Official 280 Sundancer Thread

[jason78]

I know this has nothing to do with your topic but I am shopping for a 280 & was wondering what kind of fuel consumption you at cruise & what speed is that?

What year model year 280s are you looking at? That will have a bearing on the answer. The 2010+ for example is smaller and has different engine options than the 2001-2009 280.

 

[elevy]

Does anyone know if you can store and fold the sunvisor/bimini to the radar arch on the 280 Sundancer without taking them off of the boat. It is driving me crazy because we like the full sun most times but do not have a place to store them at the dock or in the car.:smt017

 

[Henry Boyd]

Does anyone know if you can store and fold the sunvisor/bimini to the radar arch on the 280 Sundancer without taking them off of the boat. It is driving me crazy because we like the full sun most times but do not have a place to store them at the dock or in the car.:smt017

We have covers for the front bimini and the camper back. I suppose you could bet a cover made for the rear piece, although I think there may be too much curvature for it to work neatly.

Henry

 

[jason78]

Does anyone know if you can store and fold the sunvisor/bimini to the radar arch on the 280 Sundancer without taking them off of the boat. It is driving me crazy because we like the full sun most times but do not have a place to store them at the dock or in the car.:smt017

Due to the way the rear visor frame is designed there is not a way (that I could figure out) to collapse and boot it while attached to the arch. Like Henry, I also have a boot for the front visor and it works fine. I have always thought running with the front visor booted looked "strange" so during the summer, I take the front visor off and store it at home. I leave the rear visor on and boot the rear bimini.

Last year for a short time, I removed all the visors and rear bimini on the boat. Man, it looks sharp but my wife made me put the rear sunshade back on. :grin:

 

[Tonka Boater]

Does anyone know if you can store and fold the sunvisor/bimini to the radar arch on the 280 Sundancer without taking them off of the boat. It is driving me crazy because we like the full sun most times but do not have a place to store them at the dock or in the car.:smt017

There isn't a way to collapse the visors so I store them and the biminis at home and run naked most of the time. I try to plan ahead and will bring the appropriate canvas if we have guests that want some shade.

 

[scootdogg]

i tried to search for this, but its just not working for some reason. i am looking to replace the courtesy and arch lights in the cockpit with led's. does anyone know what a direct replacement bulb only would be?

thanks in advance!

 

[Tonka Boater]

i tried to search for this, but its just not working for some reason. i am looking to replace the courtesy and arch lights in the cockpit with led's. does anyone know what a direct replacement bulb only would be?

thanks in advance!

Here you go...just about everything you will need is in this thread. Double check because a couple of my bulbs were different but this will get you started.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showpost.php?p=330907&postcount=880
.

 

[elevy]

There isn't a way to collapse the visors so I store them and the biminis at home and run naked most of the time. I try to plan ahead and will bring the appropriate canvas if we have guests that want some shade.

Thanks Tonka, I guess that is what we will have to do as well.

 

[bajturner]

Does anyone know if you can store and fold the sunvisor/bimini to the radar arch on the 280 Sundancer without taking them off of the boat. It is driving me crazy because we like the full sun most times but do not have a place to store them at the dock or in the car.:smt017

I was looking for pictures of 280s with flags a little while ago and came across a picture of a 280DA with all the biminis/visors collapsed. It stood out because I didn't think it was possible. I managed the find the picture again using the same search term. For what it's worth, it is here:

http://en.cosasdebarcos.com/barco_46523090090355705666516857684568.html

This boat is in Europe so may have different options, or maybe it is a home-grown solution! I only have two covers that came with my boat...

On a related note, I would LOVE to know the method everyone uses for zipping and snapping the canvas to the arch. Always an acrobatic order of operations exercise at our slip!!

 

[dpvandy01]

I can store all three of mine rolled and booted. I'm sure every 280 on the water can be done like this as well. Unzip from the radar arch, roll and zip boot in place.

 

[bajturner]

Quick questions I am hoping someone can answer from experience. I plan to mount a Garmin GXM 51 XM weather/audio antenna on the radar arch, likely where the TV antenna currently is...we can only receive one fuzzy TV channel anyways.

My idea is to route it across the top of the arch to the starboard side, then forward to the helm. Here are my questions:
- any other locations I should consider (recommendation is min 3' from the VHF antenna)?
- how long is the run (how much wire is needed) from that location, down the arch, and then to the chartplotter at the helm (the chartplotter will be mounted where the lone fuel gauge is at present, right above the VHF)?

Thanks!
Brian

 

[dpvandy01]

I was looking for pictures of 280s with flags a little while ago and came across a picture of a 280DA with all the biminis/visors collapsed. It stood out because I didn't think it was possible. I managed the find the picture again using the same search term. For what it's worth, it is here:

http://en.cosasdebarcos.com/barco_46523090090355705666516857684568.html

This boat is in Europe so may have different options, or maybe it is a home-grown solution! I only have two covers that came with my boat...

