First Boat Purchase - looking for recommendations

T

Traveler643

New Member
Feb 18, 2024
16
SWFL
Boat Info
280 Sundancer - 2002
Engines
Twin 4.3 Liter Mercruiser MPI w/Alpha1 Drives - 220 hp each
After years of riding around on several of our friends boats, we just purchased the first one of our own ... a 280 Sundancer (2002). I'm currently addressing the items listed on the pre-purchase survey report to make sure she's ready to go. Also, having a couple of training sessions on piloting the boat on the ICW (SW Florida) to make sure we're doing things properly. Any additional suggestion/recommendations once I complete all of that? We're first time boat owners. Thanks for any input!
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All the above but especially the recommendation to go slow.....I mean really slow. You've absolutely got to learn to work those two throttles for maneuvering because the steering wheel is useless in your marina.
 
I don't know if that is your slip in the pic or the slip of the previous owner, but make sure you have arrangements for where you're going to slip and store her. Some places have a waiting lists for both. If you notice, everyone has made a comment about docking your boat....that's because it is the most stressful part of boating. All of your boating neighbors are watching you...the wind or current is catching your boat and moving you the wrong way and your wife is freaking out because all she can do is watch. On top of that you're working those throttles which feels really unnatural with the steering wheel right there and useless... There is a learning curve and you need to go slow...really slow. We are still learning with ours...I'll be glad when we get to the point where it is second nature and not so damn stressful getting in and out of the marina. It just takes time.
 
The picture shows the slip we are keeping the boat in ... so I'll be pulling in bow first at an angle to the canal (which is fairly wide) & backing out the same way - at least when we're at our dock. I've already seen that it can be a bit of the wild west at the other places we'll be docking.

I really appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions! Thank You! And it's coming through loud & clear from everyone I've talked to that slow is my friend when docking. Having the steering wheel there but ineffective is going to take some getting used to, and I am just beginning to get the hang of having the throttles for two engines to work with. I will be very happy to be on the other side of this at some point, and able to give other newcomers some tips & recommendations. Thanks again!
 
All of the above is great advice. In particular, the part about taking the boat out of gear. Everybody says go slow and we mean it. But sometimes we forget to say you have to take it out of gear a lot to go slow enough.

Also, twins really do help with docking when you get the hang of it. Centering the drives is important to get the boat to spin. I have found the simplest most effective rudder indicator is counting the turns of the wheel. My boat is 3 turns lock to lock, so a quick spin all the way one way or the other and then back 1.5 and I'm centered.

You can make a twin sterndrive boat sort of walk almost sideways with the wheel hard over, one in forward, one in reverse, and varying throttle, but it takes a good bit of practice.

Great advice about learning with just you and your wife aboard. Also, a 280 is big enough that in my opinion the effect of trying to 'push off' is not worth the risk of very serious injury.

My lovely bride is very helpful with the lines, fenders, situational awareness, etc. when I'm docking. But I insist she not try to fend us off of anything. I do pretty well at preventing un-intended contact from the helm, but beyond that, I'm not willing to risk injury. I am calmer and therefore better at docking knowing nobody will get hurt.

Also, nobody goes on the swim platform or bow without my direct acknowledgment the boat is not in gear.

Make sure you are up on all the safety requirements, and have a plan for addressing a fire, serious leak, injury, etc.

Boating is absolutely wonderful, but I'm sure you have seen with your friends, it is mentally demanding to be safe.

Love that vintage 280 by the way.
 
Traveler643 said:
The picture shows the slip we are keeping the boat in ... so I'll be pulling in bow first at an angle to the canal (which is fairly wide) & backing out the same way - at least when we're at our dock. I've already seen that it can be a bit of the wild west at the other places we'll be docking.

I really appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions! Thank You! And it's coming through loud & clear from everyone I've talked to that slow is my friend when docking. Having the steering wheel there but ineffective is going to take some getting used to, and I am just beginning to get the hang of having the throttles for two engines to work with. I will be very happy to be on the other side of this at some point, and able to give other newcomers some tips & recommendations. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

That steering wheel on a sterndrive boat will work just fine when docking. It really will... just like a big heavy single engine boat. But using the shifters instead works way better. I can dock my 310 worlds better and in much worse circumstances than I ever could with my 260.
 
Thank you for the additional feedback ... it's helpful and I really appreciate it.

Also, thank for the comment on our vintage 280 Sundancer. Over time I've developed an affinity for well-designed and well-proven older things (cars & now boats). We really like the layout & the feature package of this boat, and think it's going to be a good one for us to get started with.
 
Have you wife along for the lessons. When stressful situations arise she needs to know you aren't "yelling at her" as much as YOU are stressed about your lack of skill starting out. When we had our 320, my wife sat me down and said "tell me ahead of time what could get you yelling so I am prepared for it, not yelling back". Planning ahead and playing "what if" scenarios helped us learn it together. Now she's an asset on our 500 (the 6'6" 250lbs 17 y.o. son doesn't hurt either)
 
Hi all of the above is great. slow slow is best. the other thing I tell new boaters with twins don,t touch the steering wheel keep it center when going down the canal uses your gear shifter to go port or starboard
 
And few of us ever become experts. Every time you dock, everytime, something is different. Wind direction, current speed and direction, tidal conditions (if coastal), nothing i mean nothing is ever the same twice. Too many variables.
I have learned, if it gets really bad on a given day. Bow in if possible, tie it up, come back tomorrow and turn it around. Depending on marina and slip configuration.
OH, when coming into a marina, watch the flags, all boats have flags. They will tell you wind direction and speed.
 
All new boats come with training paint. IE insurance. A real captain for a day will help you from having to use the training paint.
 
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