I’m shopping for a 280DA with twin 4.3L / Alpha’s + gen

Presentation

Presentation

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
4,404
Wisconsin - Winnebago Pool chain of lakes
Boat Info
280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
Engines
twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Good News / Bad News / Good News

The Good news is we sold our boat! I think soon we will get a new forum member named Greg. I hope his family as has much fun and creates as many fond memories as we did.

The Bad news is I am now no longer a Sea Ray boat owner. Actually, with a 3 person rubber inflatable dingy not withstanding, we are not boat owners.

The Good news is I can now shop in earnest knowing I have no excuse to not buy when the right boat comes along.



Seeking

2001-2003 Sea Ray Sundancer (prefer 2002 as a balance between upfront cost and condition) Newer then this will simply get too expensive for us.



Must:
Twin 4.3L w/Alpha’s – no other engine / drive combination then this


Want but can add:
- Generator I am hoping that it has this already. Expensive to add.
- Air w/reverse cycle heat I am hoping that it has this already. Expensive to add.
- Windlass
- Full camper enclosure
- Remote spotlight
- Stove Alcohol / electric combination
- Steel tri-axel trailer
 
I commend you on knowing what you want. I also commend you on buying it a couple of years old. Hopefully, there will be plenty of boats for you to choose from. For used boats, I personally believe it's a buyer's market.

Once you find one that suits your needs, realize that it's not the only one out there. You have to be willing to walk away before you can buy it for the right price. Good luck, take your time, and you will be quite pleased with the overall experience.

We spent about 6 months leading up to our purchase. But, when it came to be, we did it even though we had not yet sold our old one.
 
I wanted MPI's on my 280 and they seemed to become standard around late 2002, mostly 2003. more horses for same juice. I have everything you want besides gen and trailer. Haven't used the remote spot yet so can't comment on that. It was hot yesterday and AC in the cabin was nice, I'm going to be missing a gen on those hot summer nights on the hook, but it's pricey to add after the fact. I'm considering an inverter and a bank of batteries to run the ac as opposed to adding a gen. we'll see how expesive that prices out.
 
I have the 2004 version of what your looking for and purchased it this season. The generator/lawnmower is a great option as Turtle points out but is awfully noisey. I think the 280da is a great boat and is a very popular part of the SR lineup from what I can tell.

TT I suspect the battery bank your putting in for AC would be pretty quiet which would be nice.

Good luck with your search.
 
Turtle – my backup plan to an installed generator is a Honda 2000i portable + one wired and one battery CO2 detector in the cabin.

Some advantages to this include having power out of the water – when the boat is in storage. This would allow me to do a mid-winter battery charge or two. Also it would help having power to do my spring waxing with a power rotary tool. Plus I could bring it home as a backup power supply + camping, etc. Simple (non) winterizing. Oh, and less cost.

Minuses include convenience loss and taking up storage, likely under the cockpit sink.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer a generator and would pay about $4,000 more given two identical boats, one with and one with out.

So far I am finding in this part of the country the dealers did not sell the boats of this size with a generator. Florida, sure. But the cost of getting one hauled up, expense of going to those lengths is simply cost prohibitive.

I’m trying to stick to about a 500 mile radius, $65k with trailer and no gen or $70K with trailer + gen.
 
I've kept my eye open for that same range 280 for the last 6 months or so. They, atleast in my area, seem very hard to come across. I think the problem you may come across, considering the area you live, is one with a generator. You may have to buy out of your market.
 
Brent & Presentation... I've been looking for the same thing too. And guess what, my salesman called me yesterday and told me that they just took one in on trade. 280 with gen and vacuflush. It's an 04 and it's at the lake store. So if you guys are interested in something like this have at it. I think I'm gonna pass on it. Timings not right for me. I don't know if it has the 4.3's though.
 
RiverRat said:
Brent & Presentation... I've been looking for the same thing too. And guess what, my salesman called me yesterday and told me that they just took one in on trade. 280 with gen and vacuflush. It's an 04 and it's at the lake store. So if you guys are interested in something like this have at it. I think I'm gonna pass on it. Timings not right for me. I don't know if it has the 4.3's though.
Click to expand...

I wonder if it is listed online yet. I had our sales guy keeping his eye out for a 280 also, I guess he's not doing that great of a job. I'm not sure if the time is right for us either. Now, if I sell about 8 homes in the next couple of months, the timing will feel great!
 
We've been through this before. I think that 65-70K range is about 10K short of reality.
 
Doug/Lisa
If you need any help with pricing and or book values of 280 dancers that have sold in the last year, please advise. I have helped several members in the past and would be happy to help a fellow cheese head.
 
thomas said:
Doug/Lisa
If you need any help with pricing and or book values of 280 dancers that have sold in the last year, please advise. I have helped several members in the past and would be happy to help a fellow cheese head.
Click to expand...

Hi Tom,

Sure, thank you!

My email is presentation_rentals at yahoo dot com or phone is 920-841-0835.
 
according to soldboats.com, and what had sold in the last year, it looks like a pretty good value. In the past I have called searay customer service with the hull numbers, and they can tell you where the boat originated from.
 
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