Mid-90's 270 Sundancer Thread

I'll see what I can dig up on the install.

As for the tie-off, the windlass CAN hold it, but I always tie my line to a cleat to take the stress off the windlass. Most windlass manufacturers recommend that you do this.
 
I installed a Lewmar Horizon 600FF (Free Fall). I've been using it for about 3-4 seasons and it has been a great unit. That particular model has been replaced by the 700 series which has a stainless steel housing. If I were gonna do it again, that is definitely the model I would choose. I don't think a vertical model would work right due to the shallow rode storage and the way the locker door factors in.

I installed a piece of lumber (2x12 treated) in the locker directly underneath the windlass. It is about 3' long so it extends well beyond the locker door opening (front and back). The windlass is bolted on thru the door and the lumber - it is very solid.

IIRC, I used 6ga wire for the main run. I installed a 50amp breaker in the port side electrical box (beneath the battery switch) and connected that to the relay (Lewmar calls this a 'contactor'), which I mounted on the back of the electrical box. From there, the 2 wires run along the port side to the bow and attach directly to the windlass. This seemed to be the shortest and most direct route.

The controls (deck foot switch and cockpit lever switch) use smaller (16ga) wires that run from the switch to the relay. Three conductor wire is needed for up and down control.

Here is Lewmar's installation guide. I think you'll find it useful even if you go with another brand:

http://www.lewmar.com/support/PDF/windlass/Horizon_free_600-900.pdf

Good luck!
 

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MLauman said:
I installed a Lewmar Horizon 600FF (Free Fall). I've been using it for about 3-4 seasons and it has been a great unit. That particular model has been replaced by the 700 series which has a stainless steel housing. If I were gonna do it again, that is definitely the model I would choose. I don't think a vertical model would work right due to the shallow rode storage and the way the locker door factors in.
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Click to expand...


We have a vertical style Lewmar V700G on our boat that seems to work reasonably well. When we purchased the boat it aready had a Lewmar Sprint 600 vertical style windlass on it that gave out after one season. The previous boat owner did not seem to have taken care of the winch very well, leading to internal corrosion of the gears and their eventual failure (I took the winch apart upon its demise). The reason I replaced it with a 'like' windlass was simply the ease of installation and the fact that the prior one worked for us. At times, one of us has to go to the bow to untangle the twisted/knotted rode from the gypsie. I think this is due to a lack of depth in the anchor locker, coupled with a lengthy rode I use (33'of 1/4" chain and 340'+/- of 9/16" line (I sometimes need to anchor in 100' depth...). With half that length I think the windlass would operate flawlessly. Of course, last week I must have overloaded the windlass pulling up against a pretty strong tidal current with insufficient prop support. It blw a breaker, which I have yet to locate. What was worse is that the outdrive lift pump seems to run on the same breaker as it then failed to operate as well. The large breaker protecting that circuit didn't seem to have tripped, though I have yet to check its operation. My next project will thus be the isolation of the windlass electrical circuit onto its own breaker!! Pulling up the chain and 25# anchor was a bear!

GG
 
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Hi Everyone - thought I'd post on the 270DA thread. I just purchased a 1996 DA with the twin 4.3's. Love the boat!

I'm looking for a couple of suggestions from those of you who have this model:

- where have you installed a tv/dvd system? I was looking at the little shelf area near the hanging locker by the head. Any suggestions on models?

- where do you have a trash can for the cockpit area? It looks like the steps into the cabin has a hinged door with a removable floor (bilge area). It would be nice to have something where we didn't have to go down into the cabin - just haven't seen a good spot to add something.

- has anyone added additional cupholders in the cockpit?

- has anyone added a cockpit table?

I looked at a lot of boats over the past few years and the whole family fell in love with this model. I look forward to the responses and maybe some pictures...?
 
I installed a shelf for the TV in the corner where you described. However, this was 6-7 years ago when CRTs were still the standard. Obviously, I'd do it different with an LCD now - probably by installing a pivoting mount on that same wall.

There should be a trash can in the big hole under the hinged step that you discovered. Yours must be missing.

I seem to have plenty of cupholders. I assume you have found the ones in the little compartment just to the right of the driver seat.

My boat came with a cockpit table also. I believe this is part of the 'sunpad' option as the table can be used with a shorter pedestal to provide cushion support. Still, there's no reason you couldn't install one of the aftermarket ones such as the Garelick models.
 
My trashcan must definitely be missing - there is a removable floor under that step but nothing else in the space. Easy enough to add.

On the cupholders, I have 1 in the pocket to the right of the helm seat, 1 in the seat back of the helm and three to the left of the cabin door near the windshield. So - nothing in the rear of the boat.

I'd like to see a picture of your table if you have one - I've looked at adding one but don't see how the engine hatches would be secure enough to support a table. Does it attach somehow at the side?
 
I don't seem to to have a picture of it but I'll try to get one. It uses a single pedestal and just plugs into a recepticle in one of the engine hatches. No other attachment and it seems to be very secure. And its quite large - 4 people can comfortably eat dinner on it.
 
tdappleman,

Our '94 270DA has the same cup holder arrangement yours does. We purchased a couple of double-cup holders that insert into the rod holders we have installed into the top of the gunnel (one each side). They work quite well. In addition, we purchased a couple of cup holders that simply clip into the bow rail. The value of these cup holders is immesurable, IMO, as there really is no other good place on the boaw to store a drink.

