280 Cuddy cabin

AFD

AFD

Active Member
Jul 29, 2012
1,250
Boston Harbor/Falmouth Ma
Boat Info
1997 Sundancer 290 The fat beam version
Engines
twins.
Starboard 5.0 alpha 220HP
Port 357 alpha 275hp
4HP Yamaha for Dinghy
Hey everyone.

i am interested in and going to look at a pair of 280 cuddy cabins in the next week and was wondering what you guys think. they are both 99's and one is the 7.4 B III and one is the pair of 350's with B I's. this would be a salt water/coastal boat. the 7.4 has fresh water cooling and i am unsure about the 350's. I am leaning towards the 7.4. talked to the owner and it sounds amazingly maintained and fresh water all but the last few years. all receipts of maintenance and repairs and sounds perfect with under 300 original hours (i know, why?)

i'm just wondering how everyone feels about the 280 cc/ss whatever they are actually called. i know they were quite a bit lighter than the sundancers so the 7.4 should be adequate for my cruising and parking at the sand bar to hang out and the occasional run to the vineyard from my family's place down the cape where it will probably spend half of its time with me. this would be for my wife and myself and a few friends with our dogs day boating only with the very rare over night on a mouring or slip if we go away but. not too much info on the 280ss as everyone has the DA.

i am searching all day at work but wanted to start up a thread for info i might not find as the search feature with a fairly rare boat isn't giving up much info.

thanks everyone
Anthony
 
Well, they made a 280CC (cuddy cabin) and also a 280SS (same basic boat as the CC, just fancier with more options as standard). Either way, one of my favorite Sea Ray's of all time - beautiful lines and classy looks. Built like a tank, but with a great hull design, it still performs great.

It's been a few years since I've been out on one, so I can't really give you any first hand experience since it may be a little "fuzzy" at this point. But I do remember running the 454 and a twin engine version. I don't recall there being any issues with the single engine and when it comes to the twins... well... everyone loves twins!:smt001 Obviously, twins will give more maneuverability, hole shot and top end speed - but the downside is a cramped engine bay and double the maintenance costs. Fuel economy will be worse with the twins, but it won't be double, either.

Now, going just out of the "book", as far as top end speed goes... it depends on which version of the 454 or 350 and also which drive setup, but if I can infer correctly from the info you posted, the 454-equipped boat will spec between 40-49 mph (two versions of the 454 available with about a 5mph difference between the two). The 350, since you mentioned Bravo I and not Alpha sounds like it is the 350MAG - Hold on tight - that puppy's gonna take you for a ride! Spec on that boat is 56-60MPH!

If it was me - I would lean towards the twin set up. But I've also learned (unfortunately by trial and error over the years) how to contort myself to be able to work on the engines in a tight space like that. If you're not doing your own maintenance, then the tight space is less of an issue. Just be sure to properly thank your mechanic!
 
I had a 97 with twin carb'd 350s and Alpha drives. I loved that boat. Tons of deck space. We could take 8-10 people for a cruise comfortably and it had enough HP to move everyone.

There are a lot of variations on these boats. Different seating configurations. Different cabin configurations. An extensive list of available options.

Look at the minor details. Shore power, fridge, windlass, seating configuration, wet bar style, type of head... Some were loaded up, some were stripped down versions. Mine was loaded and I didn't realize all the things I had were optional until I sold it.

This is the perfect large day boat and very occasional overnighter.

The only thing this boat needs is an extended swim platform. They run about $2k.

Go look at both and take tons of pictures. Open every compartment and take pictures of everything. You won't be able to fully compare until you've seen them both.

Buy one. You will. LOVE it!
 
i was hoping to go look at one of them tomorrow but looks like a no go. It's the only day my wife and I can go look together. they are both good deals but the 7.4 is a great deal. both are Cuddy cabins. both layed out the same although the minor differences i am not sure of yet until i go look. the 7.4 has a new last year gps and radio and fresh water cooled and was a fresh water boat until 2 years ago. has new risers and all recorded up to date maintenance. the twin 350 mags i am unsure of as of now. the 350's is 5K's more so that is a factor. and i will be doing 90% of the maintenance on my own so the single might be a better option as well as fewer times going to the pumps being nice.

