280 DA performance

K

kenjiyakimoto

New Member
Nov 27, 2008
5
Lake Okanagan, BC
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2006
Engines
twin 8.1s
Hello all

I am in the process of purchasing a new (2008) 280 DA... It is powered by the single engine 496 BIII... are any of you other 280DA owners with similar power happy with the performance>>> speed>>>Fuel Consumption>>> Planing>>>

Thanks Ken
 
kenjiyakimoto said:
Hello all

I am in the process of purchasing a new (2008) 280 DA... It is powered by the single engine 496 BIII... are any of you other 280DA owners with similar power happy with the performance>>> speed>>>Fuel Consumption>>> Planing>>>

Thanks Ken
Click to expand...

My guess.....I have twin 5.0's / BIII drives.

My WOT is in the upper 40's.
Your WOT will be in the low 40's.

My MPG = 1.37 average after 2 seasons of records.
My last boat, a 240 DA was 2.4 MPG averarge after 2 seasons of records.

Your MPG (state miles) will be better then mine because of the single engine but not as good as my 240 DA with a single because the 280 DA is a larger boat.

My guess is you will get about 1.6-1.7 average MPG.



Time to plane is a difficult one to estimate because its very dependent on the load.

I run heavy. My boat is loaded. Not only with items like a generator and two engines but we spend many nights onboard and this means we are full of stuff. I can pull my wife up on 1 ski in 7 seconds.

My guess is you will be able to plane in no more then 7 seconds with a light load and if you load up plus have 6 full size adults onboard you may need to add some tabs plus have patience.

Double the time to 14 seconds with a heavy load. Although this does not sound like a long time, when I have experienced this myself it seems like a eternity. You find yourself saying “Commmmmmme………..ooonnnnn!”

Load it down with full fuel, water, a generous amount of gear and 10 full size adult passengers with a average weight of 200 lbs/person and you will need to have some people move forward in the boat, deploy the tabs and plow a long time before you get up on plane.
 
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KayKook said:
In a few words........ walk away. Get one with twins.
Click to expand...


Why? If he was going out in the ocean I would say the 280 DA is not the correct boat due to its short range.

For inland boating the single is fine, saves upfront $, etc. Resale will be a issue but its a issue with all boats right now.

In my opinion the biggest concern is buying a new boat in this economy that has a potential for catastrophic collapse but I’d say that no matter the boat.

My advice would be to go with a gently used boat, get a survey that includes a engine inspection, compression check, and drive inspection including pulling the drive, examine the coupler as well as the gimbals, check the hull for moisture, etc, etc.

If you look for a used 280 DA with a single, wow, I see a 2003 for sale in Florida for $33,000. Ken, using this Florida boat as a guide, expect a new 2008 280 DA with a single to be worth $33,000 in 6 years. Any better then that and count it as not as bad as planned.


But that was not the question.
 
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KayKook said:
In a few words........ walk away. Get one with twins.
Click to expand...

Why indeed? I had the 496 with the Bravo 3 and I'll bet ya it will out perform the twins. Mine would move! She will burn the gas when you put the hammer down, but she will fly. Right Dan?
 
We have the 496 B III 280 and are happy with it. Doug's comment about weight is accurate, although I sure don't know where you could put 10 adults on a 280! We generally boat with 4 adults, full fuel and water. Getting on plane is not a problem

While on the weight subject the single engine 280 is lighter than the twin version. Look at Doug's signature picture. His swim platform is almost touching the water where it is attached to the transom, in the picture below you can see our swim platform sits about 4 inches above the water in the same spot.

P1010853JPG.jpg


According to the Smartcraft SC5000 we averaged 1.3 NM/Gal last year (1.5 st MPG). However Smartcraft does not determine fuel consumption by measuring, but by applying a calculation based on engine RPM. While it is close there is always a difference between what Smartcraft's projection of consumed fuel is and the amount that actually fills the tank.

Also keep in mind, two engines and sterndrives means twice the maintenance cost!

Henry
 
Why? Resale value when it comes time to sell, and handling around the dock. If that is not an issue for you, then fine. Everybody has their preferences, especially those that own one with a single now. Not for me, and I would not praise the idea to anyone that is looking to buy a 280DA. So I didn't.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
 
Henry, not to derail this thread, but what's the rusty colored stuf aft of your Galley Sink drain along the waterline?
 
Nehalennia said:
Henry, not to derail this thread, but what's the rusty colored stuf aft of your Galley Sink drain along the waterline?
Click to expand...

Pond Scum...
 
Having the single 496 did not affect the resale value of mine at all; in fact there are many people that prefer that model over the twins.

I have made a point of not posting any information on the site unless I have had firsthand experience, no second hand information. In this case I have had firsthand experience, that’s my story and I am sticking to it.