As to a cockpit table, the admiral and I have wrestled with that one for a couple of boating seasons - until we finally came to the conclusion that a square rollup camping table measuring about 2.5'x2.5' made out of aluminum was our preferred option. The reasons are that a) a reasonably sized fixed-mount table in a limited space like the cockpit on a 270DA takes up a lot of space, whereas moveable a rollup table can be slid out of the way quickly, such as against the back cushion when the aft seat is folded up, and b) if using a secondary fixed-mount table (instead of the V-birth table), storage becomes a significant issue.

Lastly, the space under the hinged step also contains the shower sump pump mounted to the bilge floor. Maintenance of this pump is important, as hair and soap scum will build up quickly and may render the float and/or pump inoperable.

Cheers!
 
This thread has been inactive for over a year, but I had to make a post. I have a 1995 270 DA with a single 7.4l 4 barrel carb Merc and a Bravo 2 leg. It is a pretty basic boat:
- no generator
- no inverter
- no radar or chartplotter
- no ac or heat
- no microwave

I bought it in spring of 2005. At that time it had 420 hours on the hour meter. I have cleaned the heck out of it (it was very grungy) and it came up beautifully. I have had a blast on this, my first boat.

My modifications have been:
- adding fire extinguishers and basic safety equipment
- adding a dinghy (8' Zodiac)
- adding a chartplotter
- pimping out the audio system
- replacing the flame arrestor with a K&N flame arrestor
- replacing the house battery with 2 golf cart batteries and installing an automatic charging relay
- replacing the striping and repainting the bottom black (it was teal to match a strip in the hull - yuck)

In the short term, I plan to:
- replace the old school battery charger with a smart charger
- get some good quality foam as a topper for the berths

In the long term (as I can afford it) I want to:
- add a swim platform (swimplatforms.com)
- upgrade the size of the fresh water tank
- install a Vacuflush system (currently, the boat has an electric head that sucks in seawater)
- add a third battery bank
- add an inverter
- add a windlass
- upgrade the alternator and add a multistage regulator
- add a heater

I am looking to get advice from other owners on good upgrades, good locations of upgrades, what brands to consider, etc.

Cheers!
 
Glad to see the thread resurected - can't add much with the economy. Have been working on adding a gray water system. just finished adding two 12v plugs in the rear cockpit and two rod holders (mainly as mounts for a magma grill and table).

Will be adding a third battery soon.

Good luck with those projects!!!
 
I hear ya about the economy - it will definitely cause "the long term" to be a little longer. No worries, though. I love the boat just the way it is, but tweaking it will make it that much more enjoyable.

I suppose I will eventually have to add a grey water system. It will be law at some point. That could be quite complicated. Are you using the sump pump under the stairs as a means of pumping grey water into a bilge-mounted holding tank?

Could you please post pictures of your rod holders with the grill and table setup? I'd love to see where you mounted them. I just installed a rod holder in the deck above the battery switch. It is primarly for my BBQ. I still have to buy or design and build a mount.

What are the 12V plugs to be used for? All the best with your summer on the boat!
 
Hi all!
Best regards from a supersunny Sweden.

I am planning to remove our microwave from the kitchen and make some drawers instead for knifes and forks!
Does anyone know how to remove it, because it seems to be locked in position in some way!
 
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Andrew,

I just wanted to let you know that if you need a charger or inverter give me a call or email.

I would be happy to work with you and as a Sea Ray owner we offer you a customer appreciation discount on new products. That goes for anything we make.

Happy boating.

Jim Mitchell
ProMariner
jmitchell@pmariner.com
603-766-7603
 
berkan said:
Hi all!
Best regards from a supersunny Sweden.

I am planning to remove our microwave from the kitchen and make some drawers instead for knifes and forks!
Does anyone know how to remove it, because it seems to be locked in position in some way!
Click to expand...

Berkan, I wish I could help you, but my boat does not have a microwave. I have noticed, somewhat enviably, that the 270 DAs that are a year or two newer than mine have a microwave. If you are removing yours, I guess I should be happy!
 
1996 270 da 7.4 bravo 2 Things i did to this vessel are add a 19" skywoth lcd tv to the wall in the front of head,Add blue led lights in cabin added more 110 circuits on top of shelf front of head ,add more 12 volt recepticles throu out,added 10 pair of jl audio 7.7 speakers,1 jl audio 10" sub,3- 600 watt jl audio amps,add a third battery with a battery charging isolator,add a swim platform,ect ect
 
Hey all, we went down to Portland yesterday to bring our Sea Ray to its new home in Seattle. It is in awesome shape for a 20 y.o. boat. We were told that the heater doesn't work. When you turn the switch at the helm nothing happens. I assume it is something electrical. It is meant to heat the cabin and cockpit via the heat exchanger at the engine. Has anyone had any experience with this? Thanks!
 
I may have answered my own question. I looked under the dash last night (that is a tight fit, and I am a skinny guy) and noticed that one of the leads to the heater was missing a wire. Just looked at the wiring diagram on-line. Turns out it is the lead for the power source! I will find some power, re-connect and hopefully we'll get some heat. It is not an OEM heater. It is from Heater Craft.
 
Hey all! We bought a '94 270 last year. Can't believe it took me this long to find this thread! So here's a question. My stereo seems to be dead right now. I had some leaks that were running down behind the 120V panel so I suspect some water may have fried the radio, but before I buy a new one, I want to make sure I've checked all the fuses/breakers first. Since I can't find a wiring diagram for this boat (anyone know where one is?), does anyone know where all the fuses are for the stereo? There were two in the wire bundle behind the radio, the panel below the helm with the push button (fuses?) has a "stereo" button - do these actually pop out if they're bad - or do you need to actually pull the thing apart to check it? I should point out the amplifier DOES have power to it, but the radio head unit seems to be completely dead. I haven't tried pulling wires and checking them with a meter yet. Thanks for any help!
 
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