I looked at the specs and the 280 CC is 1 foot wider than a 270 and 290 DA. is that right? sounds like it would make for a much better ride. I have to talk to both owners again as the 7.4 owner is having a mechanic and someone to bottom paint and detail it out tomorrow to clean up and get it ready for the water this summer. haven't spoke to the twins owner yet but i keep leaning towards the 7.4. of course everything is contingent on the aproval of the accountant (Wife) who is pregnant and lets just say "moody" lately ha ha ha. our first is on the way.

also, last year i was looking as well and just didn't LOVE anything we looked at that we could realistically afford. what i was looking at was the swim platforms, will be a must of course wont be this year if we pull the trigger. I can't believe how much money they are. does that include shipping and a happy ending?
 
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If you're doing your own maintenance, the twins should be less of a factor. You're only paying for parts, not labor as well.

The dimensions of the 270DA and 290DA vary through the years. You can compare the models here: http://searay.com/Page.aspx/pageId/10532/Model-Archives.aspx

The 280SS is 9'6" wide and 27'6" long.

My 280SS was perfect until we wanted to start spending the night on the boat. And the platform costs that much because it's worth it.
 
is there an "official 280 sunsport" thread or are the sunsport guys just hitching a ride on the sundancer page?
 
No thread and not many SunSports around.

Welcome to the black sheep club.
 
ha ha, no black sheep yet but i think it's going to happen this week or next maybe. we are going to look at the single engine version on thursday. price is right and it's more boat than we were looking for but just about perfect for what i think we will be using the boat for anyway. the owner has been sending me pictures and the boat looks like it has been under a cover since new and only hit the water last year. everything looks perfect except for one tiny hole in a seat cushion. i don't think this is going to be a tough sell to the wife.

It will be a big step up from our little 170 signature.
 
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There's a really clean late 90s 280ss with twin 350 mags and bravos for sale near me. He's asking around $30k. I've seen a couple nice looking 280ss for sale in the mid to upper 20s lately.
 
looking at a 99 big block single BIII under 20 grand and a 99 with twin 350's for just over 21,000. economy is tough i guess
 
The guys ahead of me have pretty much covered the pro's and con's of a 280. My 280SS has the fisherman package one of the multiple layout choices.

The ride and the stability of the 9-6 beam is excellent. Whenever we start to look at boats the only thing we do not like about the 280 is the v-berth size and the sleep ability or lack thereof. I have the EFI 350's with Bravo's but the best we ever ran was in the mid 40's. the lines are great on this boat
 
The lack of sleeping space has a lot to do with why I have a 290DA now.

With the prices you mention, I would jump on one provided the maintenance is right.
 
we never found what we wanted last year and have kind of put the larger boat on the back burner. then the weather started getting better and she started to mention not putting the 170 in the water this year considering all the crazy purchases we made this year, we are renovating one of our bathrooms and my wife is 20 weeks pregnant right now as well. plus we are down men at work so i am working tons of overtime and never have time on my hands to mow the lawn nevermind take time off to go out on a boat. we were going to put off purchasing until next year but i was looking on craigslist for a part for my 170 and saw the 99 with twins and had to look, then found the other one and i don't think i can pass on it without kicking myself.
 
Ok here's the scoop. In my exclusive search for one of these incredible boats I tested a single with a MAG454 B3 with Captain's call and a twin 5.7 EFI with B1s. Performance wise the twins topped at 57mph (before bottom paint, now 52) had a terrific hole shot, and excellent maneuverability. The single, topped out at 50mph but struggled to do so and hole shot with 3 on board was not great. Would need assistance of the tabs if you add more passengers. Both give an excellent dry ride and are the perfect day boat. I do most of my own maintenance and repairs. Anything from the spark arrestors forward is easy to work on with the twins as the engines sit higher up than in a cruiser. Anything from the arrestor back is a nightmare. You can lay in the bay but you need three hands to work on anything, one to hold you up and two to do the work. No such issues with the single. You can camp out in there. I personally don't think a 28 foot boat should be offered without twins and if you opt for a stock 7.4L you won't be happy with the performance especially since the MAG454 struggled a bit. As for the cuddy versus the SS. The radar arch is a must or even an aftermarket tower. I added an extended swim platform from swimplatforms.com. Great addition and great quaility. They have pictures on their website of a 280 before and after. Definately sea trial both. If you are not thrilled with the performance and ride at the sea trial you will be even less thrilled as time goes on.
 
So I loved the initial tour and walk through and think the layout is perfect for what we will/would use the boat for. 95% day boating and hanging at the slip drinking at night, very rarely would we actually overnight unless too drunk to drive home or on a transient mooring/slip...wife hates it. Wants more room in cabin that we will never use and thinks it needs a stove. Don't know why, we have a $3,000 stove at home and she doesnt know how to use that one. Oh well, the search continues...
 
Take a step back and consider all your options.

