Official 280 Sundancer Thread

[Gunn]

Ok, I just finished reading all 118 pages of this thread from start to finish, in 9 days! Now that I'm the proud new owner of an '03 280 with twin 4.3's and generator, I wanted to learn all I could about what you guys have been talking about. Lots of good info! But I hope I can find it once I need to get to it again.

Sorry, nothing further to add at this time, but I just felt good about my accomplishment!

Tom

 

[jason78]

Ok, I just finished reading all 118 pages of this thread from start to finish, in 9 days! Now that I'm the proud new owner of an '03 280 with twin 4.3's and generator, I wanted to learn all I could about what you guys have been talking about. Lots of good info! But I hope I can find it once I need to get to it again.

Sorry, nothing further to add at this time, but I just felt good about my accomplishment!

Tom

Congrats Tom, now lets get those profile pics updated! :thumbsup:

 

[Nehalennia]

Ok, I just finished reading all 118 pages of this thread from start to finish, in 9 days! Now that I'm the proud new owner of an '03 280 with twin 4.3's and generator, I wanted to learn all I could about what you guys have been talking about. Lots of good info! But I hope I can find it once I need to get to it again.

Sorry, nothing further to add at this time, but I just felt good about my accomplishment!

Tom

Tommy! Update your sig pic already!!!

 

[bajturner]

Hello everyone,
New 280DA owner here (a very excited one that is eagerly awaiting spring!). I have learned a lot from this forum during my purchase process and since taking delivery a few weeks ago. Very useful resource!

As was inevitable, here is my first set of questions...I hope there wasn't an obvious answer somewhere I missed:

- I have read through this forum, the entire owners manual, and studied all the schematics, but I can't seem to gain a clear understanding of the AC converter battery charging circuit. Specifically, when plugged into shore power with the AC converter breaker turned on, do the batteries charge regardless of the position of the battery switches on the Main DC Distribution Panel, or do they need to be in the On / Both position? My instinct says the position is irrelevant, but would like to confirm.
- Do the positions of the Master Ignition key switches have anything to do with whether or not the batteries will charge? Again, I would suspect not.
- With respect to the alternators on the engines, do they simply connect directly to their respective battery/battery bank, or via an external charging circuit of some sort?

My boat does not have a generator and I am considering adding an additional house battery or two, and possibly an inverter. I will have more questions about this plan moving forward (charging output requirements, optimal wiring configuration, battery types, etc.) but will start with those above to build my understanding incrementally. I have all winter to ponder the options (unfortunately)!

Thank you in advance everyone for your help. It's a huge benefit to be able to leverage your experience.

Best regards,
Brian

 

[Tonka Boater]

Brian,

Congrats on the 280 and welcome aboard!

when plugged into shore power with the AC converter breaker turned on, do the batteries charge regardless of the position of the battery switches on the Main DC Distribution Panel, or do they need to be in the On / Both position? My instinct says the position is irrelevant, but would like to confirm.

You are correct, position is irrelevant.

Do the positions of the Master Ignition key switches have anything to do with whether or not the batteries will charge? Again, I would suspect not.

Correct, key position is irrelevant.

With respect to the alternators on the engines, do they simply connect directly to their respective battery/battery bank, or via an external charging circuit of some sort?

I am not sure about this.

As for the extra batteries -- I would consider adding a deep cycle battery for the house. One of these should provide enough juice for a day on the lake.

 

[Bucit]

.

Maybe you can help me with these questions:

1- The house has a broken davit, and would need a new and big boat lift to handle a 280 or bigger. Anybody tried the floating docks on this size of boat ?

Juan,

I have my 2005 280 Dancer on a 10,000lb lift and it works fine. I have it wired 220 VAC because of the weight. If you get a 320 you will need a 16k because of weight and the larger beam.

 

[Gunn]

Tommy! Update your sig pic already!!!

Ha, too funny, you must be a member of my family!

I will most definately update the signature pic of my boat, once I get a good photo of it! I just received the boat on Sunday, and it is now at it's new home. So please be patient with me...I did update my signature text though! :smt001

Ok, so as I said it was delivered and splashed on Sunday by the transport company. The guy who hauled it was absolutely amazing! Highly recommended if anyone ever needs something shipped along the east coast.

Anyway, first impressions:
1) The throttle control is very stiff in going from neutral to idle speed forward or reverse. Once in gear, it moves pretty smoothly. Maybe just something I need to get used to, but it seemed to take a lot of effort to get it into gear without accidentally pushing it into a higher speed than I wanted.

2) At cruise speed, I adjust the throttles so that the sync gauge was straight up. But when I look at the RPM gauges, they are not the same. They are off by about 200-300rpm between each other. Is this normal? What is the sync gauge using as a measurement?

