2007 280DA Delivery
- Thread starter Glen
- Start date
NorthvilleJim
New Member
I took delivery of my 2007 280DA yesterday. My only advice is to allow yourself as much time as possible to review the features of the boat with the captain, including some time in the water to get a feel for the controls and handling of the boat. I scheduled a 4:00 p.m delivery thinking I would be out the Sea Ray dealer's marina and into mine within a few hours (wrong). I wish I would have dedicated the better part of day so I didn't feel rushed and to allow myself more time to practice in open water before trying to dock my first time solo at the marina.
Also, make a checklist of questions in advance. Makes things go much smoother. Enjoy your boat! We are sleeping on ours tonight.
Also, make a checklist of questions in advance. Makes things go much smoother. Enjoy your boat! We are sleeping on ours tonight.
beachcombersc
New Member
make sure no one is standing above the door near the windshield when trying to close or open the door. Screws that go from the brace on the winshield can scratch the door when moving.... Good luck with it... Its a great boat!
One word, SEACOCKS. Make sure it becomes the first thing you think of when you first get on the boat and leave the boat. (The second thing you should get in the habit of thinking about are the battery switches).
If you forget the seacocks going on the boat, you can burn up your impellers, at least a week of boating, and a grand of boat money.
If you forget to close the seacocks when leaving the boat you can get a late night call that your boat sunk at the dock.
Have fun and congratulations! Great boat!
If you forget the seacocks going on the boat, you can burn up your impellers, at least a week of boating, and a grand of boat money.
If you forget to close the seacocks when leaving the boat you can get a late night call that your boat sunk at the dock.
Have fun and congratulations! Great boat!
Bridog
Well-Known Member
You open and close the seacocks everytime you go boating? I leave them open all the time. Except the holding tank pump out which is always closed and zip tied. Overkill IMHO.
papogator24
New Member
- Feb 20, 2007
- 639
- Boat Info
- 2007 240DA - Stolen
5.0L Bravo III
3Kw Westerbeke
- Engines
- 5.0L Bravo III
I've always left my seacocks open all the time, even when my boat was parked in the water for 2 months.
barryg
Member
- Jun 24, 2007
- 966
- Boat Info
- 2005 320 Sundancer, Garmin 5208
- Engines
- Twin V-Drives 350 Mags
In two years I've never closed the seacocks when leaving the boat.. Only when I'm cleaning out the strainers or flushing the engines...
BadaBingII
New Member
I agree with the comments about going over the boat with a captain. I did this when I took delivery of my 3rd Sea Ray, and I couldn't believe how much I learned, including some tricks around the dock that I had never thought of in my 40 + years boating. I ended up spending about 4 hours with the guy and he went through absolutely everything on the boat.
Just one more thing, the only time I had a seacock leak was when I closed it. The valve body was cracked. When the valve was open , the water went thru the center of the ball valve and no leaks, When closed , the water somehow found it's way to the valve body and leaked. Could have turned into a big problemo had I not checked. So while I do leave them open all season. I do check them before I run the boat each spring.
Congrats on the 280 ! I have friends with one and they love it. Post some pictures when you get a chance.
Jeff
Bada Bing II
2003 340 Sundancer
8.1 v-drives
Just one more thing, the only time I had a seacock leak was when I closed it. The valve body was cracked. When the valve was open , the water went thru the center of the ball valve and no leaks, When closed , the water somehow found it's way to the valve body and leaked. Could have turned into a big problemo had I not checked. So while I do leave them open all season. I do check them before I run the boat each spring.
Congrats on the 280 ! I have friends with one and they love it. Post some pictures when you get a chance.
Jeff
Bada Bing II
2003 340 Sundancer
8.1 v-drives
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
Congrates!!!
no matter how much time you spend with the captain, it's going over everything by yourself until you get the hang of how everything works that's the key IMO. I spent 6 hours with mine and I still felt like a deer in headlights. About 3 months into it, I felt I didn't need to run back to the boat to make sure I turned this off, that on, this right, that snapped. Lot's of manual reading, talking with other boat owners, hiring a captain to teach you how to dock, reading the forums, going out and enjoying the boat often, etc...
