260 Sundancer Thread.........Comments questions and answers

[Lazy Daze]

I was kinda hoping that someone with an 05 configured like mine would chime in with an exact location for the 3rd battery that involved no extra work and also miraculously makes the boat run flat and level all the time without ever touching a tab. :smt001

Let me know if you figure it out - I'd be interested in that, too!

The "Supplement Manual" that came with my boat had bilge layouts for all possible combinations. Maybe yours does, too? I don't know - never looked at a manual for an '05+.

 

[Zorba]

Thanks Dennis. I'm pretty sure mine are where the generator would normally be mounted in an 05.

I was kinda hoping that someone with an 05 configured like mine would chime in with an exact location for the 3rd battery that involved no extra work and also miraculously makes the boat run flat and level all the time without ever touching a tab. :smt001

Oh well... That ain't gonna happen. :smt089

I have to get down there and measure the area, but it looks like I might be able to fit battery tray #3 in if I move both of the others a couple of inches fore or aft and put them a little closer together.

The genrator would normally be set in the front of you ER where the piece of plywood is set. You know the place you sit when in the engine bay. That being said what is preventing you from moving all three batteries to this area. they may help with our "lean" issue since they will be centered on the boat. Just a thought.
I use this area for storage

 

[skibum]

They put the generator over the gas tank? That seems like an odd place to mount it. Moving the batteries up there would work, but that would involve moving all of the existing cables from the back of the bilge up to the front. Moving large gauge cables that have already taken a set doesn't sound like fun to me. My boat usually leans to port. All of the cabinets, the junk in them, the refrigerator, the cockpit sink, and the stuff under it are all on the port side. Adding the new battery to a spot right near where the current batteries are might actually help a little. I was actually joking about the battery changing the lean.

I don't recall seeing a "supplement" Dennis. I'll check later on when I get to the boat.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I was actually joking about the battery changing the lean.

I don't recall seeing a "supplement" Dennis. I'll check later on when I get to the boat.

I knew you were joking:smt001. But, I guess it was my feeble attempt at a witty come-back that wasn't so "witty" :smt101

They may not use a "supplement" anymore. Maybe it's just in the regular manual you have? I could email you the supplement from the '99-'04, but I doubt it'd do you any good.

 

[Zorba]

They put the generator over the gas tank? That seems like an odd place to mount it. Moving the batteries up there would work, but that would involve moving all of the existing cables from the back of the bilge up to the front. Moving large gauge cables that have already taken a set doesn't sound like fun to me. My boat usually leans to port. All of the cabinets, the junk in them, the refrigerator, the cockpit sink, and the stuff under it are all on the port side. Adding the new battery to a spot right near where the current batteries are might actually help a little. I was actually joking about the battery changing the lean.

I don't recall seeing a "supplement" Dennis. I'll check later on when I get to the boat.

Scary......

 

[Moose]

Just replaced both batteries to deep cycle, formerly 1 "cranking" and 1 deep cycle. These are on port side, and have genset on star side. Still tilts a little to port at rest. Have bilge heater on port side as well so I have no space for a #3, although a good idea. Kept wets for cost reasons.

 

[ChuckW]

Thanks Dennis. I'm pretty sure mine are where the generator would normally be mounted in an 05.

I was kinda hoping that someone with an 05 configured like mine would chime in with an exact location for the 3rd battery that involved no extra work and also miraculously makes the boat run flat and level all the time without ever touching a tab. :smt001

Oh well... That ain't gonna happen. :smt089

I have to get down there and measure the area, but it looks like I might be able to fit battery tray #3 in if I move both of the others a couple of inches fore or aft and put them a little closer together.

I have an '06 with Genny and 3 batteries. I have the two deep cycles on the starboard side, aft of the holding tank. The 3rd battery is a starting battery dedicated to the genny, and not on the house switch. It is mounted on the port side aft of the fresh water tank, below the wiring panel.

