New to us 280 Sundancer

[Corey280]

Hello. I am new to the forum.

I currently own a 2003 220 Sundeck (great boat!) and have an accepted offer on a 2008 280 Sundancer.

I would like general information about the 280 (I hope I chose a good boat!) and have some specific questions.

Where do you store the camper Isinglass and canvas when underway and not used?

How do you store the bumpers? Ours will come with 2 bumpers, but I will likely buy at least two more. I will also buy more lines.

There does not seem to be a ton of storage on the boat for 10 life-vests, the camper canvas, and bumpers.

Are there any tricks or tips about this boat that I should know about?

We will have dual 4.3's in ours with the single prop Alpha outdrive. What hpg burn can I expect and range at different cruise speeds? I am not too concerned on our inland lake but see below, we want to do some Great Lakes touring on this.

We do not have a generator. We are mainly inland lake use, but on rare occasion (maybe once a year) will want to get it shipped to Lake Michigan for a week or so tour. What do we need to do on a day cruise and also on a multi-day cruise to mitigate not having a generator?

Thanks, and we look forward to moving up in the Sea Ray family! Our maintenance inspection is later this week so if there is anything we need to look for please let us know.

Corey

EDIT I just saw the 280 Sundancer threat and am reading it now.

 

[Corey280]

One more thing. When the V-berth section filler is set up as a table it seems impossible to get into the sitting area of the V-berth. Any thoughts?

We played around with the boat yesterday in various configurations and this was something we noticed.

 

[Corey280]

OMG the 280DA thread is 352 pages long and at the topic at the end if wiring.

 

[Bryan280]

One more thing. When the V-berth section filler is set up as a table it seems impossible to get into the sitting area of the V-berth. Any thoughts?

Yeah I have the 2005 280. That table is nuts. We've only used it once and just kind of spin the table a bit and squeezed in. After that we kept it as a bed, used the real table inside and the one outside. I really like my boat but that was obviously something SeaRay did to sell. I assume a small, round table can be put there when a table is needed but that's one more thing you'll have to find storage for.

 

[Corey280]

Thanks for the reply.

We just did a sea trial today and learned that without a generator the HVAC (AC and heat) is not available and requires shore power or a stand-alone generator on the swim platform. That is a bummer for us.

But how necessary is that for a Midwest lake boat?

 

[Bryan280]

We just did a sea trial today and learned that without a generator the HVAC (AC and heat) is not available and requires shore power or a stand-alone generator on the swim platform. That is a bummer for us.

But how necessary is that for a Midwest lake boat?

I'm in central Texas and was bummed that I need the generator for AC. (I did not know that about heat but was suspicious.) I do have a generator but it's loud and has a vibration that I don't want. I've only had my boat since November but have only taken it out the last few weekends. I plan on not using AC and running the generator. We'll see if my wife agrees when we start getting hot outside. The windows provide some decent airflow but my wife did buy some small portable fans that either use a batter or I'll be plugging it into the "car charger" port located outside under the steering wheel. Yeah, wierd. But we'll figure it out. I really like the boat. Storage is okay. So glad to have a fridge. That table at the bow stinks but at least it's there if we really need it.

There are some crazy funny DIY air conditioners built using ice and a cooler. I may get all silly and build one for fun to see if it helps avoid the generator. Again, my wife may deem me nuts for having it in the boat and kill the whole plan.

 

[Corey280]

Yes the V-berth table sucks -- it does not allow access to sit without turning it. We experimented and the round table from the back fits down there and fixes that problem, but with limited table space.

You are in TX, so yeah the AC situation is bad for you. I have been told that in the Midwest that isn't as much of a problem.

I think we are still inclined to go with the boat if my wife approves, and see what happens. If we need a generators for certain times (likely only a month in our climate) we can add one.

But the 280's privacy, space, and camper cover should definitely extend our season.

Where does everyone store their fenders and camper canvas? I don't want to put dirty canvas in the mid-berth because that will be clean for sleeping. There really is no other place to store it.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Henry Boyd]

In twelve years of 280 ownership I think we used the Vee berth filler as a table once. We live in New England so the lack of generator wasn’t a huge inconvenience. The camper canvas is a huge space extender. We found adding a screen to the rear window and having a screen made to fit into the center windshield space really improved air flow making it comfortable after dark when bugs come out.

 

[mblockb]

AC is nice during those dog days of summer. Especially if you plan on sleeping on the boat during that time. Plus it helps remove humidity from the cabin.

 

[Corey280]

AC is nice during those dog days of summer. Especially if you plan on sleeping on the boat during that time. Plus it helps remove humidity from the cabin.

Yeah, I get that. But the one we're looking at doesn't have it.

Which might be a non-issue because the deal on my 220 fell through. The purchaser backed out with bank troubles.

Ugh.

 

[Corey280]

We are looking to keep this 280 deal on track. I have another potential buyer for our 220. But the heat/AC this is still a potential issue for us on the 280.

What portable options are there for heat and AC in a 280 without a generator? I see portable options on a Google search but don't know how effective they are.

Is a generator on the swim platform a real option? And what keeps it from getting waterlogged in waves or wake?

Thanks,

Corey

 

[Corey280]

I would be really interested in adding heat/AC options to a boat without a generator. Day cruises and overnight 98% of the time.

Are the portable heat/AC options decent?

What about an external generator? How big and bulky are they? Do they get water damage on the swim platform? I know they can be bought for around $1,000.

Also, are there any aftermarket or salvage (from wrecked boats) generators that we can add to our boat?

Thanks,

Corey

 

[Rywnps17]

where are you located? i know of someone selling a super clean 280 in Wisconsin, i believe it has a genset.

 

[Corey280]

where are you located? i know of someone selling a super clean 280 in Wisconsin, i believe it has a genset.

We are in Madison.

Can you email me the details?

We are willing to travel and extra points if it comes with a trailer so we can hire a transport.

 

[JimT]

Adding a generator would be cost prohibitive. If you think a generator will be needed broaden your search area and find a boat that has one.

 

[NorCal Boater]

Do a search on this forum for "Portable Generator" before you think you want to try that. Don't do it unless you want you and your family to die.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Adding a generator would be cost prohibitive. If you think a generator will be needed broaden your search area and find a boat that has one.

I’m with you on that. Last year our 280 got us the equivalent of $30K in trade in for the purchase of the Sabre. Adding a gen to it was an $8500 effort when I priced it through the local Westerbeke dealer in 2012. Tough to say what it would be now, but $10K at minimum would seem to be in the ballpark. I don’t see any way it would pay off to add one.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Do a search on this forum for "Portable Generator" before you think you want to try that. Don't do it unless you want you and your family to die.

And the response from the CSR peanut gallery won’t be a picnic either!

 

[kozzy]

Dont want to hack this thread, I am the new owner of a 280 DA , 2003 with 4.3 alphas. They have the original Vengeance 17 P props, and I hit the rev limiters, anyone experience this at all? im trying to get this boat proped right. I started a new thread too..

 

[Henry Boyd]

Dont want to hack this thread, I am the new owner of a 280 DA , 2003 with 4.3 alphas. They have the original Vengeance 17 P props, and I hit the rev limiters, anyone experience this at all? im trying to get this boat proped right. I started a new thread too..

Go to Sea Ray website and download the prop guide. It will not only give you the specs on the OEM props, but also the gear ratio for the sterndrive (on sterndrive boats). If your existing props do not match the OEM then you have your answer.