Seat availability of possible purchase

This is the parts manual for the model in question. https://s3.amazonaws.com/srweb-pvt-...ic/parts-manuals/2001__2001-280-SUNDANCER.pdf

The parts / diagrams for the bench are on page 11, but the details are pretty skimpy.

On the other hand, the parts manual for my 270 AJ has some pretty good diagrams.

View attachment 79776

Item 18 is the double hinge. It is constructed of a piece of cellular PVC with a piano hinge on either side. One hinge side attaches to the bench and the other to the bulkhead. This allows the bench to articulate and swing upward to stow it. I don't see anything similar on the 2001 280 DA parts listing.

This is the parts list for the 270 AJ seat, which might be helpful. There's no listing for the PVC piece because it was fabricated by Sea Ray, not purchased.

View attachment 79777
Thank you for all that info!!! If we decide to purchase, I'll have you make another one! Sorry, just kidding. You did a great job. Thanks again.
 
I suspect the generator problem is more than a simple tune up. If it was that simple it would have been fixed I can reasonably assure you.
Common failures include fuel pump 200$ plus and limited availability, pcb 200$, voltage regulator 250$ And last but not least the carburetor 150$. Those are the expensive items in addition to oil pressure sensor, coolant temp sensor and exhaust temp sensor and these particular items usually cause an Uncommanded shut down vs no start.
Strongly recommend a fix prior to purchase.
 
I suspect the generator problem is more than a simple tune up. If it was that simple it would have been fixed I can reasonably assure you.
Common failures include fuel pump 200$ plus and limited availability, pcb 200$, voltage regulator 250$ And last but not least the carburetor 150$. Those are the expensive items in addition to oil pressure sensor, coolant temp sensor and exhaust temp sensor and these particular items usually cause an Uncommanded shut down vs no start.
Strongly recommend a fix prior to purchase.

Thanks for that info. I will discuss it with them. Trying to get a day set to actually see it and inspect any and all issues with my own surveyor in tow. Not sure what their knowledge level is, and there can also be a lot of other more minor reasons that it didn't start like not having the gen set switch set (still in shore power setting), fuses, bad solenoid, etc. Could just be no gas due to clogged filter due to sitting, carb, choke, etc.. I'll get a much better feel when we inspect. I'm used to wrenching (rebuilding, repairing, maintaining various gas and diesel engines) so not afraid of getting a bit greasy. But as another said already , if we find evidence of the genny portion being cooked or bad compression it will be a pass for sure.
 
FYI that piano hinge has an unusual profile and is (was) available from one of the internet parts distributors. I purchased a replacement a couple of years ago - from either Greatlakesskipper or boatoutfitters can't remember which. The hinge is listed in the 280 parts list. Also as I said in my earlier post make the seat a tad narrower otherwise it hangs up on either the carpet or Infinite (which I have). Please advise if you want some pics I can take some tomorrrow of my seat and corresponding holes on the tr

Also not sure if you're aware there is a 280 dedicated forum here. http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/official-280-sundancer-thread.10064/
 
FYI that piano hinge has an unusual profile and is (was) available from one of the internet parts distributors. I purchased a replacement a couple of years ago - from either Greatlakesskipper or boatoutfitters can't remember which. The hinge is listed in the 280 parts list. Also as I said in my earlier post make the seat a tad narrower otherwise it hangs up on either the carpet or Infinite (which I have). Please advise if you want some pics I can take some tomorrrow of my seat and corresponding holes on the tr

Also not sure if you're aware there is a 280 dedicated forum here. http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/official-280-sundancer-thread.10064/
Thanks Captain.
 
Thanks Captain.

I also have a 2001 280DA and I have the complete rear-fold up seat. In fact, I have it off right now to allow the engine room hatch to open fully. (I just pulled and re-set both engines for some transom maintenance.)

If you purchase, I will gladly send you lots of pictures and detailed measurements of the frame and hinges, if you want. Just let me know before I put it back on in a couple of weeks.

The seat was not mounted when I got the boat. The PO used the boat for fishing also, so he preferred the seat out to open the aft area. He just put an ice chest with a padded seat in its place since the boat has no live well.

I had to figure out how the system mounted and worked with no guide. Simple genius it is. You can make the hinging system with two sections of starboard and some long piano hinges off ebay. As far as the seat, any upholstery shop can make one, nothing special about it.

If I were you, I would be much more concerned about the generator situation and pricing that into the boat.

We love our 280 and just upsized from a 220. Our first cruiser and enjoying it.
 
The generator question is interesting. Had the same issue with my 340, that it would start but sounded like it was stumbling and eventually would die. The previous owner was away a lot, so I think that had a lot to do with its condition.
I had a mechanic do a mechanical survey, and he's good. He watched it run that way, and told me it just needs a tune up. I changed both fuel filters, put in new plugs, put seafoam in the big filter before starting, bled the fuel, topped off the coolant, and bled the coolant. He was right. Runs like a champ now.
If you are buying from a marina, and they are convinced that is all it needs, then they should be able to do the tune up.
 