 

[Theresamarie11]

Hi all, after putting a 2000 260 through the ringer, we are now the proud owners. Boat is built like a tank compared to our last boat.. I'm really pleased. I just finished having the camper top windows replaced (getting foggy) and are now having a cockpit cover made.

I have some questions:

Toy Storage: Where do you guys store things like tubes, boards, fishing stuff? With the size, there are surprisingly few 'storage boxes'. I was thinking about building net areas on either side of the water tank in the bilge to store things. Has anyone else done this? Is there a downside? Bilge is very clean and dry.

Fender storage: I know i can store them in the back hatch, but then I can't hang the water hose, power cord and deck lines very easily (really stuffed). I see some folks doing the baskets on the front deck, but wondering how that impacts visibility. Can someone comment please? Does anyone have a recommendation for an aft fender basket that works well on this boat and does not interfere with the rear hatch?

Installing a fish finder/sonar: We have a lowrance depth sounder, but want to install a sonar/fish finder. Does anyone have any recommendations on which side we should run wires for least interference? Also, does it interfere with standard lowrance depth sounder? Recommendations on getting wires forward? Looks much harder than our last boat. Dash is very well designed though..that part will be a pleasure.

Thank you for the help.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Terri -

Nothing wrong with making storage boxes for the engine bay. Milk crates and Rubbermaid containers work well, also. Just don't use something like 4" long screws...:smt089

I keep (4) fenders in the hatch, lines get hung up. I let the power cord sit on the bottom (it actually stays pretty clean there). Here's what I did for the water hose:

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There's more room between the bottom of the holder and the fenders than it looks like.

Run your wires on stbd side - remove that cubby down by the captains feet. Depending on which way you go, you can also remove the panels inside the under-sink storage for better access. I never re-installed the box holding the sink/sprayer hardware and hose as I installed a regular faucet.

When you put the panels back in, you can move the rear wall (actually stbd side) back towards the hull side a good 4" or 5" and gain a little more space.

You can leave your OEM depthfinder there - the new won't cause any problems.

 

[Theresamarie11]

Terri -

I keep (4) fenders in the hatch, lines get hung up. I let the power cord sit on the bottom (it actually stays pretty clean there). Here's what I did for the water hose:

There's more room between the bottom of the holder and the fenders than it looks like.

Run your wires on stbd side - remove that cubby down by the captains feet. Depending on which way you go, you can also remove the panels inside the under-sink storage for better access. I never re-installed the box holding the sink/sprayer hardware and hose as I installed a regular faucet.

When you put the panels back in, you can move the rear wall (actually stbd side) back towards the hull side a good 4" or 5" and gain a little more space.

You can leave your OEM depthfinder there - the new won't cause any problems.

Thanks Lazy Daze,
I think I've made my first mistake. I just ordered a water washdown system as I didn't realize I can use the spigot on the back to do that, and then not drill a hole in the bottom of my boat for water intake? Is this spigot pressurized with water pump or do I need dockside water to use it? We want to wash fish muck off the boat when out fishing.
And do you use the coiled hose to bring water in as well when your docked? I like the tray for the hose, very neat and tidy.

Secondly, what size are your bumpers? Mine barely fit standing up..3 squeeze in, just barely, verticle. I can't imagine them fitting like that lying down. I must have a smaller locker.

I am going to have to go stare at the boat to understand the other comments on routing wires. I've only looked in through the bilge and it looks all blocked up. Stbd would be much more convenient for the length of cable. We purchased a lowrance HDS-5 finder. We had a lowrance LMS-527C on the last boat and really liked it.

Thanks,

 

[rainsq]

I just purchased a 2007' Sea Ray Sundancer and it is being delivered to the marina this Friday Sept. 4th. I've owned 4 boats over the last 20 years mainly bowriders with my last one being a 2005' 26ft. Ebbtide. I would appreciate any helpful advice about this boat you can provide.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Terri,

Your hatch is the same size.

