Official 280 Sundancer Thread

I appreciate the feedback! I have owned this boat for four years and noticed this problem for the first time yesterday. How much do the trim sending units cost and is the installation difficult?
 
The parts are about $ 90 per drive as I recall. Boat has to be out of the water. These are things that look like little hockey pucks attached to the side of the gimbal ring. One is the trim sending unit, the other is the trim limit switch. They are sold as a pair. These are held on with a couple machine screws. That is the easy part. There are wires that need to be fed through the gimbal ring and transom assembly. The Mercruiser service manual procedure requires removing the drive. The tech who works on our boat replaced ours without doing that though. That said he still spent quite a bit of time getting the wires routed through the transom.

From reading the tech manual there seems to be quite a bit that has to be removed.

If you can, maybe wait until either they die altogether, or plan to replace them when you are doing other drive work like bellows replacement.

Henry
 
I knew I could count on a response from Henry!:grin:
So inside the "hockey puck" is simply an analog gear that sends a signal like a regular gauge?
And forgive my ignorance but what is the decimal that you are referring to (1.4 - 1.9).... My SC display is only whole #'s... does yours do hundreths or are you eyeballing the analog ?
 
KHARRIMAN said:
I knew I could count on a response from Henry!:grin:
So inside the "hockey puck" is simply an analog gear that sends a signal like a regular gauge?
And forgive my ignorance but what is the decimal that you are referring to (1.4 - 1.9).... My SC display is only whole #'s... does yours do hundreths or are you eyeballing the analog ?
Click to expand...

I have both. As I had stated in a different thread, one of mine reads in whole numbers, the other in decimal format. I have not figured out the issue yet.

As far as the topic of discussion, my trim indicator sometimes kicks up to one then back to 0 from the "cushion effect" when I apply throttle briskly. I normally do not pay attention because it seems the 280 (at least with the twin v-8s) does not like to be trimmed much at all so I rarely if ever use it.

You may want to check the connection from the senders to the SC network for corrosion. I had a similar issue on my 225WE and was convinced my trim sender needed replacement. My mechanic found it was simply a bad connection then recalibrated and it was fine.

There is also a chip of some kind inside the sender about the size of a half dollar. My mechanic mentioned at the time that many people replace the whole sender when this is the only part that went bad. Might be worth a check. It could possibly save you several hours labor. I do not know the part number for the chip.
 
Please help. I have located a mint condition 2005 280DA 5.0L BIIIs, Kohler 5kw. Everything is beautiful about this boat... almost. The seller has had to replace the impeller on one engine (at 90 hours), and now the other needs the same. It has 103 hours. The overheat alarm went off during sea trial while idling. Water pressure was slightly low. Increasing RPM brought the temp back to 170ish in about 10 seconds and all was well (?). He also has had to replace the genny impeller three times in three years. He said the impeller that was replaced on the first engine had 2 of the "blades" damaged.

Question, is he getting into junk in the freshwater lake that is causing this? (aren't there strainers on the freshwater intakes?) Or, is there something else going on? The engines run fine. Boat is on plane in less than 10 seconds with four adults and a bunch of gear. Should I be wary of this boat?
 
if the impellers haven't been changed in 3 years, then it's time to replace them.
 
If the engine is overheating at idle, and the impeller hasn't been changed in 3 years, that could be the cause and the first place I would look. Most sellers neglect maint while the boat is for sale (oil, zincs, impellers, manifolds, risers, etc...)

is this a private sale or through a dealer?
 
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Turtlesboat said:
If the engine is overheating at idle, and the impeller hasn't been changed in 3 years, that could be the cause and the first place I would look. Most sellers neglect maint while the boat is for sale (oil, zincs, impellers, manifolds, risers, etc...)

is this a private sale or through a dealer?
Click to expand...
This is an individual selling the boat. We went and spent the day with him and his family on the boat and got to know him/them. He has maintained the boat religiously each year (his dealer doing the work - winterization, oil change, impellers, etc.). He volunteered the information on this issue and is having the impeller replaced this week. He described the symptoms from the first engine's impeller problem and how it was immediately rectified by replacing the impeller.

I'm normally cautious about this kind of scenario, but I'm confident this fellow is a standup guy. He bought the 2005 280DA new from the dealer in 2007, and he keeps it immaculately. My instinct is to trust him. If you (and others reading this) don't have technical concerns about this, then I will probably buy this boat without a survey. Is that really stupid in this case?
 
It most likely is the impeller, which in not a big deal at all, but this probably didn't just happen the day of. Getting a survey doesn't have anything to do with trust or being nice, basically it's someone that knows much more about construction, laws, safety, how things are supposed to work etc... taking a look at the boat to make sure everything looks normal. It could be stuff that even the seller would not know about or be able to spot. Heck, they might not find 1 single thing wrong with it, but at least you would know that someone better equipped than you took a look at it. I would also give a call to your insurance, they might even require that a survey be done.

