Pros - cons sundancer 260 vs 280

[Catch 22]

260 - can a 6ft person sleep comfortably front v berth, is head big enough to sit on toilet comfortably? tippy? We’re looking for a boat for Tellico lake and like the idea of a 26 with one engine. But heard that the berth and bathroom are not adequate and they are very tippy???

second choice is the 28. But has 2 engines and we’d like to keep maintenance costs down.
We may overnight on it occasionally but basically use for lake daytime picnics and swimming. (Only 2 of us)

 

[Lazy Daze]

What model years for each boat are you referring to? Do you mean tippy while underway or at anchor?

 

[dan313]

Catch 22. The 260 is a Tippy boat (trim sensitive to wind and catch someones wake and you will be on a roller coster). The 280 is much more stable. The 260's head is small and cramped. The v berth is tight for two to sleep. I have a 05 270 Amberjack and its basically the same boat as the 260. I'm 5'11" and can not stand up in the head. The 280 cabin is much bigger than the 260. You would be amazed what 2 feet do for you. I have friends that have both. The 280 is more stable, wider beam. Twin 4.3 move the 280 very nicely compared to a single 350 mag on the 260. My advice to you. Get the 280 is a nicer boat.

 

[bbwhitejr]

We owned a 2006 260DA for 3 summers/years and thoroughly had a blast with it. I am 6’4” and my wife is 5’6” and we spent every weekend on the boat. Headroom for me was not an issue in the middle of the interior nor in the cockpit. Full water, fuel, and empty holding tank with the 2 of us and could get 38-39mph at WOT. No issue getting on plane and the tippy thing people talk about was no issue for us. The 350mag was great on fuel consumption, easy to work on, and 1/2 the expense of a twin engine to maintain. It is the largest boat you can pull down the road on a trailer with no special limitations. We loved it.

Now the bigger the better. It depends on your situation. I do not think the V-berth is any bigger as the dinette takes up considerable room in the 280. The 280 is a wider beam boat therefore more stable. With it comes twin engines, unless you find a single engine 496, twin outdrives, etc.

All depends on what you are up for....and your desires. Ours was our first cruiser and we learned a lot...

Bennett