Official 280 Sundancer Thread

Re; Purple Haze on rear seat Bolster

Jim, I have the exact same problem w/ my blue cocpit cover. I was wondering if you use 303 protectant on your seats? Mine didn't start leeching until i used this stuff and I wondered if it was a coincidence.
 
thanks for all in the great input...looks like twins win!!! :smt038

and, yes, we're going with marine max...once they figured out that we had another boat we were looking at they went all out to try and get our business...we will let you all know how it goes through delivery...we're upgrading from a 2001 Sea Pro Fish and Ski bought new in 2002, so we've got a hugh learning curve ahead! :smt101
 
Considering Used 280 Sundancer - HELP!

Hello everyone. I am considering purchasing a 2001 280 Sundancer from an individual that must sell immediately. Because of that, I can obtain this boat for very little - somewhere in the low $20's, - but am concerned about the engine. It has a single 375 HP which was installed last year with 12 hours on it and will have a new Bravo III outdrive installed as well. What kind of cruise and top speed can I expect with this combination? What else should I be weary of other than the usually maintenance items? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
 
Re: Considering Used 280 Sundancer - HELP!

PugetSounder said:
Hello everyone. I am considering purchasing a 2001 280 Sundancer from an individual that must sell immediately. Because of that, I can obtain this boat for very little - somewhere in the low $20's, - but am concerned about the engine. It has a single 375 HP which was installed last year with 12 hours on it and will have a new Bravo III outdrive installed as well. What kind of cruise and top speed can I expect with this combination? What else should I be weary of other than the usually maintenance items? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

A) Read the previous ten posts on this thread,
B) Then do a search on 496 & 280 sundancers,

This topic has been covered in depth. Do the research and feel free to come back with any new questions.
 
Re: Considering Used 280 Sundancer - HELP!

PugetSounder said:
Hello everyone. I am considering purchasing a 2001 280 Sundancer from an individual that must sell immediately. Because of that, I can obtain this boat for very little - somewhere in the low $20's, - but am concerned about the engine. It has a single 375 HP which was installed last year with 12 hours on it and will have a new Bravo III outdrive installed as well. What kind of cruise and top speed can I expect with this combination? What else should I be weary of other than the usually maintenance items? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

A 2001 in the low $20's seems like a good deal regardless of the powerplant -- assuming it's in good shape overall. The 2001 is the same basic body style as the current model (up to 2009) except for updates to upholstery/interior.

Here are my numbers with the 496:
- Cruise is 3400-3600 RPM at around 26-28 mph, trim on #2, no tabs
- Around 15 gph at 3600 RPM
- WOT: 4800 RPM, 30+ gph at 43 mph

Again, I will verify these number today if possible and will snap pics of the Smartcraft.

Edit:
Well I had too much reflection so the pics from my iPhone didn't work out. The numbers in red above are the actuals from my run today on dead calm water (2 mph wind -- awesome day!)

.
 
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hi greg..i own a fourwinns 248 vista..im looking at an 05 280 searay with the 496...i see you have the same set ..can you tell how the boat runs..handles you know stuff of interest..i love this 280 im just curious about the 496 being enough jam..thanks RON
 
RON MACK said:
hi greg..i own a fourwinns 248 vista..im looking at an 05 280 searay with the 496...i see you have the same set ..can you tell how the boat runs..handles you know stuff of interest..i love this 280 im just curious about the 496 being enough jam..thanks RON
Click to expand...


Say Ron,

You didn't get enough feedback from your 'jumping ship' thread a couple weeks ago? It was after all the same question you have re-asked here. If you follow the advice DaveS posted in your original thread, i.e. use the search function, you would find all of the information you could ever want on the 280 single vs twins, efficiacy of the 496 with 280, etc.
 
RON MACK said:
hi greg..i own a fourwinns 248 vista..im looking at an 05 280 searay with the 496...i see you have the same set ..can you tell how the boat runs..handles you know stuff of interest..i love this 280 im just curious about the 496 being enough jam..thanks RON
Click to expand...

Ron,

Read my numbers in the post that's just before yours. Those are my actual numbers from a run last week. My average fuel burn for the season is 5.99 gph.

The 496 is more than enough for the 280 -- I get up on plane in a matter of seconds and I cruise very comfortably around 3500 rpm burning 15 gph. Handling is excellent but tight maneuvers are obviously easier with twins. Once you get a feel for the boat, the single is no problem to handle in any situation.

The one major drawback to the 280 regardless of the setup is the 100 gallon fuel tank. It's no problem on an inland lake the ocean, great lakes and some rivers may be an issue.

If you read this whole thread from beginning to end you will know more about the 280 than your Sea Ray sales guy.
.
 