Every boat seller ALWAYS has and "open checkbook" "spares no expense" "maintains it religiously" etc... The fact is, most don't... especially when they are selling the boat. So, in order to know, you've got to do it unless he shows you receipts what and when it was done. Change the oil, the drive oil, zincs, impellers, inspect manifolds and risers... the list is long. You could theoretically take possession of the boat and sink $7k more into it just catching up on maint. that's if you're lucky and nothing is wrong with it. I'm not saying there's anything at all wrong with the boat, but you don't know enough to make that judgment.
 
+100 TO TURTLE....

He is giving solid pre-purchase advise.

I want you to know that my surveyor basically passed the boat with flying colors and then within 6 months I was replacing both impellers, and all three bellows on both drives.

The items described are NEARLY annual maintenance items.(some will disagree depending on conditions and use)

1. Impellers are yearly(over-cautious but great insurance), 2 years(due depending on use), 3 years(due for replacement), >3 years DO IT NOW + Bellows.
Same with generator impeller- It's easier(and arguably cheaper) to replace impellers than be towed in or blow the engine.

Finally, as you describe sounds like a great boat that needs some regular periodic maint performed... get it surveyed, get recipts and get the boat!:grin:
 
BigJer said:
Question, is he getting into junk in the freshwater lake that is causing this? (aren't there strainers on the freshwater intakes?)
Click to expand...

Just wanted to comment on this. If the engines are closed cooling, each engine has a thru-hull with strainer in addition to the raw water intake from the outdrives.
 
A passenger on my boat forgot to secure the mini-fridge door while we were underway recently. Of course when it got choppy the door was swinging violently without our knowledge as the cabin door was closed. To make a long story short, one of the clear plastic shelves mounted to the door broke. I know that the manufacturer is Norcold. Does anyone know the model number or how I could go about finding a replacement. Thanks!!!
 
jasontbrant said:
A passenger on my boat forgot to secure the mini-fridge door while we were underway recently. Of course when it got choppy the door was swinging violently without our knowledge as the cabin door was closed. To make a long story short, one of the clear plastic shelves mounted to the door broke. I know that the manufacturer is Norcold. Does anyone know the model number or how I could go about finding a replacement. Thanks!!!
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Mine is the DE0051. Here is the link to Norcold's site for the parts listings.

http://www.norcold.com/HOME/PARTS/NorcoldIncRefrigerators/tabid/334/Default.aspx

Your model should be listed in your Sea Ray manual.
 
Does anyone with a 2008 or 2009 280DA have a picture of the canvas helm cover? I was told by Great Lakes that they were made for the 08 280DA. I know the helm design is the same as mine so it should fit just fine. Great Lakes can't send me a pic because they are made to order but I am curious what all it covers and how many snap posts I will have to install to secure it.

Thanks
 
I'll try to take a picture today, basically it has 5 snaps. One in front of the compass, 2 on each side of the console, and secures with velcro around the steering column. It covers everything on the port side down to the radio and on the starboard side over the trailer trim switch, up to, but not covering the throttle. My electronics are surface mounted behind the steering wheel, so the cover works well with them. I imagine some installs could cause an issue and require a custom cover.
 
burwellj78 said:
Does anyone with a 2008 or 2009 280DA have a picture of the canvas helm cover? I was told by Great Lakes that they were made for the 08 280DA. I know the helm design is the same as mine so it should fit just fine. Great Lakes can't send me a pic because they are made to order but I am curious what all it covers and how many snap posts I will have to install to secure it.

Thanks
Click to expand...


I called them to replace the one my boat came with. Here is a picture of the label on the origional . This is what they used to give me a price on it.
Here is the text on the label:
Instrument cover
SO 283956 002 02/13/08
WO 1318 C194
08SR280 DA SA1-7000Q-A30
1896547 DASH CVR SGL CNTL
SEA RAY BOAT CO - KNOXVILL
 

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mpmiller said:
I'll try to take a picture today, basically it has 5 snaps. One in front of the compass, 2 on each side of the console, and secures with velcro around the steering column. It covers everything on the port side down to the radio and on the starboard side over the trailer trim switch, up to, but not covering the throttle. My electronics are surface mounted behind the steering wheel, so the cover works well with them. I imagine some installs could cause an issue and require a custom cover.
Click to expand...

Same here...I'll post a picture if MP doesn't get to it.
 
Thanks for the info guys, I'll look forward to the pics. They want $105 for it. I would like to have it to protect the helm from UV when anchored and to keep dew and rain off the helm when overnighting on the hook.
 
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