The generator question is interesting. Had the same issue with my 340, that it would start but sounded like it was stumbling and eventually would die. The previous owner was away a lot, so I think that had a lot to do with its condition.
I had a mechanic do a mechanical survey, and he's good. He watched it run that way, and told me it just needs a tune up. I changed both fuel filters, put in new plugs, put seafoam in the big filter before starting, bled the fuel, topped off the coolant, and bled the coolant. He was right. Runs like a champ now.
If you are buying from a marina, and they are convinced that is all it needs, then they should be able to do the tune up.

They posted a video here:

You can see him try to start the genny about 1:30 into the video. Kinda sounds like what you are saying but hard go tell over the noise of the main engines and wind. They are asking 24.5K. Seems high to me for the issues.
 
They posted a video here:

You can see him try to start the genny about 1:30 into the video. Kinda sounds like what you are saying but hard go tell over the noise of the main engines and wind. They are asking 24.5K. Seems high to me for the issues.
PGI, the genny is not starting. Its a big question mark. If the dealer has the ability to do compression tests (as they said in the video), then they can do the tune up on the genny and prove it works. Seems like that would be better for both parties, since it is such a big question either way.
There is always some amount of guessing and risk on a purchase of a used boat, but the amount of risk is not in your favor unless you can negotiate the deal differently. You do have choices on negotiating, but be ready for the dealer to say that if they invest in the service, the price goes up, but that still lets you walk away if there is something bigger needed than a tuneup.
The other way to handle this would be to invest in your own mechanic's time to do a mechanical review. They would provide an independent assessment of whether the engines and genny 'just need a tune up'. Most of us on this site feel pretty comfortable with wrenches, but are wise enough to bring in a pro at the right time.
Best of luck to you!
 
As far as the price goes, that actually sounds quite fair. Eliminate the genny from the mix for now... it sounds like the only major thing the boat needs is some upholstery. While that is not inexpensive, the price of the boat MORE than takes that into account. Meaning, a boat like that (with that upholstery) that didn't have a genny at all... that's a very fair price.

But, as mentioned, finding out the real story on the genny is important.
 
As far as the price goes, that actually sounds quite fair. Eliminate the genny from the mix for now... it sounds like the only major thing the boat needs is some upholstery. While that is not inexpensive, the price of the boat MORE than takes that into account. Meaning, a boat like that (with that upholstery) that didn't have a genny at all... that's a very fair price.
But, as mentioned, finding out the real story on the genny is important.

I agree with your conclusion.
Got to see it. A few more issues. There was a lot of water on the cabin carpet just forward of the head door. Also a lot in the bilge under the steps. Was told the cabin door had been left open during recent rain storm. But they also had all the aft cave mattresses outside. Stated they had been cleaned, but inspection of the rear cave flooring where it meets the aft bulkhead indicated a lot of black mold, indicating there may be some overhead leakage that has been going on into the cave berth. Perhaps whoever redid that lounge seat didn't waterproof the attachments. Hard to say. The dash "cap" piece had a broken screw which would have to be accessed from where the top door slide is. A good bit of work getting to that. And worse, there is a chunk missing from the helm port side electronic switch panel. $500.00+ to buy a replacement from what I am seeing. It may last a while longer, but like the genny, who knows.
Will have to sleep on it and discuss it with them further.
 
I agree with your conclusion.
Got to see it. A few more issues. There was a lot of water on the cabin carpet just forward of the head door. Also a lot in the bilge under the steps. Was told the cabin door had been left open during recent rain storm. But they also had all the aft cave mattresses outside. Stated they had been cleaned, but inspection of the rear cave flooring where it meets the aft bulkhead indicated a lot of black mold, indicating there may be some overhead leakage that has been going on into the cave berth. Perhaps whoever redid that lounge seat didn't waterproof the attachments. Hard to say. The dash "cap" piece had a broken screw which would have to be accessed from where the top door slide is. A good bit of work getting to that. And worse, there is a chunk missing from the helm port side electronic switch panel. $500.00+ to buy a replacement from what I am seeing. It may last a while longer, but like the genny, who knows.
Will have to sleep on it and discuss it with them further.

Sometimes you have to listen to what the boat is telling you.

This doesn’t seem like a gem that’s going to sell right away.

Take a step back for a few days. go see the boat again and really scrutinize it. All the unresolved issues that you uncover will be YOUR issues after purchase.

