1999 280 sun sport question

sea urchin

New Member
Aug 12, 2009
20
ALGONAC MI.
Boat Info
2006 290 SLX
Engines
2 X 350 MAG
i am looking at a 1999 28 sun sport
and i have a few questions
the one i am looking at has very low hours 120
and comes with a single 7.4 and bravoIII
IS THIS ENOUGH POWER... im not looking to set speed records, just want a nice cruising boat without going wot
they also come with twin 350s does anybody have any expierence with either of these packages in the 280

any advice would be great

thank you

also what would be a reasonable price for this boat with the single 7.4 motor and low hours
 
Sea urchin -

It depends. Need more info what, where, when, why, how are you going to be using the boat, what is the price, etc....

IMHO - Single engine on an inland lake could be ok, but not going to be best for coastal cruising where the reliability factor of twins comes into play.

Why does it have such low hours on a 10 year old boat? Again IMHO - would rather have higher hours and good maintance records than a but that has just sat with little maintenance.
 
This is the old "twins vs single" argument. There have been more than two threads on this topic.

Twin advantage
1) Easier docking
2) Twin engine reliability (you *almost* always get home)
3) More power.
4) Engines run at lower RPM's throughout life (engines last longer)
5) Better to impress your friends. (Not only is my engine bigger than yours. .. I have TWO of them!)
6) The 1999 T350 280SS's will have Bravo 1 drives, which are mechanically simpler and more robust than the Bravo III drive you will find on the boat with a 7.4

Single advantages
1) HALF the maintenance cost. (there is no multiengine discount for maintenance)
2) Less likely you will lose a weekend due to a bum engine (afterall . . you only have half the moving parts. . .)
2) More room in engine compartment to do maintenance
3) Lower upfront cost (you should not pay for the second engine)
4) Burn less fuel at idle (same fuel at cruise. . single engine boat runs harder)

I do not fear a low hours boat. . but in a 10 year old boat, how it is kept is key.
 
This is the old "twins vs single" argument. There have been more than two threads on this topic.

Twin advantage
1) Easier docking
2) Twin engine reliability (you *almost* always get home)
3) More power.
4) Engines run at lower RPM's throughout life (engines last longer)
5) Better to impress your friends. (Not only is my engine bigger than yours. .. I have TWO of them!)
6) The 1999 T350 280SS's will have Bravo 1 drives, which are mechanically simpler and more robust than the Bravo III drive you will find on the boat with a 7.4

Single advantages
1) HALF the maintenance cost. (there is no multiengine discount for maintenance)
2) Less likely you will lose a weekend due to a bum engine (afterall . . you only have half the moving parts. . .)
2) More room in engine compartment to do maintenance
3) Lower upfront cost (you should not pay for the second engine)
4) Burn less fuel at idle (same fuel at cruise. . single engine boat runs harder)

I do not fear a low hours boat. . but in a 10 year old boat, how it is kept is key.


thank you good information

in your opinion would a 1999 280 ss with the single 7.4
be worth 27,000 fresh water, full canvas and camper top
and the usual sunsport stuff
 
No idea regarding cost.
Where are you?

Is this the version with the U-seat in the back, or the bench?
Do you have the cockpit fridge and electric windlass?

The $27,000 number sounds ok for a twin; but high for a single. Then again, I have no idea on value.
 
No idea regarding cost.
Where are you?

Is this the version with the U-seat in the back, or the bench?
Do you have the cockpit fridge and electric windlass?

The $27,000 number sounds ok for a twin; but high for a single. Then again, I have no idea on value.

im located in michigan, it has the u shaped seat with a driver
bench bolster, and a back to back passenger seat with wet bar and fridge
 
It doesn't sound like a bad price to me. I assume you will get a survey to check the overall condition.

