Official 280 Sundancer Thread

[PeteL]

So I am going to look at an 07 280 tomorrow. Anything in particular that I should be looking at beyond maintenance history? Are there any particular issues these boats have that may be missed when looking at the boats? Any questions I should ask?
This is an 07 with blue hull twin 4.3's with about 400 hours. Will be considering trading my 05 Sundeck 240 in on this boat.

This boat showed well, but I needed to see another one. So I took a look at an 03 in Fort Myers. It has 5.0/BIII and looked every bit as nice as the 07. This is the one I am pursuing, as I could not justify the gap in price between the two. We are doing the survey next Thursday so we will see how that goes.

 

[stg099]

This boat showed well, but I needed to see another one. So I took a look at an 03 in Fort Myers. It has 5.0/BIII and looked every bit as nice as the 07. This is the one I am pursuing, as I could not justify the gap in price between the two. We are doing the survey next Thursday so we will see how that goes.

Best of luck on the survey, hope all goes well!

 

[Captn TJ]

Anyone have pictures of their cabin floor updates. We're considering what to do with the stained carpet in the main part of the cabin. I believe some have used a vinyl others wood planks.

 

[Captn TJ]

For those that do their own oil changes: Do you use an extraction pump or do you use the bilge hoses and thru hull fitting to drain the oil.

 

[eweise]

For those that do their own oil changes: Do you use an extraction pump or do you use the bilge hoses and thru hull fitting to drain the oil.

Mityvac Fluid Evacuator. It pulls from the dipstick that also connects to the oil drain fitting.

 

[stg099]

For those that do their own oil changes: Do you use an extraction pump or do you use the bilge hoses and thru hull fitting to drain the oil.

The west marine pump oil extractor works like a charm too. about 10 pumps, walk away and your engine will be empty in a few minutes. Comes with the mercruiser dipstick fittings too. If you catch it on sale it's around 60 bucks

 

[Lazy Daze]

For those that do their own oil changes: Do you use an extraction pump or do you use the bilge hoses and thru hull fitting to drain the oil.

This is one of those topics that has been talked about to death and there are LOT'S of previous threads about this that can be found by searching. But, in the end, you can change your oil either way - both are perfectly acceptable with one way really not being any better than the other. It's all personal preference.

FYI, you can "suck" the oil out of the drain hose from the bilge, as well... a 3rd option.

 

[paul hsu]

Anyone have pictures of their cabin floor updates. We're considering what to do with the stained carpet in the main part of the cabin. I believe some have used a vinyl others wood planks. [/QU

I recently bought an 08 280da that was neglected. some of the plywood panels were reduced to powder behind the vinyl. here is the interior with all the carpeting removed, and damaged panels also. I am putting in the allure vinyl flooring. I am using cardboard sheets to create the template for the flooring.

 

[Captn TJ]

Paul,

Looks like you'll be a great source of information for me. I pulled up the carpeting yesterday - came up real easy. However, I found the floor to be uneven (hills and valleys) especially towards the bow on the main cabin floor. I also have a prominent hump in the middle of the floor about 2/3's of the way to the bow (dark spot on the lower right of the pic). I found a filler that Bondo makes for home use for about $12/qt at Home Depot - so I'll end up releveling the floor.

I am leaving the carpet on the sides and under the salon table and forward cabin. Just curious how are you handling the perimeter of the Allure - are you using any kind of a trim or perimeter strip? Thanks in advance for any help here!

 

[paul hsu]

Paul,

Looks like you'll be a great source of information for me. I pulled up the carpeting yesterday - came up real easy. However, I found the floor to be uneven (hills and valleys) especially towards the bow on the main cabin floor. I also have a prominent hump in the middle of the floor about 2/3's of the way to the bow (dark spot on the lower right of the pic). I found a filler that Bondo makes for home use for about $12/qt at Home Depot - so I'll end up releveling the floor.

I am leaving the carpet on the sides and under the salon table and forward cabin. Just curious how are you handling the perimeter of the Allure - are you using any kind of a trim or perimeter strip? Thanks in advance for any help here! View attachment 54754

I am using corrugated plastic as the base for the floor, it levels all the little bumps and provides a nice surface for the allure. It is flexible so in my tests it conforms to the floor once i have used a couple of layers of the corrugated plastic.
i used cardboard to form the template of the floor and cut the plastic based on the shape. I used a tile edging that is stainless steel that will finish the ends.

just curious, how does the tv pull out? is there a button? mine doesn't seem to budge.

