Unauthorized 260 Sundancer Thread ('09-'13)

[indeep]

Both the table and leg have dedicated stowage in the storage compartment under the forward center section of the V-berth, but it's not obvious. I wish the boat were uncovered so I could take a pic.

Inside that storage compartment, there are 2 clips on the after bulkhead that hold the table leg - it just snaps in. The table itself fits into wooden brackets on the bottom of the compartment. It fits in fore and aft, with the leg holder fixture upward, at maybe a 30-degree angle. The forward end is the high end, but I don't recall which end of the table is forward and which aft. It'll be obvious if you fool around with it a while.

I hope this helps.

Not in the cabin. I know about storing the cabin table there. Im talking about the one for out in the cockpit.

 

[indeep]

Which size box anchor are you using? I think there is only one manufacturer. It would be my third anchor on board this boat but, whatever it takes...

the smaller one that they sell at westmarine.

 

[fezh]

Not in the cabin. I know about storing the cabin table there. Im talking about the one for out in the cockpit.

Sorry-misread your post. My cockpit table stores in the port side of the aft locker, under the rear seat. There are clips on the forward bulkhead for the table leg. The table fits in on an angle, like the forward storage setup.

We found the cockpit table too big and too high so I offloaded it and removed the storage hardware. That freed up needed storage aft. We use the cabin table in the cockpit. It's fine for just the two of us.

 

[indeep]

Sorry-misread your post. My cockpit table stores in the port side of the aft locker, under the rear seat. There are clips on the forward bulkhead for the table leg. The table fits in on an angle, like the forward storage setup.

We found the cockpit table too big and too high so I offloaded it and removed the storage hardware. That freed up needed storage aft. We use the cabin table in the cockpit. It's fine for just the two of us.

thanks. I'll look at that place when I unwrap the boat next month.

 

[Giles91]

I agree the table is a bit high. But the shape of the support makes it impossible to lower it. We don't bother with the clips etc when storing it, takes up too much room, just chuck it in on top o whatever else is in there (life jackets, ropes etc).

 

[fezh]

I agree the table is a bit high. But the shape of the support makes it impossible to lower it. We don't bother with the clips etc when storing it, takes up too much room, just chuck it in on top o whatever else is in there (life jackets, ropes etc).

I saw a post somewhere from a guy that took the support leg to a machine shop. They cut a length of it out of the middle then welded the thing back together. He sounded happy with the result, except it wasn't real pretty. Is the cabin table leg too short?

I knew SeaRay does business in Europe but didn't realize they were in the market Down Under. Or did you sail her from Los Angeles on her own bottom ;-)

 

[Giles91]

SR are reasonably popular here - both as ex-US imports (usually still 110V) and locally sourced via authorised dealers (at about a gazillion dollar markup on the US Prices, but all 240V converted). A lot of local boaties view them as "lake" boats and since most local boating is openwater they get a mixed (poorly informed) reception from the public. But we've not really had any issues with ours - been out in 35knot winds and 2.5-3m swells and though it wasn't fun we survived! The build quality and the finishing is as good, if not better than most similarly priced local build boats. Biggest negative issue is getting spares - been waiting for 4-5 weeks now for a new latch for the centre windscreen and wiper arm (for example). The latter went in the drink on the 35 knot day!

Back on topic though, don't think the wife would like a nice weld or join in the table leg so I'll just buy some cushions to sit on!

 

[fezh]

SR are reasonably popular here - both as ex-US imports (usually still 110V) and locally sourced via authorised dealers (at about a gazillion dollar markup on the US Prices, but all 240V converted). A lot of local boaties view them as "lake" boats and since most local boating is openwater they get a mixed (poorly informed) reception from the public. But we've not really had any issues with ours - been out in 35knot winds and 2.5-3m swells and though it wasn't fun we survived! The build quality and the finishing is as good, if not better than most similarly priced local build boats. Biggest negative issue is getting spares - been waiting for 4-5 weeks now for a new latch for the centre windscreen and wiper arm (for example). The latter went in the drink on the 35 knot day!

Back on topic though, don't think the wife would like a nice weld or join in the table leg so I'll just buy some cushions to sit on!

Wow! [consults converter] That's gale force winds and 10-foot seas. You've given me new respect for my little 260, as well as for Down-Under seamanship. Not sure I'd be quite so bold. I kind of agree that the 260 may be most comfortable on the lakes.

Worst weather our 260 has seen was 20-odd knots of wind and maybe 3-foot waves here on Lake Champlain. On the lake, we don't get blue-water swells. The waves are steep, close together, and can come up fast. Even the big guys will slow down and adjust speed so as to avoid a mutiny.

Going downwind isn't bad, except when she perches on top of a wave, then suddenly drops her bow into the trough, spraying a gusher of water to the sides. Her "bubble" bow keeps her from nosing in but the wind, of course, curls all that water right into your face. Heading upwind can rattle your teeth if you can't find a comfy course and speed.

We got wet, but the 260 didn't pound much, probably due to her 19-degree dead rise and considerable weight. Biggest problem was that the cockpit doors to the starboard side and cooler lockers would spring open as the boat flexed. The companionway door would also come unlatched and flop around. I adjusted the locker latches but haven't seen much weather since. I added a small strap to secure the companionway door. Works great - I'll post a picture when I start my Spring clean-up.