There are not many of us here with the 280 SS, and none with a single engine. But, do a search on 280 DA's single vs twins. It appears that many 280 DA owners are happy with their singles. I would think it would be plenty of power to cruise around with.
 
im located in michigan, it has the u shaped seat with a driver
bench bolster, and a back to back passenger seat with wet bar and fridge


Where in Michigan are you? I bought my 280SS a few years back, and while it has twins it has 400hrs on it. I think I paid $32k for it and I don't have the camper back canvas, which I wish I had. I can't comment on the single engine, but it's a great boat for day cruising/entertaining. I was looking at a sundancer and my wife wanted this one instead, so we got it and it hasn't been a disappointment at all. We don't do the overnighter cruises and the larger deck area is a plus. BTW the back to back will fold down and extend the u-seat all the way forward for great seating.
 
Yeah, the U-seat sold the boat to me. That and the Fridge :)

You can't beat this boat for cockpit ergonomics. Sometimes, we consider that a bow rider version might have been better for our day-boat lifestyle. . but I like the cabin anyway. . .The SS's, however, are rare enough. Not even sure there was a 290SLX or comparable back in the late '90s (I wasn't about to fork out the moolah for a 2003-2005 boat when I was shopping)
 
Where in Michigan are you? I bought my 280SS a few years back, and while it has twins it has 400hrs on it. I think I paid $32k for it and I don't have the camper back canvas, which I wish I had. I can't comment on the single engine, but it's a great boat for day cruising/entertaining. I was looking at a sundancer and my wife wanted this one instead, so we got it and it hasn't been a disappointment at all. We don't do the overnighter cruises and the larger deck area is a plus. BTW the back to back will fold down and extend the u-seat all the way forward for great seating.

we live on the north channel, in pearl beach michigan
and we do mostly day boating, that is why i think that layout is perfect, i may wait awhile, and see what comes up in the spring, im thinking there could be some better deals
and closer, all the decent deals i am finding are out of state
so i have to add about 2,000 in shipping charges to everything i find, plus surveys, which i would have done here also... but the particular one i did find with the single motor
does have the camper top, which i thought was great
for playing cards and such in the cockpit later at night,,,
either way im sure you could have the canvass done realatively cheap if you didnt have it,,, thanks for the imput
and i will keep looking... that is the style boat im going to get though
 
There is a 2000 SS for sale in Harbor Springs via Irish Boat shop, it's quite a bit more money but a more recent model which has (in my opinion) some better design upgrades to it. Try a search for their website and then look under 'used boats.'



we live on the north channel, in pearl beach michigan
and we do mostly day boating, that is why i think that layout is perfect, i may wait awhile, and see what comes up in the spring, im thinking there could be some better deals
and closer, all the decent deals i am finding are out of state
so i have to add about 2,000 in shipping charges to everything i find, plus surveys, which i would have done here also... but the particular one i did find with the single motor
does have the camper top, which i thought was great
for playing cards and such in the cockpit later at night,,,
either way im sure you could have the canvass done realatively cheap if you didnt have it,,, thanks for the imput
and i will keep looking... that is the style boat im going to get though
 
There is a 2000 SS for sale in Harbor Springs via Irish Boat shop, it's quite a bit more money but a more recent model which has (in my opinion) some better design upgrades to it. Try a search for their website and then look under 'used boats.'

I looked at both years, 1999 and 2000. There was a lot of subtle, but important changes -mostly in the cabin. There is more headroom, and more amenities that came standard. Enough that I switched my focus to the 2000. But, there was a jump in price too. The 99's that I saw were in that mid $20's range, the 2000's were in the high $30's.
 
I looked at both years, 1999 and 2000. There was a lot of subtle, but important changes -mostly in the cabin. There is more headroom, and more amenities that came standard. Enough that I switched my focus to the 2000. But, there was a jump in price too. The 99's that I saw were in that mid $20's range, the 2000's were in the high $30's.


They definitely need more room in the head. Especially headroom. I'm 5'10 and taking a leak in there is an exercise in contorsionism. I did notice the sink by the micro, which makes more sense than the worthless jumpseat in mine.
 
