Rookie w/questions

[waw]

Hi - I'm buying a new boat! I've been looking through the archives for some information I know some of my q's are redundant, but feedback in context of my situation would be greatly appreciated.

Previous experience - father-in-law's 17 ski boat on a small lake.
We will keep it on Ct shore.
We want to enjoy it at the dock at a good marina with a lot of amenities & take it out on the sound day trips.
We (3 of us) will sleep and stay on it for weekends.
Dont want to trailer it.
Once we are more experienced we aspire to take it to newport, block, cape.
I really don't care if this thing goes mach 10, but I want to make sure I have the right equipment out at sea given my experience.
I am fairly mechanically capable, but the more I research the more I realize I have no idea about maintaining a engine(or 2) in salt water. Year one will be expensive since I'll look to marina or someone close by to handle the maintenance and decommissioning come winter. (it would be great if someone could estimate these costs for a 280da in Connecticut dollars for me too!)
We really like the 280da and Our budget and will allow for a 2007 and possibly an '09 with warrenties.
I'm think either model can handle our future needs, but I cant really get an answer out of the "experienced" dealers about the twin engine vs single engine issue. I'm looking at 2 '07's - one with twin 4.3 AI & one with a 496mag BIII. the'09 is a smaller boat with the single 350mag BIII.
I have no experince docking this size boat so I dont know the diff between 1 or 2. I assume I could learn to dock with either - so does it matter if I'm willing to learn?
Also, can anyone estimate how much more am I really saving in maintenance 1 vs 2?
so.....I would love some input...& I'm sure I'll have a couple more questions THANKS!

[JimG]

Welcome to CSR!

Not sure $CT but $WV is about 300 per engine for full winterizing, 150 for generator if equipped, & 100-200 for A/C, fresh water, head, etc.
Twins are definitely easier to maneuver.
Obviously more maintenance with twins...especially with out-drives.

Good luck!

[Gunn]

If you are fairly mechanically capable, don't let a boat scare you...fresh or salt water. They look impressive and complex as a whole, but once you get up close and personal and just spend time with it, each separate system reveals itself and makes it much easier to work on and understand. My 280DA scared me at first too, but I've never had anyone lay a hand on it since I've owned it. Anyway...

The twins versus single for a 280DA has been beat to death already, there is a recent thread floating around specifically about this. Reading the "Official 280DA Sundancer Thread" will give you all you ever wanted to know about that boat. Obviously, docking will be easier with twins. And the safety of twins to get you home is important and the main reason for my requirement. And I used that "feature" when my fuel pump quit on me away from home. But maintenance costs will double...while oil and spark plugs aren't expensive for normal maintenance, new exhaust manifolds and risers are quite expensive x2 !!

Tom

[Ididntdoit]

The '07 is a lot more boat - that said I'm a huge fan of the '09-up 270/280 - it goes great with the 350 because of the hull design - and the layout really works for a boat of its size (dine topside on the cockpit table) Upkeep and fuel burn will be far less on this boat......As for the "older" one, the 4.3 A1 combo is the most prevalent - twins make this boat far easier to dock, but you are correct, you can learn to correctly handle either. The maintenece costs will be double on the twin engine boat (obviously). In the end, spend as much time as possible on each and envision how you will use it.

[JimFromMD]

Obviously, docking will be easier with twins. And the safety of twins to get you home is important and the main reason for my requirement. And I used that "feature" when my fuel pump quit on me away from home. But maintenance costs will double...while oil and spark plugs aren't expensive for normal maintenance, new exhaust manifolds and risers are quite expensive x2 !!

Tom

+1 on easier docking and maneuvering. Also +1 on the fact of having a "backup" engine should one go down. I've had this happen twice to me (one engine down when each idle air controller failed). It's nice to know you can still get to shore or home on the second engine. You wont be on plane, but you'll make it wherever you need to go safely. That said, I'm dreading the manifolds/riser bill when they need to be replaced, but you know that going in!.

From a purely engine perspective... I would choose the Twin 4.3/Alpha drive combo over the single BIII drive, especially in heavy salt water. The BIII has known corrosion issues you have to watch out for (not sure how big a deal since i have BII drives). Cant speak to the layout of the newer boat, but I have two friends with 280s and they both love them.

[GrandMaster]

I would never go too far offshore without twin engines for the same reasons noted above. Barring some rare, catostrophic electrical or fuel system failure you will always be able to get home under your own power. You will just be a little late.

That being said, working on anything in the engine room yourself will be very "uncomfortable" do to limited space, especially if have a generator down there too.

[waw]

All good points. Thanks so much for the input. One thing...I thought the bIII corrosion issues were solved before '07. Are there still issues?