Official 280 Sundancer Thread

[eweise]

There is definitely more room in the engine room to work on and around the 4.3’s than the 5.0’s. The Alpha drives are cheaper to repair than the Bravo drives also.

 

[Lazy Daze]

RVPilot - forget about hours - focus on condition and maintenance history. The hull does fine with V6's and Alphas - but it's a total beast with the V8's and B3's - practically a night and day difference - especially when you have a load in the boat or possibly doing watersports. All depends on what you want and what's important to you. Low speed maneuverability is better with the B3's, as well.

 

[RVPilot]

Thanks Dennis! What an interesting toss up ... I haven't seen either boat yet, and it's a little tricky as they are both in Canada but within 3 hours of each other ... so I am chasing getting details. The 5.0-B3 has 840 hours and includes a tender and outboard. The 4.3-A1 was re-powered in 2015 and has Garmin GPS and radar ... Both have FWC and look very good, but pictures always do .. huh. We'll figure a way to get into Canada for a quick 2 day in and out (there is a 72 travel window limit after a negative covid test). Then once we have looked at as many records as they will show us, we'll have a preference, and will get a survey done based on that choice. We're long time pilots who have owned a few personal aircraft, and we'd never buy a plane unless we could see it in person. So, we'll see. Thanks for the 5.0 vs 4.3 feedback.

Do you know ... did the 280DA ever have v-drives available? After looking at loads of owner's manuals I wasn't able to find anything definitive on this. We'd prefer that as we'll be in the salt water in Olympia WA. Best, Tom

 

[Lazy Daze]

You got it, Captain!

No, the 280 never had v-drives. SUPER popular boat, but only ever had stern drives due to the limited space. V-drives would have made the mid cabin much smaller.

If you go back to the late '90's/early '00's, I'm pretty sure the 310DA had v-drives as an option. It'll have the older styling, but it's a larger boat - most notably the beam. At first guess, I would imagine it would be roughly in the same pricing ballpark, maybe a bit more - but I didn't do any research on that.

 

[eweise]

https://www.yachtauctions.com/files/upload/11152_1_7484.pdf
here is the spec sheet on the 2005 model.

 

[RVPilot]

THANKS Eddie!

 

[RVPilot]

Hey ... are there any 280DA owners between Olympia, Tacoma, and central Seattle / Lake Union? Would love to connect.

 

[ATLTiger97]

Hey ... are there any 280DA owners between Olympia, Tacoma, and central Seattle / Lake Union? Would love to connect.

I have the 280da B3 5.0s and that boat will haul @ss down the lake.

 

[grettberg]

I was out Saturday towing the kids on the tube and noticed strange outdrive noises. The noise only occurred when I had the steering full right or full left. I was really doing some sharp turns. Steering straight, no noises. Could it be cavitation? I have the bravo3 with the single 496. Thanks!

 

[Lazy Daze]

If your props are in good condition it would be extremely rare to have cavitation - but ventilation is a possibity depending on a number of factors. However, we have no idea what the noise sounds like! Take a look at what you wrote from our perspective... "I have a noise, what is it?"

 

[ProConMan]

I was out Saturday towing the kids on the tube Saturday and noticed strange outdrive noises. The noise only occurred when I had the steering full right or full left. I was really doing some sharp turns. Steering straight, no noises. Could it be cavitation? I have the bravo3 with the single 496. Thanks!

If it was cavitation you would notice a slight to moderate decrease in acceleration and also seem the RPM's climb quite a bit while it occurs, sometimes as much as 1500 RPM or less depending on how bad the cavitation is. As stated above, if this is occurring, and considering you said you were sharp steering, it could be ventilation (grabbing air from top of water), but you should notice the change in acceleration if that's the case.

 

[Woody]

Not knowing what the 'noise' sounds like...it's not unusual for worn u-joint to make noise when turning sharply but none when straight.

