280 or 290 Sun dancer

2

2600da

New Member
Jul 20, 2009
5
I currently own a 2006, 260 Sun Dancer that's a little tipsy.....if you own one you'll know what I mean. I traded in a 250 Express Cruiser that rode much better. I assumed I would get a similar ride with the 260.

The obvious next move was the 280 SD until I saw the 290. Has anybody had experience with both....how do the ride ??

I know there are a lot of 280's out thier....why did they stop making the 290 ??

I'm looking for a 2006 or 2007, twin 4.3 or 5.0, whatever is the best deal

Thanks !!!
 
Speaking strictly for myself, the 290DA never appealed to me primarily because of the cockpit layout's lack of seating. Compare your current 260DA layout to the 290DA layout and you will see what I mean. The 280 on the other hand has no such drawback in the cockpit and will seat an equal number of people as your 260DA will.
 
The 300 Dancer is a good value as well. If you are looking for a boat with outdrives.
 
Cockpit on the 280 is nice...

Cabin on the 290 is better...(bed)

If you have 5 people or less...the 290 is a nice layout with plenty od walkaround room. (The new 310 has similar layout to the 290)
 
If you spend most of your time topside or you frequently have guests then go with the 280. It has an ideal cockpit layout for lounging and entertaining. The 290 wins in the cabin but not enough to matter in my opinion.

I even prefer my 280 layout to the new 310.

.
 
What's your usual load number for people? I love the space in the cockpit of the 290. I prefer to have more "walk around room" even with the table up then seating because we will never have more than 6 people on board for a cruise. It will seat 6-7 comfortably with 2 at the helm. The '06 style helm seat is different than '07 so it may not work for 2.

I'll give you my perspective from a 290 owner. Personal preference is all it is. Both great boats. I'm a big fan of the integrated swim platform and the flat deck of the 290 as well. I like how the deck and nose doesn't dip at the front and its really square and flat to the sides. The overall styling is what sold me. Never spent any time in the cabin of a 280. Does the cockpit really offer any more seating? Seems like the only real difference is that instead of a double helm you have a port lounger and instead of a port bench its a rear facing bench. What am I missing?

My only real complaints on the 290 are that the port bench seat didn't connect to the aft bench. Seems like it would have made sense and I can't understand why it didn't?? That would make riding with 8 pretty easy. I'd be inclined to find someone who could fabricate a new port bench that connected them or a new small aft bench that did the same.

My only other complaint, I wish I could have gotten the 350 mags. I would have opted for that. The 5.0's are nice but I top out around 40-42 with with a load. I'd love to hit 48 or so.
 
Last edited:
We had a 240 Sundancer and it was also tipsy as you describe. You could compensate by using the trim tabs however we needed to readjust the trim tabs very often.

The 280 Sundancer is far more stable then our 240 Sundancer.


With our 280 Sundancer I use the trim tabs mostly when trying to hold plane at a slower speed due to rough chop or when pulling the kids in the tube, again, to hold plane at a slower speed.

If multiple guests all sit on the port lounge I’ll also add a bit of tab to get us back to level.



Plusses of the 280 Sundancer include a swim platform that extends beyond the drives even with the drives fully trimmed up in the trailer position. This is a big plus if you have kids and anchor in coves to play and such. Also, in my opinion, the 280 Sundancer has a better layout.

Minuses of the 280 Sundancer include a smaller fuel tank (100 gallons vs 125) and no good area at the helm to flush mount owner added electronics.



2600da said:
....The obvious next move was the 280 SD .....
Click to expand...
Just FYI, SD = Sun Deck. DA = Sundancer.

2600da said:
....why did they stop making the 290 ??
Click to expand...
When first introduced the 290 was badged 280 and the 280 was going to be discontinued. Their was a strong backlash from dealers and customers so the “New” 280 was rebadged as the 290 and both models carried forward. The volume of sales of the 280, a model that has been in production for many years, outsold the 290 by a lot. Why did they stop making the 290? Lack of sales. Why do they keep making the 280 Sundancer, a model that has existed since 2001? Sales.

