Official 280 Sundancer Thread

That looks really nice. It just snaps in where the old carpet was?

Yes, although you have to have professional snap tool. These are about $100 to $125. Snapincarpet supplies the snaps loose and you install them. You may need to do template with your order, your 280 has a different configuration then the older models they have patterns for. They are good to work with and receptive to feedback.

On the snap tool you will find lots of use for it, and may soon be the most popular guy on your dock.
 
Hi Henry,
How is that product held down? You mentioned snaps but I don’t see any in the picture.

Those pictures were taken right after we received the carpets and before I put the snaps in. The delay was caused by a combination of recommendation and procrastination. The snapin people recommended letting them sit for a day or two to flatten out. And I had removed the old studs because we tried a couple seasons without carpets and wasn’t thrilled about spending a couple hours on my hands and knees putting them back.

Basically the snaps go in the same locations as the OEM carpets. I did use specialty snap caps that have pins to locate and mark where the center of the new carpet snap goes. These things go down on the stud with the needle pointed up and you set the carpet (or canvas) down over it. This holds the fabric in place and allows you to position the pieces accurately. And as you might imagine you want to avoid kneeling on them.
 
Thanks Henry. Makes sense. I am considering the idea as well of ditching the carpet and snaps for the non-skid. I have had fishing boats in the past and the non-skid is easy to clean and I like the look. Still trying to convince the captain!
 
Don't know about the throttle question. But I have Vessel view mobile. My gauges are not very good. So I bought a 10 inch android tablet and I display vvm on it, and I like it. I don't miss my gauges at all.
 
Don't know about the throttle question. But I have Vessel view mobile. My gauges are not very good. So I bought a 10 inch android tablet and I display vvm on it, and I like it. I don't miss my gauges at all.
Did you install it yourself. If so how complicated? Do you only need on unit for both engines?
 
Did you install it yourself. If so how complicated? Do you only need on unit for both engines?
I was going to install myself, but there was other work going on, so I had the mechanics do it. The install is more complicated for two engines than singles. You only need one module but you do need additional cables. And you need to have the Merc tech with the computer set it up so it sees both engines. We also went ahead and routed cables from the engines to the helm area for better bluetooth connectivity and for down the road changes as in going with a VesselView display at some point.
 
Is it possible to retrofit Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) onto a boat with throttle cables? I'm in the process of buying an '04 280DA with 4.3MPIs, and just curious if this is possible. It's not a dealbreaker or anything. My guess would be no.

Also, has anyone added the MercMonitor or VesselView Mobile to their boat? If so, how do you generally use it and was it worth the expense to you?


according to the techs at Mercury, we cannot add digital throttles ! I had called them about a month ago. vessel view 903 is worth the upgrade
 
according to the techs at Mercury, we cannot add digital throttles ! I had called them about a month ago. vessel view 903 is worth the upgrade

Paul, it can be done, but you'd have to throw a heap of money at it. I ran into the same response many times when I wanted to convert our 280 to Smartcraft. Its easier to say it can't be done than invest a lot of time quoting a job that is a) ridiculously expensive, b) will most likely not be done, and c) if it is done will turn into a clusterf_*k because nobody outside the factory has done it before. The reality is there is probably 40 hours just in engineering level specing of parts and organizing construction plans, and just planning how to do it. And that's before the first part is ordered.
 
Has anyone found an exact fit replacement for the Norcold Fridge? Mine finally stopped working this week. The led on the thermostat knob lights up but zero movement from any fans or compressor regardless of power supplied.
 
Darren,

I do not know of any replacement. I do seem to recall reading there is some trick to getting it out. You may want to do a deeper dive on this thread and others in general.
Thanks. I have searched the thread but for some reason my Google foo isn’t working. Definitely having one of those kind of nights. :(
 
Thank You all for the replies. I ended up pulling and flushing the injectors. There’s a pretty significant difference in how smooth the engine is. It gets up to plain faster and comes up to the proper rpm.
 
according to the techs at Mercury, we cannot add digital throttles ! I had called them about a month ago. vessel view 903 is worth the upgrade
Thanks, Paul. I’ll take that one off my list of upgrades.
 
Thanks. I have searched the thread but for some reason my Google foo isn’t working. Definitely having one of those kind of nights. :(
Mine was not cooling very well so I pulled it, easy to do. 3 screws on each side. Right 3 can be accessed with the door open.
Once you have removed them, you just lift and pull the refrigerator out. Surprisingly light. I found if you pull it about 1/2 way out you can then access the screws to remove the side mounting brackets, top plastic trim, and the door. You cannot take the refrigerator out of the boat without removing the mounting brackets. I tried.
For electrical, there is a 110 plug and then 2 spade connectors for the DC connection.

My fridge was just low on refrigerant so I purchased a tap valve and added some refrigerant and that fixed the problem. If yours is not even coming on I would bet if you call around to some appliance repair shops you could find an appliance tech that could fix it if you bring it to them.

good luck.

josh
 
A
Mine was not cooling very well so I pulled it, easy to do. 3 screws on each side. Right 3 can be accessed with the door open.
Once you have removed them, you just lift and pull the refrigerator out. Surprisingly light. I found if you pull it about 1/2 way out you can then access the screws to remove the side mounting brackets, top plastic trim, and the door. You cannot take the refrigerator out of the boat without removing the mounting brackets. I tried.
For electrical, there is a 110 plug and then 2 spade connectors for the DC connection.

My fridge was just low on refrigerant so I purchased a tap valve and added some refrigerant and that fixed the problem. If yours is not even coming on I would bet if you call around to some appliance repair shops you could find an appliance tech that could fix it if you bring it to them.

good luck.

josh
Awesome info Josh. Oddly this morning the compressor was running, but it wasn’t cooling worth a lick. I’m going to try to pull it out this week and get it to the shop.
 
A

Awesome info Josh. Oddly this morning the compressor was running, but it wasn’t cooling worth a lick. I’m going to try to pull it out this week and get it to the shop.
When I pulled my fridge out, I found my little condenser fan at the bottom left had blades broken off. I ordered a new exact replacement on Amazon and changed it. I had to swap the plug only. I also cleaned the dust out. The fridge is working much better now.
E94E3144-909E-42E1-86F3-55AD512E99E4.jpeg
 
Has anyone used an H2O or similar pull up davit system on their 280? I'm looking into an H20 with the centerline of my dinghy about 6" past the end of the swim platform. I'm curious how it would handle in rough conditions and as the boat has bow rise while getting on a plane.

I've been reading through threads on davits and systems and just posted a longer post with my experiences on the thread about 280s and davits.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/dinghy-on-sundancer-280.40638/

Thanks,
 
For those who have replaced the refrigerator. I purchased the Norcold 751 (which replaces the original equipment model on the boat). Is it a direct fit? Or am I looking at some modification work? Comparing the two it looks like the old one is shorter in the back than the new. My concern is whether the shape of the hull is going to hit the bottom of the new refrigerator. Thanks
Pete, How did you make out with that Fridge? Did it fit? Also, how did you get it into the cabin. I'm not even sure I can get my old one out the door.
 

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