Before my son arrived I had no interest in a Sundancer. I didn't want an old mans boat. The 280ss was roomy and sporty and comfortable and fast. The Sundancer... Ehhh...

Know my son has his own "bedroom" and mom and I can still use the rest of the cabin without disturbing him during nap time. I have a stove, microwave, AIR CONDITIONING, and a bathroom big enough that a pregnant woman can use it.

I can't explain how much I loved my 280ss. The hard truth is that I am able to enjoy boating a LOT more with my 290da.

Just be happy she is entertaining the idea of a new boat and find a good compromise.
 
I feel the same way you did. Dont want an "old man's boat" when I can have the 280 SS. It was beautiful too. A couple minor issues like A worn out mooring cover that would be on its last year, couple of the snaps had pulled out of the fiberglass, no Windlass. All things I could easily tackle the first couple of weeks or last the season without worry. I just don't want to go another year off of the water again, last year spent most of the season without a boat waiting for a New engine, now she doesn't even want to go out on our 170 when we get it back. Mechanic is putting in newer style ignition for me he had in stock. Too bad there isnt much on the market around here. I know the 250 da's we looked at last year was way too small for me. I had twofootitis before we got on board. Now Can't find a decent 270 - 290 for a good price near me and don't want to spend every day off I have searching for boats. We got kind of burnt out by it last year and that's what caused us to stop looking. It was like house hunting, spend every free moment looking for a house and you start hating them all. I guess its another year swimming laps in my pool playing with my RC boat.
 
I understand the consuming and disheartening feeling searching and constantly being disappointed by misadvertised boats. It's amazing to see how many boats are not maintained at all. Don't let it get you down. You have a good idea what you're looking for now. All you have to do is find it.

I started with a 21' cuddy cabin Powerquest. I had that boat for 8 years and it was pristine. When I moved up to the 280ss I felt like I was driving a ship the first few times. We bought that boat while my wife was pregnant with my first son. It didn't take long for that boat to close in on us as he grew older. Every time he needed a nap, or a diaper change it was a struggle in the cuddy shuffling things around and making it work. When he was sleeping we would pile things around him so he wouldn't roll off the bed and I would set up a couple fans to try to keep it cool in there. If someone needed something from the cabin, or to use the bathroom, you were waiting until he woke up. It worked, but not without considerable effort.

We sold that boat due to financial and employment issues. I got a new job and started boat hunting again. I wanted something more family friendly. My 290da has a good size extended swim platform, a midcabin with a door which completely closes it off from the rest of the cabin, air conditioning, TV, stove... We comfortably spend the weekend on the water now.

I would have never taken the step from my 21 to the 290 due to the style of the boat. I just didn't think it was cool enough. Looking back now I realize that was a terribly short sighted mind frame. I didn't realize how much a child would change every single one of our regular routines. I know now that life is much easier if everyone is happy.

I pass by a 280ss every time I take my 290da out. He keeps his boat in a slip a few rows down from me. He has the anniversary edition with the radar arch and extended platform. Two options I would have liked to have had. My wife and I both comment every time we pass it, how much better we like the 290da. I loved my 280ss, but I'm glad it's gone. I never would have guessed I would ever say that.

I would say, look for a late 90's wide 270da or a 290da. Are you planning on trailering?



The door on the right leads to the midcabin.

The door on the left is the head.



The 280ss:





 
The late 90's 290's are great but I plan on leaving the boat at a slip near Boston and about half the summer trailering it down to the cape to spend a months or so at my grandparents place. They are on the south side of cape cod and it would be great to be able to leave.it there for a month or longer. We own land on the water with a dock and 2 moorings for family but it would be crazy for us to leave it down there for the whole summer as we would rarely see it. Plus if I can trailer it down, they have a ramp right down the street that is public and takes 10 minutes by boat to their dock. Ride a bike back and get the truck/trailer and I have a month or so to spend at my family's place, be able to shoot home for work with my truck, leave the wife there to enjoy my grandmother's amazing cooking. Come back after my 24hr shift and go back out on the boat. Can't do that all summer but a month or so I can neglect.my lawn and pool, take the dogs with us. I wouldn't mind having someone else take my truck down and my wife and I take the boat down but that would cost a fortune in fuel and everyone in my family would want to go for the cruise in the.boat instead of taking my truck down during summer cape traffic, (incase your not from the NE, Cape traffic is legen.........wait for it.........Dary) . For some reason my wife really likes the layout of the 250 we saw last year but wants the same thing larger. I guess we start walking the docks again asking questions from owners.
 
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