2600da said:
I'm looking for a 2006 or 2007, twin 4.3 or 5.0, whatever is the best deal
Click to expand...
As it relates to the 280 Sundancer, either one is good.


Ultimately the choice is yours. Check out both.
 
If I were buying right now I would look at the 340 especially considering your coming from a 260. Why make such a small jump with prices the way they are now?
 
Okay 2600DA, I have to ask being that no one else did. Why are you going up in such small increments? You had a 250, then went to a 260, and now are considering a 280? Our first boat was a Sea Ray 245 Weekender, and now I'm in a 260 Sundancer. I almost made the same mistake again at the start of this season by buying a 280, or even a 300. I'm going to hold out for at least a 320, if not a 340. Also hoping that the used boat market values improve as I was about to take a beating on the sale of my boat, which was purchased one year ago and I was standing to take a $20k loss.

Just think twice about the phenomenon everyone calls "2 feet-itis!
 
As a comparison for pricing, a low hour 2000, freshwater 340, just sold at my marina for $78k. That's a lot of boat for the money. What price range are the 280's/290's actually selling for? 2005-2007?
 
Groucho said:
Cockpit on the 280 is nice...

Cabin on the 290 is better...(bed)

If you have 5 people or less...the 290 is a nice layout with plenty od walkaround room. (The new 310 has similar layout to the 290)
Click to expand...

The 280 has more seating in the cockpit than the 290 ??
 
We love the layout of the 260, it's just a little too tipsy in windy conditions on the bay in NJ. How do you like yours ?

Also, we noticed some oil in the bilg, turned out to be low "drive lube". Any problems there ?
 
2600da said:
We love the layout of the 260, it's just a little too tipsy in windy conditions on the bay in NJ. How do you like yours ?

Also, we noticed some oil in the bilg, turned out to be low "drive lube". Any problems there ?
Click to expand...

If your drive lube suddenly is low and you see oil in your bilge I would guess you have an oil leak.

This is really a new subject so if you are looking to discuss this issue I recommend you being a new thread. Thank you.
 
Tonka Boater said:
Yes

.
Click to expand...


Where and how much?

I would guess '06-'07 290's are actually selling in the mid 70's to high 80's range. People are asking 90k-120k and not getting close to that. I bought in the spring and did my homework.
 
You may consider the automatic trim tab levelers if you are happy with the boat otherwise.
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
Where and how much?

I would guess '06-'07 290's are actually selling in the mid 70's to high 80's range. People are asking 90k-120k and not getting close to that. I bought in the spring and did my homework.
Click to expand...

I can comfortably get 3 across that back bench, 2 facing aft across from the back bench, 3 in the lounger plus the 1 at the helm that swivels join the rest of the guests.

The 290 gets 3 (maybe 4) across the back, 2 on the side and 2 at the helm.

Just my opinion -- not a turf war.

.
 
Tonka Boater said:
I can comfortably get 3 across that back bench, 2 facing aft across from the back bench, 3 in the lounger plus the 1 at the helm that swivels join the rest of the guests.

The 290 gets 3 (maybe 4) across the back, 2 on the side and 2 at the helm.

Just my opinion -- not a turf war.

.
Click to expand...


No turf war at all. Just didn't realize that your port lounger was that big. It has taken some getting use to not having a seat over there but overall I think I prefer the side cabin entry. So, to each their own. So, where is that perfect boat anyway?!?!?
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
.....So, where is that perfect boat anyway?!?!?
Click to expand...

I’ve asked myself that question many times.

I’m not sure the perfect boat exists. The different needs / wants and situations will always cause the perfect boat to change.

I’d love a boat that has the internal room of the 560 DB, agility of a wave runner, seakeeping abilities of a large Nordhavn and operating costs of a Hobie cat.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,247
Messages
1,429,248
Members
61,127
Latest member
Ants84245srv
Back
Top