290 or 280 sundancer?

[sparky90731]

Hello i am very excited to upgrade soon to my sea ray and would appreciate anyone's feedback on decisions buying a used 2002 to 2004 280 or 290. First the engines 4.3 twins or 5.0? and or ive seen single 7.4 mpi . I heard something about the 5.0 are too heavy on the rear and slow planing?? could be not true? trying t get a boat with radar already but how difficult is it to install? Out drives ,ive seen alpha one , bravo 3  not sure the difference. by the used inventory out there people hold on to these boats , Thanks in advance for the feedback, Roy

 

[cfd95]

I had a 95 290 with 4.3's and alpha drives. I felt this boat was underpowered, especially with a few people on board.
The 5.0 is a 4.3 with 2 more cylinders it's the same block.
I would look for V-8's with bravo 3 drives. The Bravo 3 has counter rotating props which help to accelerate better and good low speed handling compared to the Alpha.
The advantage of twins if something happens to one motor you can limp in on the other.

 

[Strecker25]

We have an older 290 than what you are looking at which I believe is wider than your years but I will say I welcome the extra power of the 5.7's over the 4.3's. We only have alpha drives, but another marina member has our same boat with the v6's and has issues getting her on plane with a few people. They also said they cruise at much higher RPM than us. Our boat is 10,500 dry.

 

[Creekwood]

I had a 95 290 with 4.3's and alpha drives. I felt this boat was underpowered, especially with a few people on board.
The 5.0 is a 4.3 with 2 more cylinders it's the same block.
I would look for V-8's with bravo 3 drives. The Bravo 3 has counter rotating props which help to accelerate better and good low speed handling compared to the Alpha.
The advantage of twins if something happens to one motor you can limp in on the other.

The 5.0 is roughly a 4.3 with two more cylinders but a shorter stroke crankshaft too. The 350 (5.7) is the block the 4.3 came from before they cast the block we 2 less cylinders and with the same stroke crankshaft as the 350. But who cares. Get the boat with most power you can get. If that is the twin 5.0's, then get one like that. Resale will be better (you will get your money back) and the boat will be much better to drive. Extra power in reserve is never a bad thing on a boat.

 

[sea ray roy]

Hello
Im a Newbie and just bought a 2003 280 sundancer!!! and excited to pick it up next week, the boat was sitting for a couple years and owners lost keys so the broker pulled it out and serviced outdrives, replaced bellows, new batteries, ignition, bottom paint, engines have 92 hours, one tach read slightly higher than the other.It doesnt have smart gages, just standard, engine lid shocks needs replacing I have mechanical inspection tomorrow, have to order some canvas for the sunshade from great lakes canvas? boat seems to start and run fine and i will go through and tune up/replace filters etc. any other input from seasoned 280 owners would be appreciated ,im sure there will be more questions to follow. :smt024 thanks Roy

 

[JimT]

Congrats on the boat. Did you have it surveyed?
Consider having a local canvas shop make the pieces you need rather than Great Lakes. You will find the pricing similar plus you can customize and they will install the finished product for you.m

 

[sea ray roy]

yes i had survey done yesterday and engines came out with flying colors , he just recommended new risers since they are original , but with 90 hours on engines note sure if they are needed yet, my mechanic said he could pull the elbows and check