Official 280 Sundancer Thread

Gunn · Jun 24, 2018

Captn TJ said:
Show me your chartplotter. Below is a picture of the C70 that came with the boat. From a visibility perspective it's useless unless you're going slow and standing over it. I'm thinking of upgrading it and maybe moving it so it sits over where the compass sits. Would be interested in other locations - pictures please

View attachment 57043

This is the best I could find of my setup. The mount that holds it has three screws into the starboard side of the helm. It does block the right side switches for easy access, but there is plenty of room to reach my finger up and turn on the stereo, water pump, horn, etc. without any real issue. There is just enough clearance with the steering wheel to move my hand completely around without hitting the GPS.

Not ideal, but I couldn't find a better place. I newer touchscreen chartplotter may take up less space for the same size screen.

Previous owner (back in 2010) had a 11" GPS mounted where the compass was. It blocked a lot of view. So I put the compass back where it belonged and went this route.

Tom

Henry Boyd · Jun 25, 2018

Woody said:
There's far more experienced than me but here's a couple things I did. More times than not I'd back in on a angle to the dock. I'd let the momentum take the boat toward the dock as if the stern was going to make contact first, then at that time I'd go port to forward. This would start the bow swinging toward the dock before the momentum was used up. The most helpful thing I learned was just to get a line from the stern of the boat onto the dock somehow. Then I could power against the line to get the boat along side the dock. It didn't matter to me if the boat was in perfect position relative to the dock, I'd take anything I could get and move the boat by hand when I was done. I do the same things with my 420DA as I did with the 280, even single handing.

Woody is right. That is the only way we can get into our slip and we are in a tidal harbor that is the mouth of a river where we have to deal with crazy currents.. The big thing is to get the stern line on anywhere other than the end of the finger dock. Once that is secured you can power forward and get the boat against the finger, and with that a bow line. Then its easy peasy to back the boat in to where you want it. We use a temporary stern line with a big loop. Drop it over a cleat and pull forward.

Henry

D.B. · Jun 25, 2018

I want to put a new depth finder on my boat, but am wondering if I have to remove the dash face to find a place to find a place to power it up? 1989 280 Sundancer.

Lazy Daze · Jun 25, 2018

D.B. said:
I want to put a new depth finder on my boat, but am wondering if I have to remove the dash face to find a place to find a place to power it up? 1989 280 Sundancer.

Henry Boyd · Jun 25, 2018

Lazy Daze said:

Dennis,
Be nice now.......

Lazy Daze · Jun 25, 2018

Henry Boyd said:
Dennis,
Be nice now.......

Yeah, I know. But I truly don't know what he's asking.

D.B. · Jun 25, 2018

Lazy Daze said:
Yeah, I know. But I truly don't know what he's asking.

I can't find a way into a power source, there isn't a panel or a way to pull wires behind the dash.

Lazy Daze · Jun 25, 2018

Can you post a picture of your dash?

D.B. · Jun 25, 2018

Lazy Daze said:
Can you post a picture of your dash?

Not sure how to do that. I'll just have the marina install it. I don't do electrical stuff well, and if the dash has to come off or out........... then that definitely lets me out.

Lazy Daze · Jun 26, 2018

D.B. said:
Not sure how to do that. I'll just have the marina install it. I don't do electrical stuff well, and if the dash has to come off or out........... then that definitely lets me out.

OK. If you change your mind, just post back with a picture - I'm sure we can help you figure it out, if you want. But if you're uncomfortable, sure, I understand.

D.B. · Jun 26, 2018

Lazy Daze said:
OK. If you change your mind, just post back with a picture - I'm sure we can help you figure it out, if you want. But if you're uncomfortable, sure, I understand.

Thanks

Cap’n Sparky · Jun 27, 2018

Howdy everyone! My wife and I just pulled the trigger and bought a 2004 280 DA with a genset. Found a great deal from essentially the original owner who is getting up in years and no longer feels comfortable handling the boat. He and his wife are great people and we are grateful we came across this gem. I do want to upgrade the electronics. First on my list is the VHF. Currently have the original Ray 215 and I want to replace it with a Standard Horizon GX2200. I like it because of the integrated AIS/GPS and the loud hailer. Any opinions would be appreciated. Incidentally, I’ve been reading the forum and I’m up to Dec 2009. There’s some really great stuff in here. I glad I found this.

paul hsu · Jun 27, 2018

Cap’n Sparky said:
Howdy everyone! My wife and I just pulled the trigger and bought a 2004 280 DA with a genset. Found a great deal from essentially the original owner who is getting up in years and no longer feels comfortable handling the boat. He and his wife are great people and we are grateful we came across this gem. I do want to upgrade the electronics. First on my list is the VHF. Currently have the original Ray 215 and I want to replace it with a Standard Horizon GX2200. I like it because of the integrated AIS/GPS and the loud hailer. Any opinions would be appreciated. Incidentally, I’ve been reading the forum and I’m up to Dec 2009. There’s some really great stuff in here. I glad I found this.

