Official 280 Sundancer Thread

I replaced mine with a Uniden UM380, connected to my Garmin 640 GPS. The UM380 fit pretty well in the same spot.
2014-11-12 16.39.29.jpg
 
Second post. Are there K&N air filters available for an 05 Sundancer with 4.3L mpi?
 
What's the actual problem you are trying to solve, espically considering marine engines don't have air filters?

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How often do you change the impeller on the genny. I have the Kohler. I have always changed it the first of the year, but the last 2 years the impeller I took out looked new. I put about 100 hrs a year on it. Also when changing it I can only get the top 2 screws out of the housing. The bottom 2 will loosen but hit the white plastic tank. Sure makes it hard to change the impeller that way.
 
gsmallwood said:
How often do you change the impeller on the genny. I have the Kohler. I have always changed it the first of the year, but the last 2 years the impeller I took out looked new. I put about 100 hrs a year on it. Also when changing it I can only get the top 2 screws out of the housing. The bottom 2 will loosen but hit the white plastic tank. Sure makes it hard to change the impeller that way.
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Every year is good habit but you may have to change it more often. Those impellers are unpredictable. I have seen one go for several years on a friends boat and I once had one only last a couple months on mine. The genny is a tight fit on the 280. You may need to remove the hoses and remove the pump all together. I was always able to get all my bolts out. Be careful, there is a spring between the pump housing and the genny.
 
gsmallwood said:
How often do you change the impeller on the genny. I have the Kohler. I have always changed it the first of the year, but the last 2 years the impeller I took out looked new. I put about 100 hrs a year on it. Also when changing it I can only get the top 2 screws out of the housing. The bottom 2 will loosen but hit the white plastic tank. Sure makes it hard to change the impeller that way.
Click to expand...

I change my every year. When I bought the boat it hadn't been changed and I had to remove the heat exchanger and back flush it. Don't want to do that again. I have 3 screws that come out and the last one is loose but is impeded so I can't take it all the way out but it does allow me to let the cover hang there while I change out the impeller.
 
Hello All,

I was a day away from putting a deposit down on a nearly perfect, low our 2007 260DA. The dealer will be trading a 2005 280DA next week and now I'm torn. I'm looking for the hidden advantages/disadvantages of the 280DA over the 260DA. The 280 has a Genny, and twin 4.3L with Alphas. The 260 is a single 350Mag. For those of you that have had single and twin I/O's, do you feel like a twin engine boat is much more expensive to run/maintain/ haul out winterize and store?

The 260DA has some well documented trim sensitivity issues, does that exist on the 280DA? Logically I know the bigger the boat the happier the boater but my budget barely allows my boating lifestyle and I'm just afraid the 280DA might be too rich for me. Its not the loan payment just all the other costs.

Thanks for any insight,

Anthony
 
Anthony, Would the 260 be any larger than what you have now? Having cruised the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay in a 280 for the past 7 years, I will say it is a great size. It has a nice ride and is big enough to give you all the toys. Yes, twins are more maintenance. Instead of buying one oil filter, you buy two. Instead of 5 quarts of oil, you buy 10. One of the most time consuming things about maintenance is prep and clean up. Once you have the oil pump and towels out, it does not take much longer to do 2 than it does to do 1. To me, that little extra expense, and time, is well worth the cost, considering the peace of mind I get knowing I have a backup engine in case something happens. To quote Captain Ron, "If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there!" That is just my opinion.
Thanks,
Mike
 
It has a nice ride and is big enough to give you all the toys. Yes, twins are more maintenance. Instead of buying one oil filter, you buy two. Instead of 5 quarts of oil, you buy 10. One of the most time consuming things about maintenance is prep and clean up. Once you have the oil pump and towels out, it does not take much longer to do 2 than it does to do 1. To me, that little extra expense, and time, is well worth the cost, considering the peace of mind I get knowing I have a backup engine in case something happens. To quote Captain Ron, "If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there!" That is just my opinion.
Thanks
Click to expand...
My current boat is a Regal 2565 express which I have used for 5 seasons on the Chesapeake but it has the Volvo composite drive and for reliability I feel I need to make a change now. I'm already on my second composite drive. The move from my Regal to the 260DA is really a lateral move...just buying reliability since the Sea Ray has super low hours and has just had all certification service work done. I'm glad to hear your 280DA has served you well since we boat in the same area. I just don't have a place to service my own boat,I lso don't have the experience. Funny, I'll tackle any home project but I'm afraid to work on a boat. Do most of you guys service your own 280's?
 