On a related note, I would LOVE to know the method everyone uses for zipping and snapping the canvas to the arch. Always an acrobatic order of operations exercise at our slip!!

As for the sunshades, I release the forward support pole from the windshield, this allows the pole structure to pivot towards the arch, zip to arch then lower back in place and reattach to the windshield. Same for the mid shade. For the rear, I depress the buttons on the poles allowing it to pivot forward.

 

[floriduramax1]

I have a new project....project "make it comfortable for admiral to sleep"...lol. These 280's and their short v-berths are ridiculous and I'm only 5'7":smt021 I'm prepping the boat for a trip to Bahamas and I think this is probably the most important change of all, or else it won't be a "fun" trip...lol. I removed the forward section of the wrap around cushion and tried it out, WOW what a difference...

Sea Ray didn't take any time installing the headliner material where they knew it would be covered, so I trimmed and glued to make it all uniform.

What I'm faced with now is whether I want to eliminate the cushion all the way around or just that front section. My plans are to fabricate a trim piece to both cover the edge and also serve as border so I can still use the "ledge" for additional storage. The second part is what to cover it with:huh: I have an abundance of specialty vinyls leathers and even some croc and ostrich...lol...all left over from our bus remodel jobs. I will be storing the cushions and they will be able to just screw right back in place if the next owner wants to use the table option. In fact the table will be stored also as I am making the filler piece out of plywood and "squaring" off the end by the dinette to give another 8-10" in length! Next I have a real good foam store I buy all my materials from and will get a piece 6" thick, lay out the cushions and mark them out and cut out a new mattress to replace these rock hard bottom cushions:thumbsup:

This is with the starboard side removed, it's amazing how much room all these cushions take up.

I could fab the side rail out of just about anything....metal, wood, acrylic or just cover it with vinyl or leather. Does any body have any ideas what might look more "nautical"? I could always have my interior designer for the buses pick something, but then it would look like something I see everyday and what I will be "escaping" from:grin:

 

[scootdogg]

i am going to order the "original swiveler" flag pole. i am planning on running a flag on the bow rail and was curious if this would pole would mount directly in the middle of the bow rail?? i dont think i could look at a flag flying off center.... must be the OCD in me. anyone have any experience with this flag pole and also what size clamp to order?

thanks!

 

[jason78]

i am going to order the "original swiveler" flag pole. i am planning on running a flag on the bow rail and was curious if this would pole would mount directly in the middle of the bow rail?? i dont think i could look at a flag flying off center.... must be the OCD in me. anyone have any experience with this flag pole and also what size clamp to order?

thanks!

I have the Original Swiveler. It can be centered on the bow rail. I use it to fly a burgee. They can tell you the clamp size as they have it on record. I don't recall what it is.

Also, not to split hairs here but if you are planning on flying the US Flag, the proper place is on the stern, not the bow rail. You can still use the swiveler there if you wish.

There was recently a thread here that discussed proper flag etiquitte. Good reading.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38986&highlight=etiquette

EDIT: I JUST FOUND THE RECEIPT, THE CLAMP SIZE WAS 1" FOR MY 280 BOW RAIL

 

[RichardB]

I am considering installing imitation teak flooring on my 2008 280DA. Does anyone know the square footage of the cockpit and the swim deck? I am getting quotes by the square foot and don't know what these totals are.

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Rich

 

[Henry Boyd]

I am considering installing imitation teak flooring on my 2008 280DA. Does anyone know the square footage of the cockpit and the swim deck? I am getting quotes by the square foot and don't know what these totals are.

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Rich

I know you are thinking about faux teak. I just noticed that Great Lakes Skipper has some real teak Sea Ray flooring kits for the 280. If you don't know GLS, buys overstock materials, so this stuff is the same that Sea Ray would have used as an option.

Henry

 

[jason78]

I am considering installing imitation teak flooring on my 2008 280DA. Does anyone know the square footage of the cockpit and the swim deck? I am getting quotes by the square foot and don't know what these totals are.

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Rich

Rich,

Before you do this, check out Goodale Marine. The make custom REAL Teak Inserts that will fit in the floor of your 280. They are reasonably priced and very high quality. They look GREAT! I just installed one in my cabin entry step and plan to buy the cabin and head insert soon. These look great and you can take them out of the boat to do all the teak maintenance when you need to.

This link will show you all about it.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20638

Here is the vendor's link-

http://www.goodalemarine.com/


Jason

 

[rhodyboater]

I concur with Jason about Goodale Marine.
I outfitted my cabin, head and step with his slat teak
floor inserts and they look great and have the
advantage of letting debris fall through for end of season
vacuuming, while looking clean and neat all season.
I was going to get the teak look alike for my
swim platform but was told it gets very hot in the sun.
Wouldn't want that problem in the cockpit.

 

[RichardB]

Jason:

Thanks! Did not know about this option. Definitely looks great in the cabin.

Rich