Still trying to imagine weather that would carry away my wiper arm...

 

[indeep]

where do you guys hang fenders from? I hang one from the bow rail near the windshield but havnt fount a good way for the side of the stern.

 

[fezh]

where do you guys hang fenders from? I hang one from the bow rail near the windshield but havnt fount a good way for the side of the stern.

It would have been nice of the SeaRay folks to give us a couple more attachment points for fenders on the 260. I attach the aft fender to the camper canvas support - you can sort of see the setup in the "Desperado.jpg" pic attached to my first post. Without the camper canvas, though, I'd be SOL.

I've seen small cleats that are supposedly designed for fenders but I have no experience with them. I'd worry about them working loose if they weren't secured somehow on the inside of the hull. I wonder if you could access the inside hull from the engine compartment (?) Any help from the dealer or your marina?

A suggestion for the midships fender. I hang it from the midships mooring cleat with a thin 3/8" line with a bowline loop in the end. I run the loop up through the center of the cleat and loop it over the horns. This leaves just enough room on the cleat to attach my 1/2" spring line. The fender is easy to attach/detach from the helm - no need to go up forward. I adjust the loop so the fender just clears the water when everybody is ashore.

I try to moor the boat so the stern cleat is directly opposite the cleat on the dock. This keeps the stern from wandering out so I don't need a third fender forward of the midships cleat. Moored bow to, I like to use 2 bow lines to hold the bow in place.

In the canals, a third fender on the bow rail is reassuring, assuming you haven't used all your fenders rigging both sides. In the locks, I'd wrap the entire boat in styrofoam if I could.

If there's a blow coming, all bets are off. I find some place to hang everything I've got, then hope for the best.

 

[Giles91]

I should add that the wiper arm was already loose... my bad. And the really bad day was not out of choice, we had to get the boat back from the river to the pen (marine) and were committed before we realised how bad it was, turning around, we figured was worse than pushing on. It was only about 20 minutes of unpleasant and wet boating, followed by about an hour cleaning the salt spray off every single surface on the boat. I don't know about seamanship, I don't consider myself a particularly qualified skipper!

Normal conditions for us would be 10-15knot winds with 1-2m swell/waves. It gets nasty as you say, with shorter periods because it becomes almost impossible to find a steady cruising speed - I'm not sure if this is an issue with the 260 plus 350MPI or the narrow beam, or my courage! A friend has a 28' Bayliner with a good 2-3 feet of extra width that seems to handle the conditions a lot better. I'd be interested to know what speeds people with 260s tackle these conditions at - I'll admit I find getting the boat a little twitchy when the water is lumpy and unpredictable and getting on the plane and maintaining it almost impossible. The other issue here is that the swell and the wind/waves are usually not coming from the same direction meaning you're faced with a nasty looking criss/cross of troughs and ridges - mmmmm lovely. The high sides to the 260 mean that it tends to list, I find, and then I'm back to my original point on trim tabs. On these days I find 12-14 knots is about as much as I can handle - which of course means no planing and LOTS of fuel.... and a knackered skipper from concentrating so hard! But it makes the beer taste better once in port!

And I agree about the fender points, annoying aft of the midships cleat.

 

[indeep]

Where do you guys store your v berth filler cushions?

 

[Giles91]

Under the starboard side v-seat. But basically we leave the berth set up as a bed, the likelihood of sitting down there and using the table is, like, zero.
While we're on this type of thing, does anyone know why there are hinges on the wooden bit between the v-berth and the bathroom bulkhead? It lifts and makes for a nice "hole" but there is nothing obvious that fits into it.

 

[fezh]

Under the starboard side v-seat. But basically we leave the berth set up as a bed, the likelihood of sitting down there and using the table is, like, zero.
While we're on this type of thing, does anyone know why there are hinges on the wooden bit between the v-berth and the bathroom bulkhead? It lifts and makes for a nice "hole" but there is nothing obvious that fits into it.

Good to see some activity on this thread - hoping to get in the water right after Memorial Day, probably just as everybody Down Under is coming out for the winter.

Since my under-seat lockers are always full of something, I stow the filler cushions and other bulky gear in the mid-cabin. I stack them in front of the cabinets on the starboard side. They don't take up much room there. The mid-cabin berth is too short for my 6' height anyway. Also, sleeping back there with my wife means one of us climbing over the other in the middle of the night to go to the head. We sleep in the v-berth, setting it up and taking it down every night while out cruising. Naturally, that job is assigned to me <sigh>.

I believe the hinged section you mentioned provides extra depth for the hanging peg ( I almost wrote "locker"). I suppose somebody might want to hang up a cocktail dress or a full-length trench coat in some alternate universe.

My dealer, who is usually pretty accurate, says the current 260 SD design is going to be replaced by an American version of the European 265 for 2014. The current design will end this year, after a 5-year run. He says the new 265 will become available late this summer - has one on order.

 

[Giles91]

Do any of you guys carry spare parts with you - if so what? I carry a tool kit, screws, tape, epoxy that sort of stuff but stop short of actual parts. A friend has recommended that I carry a spare fan belt, couple of the water sensors etc. Just to let me get home if anything happens - but that's what Sea Rescue are for isnt' it? :grin: