LCD. Interior color changes.....

Of almost forgot... some of the really early 280's did not seem to have the MPI motors.... rather the EFI guys.... i.e. I believe if memory serves me correctly the earlier EFI 5.0 posted 220 horse numbers.... the same as the what the current 4.3 MPI now has.

I don't want to seem too over the top with the twin 4.3's but it is really a nice combo.... well proven engines.... that can push the boat along in the high 40's cruises nicely at 30-35.... at a combined burn rate of 14 GPH.... probably a little better now that I don't have a bad port alpha drive (blew up at 40 hours) I think I just got a bad one... as many others locally are racking up lots of hours with a single issue with their alphas....

Steve I would agree sir :smt001
 
500lbs (difference in weight single 496/BIII versus twin 4.3/Alpha) is really nothing when you consider the boat loaded with fuel, water, and triple axle trailer will be in the 13-14k neighborhood.

1224 is the weight of 496 with BIII

865 x 2 = 1730 weight of 2 4.3 MPI with Alpha

1730-1224 = 506 lbs

http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/engines/inboards/sterndrives/mpi496_specs.php

http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/engines/inboards/sterndrives/mpi4-3l_specs.php


Drive em both and see what you think..... or just get the single... either are better than standing on land looking at someone else's 280 on a nice sunny day. I must tell ya from a big load perspective it is a pretty easy tow. Of course most things are an easy tow with a good diesel :grin:

If you think about the maint issues... your draining the same amount of oil both from the powerplant(s) and drive(s)... you just have to twist on a could additional filters... grease 2 zerks instead of one.... if you take her in for service I hear twins are more expensive by more than it seems they should be.... I do my own maint... so cannot speak from experience. :smt001

Seriously the best of luck to you sir. 280 is a very nice boat.



71473788-S.jpg
 
Kent, we boat on Lake Texoma

I now have my eye on an 02 280 DA with T/4.3, gen, trailer and most options. What price range should I be looking at? Thanks!
 
Well I took a ride on a 2003 280 T4.3 yesterday and I liked it a lot. Seemed to have plenty of get up and go. there was still a lot of ice that we had to dodge so we couldn't do a long ride. The twins made an easy go at pulling out and into one of the tinnest cramped mazey slips i've ever seen. There was plenty of room but with a gen, it would be one tight fit. It seems that they went from EFI to MPI right around the 2002/2003, At least the ones I looked at divided at that point. I had my eye on a 2005 260DA but now it's a 280DA i'm afraid to say. The ride difference was pretty dramatic. I'm never stepping foot on a bigger boat for fear that i'll like it. :lol:
In my looking, I haven't seen any 280DA's in the NY area with a gen, so I can't give any info on that. But here, 2003 fully loaded (minus gen) low hours and clean, very low 70's seemed to be a good deal from a dealer, plus they threw in a bunch of extras that added up to a few more g's. hmmm, it looks like it's just about time to change my sig.
 

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