310 Sundancer Thread (2007 & newer)

[Motorvader]

JimFromMD, I can confirm Westerbeke winning the patent infringement suit. Courts ordered a cease and desist and Kohler was forced to exist the gas engine generator market. Westerbeke has several proprietary features - the most important of which are low carbon monoxide exhaust and 1800 rpm operation at full load (equates to quiet operation and long life). Was recently looking at several different 310's with Westerbekes or Kohler gensets. The more I learn about Westerbeke the more I feel good about buying my 310 with one (this is my first Westerbeke). It's very quiet and compact - ran beautifully under full load with AC, two burner cook top and water heater on.

Martin777, Good luck with your Kohler - hopefully an aftermarket manufacturer will jump in soon to fill the need for replacement parts. This will likely depend on number of installed units out there and whether they can justify the tooling investment. Honda 2KW portables on the swim platform with soft start module on AC unit are not a bad option either. They'll run about 72 hours on 6 gallons - they have an internal fuel pump that's capable of drawing fuel from an external tank. At one Dometic had a video of this setup under test.

By the way, recently received a quote for a new 4.5 KW Westerbeke and price was $12K (not including installation) and delivery was 4 months out. Thankfully the boat I ended up purchasing a few weeks ago had a Westerbeke in good condition.

 

[liv2ryde100]

08 310 dancer, having some eim issues, mechanic says the right pad at the helm isn’t working, anybody know where I can source the modules from? Thanks so much!

 

[JimFromMD]

08 310 dancer, having some eim issues, mechanic says the right pad at the helm isn’t working, anybody know where I can source the modules from? Thanks so much!

Blink marine is fixing them now. There's also the flounder pounder physical switch replacement option.

 

[liv2ryde100]

Any idea on a price and turn around time?

 

[tlrlc]

Hi as far as the switch panel goes-you have 3 options as stated above-you can try and find an old part someone is selling - rare AND the revision number must match your current one, if you should find one with the same button configuration
2. Replace everything with flounder pounder set up very pricy
3. Send your current panel to blink for about 1k and it takes about 3 months
Good luck.

 

[NeverEndingStory]

I reupholstered the panels with white marine vinyl and surface mounted the previously back-mounted speakers. This eliminated the need for any mesh material and ended up looking as good in my opinion. Other years and models have been done similarly from the factory (that’s where I got the idea).

Do you happen to know where I could find the original Sunbrella speaker cover fabric/material? I’m looking to just reupholster the covers and keep the speakers hidden. Any advice would be appreciated. I can’t seem to track this stuff down.

 

[stephenm27]

Do you happen to know where I could find the original Sunbrella speaker cover fabric/material? I’m looking to just reupholster the covers and keep the speakers hidden. Any advice would be appreciated. I can’t seem to track this stuff down.

Sorry, I do not. Also not certain if the original Sunbrella material is a standard Sunbrella color.

 

[npl]

Hi all, new here! In the market for a Sundancer 310 with Axius and was wondering if anyone can identify which model years involve substantial changes either to the Axius system or to the boat generally? I’ve read vague discussions about “older” Axius setups being problematic but haven’t been able to pin down when improvements were made. Thanks!

 

[tlrlc]

anyone with v drives ever have issues with tight steering? i will attempt a purge/bleeding of the system but i believe its something else. thanks

 

[Motorvader]

anyone with v drives ever have issues with tight steering? i will attempt a purge/bleeding of the system but i believe its something else. thanks[/QUOTE
Could be the hydraulic cylinder in engine room or the rudder posts. I just had marina repack my rudder posts/glands with Teflon packing. They cranked the packing nuts down until there were no drips. Service manager said there's no need for water dripping in to lubricate since they don't rotate continuously like prop shafts. Have not had a chance to try steering yet but I suspect everything will be tighter.

 

[tlrlc]

hi all has anyone changed there muffler on the Kohler 5ECD to the Centek to quiet it or added a sound shield to a v drive set up? I got a quote for a soft sound shield with a fan for 1700 but looking for a little cheaper option.
JimT had mentioned Years ago centek suggesting another muffler but would also require another underwater hole drilled.

 

[mobocracy]

hi all has anyone changed there muffler on the Kohler 5ECD to the Centek to quiet it or added a sound shield to a v drive set up? I got a quote for a soft sound shield with a fan for 1700 but looking for a little cheaper option.
JimT had mentioned Years ago centek suggesting another muffler but would also require another underwater hole drilled.