Maybe it’s not so bad after all.
Maybe it’s worse than you originally thought. (Don’t buy some one else’s nightmare)
 
I agree with your conclusion.
Got to see it. A few more issues. There was a lot of water on the cabin carpet just forward of the head door. Also a lot in the bilge under the steps. Was told the cabin door had been left open during recent rain storm. But they also had all the aft cave mattresses outside. Stated they had been cleaned, but inspection of the rear cave flooring where it meets the aft bulkhead indicated a lot of black mold, indicating there may be some overhead leakage that has been going on into the cave berth. Perhaps whoever redid that lounge seat didn't waterproof the attachments. Hard to say. The dash "cap" piece had a broken screw which would have to be accessed from where the top door slide is. A good bit of work getting to that. And worse, there is a chunk missing from the helm port side electronic switch panel. $500.00+ to buy a replacement from what I am seeing. It may last a while longer, but like the genny, who knows.
Will have to sleep on it and discuss it with them further.

I had looked at a number of 280s before we bought ours. They all had stained carpet adjacent to the companionway step. After we bought ours and trying unsuccessfully to remove the stains, I decided to rip it up and install vinyl plank flooring. What I discovered was that the area adjacent to the step and head door was the lowest part of the floor and looked like a trough. I ended up re-leveling the floor including that area with Bondo before installing the vinyl planks. BTW the vinyl plank flooring looks a heck of a lot better than the original carpeting.

Ours also had a wet cushion in the aft compartment. The dealer said it was probably because of the open cabin port. The surveyor and I poked around and found that the drain from the cabin step had broken off so any water collected in that step, which happens often from either rain or washing the boat, ran straight down to the cushions. That drain was replaced by the dealer as part of the purchase. The dealer also had the covers dry cleaned and new cushions installed.

Can't help you on the chunk out of the EIM but a pic would be helpful.
 
I agree with your conclusion.
Got to see it. A few more issues. There was a lot of water on the cabin carpet just forward of the head door. Also a lot in the bilge under the steps. Was told the cabin door had been left open during recent rain storm. But they also had all the aft cave mattresses outside. Stated they had been cleaned, but inspection of the rear cave flooring where it meets the aft bulkhead indicated a lot of black mold, indicating there may be some overhead leakage that has been going on into the cave berth. Perhaps whoever redid that lounge seat didn't waterproof the attachments. Hard to say. The dash "cap" piece had a broken screw which would have to be accessed from where the top door slide is. A good bit of work getting to that. And worse, there is a chunk missing from the helm port side electronic switch panel. $500.00+ to buy a replacement from what I am seeing. It may last a while longer, but like the genny, who knows.
Will have to sleep on it and discuss it with them further.


Here's a link to 2001 280's. which ranges from 30K to 45K. The 45K boat looks like it has a missing rear seat (but has the hinge and plastic panel) as well but is a fresh water boat with twin 5.0s and a/c. Shoot me a PM if you want to know additional things to "look out" for in inspecting this boat. BTW we love our 280.
https://www.boattrader.com/boats/ty...25,30/year-2001,2007/page-2/sort-length:desc/
 
PGI,
Looks like the “to do list” on this boat is growing.

When I bought my 280, the PO told me the sump bilge pump for the a/c-shower under the steps had gone out. The a/c condensate had flooded the carpet in the cabin. He replaced the pump and all has been fine. I still have stained carpet but it has been dry.

I just shopped for a 260-280 over the summer, and I think the 24-5 price is low. (I guess there is no trailer.) Now that you are finding these issues, the price is sounding more accurate. Generator?$, no rear bench seat?$, cabin leak?$, broken dash panel$, upholstery$, always the unknowns such as oil seals in lower units, etc. Everything sounds fixable but is that what you are looking for? The gel coat looks great. It looked like the outdrives had been painted. I could not tell from the video, are the outdrives pitted under the paint?

Are you on a very tight budget and looking for a 280 as a fixer upper?

Are you looking for a 280 with a generous budget?

You can likely find a nice one with almost no reconditioning for 35-45ish depending if you want a trailer ($6K roughly).

I’m not trying to discourage you on this one you are looking at, but be rational and realize there are other 280s out there.
 
I want to sincerely thank everyone for their time, responses and valuable input. We have decided not to purchase this particular boat, but will keep looking. Again, many thanks to all.
 
I want to sincerely thank everyone for their time, responses and valuable input. We have decided not to purchase this particular boat, but will keep looking. Again, many thanks to all.
Probably a good choice. Lot's of 280's out there - especially in fresh or brackish waters.
 
In my experience of buying boats...NOT buying the boat I am looking at is always the better choice. I’m just too stupid to realize that until after I sign.

You are obviously more intelligent and disciplined than me.
 
In my experience of buying boats...NOT buying the boat I am looking at is always the better choice. I’m just too stupid to realize that until after I sign.

You are obviously more intelligent and disciplined than me.
Naaaaaaw mate, we all make that same mistake by being boat owners! I will make it again at some point in the (hopefully) near future.
 

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