 

[paul hsu]

Paul,

Looks like you'll be a great source of information for me. I pulled up the carpeting yesterday - came up real easy. However, I found the floor to be uneven (hills and valleys) especially towards the bow on the main cabin floor. I also have a prominent hump in the middle of the floor about 2/3's of the way to the bow (dark spot on the lower right of the pic). I found a filler that Bondo makes for home use for about $12/qt at Home Depot - so I'll end up releveling the floor.

I am leaving the carpet on the sides and under the salon table and forward cabin. Just curious how are you handling the perimeter of the Allure - are you using any kind of a trim or perimeter strip? Thanks in advance for any help here! View attachment 54754

I see the carpet stains indicate that the wall is leaking, it is probably still wet behind the side walls . your fridge might be affected too as was mine. I had to pull out my fridge and remove all the carpeting behind it. I have kids that will be playing and sleeping in the cabin, so I wanted to eliminate all the water leaks and damages. Mine was leaking from the windshield wiper that was not sealed, it destroyed the wood plate under the headliner. once you remove the fridge, you can see where the waterlines are.
I will wrap the corrugated plastic with vinyl from great lakes or sail rite to reform the eliminated damaged wood behind the carpeted edges. I expect to use a stick on backsplash in vinyl to cover other bases to add a different trim.

 

[Captn TJ]

I am using corrugated plastic as the base for the floor, it levels all the little bumps and provides a nice surface for the allure. It is flexible so in my tests it conforms to the floor once i have used a couple of layers of the corrugated plastic.
i used cardboard to form the template of the floor and cut the plastic based on the shape. I used a tile edging that is stainless steel that will finish the ends.

just curious, how does the tv pull out? is there a button? mine doesn't seem to budge.

Under the tv stand there is a handhold for pulling it out. Inside and to the right of the handhold there is a lever that allows you to pull out the TV.

Also where did you get the corrugated plastic? And lastly there are also two 'humps' at the forward end on the main cabin floor - one on each side. How are you handling those? Thanks for the tip on the fridge - will look at it. While we want to correct any damaged areas - we are rack storing the boat (inside) so it'll be less affected by water leaks.

 

[paul hsu]

Under the tv stand there is a handhold for pulling it out. Inside and to the right of the handhold there is a lever that allows you to pull out the TV.

Also where did you get the corrugated plastic? And lastly there are also two 'humps' at the forward end on the main cabin floor - one on each side. How are you handling those? Thanks for the tip on the fridge - will look at it. While we want to correct any damaged areas - we are rack storing the boat (inside) so it'll be less affected by water leaks.

I plan to double or triple layer the floor with each layer below being cut out for the bumps, the floor will have a slight curve to it, but heating the allure slightly will let it conform to the higher edges. I don't expect to have a problem because it should not carry any weight of people stepping that far in the tip of the corner. the side wall will be doubled corrugated plastic that will also help cover some of that bump. I purchased the corrugated plastic from amazon.com .

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[Captn TJ]

Ok thx I assume you used the Gripstrip version of Allure?

 

[paul hsu]

I started with it but the admiral didn’t like the cherry so i am looking for other colors which may require another brand .

 

[Idiots Delight 3]

Almost finished reading the forum! I need a new masthead light lens, or new masthead light.
Also I need new gas struts, can someone hook me up with the parts. Not sure how to search the forum

 

[Woody]

Almost finished reading the forum! I need a new masthead light lens, or new masthead light.
Also I need new gas struts, can someone hook me up with the parts. Not sure how to search the forum

If your struts are original they might be made by these guys. There might be numbers on them. That's the way it was on my '05 280DA. https://www.ameritoolmfg.com/

 

[strange weather]

In my boat Sea Ray used Attwood gas springs - 2005 320 Sun Dancer- I'm ordering 4 right now from iboats a vendor for Attwood -need the size compressed and extended Attwood has a great web site

 

[Captn TJ]

Just ordered a new odor cartridge for the holding tank - bought a Voker on Amazon which is a direct replacement for the Dometic one for $50. less.

 

[Chrisvr6]

Can someone measure the height and length of the "sundancer" Lettering which is at the base of the arch. Getting some new ones made. TIA