Single engine on 2003 280

[dpmulvey]

I have an 01' 280 with twin 4.3s that I purchased this year. Originally I wanted the single but upon research I went with the twins. I went from a 240 with a 5.0 which I thought was underpowered. Especially when loaded. Kind of what I thought the 280 with a single would feel like. I have to admit the gas is a tad more but not horrible with the twins. Especially if you cruise around that 3500-3600rpm mark. Docking is way better with the twins. Maintainence is what it is but overall its not horrible especially since I do most of it myself not by a marina. I also prefered the Alpha drives on the twins. Good luck with your choice. Overall it is a fantastic boat.

It all depends on one's needs. My Regal 2465 w/ 5.0 VP did just fine. With 8 adults aboard we could travel at a comfortable 19 -20 knots by GPS without straining the engine. It was no rocket by any means but was a lot of fun.

 

[mattndeb]

Wow....a lot of great info, comments and opinions. I appreciate them all. You've given us a lot to consider. We are looking at the boat again tonight, reviewing maintenance records and will go from there. Thanks again!

 

[Turtlesboat]

Ok, that's it! All CSR members need to go to their boats this wkd with a big ice pick and stab their hour meters as hard as they can - multiple times!

Hour meters with no other data tell us one thing: how many hours the may have engine run. That's nearly useless information at best, and wildly mis-leading and hugely costly to depend on at worst.

Maintenance history, the ever-evasive info of total fuel burned and how the boat was run are MUCH, MUCH better predictors of how long an engine will last.

My former dockmates couldn't believe their luck when they bought a 20 year old diesel boat with 380 hours, and they scoffed at my 4-digit meters. Neither of his neglected, overloaded and overheated engines made it much past 400 hours. He declared bankruptcy and is no longer a boater.

If anyone has a better suggestion than ice picks, let me know.

might as well stab odometers as well. But lets be honest, If you were buying a car with 200,000 miles on it, you know the clock is ticking. could it go to 300,000? maybe.

 

[RollerCoastr]

Highway miles and well maintained, very possible. City miles and neglect? I wouldn't chance it.

Or shoud I ask how many hours are on the car?

 

[brian thomas]

If you guys remember the early 280's had 6.2s when Mercruiser was switching over from 7.4s to 8.1s and there was a period of time with inventory issues. A friend had the 6.2 and it was really not enough, this boat really needs big-block torque in a single engine application. I had an '04 with the 8.1 and a Bravo III and never had a complaint about the power. This engine put this boat in a sweet spot where I never gave power a thought, it just always ran great and would cruise very nicely at 3,500 which is where I like to run gas V8s.

 

[Henry Boyd]

If your happy with a boat of this size with a single engine, you obviously have never owned 1 with twins. Kinda like a 4wheel drive car in the winter compared with a 2, once you have 4 wheel you'll never go back to 2. And you won;'t be scared to go out of site of land. 1200 is quite a bit, unless your the original owner. Unless your stealing this boat, I would move on.

The 280 regardless of power package is an unstable hull in seas greater than 4'. It's barely controllable and has a max speed of about 10 knots. If you watch the loons on Wicked Tuna you will note that none of them run twins but go out to Stellwagen without a thought. None of the tuna guys who winter with me run twins either. It's not the engines but the hull.

The 280 is a nice near coastal cruiser and that means staying in sight of land, not because anyone is afraid of losing sight, but because near land the water is shallower and the wave state is usually smaller.

Henry



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[mattndeb]

After much consdieration we've decided to move forward with purchasing this boat. It's in great condition, well kept and offers all the features we are looking for. We had a sea trial and it handled very well in the waters we'll be boating in. Our boating locations will be on the Niagara River - anywhere from 10-40 feet deep, the Northern end of Lake Erie and slowcruising down the Erie Canal. I don't believe the conditions on these waterways will don't pose any problems. Hoping to take ownership Tuesday.