I use 6 1/2" x 22" fenders. Some people prefer to use larger fenders, but this size is more than adequate for 95% of the situations you'll run in to. Yes, it never hurts to go bigger, but it's overkill and you just run into problems with stowage. When rafted up, I only use two fenders - even with another boat not using fenders, I've always seemed to be able to adjust them properly and have never had a problem.

The washdown that you already have on the boat (as in my pic) comes off the on-board, fresh water tank. The hose inlet that you see is called a "city water" inlet. If you attach a garden hose to that, you'd have a constant supply of fresh water.

I suppose I could use that hose to bring water in - the one I have is 50'. I very rarely slip, though. Never thought about it - I guess that saves me from having to carry another hose!

Here's the link to how I did the hose holder: http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20516

 

[graphicspro007]

Have you thought about hangng a hammock? It might work for a temporary solution.

 

[Theresamarie11]

Thanks Dennis,
Thanks for the link, you are very handy.
I am going to have to look at your idea (gotta try a hose on that fresh water connection to see what spray I can get).
If it works as good as I need then I'll cancel the washdown pump and not see a hole cut in the bottom of our boat.

Terri,

Your hatch is the same size.

I use 6 1/2" x 22" fenders. Some people prefer to use larger fenders, but this size is more than adequate for 95% of the situations you'll run in to. Yes, it never hurts to go bigger, but it's overkill and you just run into problems with stowage. When rafted up, I only use two fenders - even with another boat not using fenders, I've always seemed to be able to adjust them properly and have never had a problem.

The washdown that you already have on the boat (as in my pic) comes off the on-board, fresh water tank. The hose inlet that you see is called a "city water" inlet. If you attach a garden hose to that, you'd have a constant supply of fresh water.

I suppose I could use that hose to bring water in - the one I have is 50'. I very rarely slip, though. Never thought about it - I guess that saves me from having to carry another hose!

Here's the link to how I did the hose holder: http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20516

 

[Lazy Daze]

gotta try a hose on that fresh water connection to see what spray I can get

Don't expect it to be too forceful (at least not with a lot of volume, anyway). It's all coming off that little black pump mounted in the engine bay. Follow the blue line out of your fresh tank and you'll see it.

It works fine, but it's not like a garden hose.

 

[Theresamarie11]

Don't expect it to be too forceful (at least not with a lot of volume, anyway). It's all coming off that little black pump mounted in the engine bay. Follow the blue line out of your fresh tank and you'll see it.

It works fine, but it's not like a garden hose.

Dennis, thanks.. I will check it out. It's got to work better than getting water via throwing a milk jug with a big cut out overboad to clean off the fish muck. Northern pike are the worst... slimiest fish in the lake. Plus, I'm really skiddish about having a hole drilled into the bottom of our boat.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Oh, one last thing. I never really thought of this until the conversation back and forth with you.

I would think that different nozzles may work better than others. A high flow nozzle would be undesirable.

 

[Nehalennia]

Rain,
Welcome.

Terri.
Here's a thread I made over a year ago for storage of all of my spares and other items I want aboard but don't need to often.
Bilge and Shelf storage

I keep 2- 8" x 20" fenders in the storage locker along with the grill pedestal, hose, a few lines and shore cord.

 

[Theresamarie11]

Nehalennia,
thank you for sharing your work. These are all great ideas. I need to get going to do the same as all of our stuff is sitting in the mid-berth right lnow. I also figured out I have huge fenders.. 10" x 26" and probably not necessary, so I can make a bit more space in our aft compartment.

Terri

 

[Nehalennia]

Nehalennia,
thank you for sharing your work. These are all great ideas. I need to get going to do the same as all of our stuff is sitting in the mid-berth right lnow. I also figured out I have huge fenders.. 10" x 26" and probably not necessary, so I can make a bit more space in our aft compartment.

Terri

Yeah, well we have twin 7 year olds that don't like sleeping in the transom locker or cockpit, so we let them sleep in the mid-berth and stow the 8"x20" fenders in the transom locker.