I installed a 1700 in mine, install was easy, but since it is mounted low, it was hard to hear while underway, I replaced the mike with the remote mike, and that is mounted closer to face level. very happy with the unit.

Captn TJ · Jun 28, 2018

Cap’n Sparky said:
Howdy everyone! My wife and I just pulled the trigger and bought a 2004 280 DA with a genset. Found a great deal from essentially the original owner who is getting up in years and no longer feels comfortable handling the boat. He and his wife are great people and we are grateful we came across this gem. I do want to upgrade the electronics. First on my list is the VHF. Currently have the original Ray 215 and I want to replace it with a Standard Horizon GX2200. I like it because of the integrated AIS/GPS and the loud hailer. Any opinions would be appreciated. Incidentally, I’ve been reading the forum and I’m up to Dec 2009. There’s some really great stuff in here. I glad I found this.

I installed the GX 2200 in mine earlier this year. Love the radio. Regardless of the model you will need to make a backing plate which replaces the gray raymarine plate. Additionally don't bother with the Standard Horizon flush mounting bracket as it won't fit (the dash is too thick. I made my own with <$5.00 worth of hardware store parts. You'll find pics on this tread if not I can email them to you.

Cap’n Sparky · Jun 28, 2018

Captn TJ said:
I installed the GX 2200 in mine earlier this year. Love the radio. Regardless of the model you will need to make a backing plate which replaces the gray raymarine plate. Additionally don't bother with the Standard Horizon flush mounting bracket as it won't fit (the dash is too thick. I made my own with <$5.00 worth of hardware store parts. You'll find pics on this tread if not I can email them to you.

Thanks CTJ. Good info on the flush mount brackets. I will remove them from my shopping cart (really loving Defender.com). I'm guessing I probably have something in my many drawers of misc stuff to fabricate a mount.

Fat Tony · Jun 28, 2018

Cap’n Sparky said:
Thanks CTJ. Good info on the flush mount brackets. I will remove them from my shopping cart (really loving Defender.com). I'm guessing I probably have something in my many drawers of misc stuff to fabricate a mount.

I like defender for some things, but you can get that radio from other places for about $100 less.

Cap’n Sparky · Jun 28, 2018

Fat Tony said:
I like defender for some things, but you can get that radio from other places for about $100 less.

Really? I'm all ears (or eyes, as it were). When I google the radio the best price I've seen is on Defender but admittedly I didn't spend a lot of time looking. I'll dig a little deeper but if you could slide me the answers to the test that would be way cool. Thanks much.

Captn TJ · Jun 29, 2018

Cap’n Sparky said:
Really? I'm all ears (or eyes, as it were). When I google the radio the best price I've seen is on Defender but admittedly I didn't spend a lot of time looking. I'll dig a little deeper but if you could slide me the answers to the test that would be way cool. Thanks much.

I've found Hodges Marine to offer a better price on electronics than others including Defender. Plus no shipping $$ and very fast service - I give them high marks. I do use Defender for other stuff.

FYI if you check post #5788 you'll see a pic of my install. The backing plate was made from 1/4" starboard which I bought on ebay for about $10. for 1 sq ft. (no shipping). The backing mount was made from a angle bracket and seen on post 5796.

Cap’n Sparky · Jun 29, 2018

Captn TJ said:
I've found Hodges Marine to offer a better price on electronics than others including Defender. Plus no shipping $$ and very fast service - I give them high marks. I do use Defender for other stuff.

FYI if you check post #5788 you'll see a pic of my install. The backing plate was made from 1/4" starboard which I bought on ebay for about $10. for 1 sq ft. (no shipping). The backing mount was made from a angle bracket and seen on post 5796.

Thanks Capt. The best price I found was $305 at Anchor Express. I ordered it last night along with a Clarion GR10BT Digital Media Receiver USB/MP3/WMA Bluetooth 3" Gauge.

I really like your install. I’m thinking of moving the mic up to the left of the radio or maybe even a bit higher to the left of the fuel gage. I just don’t like it where it is. The current mic cradle is actually broke and I’m guessing from catching it with your leg. Thoughts?

Captn TJ · Jun 29, 2018

The mic works fine there. I decided to keep it there only because I hate screw holes in the gelcoat.

Official 280 Sundancer Thread

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