Official 280 Sundancer Thread

hahaha, yeah my gauges get all weird when I shut the engines off. Some stick while other don't.

The mount is permanent and the unit slides onto a multipin thingamadooky and locks.

Not that I have a lot of experience with mounting GPS's on top, but it looks nice and clean. I can also keep track of tides and weather with my iphone mounted there.

Oh, and for some strange reason the light that was out in one of my gauges is now back on. Did I mention that I hate my gauges? Not only do I hate the gauges on the 280 buy I despise the push panel. It takes 20 min of back and forth before my GF pushes the right button. "No honey, that's the blower... no that's the bilge pump... I know it looks like water coming out but it's not the water pump. The water pump is the box with the squiggly line in the middle."
 
Mike, thanks for posting the picts. of your install. Looks good:thumbsup: Hopefully I'll get to installing soon. The river is finally below flood stage and boating season is finally in full swing. Hopefully I'll beable to get mine installed within the next few weeks, but right now my right arm is getting a workout on the throttles and the wind in my face is feeling great...
 
TurtleTone said:
hahaha, yeah my gauges get all weird when I shut the engines off. Some stick while other don't.

The mount is permanent and the unit slides onto a multipin thingamadooky and locks.

Not that I have a lot of experience with mounting GPS's on top, but it looks nice and clean. I can also keep track of tides and weather with my iphone mounted there.

Oh, and for some strange reason the light that was out in one of my gauges is now back on. Did I mention that I hate my gauges? Not only do I hate the gauges on the 280 buy I despise the push panel. It takes 20 min of back and forth before my GF pushes the right button. "No honey, that's the blower... no that's the bilge pump... I know it looks like water coming out but it's not the water pump. The water pump is the box with the squiggly line in the middle."
Click to expand...


Does she know what button to press to turn on the electric water heater? The one you can use at the dock.
 
she has no idea what any button does other than the light switches. When I ask her open up the circuit panel and turn something on... it's like asking her to calculate the path to the moon. I think she does it on purpose just in case something breaks, she wants me to flip the switch.
 
TurtleTone said:
she has no idea what any button does other than the light switches. When I ask her open up the circuit panel and turn something on... it's like asking her to calculate the path to the moon. I think she does it on purpose just in case something breaks, she wants me to flip the switch.
Click to expand...

Wheeew, Thought I was the only one that had one like that... When I ask my wife to flip a switch on the main panel she gets the same look the dog does when she doesn't understand what I'm trying to tell her, you know...Their ears perk up and their head tilts from side to side...
 
My Tachy is wacky? Spent the first real time cruising this week and really got to know my 280 (20 hours on the engine, 50 or so total hours on the water NICE:thumbsup:). I usually had 8 adults, full fuel, small cooler, 1/2 tank of water, zero+ waste and one awsome dog. I was cruising around 3800 rpm and around 28mph. My Tach would ocasionally shoot up to 4200/4400 or so with no change in speed or engine sound. I also noticed that when I trimmed out the drive I got no change in RPM or MPH. this is new to me as my old boat changed when I trimmed. When I shut the boat off my tach would always read around 1000 rpm? The boat ran very well considering the load but I much prefer the normal (99% of the time) load of just my wife, dog and myself.
 
Lt. Dan,
8 adults and a dog... sounds like a party!! I will have the same this coming weekend for the Buffet concert in Newport. I already have my diet IBC Rootbeer since the captain must remain totally sober so that the Admiral and bikini clad guests can dance, sing, flash their.... well you get the idea. I do not have your set up but it seems to be consistant with unreliable readings as discussed in this thread.

I have one unrelated question: I seem to have a small leak that is making a wet spot on the carpet on the cabin floor right where the galley meets the head enclosure. Any ideas?

Thanks, KV
 
Tippy, that's the low point in the cabin where any water will run to. Check and clean all of the port hole windows to make sure they are sealed. check your A/C drain pan, Check the sump pump under the step, check under the sink to make sure you don't have a dripping faucet line. Also check the storage area under the v-berth to see if there is any water in there.
 
Recently took delivery of 04, 280 with 496 engine. Boat had 90 hrs. on it. We found that the heat excchanger on the engine leaked considerably. We repaired it. Engine hatch takes 70 lbs.upift to get it started up. Steering has about 8 inches of travel in the wheel before anything happens.

That's the entire list of gripes on this wonderfully thought out boat. Hull design is perfect as is the 496 motor choice. We have a set of trim tabs that aren't being used if anybody is interested.

Hi to all.

Jim
 
Welcome to the board!

Congrats on the new boat! You should get many years of enjoyment out of it.
 
jim hart said:
Recently took delivery of 04, 280 with 496 engine. Boat had 90 hrs. on it. We found that the heat excchanger on the engine leaked considerably. We repaired it. Engine hatch takes 70 lbs.upift to get it started up. Steering has about 8 inches of travel in the wheel before anything happens.

That's the entire list of gripes on this wonderfully thought out boat. Hull design is perfect as is the 496 motor choice. We have a set of trim tabs that aren't being used if anybody is interested.

Hi to all.

Jim
Click to expand...
Congrats. Have the same boat and set up. Steering is fine though.:thumbsup:
 
I figured I'd blow the dust off the 280 board with something. I think my tachs are messed up. It's telling me that I have to spin 4000rpms to cruise at 22kph. Thats crazy, right? If I drop down to roughly 3400rpms I drop off plan.
 
JYurgo said:
I figured I'd blow the dust off the 280 board with something. I think my tachs are messed up. It's telling me that I have to spin 4000rpms to cruise at 22kph. Thats crazy, right? If I drop down to roughly 3400rpms I drop off plan.
Click to expand...

By no means am I an expert on this but if I had that problem the first things I would look at are the props and lower units.
 
beachcombersc said:
Has anyone ever discussed adding a AC vent to the head? Its awful muggy in there..
Click to expand...

I thought about it... but did not want to create a place for water to potentially get trapped. To be honest you will notice that all AC vents are along the port side.... and there is not much place (hidden) to run another duct to starboard without creating a heck of a long run through the V-berth storage area then all the way back to the inaccessible side of the head liner. I gave up on the idea.... I would love to hear additional ideas that I may have not thought of. I have found that if you barely crack the window in the head and run the AC it tends to force a bit of air conditioned air into the head. While showering it does get a bit muggy for sure.




Half Off said:
By no means am I an expert on this but if I had that problem the first things I would look at are the props and lower units.
Click to expand...

Is the bottom dirty?
 
Re getting air to the head...

I've thought of this as well and if I did it, it would be with a piece of 1" clear pvc hose, not ducting. There is no room for a standard 4"duct run to the shower. I could run a hose over to get SOME air in there, tying the hose into the aft air hose near the fan. Ultimately, I decided this wasn't worth the effort as we do not shower in our head.
 
I bought a West Marine RU-260 for $799.00. It has a slatted floor so it rolls up nicely and fits into its canvas storage bag then gets stowed below in the aft cabin. Weight is 51lbs which is eaisly manageable. I unroll it lenghwise on the bow and it takes about 5 minutes to inflate with the included foot pump. Drop it over the side with a line and walk it back to the swim platform then install a 3 1/2 h.p. Mercury also from West for $799.00. They were originally asking $999.00 until I pointed out that the same engine at Bass Pro Shop was on sale for $799.00.That goes in the aft cabin as well lying on its side with the arm-side up. When hauling my dingy I stack the 3 aft cabin mattress sections on top of each other against the starboard wall. When the dingy and engine come out the mattress sections go back in place and you are ready for your weekend. Have had lots of favorable comments about my dingy.
Also, in Virginia, when you motorize an inflateable you must register it with the state. When your numbers are assigned you can paint them on or as I did use a stencil and permanent marker. The state issued sticker is another matter however as it will never adhear to the fabric. I solved this problem with a letter to the state agency that handles registration and was issued a waiver letter from visably displaying the sticker. I have to keep the waiver letter, sticker and registration card on the dingy when it is being operated so I put them in a waterproof plastic bag and taped them inside the engine cover. Haven't been stoped yet but when the time comes I've got my requirements covered.
 
Summer Gail said:
I bought a West Marine RU-260 for $799.00. It has a slatted floor so it rolls up nicely and fits into its canvas storage bag then gets stowed below in the aft cabin. Weight is 51lbs which is eaisly manageable. I unroll it lenghwise on the bow and it takes about 5 minutes to inflate with the included foot pump. Drop it over the side with a line and walk it back to the swim platform then install a 3 1/2 h.p. Mercury also from West for $799.00. They were originally asking $999.00 until I pointed out that the same engine at Bass Pro Shop was on sale for $799.00.That goes in the aft cabin as well lying on its side with the arm-side up. When hauling my dingy I stack the 3 aft cabin mattress sections on top of each other against the starboard wall. When the dingy and engine come out the mattress sections go back in place and you are ready for your weekend. Have had lots of favorable comments about my dingy.
Also, in Virginia, when you motorize an inflateable you must register it with the state. When your numbers are assigned you can paint them on or as I did use a stencil and permanent marker. The state issued sticker is another matter however as it will never adhear to the fabric. I solved this problem with a letter to the state agency that handles registration and was issued a waiver letter from visably displaying the sticker. I have to keep the waiver letter, sticker and registration card on the dingy when it is being operated so I put them in a waterproof plastic bag and taped them inside the engine cover. Haven't been stoped yet but when the time comes I've got my requirements covered.
Click to expand...

Huh? Is this post about your 280DA or your dingy? :smt001
 
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