Official 280 Sundancer Thread

[Stroh]

Can I get the installed prop numbers from anyone who has a 2002 through 2009 280DA with the 496 engine/Bravo3 combination, please? Mine (bought boat used) are: Forward Prop: 48-823661 A6 20P; Aft Prop: 48-823662 A6 20P. I think I'm a wee bit under-propped but need to do a bit more research of different speed/RPM. Only stats I can remember is on plane about 3550 RPM; 22 MPH & 16.5 GPH. Boat gets out of the hole just fine but would like to cruise around 3000 RPM, 22 MPH & hopefully a little better GPH. I may contact the "propeller Gods" at Hill Marine and get their take after I get more rpm/mph numbers. Thanks for any info.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Can I get the installed prop numbers from anyone who has a 2002 through 2009 280DA with the 496 engine/Bravo3 combination, please? Mine (bought boat used) are: Forward Prop: 48-823661 A6 20P; Aft Prop: 48-823662 A6 20P. I think I'm a wee bit under-propped but need to do a bit more research of different speed/RPM. Only stats I can remember is on plane about 3550 RPM; 22 MPH & 16.5 GPH. Boat gets out of the hole just fine but would like to cruise around 3000 RPM, 22 MPH & hopefully a little better GPH. I may contact the "propeller Gods" at Hill Marine and get their take after I get more rpm/mph numbers. Thanks for any info.

Sea Ray used to have a boat/power plant/sterndrive/prop document on their website. As I recall it did not have the Merc part numbers, but did have reduction ratio of the drive and prop pitch.

 

[270win]

Can I get the installed prop numbers from anyone who has a 2002 through 2009 280DA with the 496 engine/Bravo3 combination, please? Mine (bought boat used) are: Forward Prop: 48-823661 A6 20P; Aft Prop: 48-823662 A6 20P. I think I'm a wee bit under-propped but need to do a bit more research of different speed/RPM. Only stats I can remember is on plane about 3550 RPM; 22 MPH & 16.5 GPH. Boat gets out of the hole just fine but would like to cruise around 3000 RPM, 22 MPH & hopefully a little better GPH. I may contact the "propeller Gods" at Hill Marine and get their take after I get more rpm/mph numbers. Thanks for any info.

I'd be curious to know because my boat runs the same numbers as yours.

 

[Stroh]

Sea Ray used to have a boat/power plant/sterndrive/prop document on their website. As I recall it did not have the Merc part numbers, but did have reduction ratio of the drive and prop pitch.

Henry, according to the Sea Ray "prop chart" I saw a while back the stock props for my setup is:

14.25"X 22" CUP BR3 RH (#48-823663) & 15.75"X 22" CUP BR3 LH (#48-823664)

I wanted to get some real world information (RPM/MPH/GPH) and prop numbers and/or pitch from fellow CSR'ers to help make a decision on how to proceed.

 

[Mike Pierce]

Here's what I did. It's way easier than trying to run the cable all the way to the dash, with the added benefit that the Admiral can easily change tunes and not have to invade the sanctity of the helm. And it's very easy for the Captain to reach back and mute/lower the volume when safety dictates

Nice job and looks great! I’ve already started enlarging the hole for the remote (dumb I know) so I really need to get cable run from cockpit to radio. I’m at a loss as to how. Any others ideas y’all can pass my way? I have wireless remote but is not reliable and I like the display of song info etc.... Thanks!!!!

 

[They call me Tim]

I like the extension cord idea. Thanks, y'all!

I've used one of those extension cord reels on my boat for years now and it works like a charm.

 

[UgisO]

Hello, new member here. Just purchased 2003 280DA. Question about water. Can you guide me where to start troubleshoot (all fuses look good to me). I filled some half tank. Is there some separate switch for pump? Thank You

 

[Fill Ess]

I found this but I'm not sure it has exactly what you need

https://owners-resources.searayweb..../2008 Sport Boat Sport Cruiser Prop Chart.pdf

 

[stg099]

Hello, new member here. Just purchased 2003 280DA. Question about water. Can you guide me where to start troubleshoot (all fuses look good to me). I filled some half tank. Is there some separate switch for pump? Thank You

The water pump switch is on your dashboard on the right hand switch panel. It's a box with a squiggly line through it. Just to the right of your horn button. Weird location yes, but you'll get used to it.