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Anthony, I do not think I jowl make a lateral move just for fewer hours. But, I am also the one that traded my 2006 Ridgeline, with 200k miles for a 2011, with 40k miles. If that size still ,fits you, then it may be a good decision. It's funny, you are afraid to work on your own boat, and I am afraid to let anyone work on mine. With that said, yes, I do ALL my own work.
Mike
 
themikehyde said:
Anthony, Would the 260 be any larger than what you have now? Having cruised the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay in a 280 for the past 7 years, I will say it is a great size. It has a nice ride and is big enough to give you all the toys. Yes, twins are more maintenance. Instead of buying one oil filter, you buy two. Instead of 5 quarts of oil, you buy 10. One of the most time consuming things about maintenance is prep and clean up. Once you have the oil pump and towels out, it does not take much longer to do 2 than it does to do 1. To me, that little extra expense, and time, is well worth the cost, considering the peace of mind I get knowing I have a backup engine in case something happens. To quote Captain Ron, "If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there!" That is just my opinion.
Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...

You should be able to find a nice, used 280 with a single 496 plus a gen for a good price. This would give you a larger boat but the expense would be the same as the 260 with the 350. I had the single 496 in my 280 and I was real happy with the whole setup. Reasonably inexpensive to maintain and plenty of power. If you're used to a single in a 25' boat you will do just fine with the 280 and 496.
 
Tonka Boater said:
You should be able to find a nice, used 280 with a single 496 plus a gen for a good price. This would give you a larger boat but the expense would be the same as the 260 with the 350. I had the single 496 in my 280 and I was real happy with the whole setup. Reasonably inexpensive to maintain and plenty of power. If you're used to a single in a 25' boat you will do just fine with the 280 and 496.
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how did it get on plane and maintain with a full load of passengers? (8) just curious as I often see the 280's with the single for sale.
 
Hi,

Has anyone replaced the rubber seal that the perspex window closes against in the portlights, if so do you have a part number or source please?

Thanks

Anthony
 
The 280DA will provide more stability and confidence in choppy waters, more cabin space including the table with bench seats, and more storage. You will also avoid the trim sensitivity issues although those are workable. I chose the single engine 280DA and have been able to keep costs reasonably in check. I have no power/planing issues with the 8.1L ; however, I typically have 6 passengers on board at max. It sounds like budget is a huge factor and that was my concern when moving up from a 240DA; I have no regrets after moving up and staying with the single engine for my boating needs. There are plenty of deals out there for nice 280DAs. Good luck.

Tonygoodhands said:
Hello All,

I was a day away from putting a deposit down on a nearly perfect, low our 2007 260DA. The dealer will be trading a 2005 280DA next week and now I'm torn. I'm looking for the hidden advantages/disadvantages of the 280DA over the 260DA. The 280 has a Genny, and twin 4.3L with Alphas. The 260 is a single 350Mag. For those of you that have had single and twin I/O's, do you feel like a twin engine boat is much more expensive to run/maintain/ haul out winterize and store?

The 260DA has some well documented trim sensitivity issues, does that exist on the 280DA? Logically I know the bigger the boat the happier the boater but my budget barely allows my boating lifestyle and I'm just afraid the 280DA might be too rich for me. Its not the loan payment just all the other costs.

Thanks for any insight,

Anthony
Click to expand...
 
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alwhite00 said:
how did it get on plane and maintain with a full load of passengers? (8) just curious as I often see the 280's with the single for sale.
Click to expand...

Loose Cannon said:
The 280DA will provide more stability and confidence in choppy waters, more cabin space including the table with bench seats, and more storage. You will also avoid the trim sensitivity issues although those are workable. I chose the single engine 280DA and have been able to keep costs reasonably in check. I have no power/planing issues with the 8.1L ; however, I typically have 6 passengers on board at max. It sounds like budget is a huge factor and that was my concern when moving up from a 240DA; I have no regrets after moving up and staying with the single engine for my boating needs. There are plenty of deals out there for nice 280DAs. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I agree with Loose Cannon and I never had an issue getting on plane with a full load of people and provisions but I suppose it depends how big the people are. We're not overly large people and neither are our friends so others may have different results.
 
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