One of my biggest early ownership disappointments was how loud the generator seemed. I didn't have any sound shield on mine and the noise level was enough to annoying the admiral and diminish the usage value we'd get out of it.

Last summer, one of my blowers quit and I replaced them both with new ones. The replacements were basically the current model production of the existing factory blowers but it was really surprising how much quieter they were than the ones I had before. And really it made all the difference to running the generator -- I think about 2/3s of the "noise" from the generator had just been blowers, not the generator itself and now after a few minutes of run time you just stop hearing the generator itself.

 

[tlrlc]

I do not run the blowers after gen is running so that won't help me. but good idea...the generator is still my problem so its either new exhaust or a sound shield

 

[Boater71]

How is everyone's boating season going? Any projects or updates?

 

[tlrlc]

had rudders and glands sent out over the winter and re packed so now minus the piston my steering is all recon or new and what a difference. I am adding Sionyx nightwave camera and going to be upgrading my screens in the next month or so....

 

[Yendor]

By the way, recently received a quote for a new 4.5 KW Westerbeke and price was $12K (not including installation) and delivery was 4 months out. Thankfully the boat I ended up purchasing a few weeks ago had a Westerbeke in good condition.

This made me smile because a little while ago, the best price I found for the 3.5 KW Westerbeke I was after, was $11k (not inc install) with delivery 6 months out. After looking at a bunch of old tired junk, and having more than plenty to do already on the newly acquired 270, I decided the generator would have to take a 'likely indefinite' backseat.

Well, about three weeks later & out of the clear blue, the Good Lord put the one I was looking for on my path. Bought a 2018 3.5SBCG with only 88 hrs on it for $4500. That deal beat the heck out of my best lottery score. I am gathering all the parts for the virgin install and it may well sit here till season's end, but I smile every time I walk by it.

 

[Boater71]

This made me smile because a little while ago, the best price I found for the 3.5 KW Westerbeke I was after, was $11k (not inc install) with delivery 6 months out. After looking at a bunch of old tired junk, and having more than plenty to do already on the newly acquired 270, I decided the generator would have to take a 'likely indefinite' backseat.

Well, about three weeks later & out of the clear blue, the Good Lord put the one I was looking for on my path. Bought a 2018 3.5SBCG with only 88 hrs on it for $4500. That deal beat the heck out of my best lottery score. I am gathering all the parts for the virgin install and it may well sit here till season's end, but I smile every time I walk by it.

Have you considered battery powered Gens? I'm not sure what your needs are while away from the dock, but in the northeast, no need for AC, I just need to power my grill !!! looking to add the ego nextgen with 4 x 7.5amp batteries.

 

[Yendor]

Actually, I did about all I could do toward that end with the previous boat (given the then current tech). Could run everything that I needed to (no AC) for three or four days without issues. However, being in Florida and having upgraded the spouse and then the boat; AC is now MUCH closer to a must have. That always was the single hurdle I couldn't conquer before, but now there is room. I was having a hard time justifying a 12 or 14k in a generator for a 25k boat, but for around 6k, it kinda turned into a no-brainer. That may well be a small genset, but given the gas cooktop, it's really all we need to run AC beyond normal overhead. Have always been a proponent of big battery banks and that will not change. I'm not up to claiming diesels yet . . . but having AC and knowing I still don't have any carburetors below deck ought to keep me smiling until I get there.
Whenever I upgrade next, somebody may well benefit from my efforts longer than I will have.

 

[Motorvader]

This made me smile because a little while ago, the best price I found for the 3.5 KW Westerbeke I was after, was $11k (not inc install) with delivery 6 months out. After looking at a bunch of old tired junk, and having more than plenty to do already on the newly acquired 270, I decided the generator would have to take a 'likely indefinite' backseat.

Well, about three weeks later & out of the clear blue, the Good Lord put the one I was looking for on my path. Bought a 2018 3.5SBCG with only 88 hrs on it for $4500. That deal beat the heck out of my best lottery score. I am gathering all the parts for the virgin install and it may well sit here till season's end, but I smile every time I walk by it.

What a deal!!! Be sure to run it long enough to warm up each time you take the boat out, follow the maintenance schedule and it will last forever. The quiet 1800 rpm operation makes it difficult to know if its running when the main engines are idling (and mine has no sound shield). I'm now a huge Westerbeke fan - they're by far the best option for a marine gasoline generator in my opinion. Built like little tanks!