 

[scoflaw]

Could be normal also, they do make some noise in hard turns that outboards don't. If this noise is new probably U-joints or gimbal bearing

 

[ProConMan]

Does anyone happen to know what the water tank depth is?? I want to order a level sensor and install water gauge and need to know what height to order.

 

[Darrenfon]

Anybody have any experience with the Mercury 4.5L V6s? I'm thinking about replacing the 4.3s with a pair of the newer motors.

 

[ProConMan]

Anybody have any experience with the Mercury 4.5L V6s? I'm thinking about replacing the 4.3s with a pair of the newer motors.

Disclaimer: I don't have any experience except for researching it online. Supposedly its an engine merc designed from the ground up instead of counting on GM (the previous 4.3L V6 longblock was originally developed in 1960). It's supposed to be more refined, can get more HP and less weight. The only downside I saw was that it uses a cat in the exhaust system which will compound the cost of exhaust system replacement. I know also on jetskis the cat's typically will fail and clog the exhaust, not sure if that applies to the 4.5 however I do know the replacement cost is very high. I would check and see if it is possible to delete the CAT when it comes to replace the exhaust manifolds and risers.

I am curious as well if there are any known design deficiencies at this point related to reliability.

 

[Gunn]

I was out Saturday towing the kids on the tube and noticed strange outdrive noises. The noise only occurred when I had the steering full right or full left. I was really doing some sharp turns. Steering straight, no noises. Could it be cavitation? I have the bravo3 with the single 496. Thanks!

Most likely this is a gimbal bearing. Noise when steering full right or left it the most common symptom.

It's a pretty easy fix. The outdrive must be removed and then the old bearing removed with a puller (can rent free at an auto parts store if you don't have one). The new one sits in the freezer overnight to contract and then is quickly installed in place before it warms up.

 

[Gunn]

Hi Again Folks ... I am looking into another 280DA, this one is a 2001. It is fresh water cooled, windlass, camper canvas, carpet, genny with AC-heat, online interior photos look to be very clean. It has twin 4.3 MPI Alpha 1s. These 4.3s are a 6 year old pre-power that show 340 hours on each. Genset hours unknown. Can any of you offer any advice, and what questions need to be asked of this boat vs the other I am considering (see post on Sept 1st) that had 900 hour 5.0 B3s? If you were buying this boat, what would you be thinking the motors need? Thanks in advance for any feedback you're able to offer.

Not sure if you've pulled the trigger yet, but as an owner of twin 4.3MPI engines, I'd definitely go with the 5.0's! With more than 4 adults on board, the 4.3's can be a dog to get on plane. Must use full trim tabs down to do it.

Now, I already hate to work on these engines, but I've gotten used to contorting my body around the engine room. So that would royally suck on the 5.0's. But it would be worth it.

I'm not sure what the question "was the repower done correctly" means. If they have 900 hours on them, I'd assume it was done correctly! I wouldn't worry about 900 hours either. It's nice to see a boat used actually.

Good luck in whichever you decide on (or decided on)!

 

[Gunn]

Does anyone have the model number of the Mercury dual throttle control used on these boats? Mines giving me fits with the a trim button, and the port side pushbutton to engage throttle only mode seems to be jammed.

I've written a separate post on it here if anyone has any suggestions: http://clubsearay.com/index.php?thr...280da-dual-throttle-trim-button-issue.106683/

 

[ATLTiger97]

Does anyone have the model number of the Mercury dual throttle control used on these boats? Mines giving me fits with the a trim button, and the port side pushbutton to engage throttle only mode seems to be jammed.

I've written a separate post on it here if anyone has any suggestions: http://clubsearay.com/index.php?thr...280da-dual-throttle-trim-button-issue.106683/

View attachment 113406

I have found it before but can’t remember, let me look through my work to be done list . I however know for about $20 each, you can replace the trim switch on the shifter. I need to order a few and do it. You can also just replace the shifter without the whole assembly. Last I found some Starcraft ones to replace it but you need to run new cables to the engine, the Starcraft was cheaper and someone on the board did it.