All in all, it was a fabulous day. Night and day compared to my 175. We were out in water we wouldn't have been in with the 175 and the boat didn't even notice. We took a short ride with everyone that came over to see it and it performed great. Late that night might wife says "Do you know we had 11 people on the boat?". 5 kids included, but...I hadn't noticed. With 8 on our 175, everyone was stepping on top of each other! Good times ahead!

Tom

 

[Jetmart]

My 2004 280 did not come with curtains for the cabin windows. I noticed that a few have them. Was this an option or are they after market?
Any suggestions on where to find them?

Has anyone used one way tinted windows?

 

[floriduramax1]

My 2004 280 did not come with curtains for the cabin windows. I noticed that a few have them. Was this an option or are they after market?
Any suggestions on where to find them?

Has anyone used one way tinted windows?

I'm curious as well. Mine all have snaps around the windows but nothing there:huh:

 

[Tonka Boater]

My 2004 280 did not come with curtains for the cabin windows. I noticed that a few have them. Was this an option or are they after market?
Any suggestions on where to find them?

Has anyone used one way tinted windows?

I'm curious as well. Mine all have snaps around the windows but nothing there:huh:

They're not really curtains -- they are shades that snap over the windows. I would have no idea where to get them after market. Try Yacht Outfitters, they're a sponsor on the site -- www.yacht-outfitters.com

 

[Brian 59]

My 2004 280 did not come with curtains for the cabin windows. I noticed that a few have them. Was this an option or are they after market?
Any suggestions on where to find them?

Has anyone used one way tinted windows?

Mine didnt come with curtains or shades either. My neighbor with an 06 has them, until I saw his (shades) I never gave it a thought. Would be interested too if they were available.

 

[Half Off]

They are an option. I don't have them on my '04, I contacted SR a few years ago and they said I can order them through a SR dealer.

 

[Jetmart]

Has anyone tinted or similar?

 

[jason78]

My 2004 280 did not come with curtains for the cabin windows. I noticed that a few have them. Was this an option or are they after market?
Any suggestions on where to find them?

Has anyone used one way tinted windows?

I think the PO must have lost them. They are not listed as being optional. Bomar makes the portlight so maybe they can help you guys. Otherwise they should be pretty inexpensive to make.

I can't imangine not having them. If they lost those your screens were also probably lost as well so you may want to look for those too if you don't have them.

Maybe these guys can help- http://www.pompanette.com/home

 

[Henry Boyd]

Has anyone tinted or similar?

If you mean tinted porthole lights, I am planning to have new pieces made this winter. They appear to be just polycarbonate of some kind (Lexan?). The one over the galley sink has crazed so I figured I would get all three made by a local glass shop.

On a similar topic I am also planning to have the battery box door done in a smoked plexi as well. I was thinking to get it made so it is just dark enough to see the battery switch position. (I've had to row back too many SUnday nights to make sure the switch was off.)

On other winter projects I've taken the four white cockpit cupboard door frames off. I spoke with Teak Isle (the OEM supplier) they can replace the frames only (no door or hardware) for $75.00 each. If anyone wants the contact info and sizes let me know.

I'm going to have the frames blasted when the bottom gets done next week. If that works out ok, I'll see about painting them over winter. $300 seemed over the top, and since I already have a small paint booth in my wood shop I figured I'd try that first.

Henry

 

[Half Off]

......They are not listed as being optional. .....

SeaRay must have lied to me.....

 

[jason78]

SeaRay must have lied to me.....

All I said is they are not listed as an option and they are not.

From 2005 Manual

 

[Jetmart]

My windows are set up like the attached pictures. No snaps, no curtain rods, nothing that would indicate past curtains. I bought the boat from the original owner and every other item is on the boat so I really doubt they were misplaced or lost.

 

[jason78]

My windows are set up like the attached pictures. No snaps, no curtain rods, nothing that would indicate past curtains. I bought the boat from the original owner and every other item is on the boat so I really doubt they were misplaced or lost.

Well, I stand corrected- sort of. I don't see them ANYWHERE in the 2004 Parts Manual. Maybe it was a new feature for 2005. :huh:

Nevertheless, If you want them, since you don't have the snaps you would probably need to order from the parts list I posted from the 2005 parts list or do something custom.

 

[Tonka Boater]

My windows are set up like the attached pictures. No snaps, no curtain rods, nothing that would indicate past curtains. I bought the boat from the original owner and every other item is on the boat so I really doubt they were misplaced or lost.

I don't want to beat a dead horse but this is one of my porthole windows. Notice the 4 snaps on the top side of the frame -- this is where the shades snap onto.