The OP was asking about performance, and in my experience the performance of this engine in this boat is fantastic.
 
Nehalennia said:
Henry, not to derail this thread, but what's the rusty colored stuf aft of your Galley Sink drain along the waterline?
Click to expand...

My guess is Tannin. The good news is it comes off easy with on-off or even toilet bowl cleaner or miracid. . The bad news is if the water is rich with tannin, its comes back pretty fast.

We have a lot of tannin in the water by us also.
 
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skolbe said:
Pond Scum...
Click to expand...


Technically it is river scum. We are in 'brackish' water sometimes fresh, sometimes salt. Where we are the water is actually brown, about half a mile downstream where it is all salt it is is clear. It washes off with a 3m scouring pad.

Tannin is probably it. I hadn't thought about it but our river is basically covered with oak tress for most of it length.

I usually wash the scum line off once or twice a season. In the fall I use an acid based hull cleaner and it comes right off.

Henry
 
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I have Twin 5.0's with Bravo III's, and I get around 1.5 mpg after one season. I cruise around 32 knots, but I can hit 49 WOT. I had doubts about getting 5.0's, but I love it now. I went through months of analysis before getting the 5.0's.

With boats as in cars, it's typical that a bigger engine doesn't mean worse gas consumption if all things are equal - since a bigger engine doesn't have to rev as high, it runs more efficiently. This is also reflected in the spec published by Mercruiser. The bigger engines burn more at cruise, but cover my mileage.

You can save alot of money by going with the single engine, and besides, I spend a lot of time idling down the ICW, and a single engine is fine. As for safety, keep in mind that a lot of problems can affect both engines (dead batteries, line in the water, bad gas, hitting submerged objects).
 
I have a 06 290 w/the 496.
What a great engine...I would buy it again, as others have said it will work fine. There will be valid points both ways. It depends on what fits what YOU do. I would buy a Donzi if I wanted to go fast. Fact is...most of my boating is done @ 7 mph. The half the maintenence cost is nice too.
 
Groucho said:
.... There will be valid points both ways. It depends on what fits what YOU do....
Click to expand...

I agree with Groucho.

Just being honest here. The reason I got twins is because I wanted twins. All the rest was to justify what I wanted.

In my opinion the only ‘bad’ engine in this boat was the single 6.2L small block that was offered early in the production. I think it was the second year.

Over the years this boat has been offered with a lot of engine and drive combinations.

I have wondered about one thing.

I have twin 5.0L V8’s so any engine that starts life as a GM V8 small block should fit. Also I have the BIII drive so a BI drive should fit. It would be interesting to put a supercharged small block V8 connected to a BI drive with a performance prop. Imagine a Fountain pulling along side, giving you the American bird, after he guns it you move the sticks forward and hold tight on his 6 or even pass. That would be cool!
 
Presentation said:
I agree with Groucho.

Just being honest here. The reason I got twins is because I wanted twins. All the rest was to justify what I wanted.

In my opinion the only ‘bad’ engine in this boat was the single 6.2L small block that was offered early in the production. I think it was the second year.

Over the years this boat has been offered with a lot of engine and drive combinations.

I have wondered about one thing.

I have twin 5.0L V8’s so any engine that starts life as a GM V8 small block should fit. Also I have the BIII drive so a BI drive should fit. It would be interesting to put a supercharged small block V8 connected to a BI drive with a performance prop. Imagine a Fountain pulling along side, giving you the American bird, after he guns it you move the sticks forward and hold tight on his 6 or even pass. That would be cool!
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: Same reason I got twins, I wanted 'em. unfortunately, they are two of the worst engines ever made :smt089
 
Heh.

I didn't know I wanted twins until the first time I saw a 280SS.
After that. . .twins were inevitable.

After having a spate of motor problems in my second year. . .I am so glad I have twins. I can't speak to a 280DA. . it is a cruiser not a cuddy. . .but I for one would not want my 280SS with a single engine.
 
Run the boat with a 496 and one with twin 5.0's. Evaluate performance, ride, handling, noise, and fuel consumption. Then go for what you like best.

If I could get strong performance in a single, that's how I would go.
 
A lot of good comments regarding the 280DA single engine. I have the 2001 model and she'll jump up on plane with four adults, two kids ... and three dogs :eek:) in a heart beat. One of the responders made a very good point and that is "what's your likes and dislikes and expectations?" I am personnally very happy with mine and find the power and ability to carry the load of four or more people to be very acceptable for what I use my boat for .. and that's pleasurable cruising, not racing or seeing if I can cause a sonic boom while on plane or being able to come up on plane faster than the guy next to me. Don't get me wrong, having two engines has its benefits, but again ... what do you want and what do you expect? My single screw answers the helm each and every time, and with all the get-up-and-go necessary. :thumbsup:
 
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