Official 280 Sundancer Thread

Has anyone tried a Big Orange holding tank filter? I bought one today, I am a sucker for new products. I replaced the Sealand OEM in May and I think it is already bad, we have had intense heat and humidity early.
 
Kurt said:
Has anyone tried a Big Orange holding tank filter? I bought one today, I am a sucker for new products. I replaced the Sealand OEM in May and I think it is already bad, we have had intense heat and humidity early.
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Do you put the holding tank chemicals in your toilet to keep it from getting really rank? You still need that even with the filter.
 
Are you sure it is your waste holding tank and not your water? My bet is you need to sanitize your fresh water system and flush the hot water heater.
 
Definitely not the water, I keep the hot water heater bypassed and use the water all the time. I drop a 1.75 of cheap vodka in the water tank during spring commissioning and let it sit for a week. The smell is a very weak poo smell directly from the vent after flush. I just hate being that boat and want it gone asap.
 
JimFromMD said:
Do you put the holding tank chemicals in your toilet to keep it from getting really rank? You still need that even with the filter.
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Just bought my 280 2 months ago. How often should filter be changed? Where is it located? What is best website to buy one from?
 
It sits above the holding tank which sits on the SB side below. I have always changed mine with the OEM Dometic yearly, this is the first time I have ever had an issue. Don't worry about the strap that will most likely break when you take the old one out, I just zip tie it to the tank. I may have overdone the chemical this year and killed off all the good bacteria that keeps the tank healthy.
 
Kurt said:
It sits above the holding tank which sits on the SB side below. I have always changed mine with the OEM Dometic yearly, this is the first time I have ever had an issue. Don't worry about the strap that will most likely break when you take the old one out, I just zip tie it to the tank. I may have overdone the chemical this year and killed off all the good bacteria that keeps the tank healthy.
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I havent changed it but one time in 3 years. That was because I overfilled my holding tank when I bought the boat not knowing that I had the gray water system that pumps all sink water into the holding tank too. Once I fixed that (re-routed the sink water back over the side) I changed the filter, becuase it had been contaminated with yuck-water and was stinking. If it needs to be changed, you will know it! Trust me.
 
I discovered this morning that the head was not holding water in bowl. I need to redirect my focus a bit as this could be the source of my new odor problem. The duckbills look original, is there a gasket or seal on that rotating ball?
 
I had the same problem as you. And yes, there is a gasket seal. I purchased my "Dometic Vacuflush toilet seal kit" on EBay for $25.00. I think I purchased it from an RV store.... Confirm the part number, but for me mine was:

P/N: 385316140

Easy fix and it solved my issue. My bowl will now hold water all year!

Tom
 
I need some quick help here. I'm on the boat now, and today I found that my bilge blower is not working and the switch is not lighting. Everything else on the panel works. I checked in the two cockpit circuit breaker locations and so far I haven't located the blower breaker. Is it in the ER? Any ideas on how to troubleshoot?
 
Try to work the float switch by hand and see if the pump comes on. Is your bilge dry?


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when this happened on my 2003 280 with twin 4.3, the circuit breaker had popped. A panel of circuit breakers is located in the ER on the port side, forward of the battery charger. First time it popped was last week, I also had a dead battery. I have since replaced the batteries, only out once since, but breaker did not pop.

good luck
 
Thanks for the quick response guy. Right after I posted I found another site that mentioned the breakers were in the ER. Sure enough, both had tripped. It's quite possible one was already tripped and I didn't realize it. I'll be careful in the future to test them. Too bad there isn't a way to tell if only one has tripped. BTW, I have new batteries and I keep them charged with shorepower, so I know that wasn't the cause. Maybe the extreme heat in the ER from this heatwave may have caused it?
 
Glad to know things are working out for you. Tripped breakers beat dead pump fo' sho'!


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Gunn said:
I had the same problem as you. And yes, there is a gasket seal. I purchased my "Dometic Vacuflush toilet seal kit" on EBay for $25.00. I think I purchased it from an RV store.... Confirm the part number, but for me mine was:

P/N: 385316140

Easy fix and it solved my issue. My bowl will now hold water all year!

Tom
Click to expand...
Thank you, it is appreciated. Is it realistic to prophylactically change the duckbills as well?
 
Took a cruise out in the bay today and anchored up. I ran out the anchor on the windlass from the helm controls without issue. I walked up to the bow to check the lead of the line and wanted to pay out some more line. I used the foot pedal on the bow to pay out the line. Shortly after stepping on the pedal I heard a "winding down" sound and the windlass stopped working. We then tried from the helm again and it still did not work. I opened up the hatch and had my wife try the helm control. I can hear what sounds like a solenoid firing each time the button is depressed to haul in or out. I can't seem to find a breaker but fuse doesn't appear to be popped. Manually hauled it in at the end of the day and flaked it in the locker best as possible. Anyone have any ideas what the issue may be with the windlass? Checks to be made? 2003 280 Sundancer. Thanks in advance!
 
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