1986 Sundancer 270 questions w/twin 170s

[abceemichael]

Hi everyone,

Joined the forum here looking for some help after much research online. I am purchasing my grandfathers 1986 Sea ray sundancer 270. He passed away rather quickly, before he had a chance to show me the ins/outs of the boat. I am slowly becoming familiar but most has no instructions. Its been maintained/documented well, but with its age it needs some fixing up. Attached some pics including a new 9in Garmin and CO detector I installed. I cant wait to have my grandma, wife and kids on the boat, about all we can do during COVID. I also believe grandpas spirit would be pleased to see his baby getting a lot of love from the family.

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1. There are 120v receptacles inside, 4 batteries and an inverter. Where can I find the inverter and its output rating?

2. Where is the grey water tank and where does it empty? Where is the switch for dumping out the side of the boat (when off shore 3 miles of course). I have to replace the toilet and faucets, water is constantly leaking from the faucets when pump is on.

3. It has frozen NFB steering. Probably needs new cables but if you have any ideas how I can fix myself that would be great.

4. Any other tips or things I should be on the lookout for?



Best,
Michael

 

[WV 320 Dancer]

I would think you should have shore power? If you have an inverter you should also have a battery charger and both should be down in the engine room. On all of my Sundancer’s they have been on the port side. Your holding tank should be down in the engine room on the starboard side. If you do not have the owners manuals you can do a search and there are PDF’s you can download to a thumb drive and take to staples or office max and get them printed. You pump out will most likely be on the stern and unlike your fresh water and fuel it will not have a chain attached.

 

[abceemichael]

I would think you should have shore power? If you have an inverter you should also have a battery charger and both should be down in the engine room. On all of my Sundancer’s they have been on the port side. Your holding tank should be down in the engine room on the starboard side. If you do not have the owners manuals you can do a search and there are PDF’s you can download to a thumb drive and take to staples or office max and get them printed. You pump out will most likely be on the stern and unlike your fresh water and fuel it will not have a chain attached.

Cool, thanks for the info WV. We do have shore power, wasnt sure if they worked when disconnected. As for owners manuals, haven't come across one. We only have the sales flyer with specs. Will keep looking.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You may or may not have a grey water system. That was an option, not standard. If you do, it usually uses the black water tank. You'll have to check how things are plumbed by following the lines.

Are you SURE you have an inverter? Or are you confusing some terms? An inverter is different than a converter - a converter is a battery charger.

You may or may not have overboard discharge. That was also an option. Look at the black water tank and follow all lines.

Disconnect the steering cable at the steering arm behind the bilge. This will tell you what side of the steering system is frozen and then you can go from there (can do the same thing at the helm).

It sounds like you probably haven't really looked at things, yet. That should be your first step - many of your questions will be answered just by poking around for a while.

 

[abceemichael]

You may or may not have a grey water system. That was an option, not standard. If you do, it usually uses the black water tank. You'll have to check how things are plumbed by following the lines.

Are you SURE you have an inverter? Or are you confusing some terms? An inverter is different than a converter - a converter is a battery charger.

You may or may not have overboard discharge. That was also an option. Look at the black water tank and follow all lines.

Disconnect the steering cable at the steering arm behind the bilge. This will tell you what side of the steering system is frozen and then you can go from there (can do the same thing at the helm).

It sounds like you probably haven't really looked at things, yet. That should be your first step - many of your questions will be answered just by poking around for a while.

Thanks Dave, will poke around as soon as able. I reached out to Sea Ray directly for a manual, they got back to me right away saying it’s not available and to utilize the forums. Appreciate you all. I may be mistaking terms. For sure it has a converter, we have it connected to power at the dock at all times. I know it doesn’t have a generator so I thought it may have an inverter for the plugs to work off shore. There is a mascerator and overboard discharge for sure, just don’t know where to flip that switch/avoid it.

 

[2016FLD]

Try this owner's manual for the 1987, likely similar. The Macerator / Discharge on my 85 260 is activated by a key switch in the head.

Hope you enjoy the boat! -Michael

https://owners-resources.searayweb....270_Sundancer_AmberJack_HardTop_SportFish.pdf

 

[abceemichael]

Try this owner's manual for the 1987, likely similar. The Macerator / Discharge on my 85 260 is activated by a key switch in the head.

Hope you enjoy the boat! -Michael

https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/owners-manuals-files/1987_270 Amberjack_270_Sundancer_AmberJack_HardTop_SportFish.pdf

Thanks Michael, great find! I took a short read and most of it does apply to the boat and answers a lot of my questions! I’ll make a hard copy.

 

[Pirate Lady]

I have to replace the toilet and faucets, water is constantly leaking from the faucets when pump is on.

i replaced my faucets this summer. Go to RV websites like Camping World (there are other I cant recall). You can get the exact same faucets for RV and pay about 2/3 less than buying from a marine store. I replaced the galley, head, faucets and shower for about $50 total.

You have not said if your toilet is a porta-potti or a vacu-flush (looks like a house toilet). in those model years, the 23, 25, 26, and 27 had a portapotti as standard equipment. My 25 is a portapotti with a macerator/overboard (and pump out fitting). there is no grey water tank, its part of the PP.

 

[abceemichael]

Thanks Pirate Lady. I picked up some nice RV faucets from Amazon about $28 each, will look into camping world next time. It is a porta pottie. I have a bellow I will try to install, and a spare camco if the bellow doesn’t fit.

I don’t think there is a grey tank either. Looks like sink and shower exit starboard. Thanks again for the tips!

 

[Pirate Lady]

Prolly the same rv faucets you would get at camping world, thats a good price, hard to beat. And yep, PP, no external holding tank. Be glad, it really is the best setup for boats. No worry about cant get to a pumpout when the tank is full. just take off the bottom of the PP and dump in toilet on shore. and a whole lot less parts to go wrong.
if you decide to replace it, get Dometic 965MSD, direct replacement with pumpout fittings.

 

[2016FLD]

I have the same set up in my 260, does appear to be reliable. Oh boy, can picture the mess I'd make trying to carry it out the cabin door (mom used to call me a bull in a china shop)!

Thanks for the tip about rv places. I thought about it but had not asked assuming the "must be certified for boats!" crowd would get me, LOL. Oh no, I hear them coming, run....

 

[Pirate Lady]

Look up all thread about vacu flush problems. Be glad you got a pp. simple is better.