Are there any good pictures/descriptions/directions on how to winterize the cold water system, hot water system, head, and AC for the 280 (or other similar set-ups) on this forum?
 
I saw the Winterizing forum - everyone does something different. For the Fresh Water I guess I was planning on draining all the water from the system through the faucets, filling the tank with the antifreeze through the fresh water hole in the side of the boat. Then running all faucets and transom shower, toilet, and when I see pink in them all calling it good. Then I'd drain the Hot Water Heater. I still need to figure out how to do the AC.


Henry Boyd said:
The Winterizing forum has it all covered in general details. The process is all pretty straightforward. I can't think of any 280 specific issues.

Henry
Click to expand...
 
OK, I admire you guys who do your own winterizing, but for the small sum of money you save, is it really worth the potential risk?
At least having a marina do it, not only will everything be done properly and no forgetting about small stuff, but I assume they would be liable if anything froze and was damaged.
Yikes, I can't imagine having to replace an AC or god forbid, a cracked block or something.
I'm a jack of all trades but I wouldn't trust myself to winterize my "baby". I'll let the marina put her to sleep.

By the way, in another thread about the "secret compartment" in the aft cabin, I finally discovered it and was surprised to find out an owner of a brand new 2008 didn't know about it either (after two years)!
I got a free drink out of it....maybe I'll go around to various marinas like a carnival operator and get free drinks every weekend.
"Hey buddy, do you know about the secret compartment?.."
 
rhodyboater said:
OK, I admire you guys who do your own winterizing, but for the small sum of money you save, is it really worth the potential risk?
Click to expand...

How much were you quoted to winterize your "baby"? I was quoted 4k. :wow: So yes... it's worth it to do on my own. haha There really isn't anything to it. Just time.
 
AC is easy to winterize. Take a 5 gallon bucket, fill it about 3/4 with pink or blue. close the seacock, disconnect the hose from the seacock and stick it in the bucket. Turn on the AC. it will begin to prime and start sucking. have someone peek over the side to let you know when it's coming out in color. before the bucket is emptied, turn off the AC.
 
I leave the engine and drive work to the boatyard. Doing the water system is not difficult, but then we had a family summer cottage in Maine that I helped winterize for a couple decades of winters.

I have found that draining the hot water heater, bypassing the the lines, and leaving it open is a good first step. I also make sure the switch for the heater on the main panel is off and I cover it with a strip of masking tape. I then drain the water tank and add six gallons of anti-freeze. I then run the faucets (hot and cold) until they turn pink. Flush the head until pink. The shower sump gets cleaned out (ucch) and the shower drain gets a shot of pink. Run the cockpit and transom sprayers also til pink. I attach a garden hose to the wash down faucet and back onto the dock side water, run faucets again (this gets a short piece of line and the pressure regulator). The hose gets disconnected from the dockside.

I made up a female garden hose fitting and reducer to a slightly smaller od hose. This gets attached to the end of the hose. Having already cleaned the AC strainer, and making sure both sea cocks are open, I insert the smaller OD hose into the outlet side of the AC and turn on the water. When pink starts to come out of the AC pick up, that is done.

I then use the hose to refill the empty anti-freeze jugs and empty the water tank. I find this uses about two gallons. I then slop antifreeze into all of the drains (don't forget a little in the AC condensate pan), and flush the head using anti-freeze from one of the jugs until the vacuum is depleted and then make sure there is a couple of inches of antifreeze in the bowl. Total consumption about 3 gallons. The leftover gets saved till next year.

If the engine has been done by the yard at this point I disconnect the batteries, and shut off the AC converter switch and tape over it as well. Otherwise, I just do the switch and have the yard discconect the batteries.

Henry
 
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TurtleTone said:
AC is easy to winterize. Take a 5 gallon bucket, fill it about 3/4 with pink or blue. close the seacock, disconnect the hose from the seacock and stick it in the bucket. Turn on the AC. it will begin to prime and start sucking. have someone peek over the side to let you know when it's coming out in color. before the bucket is emptied, turn off the AC.
Click to expand...

Hi Mike, technically this is not winderizing, however as I am doing what you describe I also take this opportunity to add the additional items:
#1) Pour some pink antifreeze down the drain hose under the cabin seat with the air conditioning. Ditto for the shower drain.
#2) Remove both the outer and inner air filter for the air conditioning, rinse with a hose, soak in soapy water if needed, wait for it to dry then replace.
#3) Clean the A/C strainer, may as well clean the generator strainer while I’m at it.
#4) Move my sea cocks back and forth a dozen times or so. Basically, play with them to keep them loose.
 
hey henry ..im glad your on the ball i wasnt sure if i had asked this question already...by the way your help was really appreciated .............im glad tonka was able to give me some facts , he answered all my questions thanks again tonka
 
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