 

[Stroh]

Hello, new member here. Just purchased 2003 280DA. Question about water. Can you guide me where to start troubleshoot (all fuses look good to me). I filled some half tank. Is there some separate switch for pump? Thank You

 

[Cuins]

It's pretty cool that the 280 thread is still going, but as expected the posts are slowing down as this vintage of boat ages. These 369 pages contain almost everything you need to know about the 280 Sundancer and then some. Wouldn't it be great if somehow it could be made into a reference manual organized by topic. What are your opinions on this?
BTW my 280 only has 300+ hours and is in a lake so I'll use this thread for a long time to come.
Thank you all and have a great summer!

 

[270win]

It's pretty cool that the 280 thread is still going, but as expected the posts are slowing down as this vintage of boat ages. These 369 pages contain almost everything you need to know about the 280 Sundancer and then some. Wouldn't it be great if somehow it could be made into a reference manual organized by topic. What are your opinions on this?
BTW my 280 only has 300+ hours and is in a lake so I'll use this thread for a long time to come.
Thank you all and have a great summer!

I think that's a great idea. Mine has just over 180 hours, the previous owner bought it from the original owners a year ago, started using it heavily, dropped about $7000 in repairs and now we have a GREAT low time 280.

 

[Seldom Right]

Just went in the water last weekend, for my third season with this boat. Awesome boat, not too big, not to small. Current project is adding Simrad radar and chart plotter, so figuring out how to route and wire it all up by searching and scrolling. Categories would sure help.

 

[WV 320 Dancer]

Question for our long time 280 owners. The blowers will turn on at the helm with the switch but they will not turn on at the control panel down in the cabin? Can anyone offer some guidance on where or what to look for first? Thanks in advance....

 

[Josh28161]

Just went in the water last weekend, for my third season with this boat. Awesome boat, not too big, not to small. Current project is adding Simrad radar and chart plotter, so figuring out how to route and wire it all up by searching and scrolling. Categories would sure help.

I added a 10” garmin last year. The starboard panel in the aft berth comes out and provides an access point to run transducer and what ever else you may need to run.

 

[Josh28161]

Question for our long time 280 owners. The blowers will turn on at the helm with the switch but they will not turn on at the control panel down in the cabin? Can anyone offer some guidance on where or what to look for first? Thanks in advance....

My 280 is an 03. I don’t believe I have any way to turn on the bowers from in the cabin. Just switched at the helm.

 

[bajturner]

Question for our long time 280 owners. The blowers will turn on at the helm with the switch but they will not turn on at the control panel down in the cabin? Can anyone offer some guidance on where or what to look for first? Thanks in advance....

My 280 did not have a blower switch at the electrical panel.

 

[Josh28161]

I finally finished my helm and flooring spring projects on my 280. I upgraded the helm to a Seastar tilt hydraulic system and added a Garmin Reactor 40 autopilot. I forgot how much I missed having an autopilot from my last boat. So much nicer to operate with an autopilot. I found a cabin floor product I liked from Overton's. Extremely heavy duty sheet vinyl. I pulled up the old carpet and glued it down. Not too bad on prep work, the old glue scraped up fairly easily. The steps were a challenge, thank goodness for heat guns!

Next project will be to remove the old gauges and upgrade to a Vesselview setup so space allowing, hopefully I can move the autopilot controls up to the main area of the dash.

 

[270win]

That looks really nice!

 

[270win]

The more I run our boat with the single 6.2 BIII the more I like it. I figured it to be a dog but it really performs well. I wonder what it would do with the new 8.2 BIII setup? I doubt we'll ever do that as we are already looking toward larger boats, but this thing would run great (I think) with a larger more powerful single.