Hi guys, jumping into this old post. I am considering buying a 2000 280ss with 220 hours. Older couple, kept covered and on a lift in Missouri. Currently for sale in Iowa for $27K with arch and cuddy galley. Only issue is it doesn't have a factory windlass. How hard is it to install one and who sells a good after market one? What do you think it will cost me?
Cheers
 
The 280 SS sold from the factory with a windlass came with a completely different foredeck. The anchor locker door is larger on the one without the windlass and there is a hawsepipe cut in to receive the rode and chain as you pull it up manually along with a center cleat to secure the anchor while underway. All of these make it less than optimal to cut in a windlass. You can't use the hole for the hawsepipe because it is not directly in line with the anchor chute so you'd have to cut a second hole that is not too far from the first. Considering that and the fact the hole would be placed closer to the anchor locker since the door opening is larger, I think it would severely diminish the integrity of the deck. I also looked into an aftermarket windlass on mine but I could not find a way to do it that I would be satisfied with. Whether the locker is prewired to receive a windlass is something else to consider. Without it you would have to remove the headliner in the cabin to run it.
 
Cheers for that information. Got a great price on the 280SS with out it. Since I've never had a windlass thought it might be a great addition. My boat mechanic said it is a b-atxh to install. So guess I'm the windlass again.
 
Did you get the 280SS? We picked up a nice freshwater 1997 280CC this spring for $16,500. She's got the single 7.4L LX MPI with the Bravo III and 488 hours.

I put some TLC into the cosmetics, and she's got great bones. Also added some AGM batteries (already had a digital charger) and had all new engine gauges installed.

She's been a fun day boat, and we're enjoying the simplicity. The head's a little tight since I'm 6'5", but it's got a nice vacu-flush that was a selling feature for our girls. I take on a project every few years, and we're thinking of flipping her in the spring for the next one. It was a compromise, and we're looking to change it up again.

I wasn't sure how I'd like the single, but we've found it to be just fine for what we do (day cruising and dinner runs with 4-8 people). At 3,000 RPM, she'll do about 28 mph on plane at a comfortable noise level. She tops out at about 39 mph. The ride in chop has been great. Will post some pics when I get on my other computer...
 
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Congrats! CC is really a model? What's the distinction between that and an SS?

All new gauges!? Almost all of mine have suffered salt intrusion. Some are ok, others are caked with salt and unreadable. I can find replacements online, but with twins I have a lot of gauges and the price of one made me choke. Did yours have the grey or stainless trim rings?

One of my long-term/maybe someday projects is an inverter. Even with twins I have room for additional batteries. I think it would be nice to have even limited AC power available...
 
Did you get the 280SS? We picked up a nice freshwater 1997 280CC this spring for $16.5K. She's got the single 7.4L LX MPI with the Bravo III and 488 hours.

I put some TLC into the cosmetics, and she's got great bones. Also added some AGM batteries (already had a digital charger) and had all new engine gauges installed.

She's been a fun day boat, and we're enjoying the simplicity. The head's a little tight since I'm 6'5", but it's got a nice vacu-flush that was a selling feature for our girls. I take on a project every few years, and we're thinking of flipping her in the spring for the next one. It was a compromise, and we're looking to change it up again.

I wasn't sure how I'd like the single, but we've found it to be just fine for what we do (day cruising and dinner runs with 4-8 people). At 3,000 RPM, she'll do about 28 mph on plane at a comfortable noise level. She tops out at about 39 mph. The ride in chop has been great. Will post some pics when I get on my other computer...
Did you get the 280SS?
Yes, rented a truck from local place and drove 7 hours to pick her up. Used my trailer for my 30' 1981 Searay Express and it worked well for bringing her home. Paid the local canvas guy $500 to put in new zippers for the Bimini and the eisenglass looks like it was never used. Had the wife clean the Sumbrella canvas and just ordered 303 from Amazon. Thanks to this forum about using 303. Watched some YouTube videos on how to clean up old upholstery and they recommended a product not sold in stores for commercial marine detailers, found it on Amazon and the seat cushions look amazing. It's still sitting in the driveway as I need to sell the Express for the slip. Wife is happy with the head room when she is sitting on the head on the 2000 so we went with it. The 1999 she at 5'11" had to bend her head so as not to hit the ceiling when using it.
Looking into getting the colored led lights but need to make sure it get the right size 41mm? Also would like to figure out how to run the microwave when we are on the lake for a nice cup of tea.
Cheers for all the help.
Brett
 

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