Sea Trial Today - Did the 280DA Pass or Fail?

[afhn2110]

I just bought a 290 and I thought I was the only person having this problem. It's super scarey I agree. I believe it's because of the 9 ft beam, going forward I will always buy a boat with a larger beam.

 

[BigJer]

Well, when I started this thread it was a great help to get such quick help on the "how long to plane out?" question. Now I've got another problem. How in the world is there not an actual owner's manual for a 2005 280DA out there on the internet? Sea Ray's web site has the supplement only. Then under FAQs they state that if the manual you need isn't in their manuals area then "it is no longer available". Huh?:huh: I just want to read how all the systems are supposed to be operated.

 

[PMC]

Well, when I started this thread it was a great help to get such quick help on the "how long to plane out?" question. Now I've got another problem. How in the world is there not an actual owner's manual for a 2005 280DA out there on the internet? Sea Ray's web site has the supplement only. Then under FAQs they state that if the manual you need isn't in their manuals area then "it is no longer available". Huh?:huh: I just want to read how all the systems are supposed to be operated.

Here you go - the thanks needs to go out to Mlauman

http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/1C1_23_74DEJAKVQ76.pdf

Edit - this is the supplement document - not the owners manual

 

[Gofirstclass]

BigJer, I hope you had that boat surveyed. A survey should include a haul out, pressure wash the hull and the surveyor doing a "tap test" over the entire hull and topside to look for delaminations. You should also have a compression test done. As a suggestion, when the surveyor does the compression test have a new set of gapped plugs for him to install in place of the old ones.

That boat should jump up on plane quickly and if it isn't, insist the surveyor find out why. I wouldn't trust the seller's statement that the slow planing time is due to algae growth. That might be it, and that's a cheap thing to correct. It might not be due to the algae and that could turn out to be very expensive.

 

[BigJer]

Here you go - the thanks needs to go out to Mlauman

http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/1C1_23_74DEJAKVQ76.pdf

Edit - this is the supplement document - not the owners manual

Thank you so much, but this is the "Owner's Manual Supplement" that is available on the SR web site. I'm trying to locate the actual "Owner's Manual". It gives instruction on how to actually use and operate the equipment.

 

[BigJer]

BigJer, I hope you had that boat surveyed. A survey should include a haul out, pressure wash the hull and the surveyor doing a "tap test" over the entire hull and topside to look for delaminations. You should also have a compression test done. As a suggestion, when the surveyor does the compression test have a new set of gapped plugs for him to install in place of the old ones.

That boat should jump up on plane quickly and if it isn't, insist the surveyor find out why. I wouldn't trust the seller's statement that the slow planing time is due to algae growth. That might be it, and that's a cheap thing to correct. It might not be due to the algae and that could turn out to be very expensive.

Thank you for the education. I need it. Actually, I walked away from that boat. I am trying another boat this weekend. A 2005 280DA with 97 hours on the twin 5.0L BIIIs. It's being sold by the original owner who bought it new from the dealer in 2007. This thread has been a fantastic education tool for us newbies. I wish it could produce an actual owner's manual for the 2005 280DA. It's not available from Sea Ray - only the Owner's Manual Supplement. I need to read how the equipment on the boat is supposed to be used and operated before next weekend.

 

[Voldad]

BigJer, I have an '05 280A but with T4.3's. I have the manual and am right up the street from you. If there is something particular you'd like - I can get you a copy. But I though I downloaded an online manual. I'll look and try to find it.

 

[BigJer]

http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/1C1_23_74DEJAKVQ76.pdf

Does this help? It says it's the owners manual supplement, but there seems to be some good information there.

Yes, this is helpful. But, is there actually a manual that gives instruction on how to use and operate the boat and equipment? You know, like a car owner's manual that tells you how to use the a/c or cruise control or whatever.

 

[BigJer]

thanks. I'm looking at earlier years now on the SR site.

 

[Jack F]

I wish it could produce an actual owner's manual for the 2005 280DA. It's not available from Sea Ray - only the Owner's Manual Supplement. I need to read how the equipment on the boat is supposed to be used and operated before next weekend.

Look at earlier years, The owners manual for my 2008 240da I believe was 2006 (134 pages) and the updates were added to the 2008 (34 pages) manual.

 

[Voldad]

BigJer,
http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/1C1_23_74DEJAKBW48.pdf

Under 2002 - is the sundancer manual - also look at th esuplement. These two are the combined hardcopy manual I have. If you have particualr questions - just ask - we've all had to figure out how stuff works.

 

[BigJer]

I found that just a second ago, but was disappointed when the first link just loaded the same ole supplement. I downloaded the 3rd link, but it is not specific to any particular model, just general stuff.

 

[Voldad]

BigJer, Use the general stuff and then the supplement from the year you have. Thats all they have - its what I have as a hardcopy manual - two sections.

 

[BigJer]

Thank you. I downloaded the 2005 300DA Owner's Manual and it is a great deal of what I need. If you look at it, you would probably agree that there surely has to be something like that for the 280.

 

[Heracles]

dirty bottom or dirty drives will slow this boat to a crawl. short Haul out, powerwash the bottom, be careful power washing the drives, don't want to ruin the bellows, drop her back in and go out again. You should get up within 10 seconds unless the boat is loaded with crap. you should also hit the rated rpms at WOT. with my 4.3's I could get up in 7 seconds and be turning 4800 rpms hitting 47mph within 20 seconds. mine was a 280 with 4.3's alpha 1 drives.

Holy Crap! A 280 with 4.3s will see 47? Thats fast! Will the 5.0L see 50?

 

[Bucit]

dirty bottom or dirty drives will slow this boat to a crawl. short Haul out, powerwash the bottom, be careful power washing the drives, don't want to ruin the bellows, drop her back in and go out again. You should get up within 10 seconds unless the boat is loaded with crap. you should also hit the rated rpms at WOT. with my 4.3's I could get up in 7 seconds and be turning 4800 rpms hitting 47mph within 20 seconds. mine was a 280 with 4.3's alpha 1 drives.

Turtle,

I have this same set up and I always thought my boat was slow getting on plane. Although I can turn 4700 rpm's once on plane my engines reach about 3500 rpms when getting on plane. I have the engines tucked and tabs down, start slow then hammer the throttles and 3500 is it. If my engines would wind up to 4700 upon planing I could get up much quicker. Is this an engine problem or a drive problem?