mjoplin
Member
We bought this 280 last fall, knowing I'd have to do something about the electronics. It came with the original Ray 215 VHF complete with rotted mic cord and an older Lowrance chartplotter that could no longer be updated with current maps.
I'd peeked under the helm and was not too impressed with the original wiring job, whoever installed the chartplotter had that and the N2K bus powered off the cigarette lighter and there was no NMEA 0183 between the VHF and chartplotter for lat/long info.
The VHF came first. I got a Standard Horizons VHF to install and I fabricated a new mounting plate from aluminum to place it back in the same hole the Ray 215 came from. I did this last fall, prepping for the larger installation.
I was amazed at the poor wiring job and all the "stuff" I pulled from the old installation. Once out, I ran a sub-panel from the Accy#1 feed to power the VHF and Chartplotter using the Accy #1 switch on the helm as a radio master. I bought a Seaview tower and light assy to mount the Raymarine Quantum radar. I ran power to the radar assy from Accy #2 in the aft EIM, running up the arch. The wiring diagrams and wire markings from SeaRay are great. One note to anyone else hooking up to Accy #1 or #2. The wires are listed as coiled and terminated. That translates to look in the first inch of the wiring bundle coming from the EIM plug, the yellow and violet wire is right there with a butt connector attached.
Installation of the eS78 chartplotter was reasonably simple, sealing everything with a healthy dose of 3M 4200. I had to take the boat to MarineMax to get it hauled out and the new transponder installed.
Got a great deal on the chartplotter package at West Marine, bundled with eS78, Quantum radar, transponder, and one year of Navionics+ for under $2K after sale, coupons, etc.
Very pleased with it. Clean install, got rid of a lot of loose and poorly installed wiring, have a great chartplotter/sonar/radar setup, and finally have the boat set up the way I want it!
FINISHED INSTALLATION AT HELM
FINISHED INSTALLATION OF RADAR ANTENNA
I replaced the anchor light/nav light bulb with a bright 6K LED. It is just about blinding if you are too close. No way to be missed at night now!
SUB PANEL INSTALLATION BELOW HELM
All the wires are managed and labeled and I also edited a copy of the original SeaRay schematic adding in the new wiring for future reference in my maintenance logs. Left a slot for NMEA 2K power for future expansion as I intend to add a bridge to the Mercruiser bus later on down the road.
ALL THE CRAPPY CRAP THAT CAME OUT (wires neatly managed and labeled now)
Note all the piggy back spade plugs they used to get power from the cigarette lighter.....
I'd peeked under the helm and was not too impressed with the original wiring job, whoever installed the chartplotter had that and the N2K bus powered off the cigarette lighter and there was no NMEA 0183 between the VHF and chartplotter for lat/long info.
The VHF came first. I got a Standard Horizons VHF to install and I fabricated a new mounting plate from aluminum to place it back in the same hole the Ray 215 came from. I did this last fall, prepping for the larger installation.
I was amazed at the poor wiring job and all the "stuff" I pulled from the old installation. Once out, I ran a sub-panel from the Accy#1 feed to power the VHF and Chartplotter using the Accy #1 switch on the helm as a radio master. I bought a Seaview tower and light assy to mount the Raymarine Quantum radar. I ran power to the radar assy from Accy #2 in the aft EIM, running up the arch. The wiring diagrams and wire markings from SeaRay are great. One note to anyone else hooking up to Accy #1 or #2. The wires are listed as coiled and terminated. That translates to look in the first inch of the wiring bundle coming from the EIM plug, the yellow and violet wire is right there with a butt connector attached.
Installation of the eS78 chartplotter was reasonably simple, sealing everything with a healthy dose of 3M 4200. I had to take the boat to MarineMax to get it hauled out and the new transponder installed.
Got a great deal on the chartplotter package at West Marine, bundled with eS78, Quantum radar, transponder, and one year of Navionics+ for under $2K after sale, coupons, etc.
Very pleased with it. Clean install, got rid of a lot of loose and poorly installed wiring, have a great chartplotter/sonar/radar setup, and finally have the boat set up the way I want it!
FINISHED INSTALLATION AT HELM
FINISHED INSTALLATION OF RADAR ANTENNA
I replaced the anchor light/nav light bulb with a bright 6K LED. It is just about blinding if you are too close. No way to be missed at night now!
SUB PANEL INSTALLATION BELOW HELM
All the wires are managed and labeled and I also edited a copy of the original SeaRay schematic adding in the new wiring for future reference in my maintenance logs. Left a slot for NMEA 2K power for future expansion as I intend to add a bridge to the Mercruiser bus later on down the road.
ALL THE CRAPPY CRAP THAT CAME OUT (wires neatly managed and labeled now)
Note all the piggy back spade plugs they used to get power from the cigarette lighter.....