Keep a pad of paper on the boat and write down everything you have a question about or things that need to be looked at. Then you don't look like a dork trying to remember everything when you talk to your dealer. Play with everything to make sure you understand how it works and that it's working correctly.
no matter how much time you spend with the captain, it's going over everything by yourself until you get the hang of how everything works that's the key IMO. I spent 6 hours with mine and I still felt like a deer in headlights. About 3 months into it, I felt I didn't need to run back to the boat to make sure I turned this off, that on, this right, that snapped. Lot's of manual reading, talking with other boat owners, hiring a captain to teach you how to dock, reading the forums, going out and enjoying the boat often, etc...
Keep a pad of paper on the boat and write down everything you have a question about or things that need to be looked at. Then you don't look like a dork trying to remember everything when you talk to your dealer. Play with everything to make sure you understand how it works and that it's working correctly.
I forgot to say, "CURSES, ANOTHER 280 OWNER!" :grin:
I do open and close the seacocks every time I enter or leave the boat. It troubles me that the only thing preventing my boat from sinking is a rubber hose and a clamp. Multiply that risk times four since I have four seacocks. Exercising the valves keeps them loose in the event that you have to close them in an emergency. Also, I imagine closing the door to critters will minimize the opportunity to set up camp in my lines.
Bridog
Well-Known Member
If that troubles you then what do you do about the stern drives? I think the only thing protecting them from water intrusion is also some rubber and some clamps.:grin:
Bridog
Well-Known Member
Oh how rude of me. I forgot to say...Congratulations on your new 280DA Pam and Glen! Hope all goes well today. Keep us updated.
Good point. The risk is multiplied times six. I have control over flooding at four or the below waterline hull openings (the seacocks). The bellows is another potential site of water intrusion. I minimize that risk by not mooring with the sterndrives up, since that stretches and exposes the bellows. Over time, the bellows are inspected every six months when the boat is pulled and replaced at the recommended intervals, whether they look like they need it or not.
Check this out. http://www.boattest.com/Resources/view_news.aspx?NewsID=609
It is not any inconvenience to close the valves and makes me sleep better.
Glen
New Member
Had a great day on the boat. Captian spent about 3 hours with us and then we took her out ourselves. A few kinks to work out with the boat. Mainly trim and fit issues, nothing major. Dealer is great and we expect everything to be fixed by next weekend. The only major issue is my backing into the slip!!! Practice, Practice, Practice.
Glen
Glen
Ok. . .I shall now ask the dumb question: Where are all those seacocks going?
I suspect this may be a drive specific issue: The Alpha drive that I have take up water through the drive. I don't (think I) have seacocks on the raw water lines from the drive. The only seacock I have is on the head pump out. I know the Bravo-II drives have an external water pickup. Is it the same on the B-III drive boats?
Regarding batteries: Phooey. I leave my batteries on all the time. I have a hard time believing that something is going to get turned on and screw things up. And if I left the fridge on. . .not sure I care.
BUT. . I do leave shore power hooked up all the time. If I spring a leak, and the bilge pumps are on, I don't want them to stop due to a drained battery!
BTW: The more likelyl cause of problems is a bellows failure than a seacock related problem IMHO.
I suspect this may be a drive specific issue: The Alpha drive that I have take up water through the drive. I don't (think I) have seacocks on the raw water lines from the drive. The only seacock I have is on the head pump out. I know the Bravo-II drives have an external water pickup. Is it the same on the B-III drive boats?
Regarding batteries: Phooey. I leave my batteries on all the time. I have a hard time believing that something is going to get turned on and screw things up. And if I left the fridge on. . .not sure I care.
BUT. . I do leave shore power hooked up all the time. If I spring a leak, and the bilge pumps are on, I don't want them to stop due to a drained battery!
BTW: The more likelyl cause of problems is a bellows failure than a seacock related problem IMHO.
bw76273
New Member
We spent about 3 hours with the Captain and then took her out ourselves for awhile. The Captain went over everything but I still had that glazed look from excitement. :smt101The next day I went to the dock with all the manuals and spent the whole day with the boat and the manuals to be able to put the "hands on" everything. It did prove useful since my strainers are different than what was listed in the manual. I found this better than just sitting at home reading them and a good way to spend a quite peaceful day with the boat.:thumbsup:
beachcombersc
New Member
Half Off
Member
Congratulation on the new boat Glen and Pam.
Plot thickens. So number's four and five seacocks are the water pickups (not present with Alpha drives). What's number six four?
(BTW: With alpha drives, no HVAC, and no Genny. . . .so far all I have is the head dump seacock.)
beachcombersc
New Member
Sorry, I was referring to the 280 da. Not sure with your setup...
look it up on the Searay site. PDF files...
