1988 Sea Ray Sundancer 300 - Have some Q's!

M

mckullberg

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2007
RO Number
26878
Messages
3
Hi all,
My first post, and let me start by saying that I am a very happy owner of a used 1988 Sundancer 300. Purchased it last week, spent the weekend cleaning and trying to figure everything out. It did not have all the manuals, and what I've found on searay.com didn't answer my questions completely. Hopefully someone here can help me!

First, (and most important at the moment), I can't figure out the head. It appears to have the SanX system, as it has the SanX indicator lights above the head. Next to that is a switch that says "head" but doesn't do anything. The toilet will suck water out of it, but not fill it to flush. Is there a tank I need to fill? a breaker I need to switch? Any ideas?

Second, on the starboard stern are two male 'water' hose connectors. I have no idea what these are. Some sort of flush out? An in and an out? Fill for my toilet?

Thanks! Feel free to email me at mckrb2@gr5tsdsc.edu as well.

Matt
 
mckullberg,
I have a 1985 Sundancer srv 300 and I'm doing the same as you, trying to figure out the systems. First make sure you have water in the potable water tank, the deck fill might be on the port side and says "Water" on the cap. On my boat, at the helm, there is a toggle switch for the "water system". Turn on the water system toggle switch and you will here a pump running until the system builds up pressure, it should not run again until you use water from your sink and it will kick on to keep pressure. I have a vacu-flush head and it has a panel above the toilet with a toggle switch. Turn that on and you will here another pump run until it builds up a vacuum. Press on the floor pedal and the waist will be sucked out and some flushing water will pour into the bowl. Both pumps will run to rebuild pressure and vacuum.
On my boat on the starboard side is one female connector and that is where you attach a garden hose from your slip so you can use marina water instead of the potable water in your water tank. A lot of people will warn you not to leave the hose hooked up while you are away from the boat. If someone turns on the slip spick-et and you have a leak in the boat, it might cause you to sink.
My set up is a little different then yours but it might give you some ideas on where to look.
Good Luck
Crawdadric
 
Thanks all,
It isn't a vac system, so there is no pedal, just a hand pump. The pump was replaced about 6 months ago, so I don't think that is the problem. I did realize the holding tank was full and am having it emptied today. I think I need to prime the pump, the owner said it was working as of a month ago or so.

To answer my other question, the two hose attachments on the back are fresh water flushes for the engines. Good to know!

Thanks!
Matt
 
I have a head where the flush pump can be done manually or electrically. With the head electric switch on I push the flush button and the waste is evacuated from the bowl and water refills. HOWEVER, there is a valve on the pump marked 'flush' one way and 'dry' or 'drain' the other way. If that switch is in the wrong position the bowl will not refill. It must then be primed with about 1 liter of water for the first flush.
 
Thanks everyone, I got it working yesterday. There is a seacock under the bed on the starboard side (for reference, basically directly down from the helm). This was in the 12 o'clock position, moving it to 3 o'clock opened the water flow and we can now pump water into the toilet.

Mine is pump only, however there is a switch in the head labled 'head'. The previous owner (of 17 years) was not sure exactly what it does, but thinks it just activates the 3/4 and FULL sensor panel behind the toilet. Flipping it does nothing currently, perhaps a fuse somewhere... (always something, right?) I don't think it is an electric head as I don't see a flush button or switch anywhere.

I have not found a marina water attachment, just the potable fill on the port side.

Ok, one more question, and this may just take some trial... (Yay for vessel assist). I have 3 batteries, how long can I run with the engines off? Using the fridge, water system, etc? (ballpark.....) Any thoughts?

thanks!
Matt
 
I switch to one battery when on the hook to assure that I can start the engine with my other battery. My third battery is for the genset only. My fridge is the biggest drain. It will suck the battery down to where the electric head won't flush within 2 or 3 hours. With the fridge off we go all day. We have a large older fridge/freezer so it may be worse than many. The moral of the story is that it depends on load (if you use the fridge, the microwave, the blender, the sink, etc. and what the amp rating on each is or if you're just hanging out) and that you should never drain all three batteries if you plan on leaving someday!
 
quote:
Originally posted by mckullberg

...This was in the 12 o'clock position, moving it to 3 o'clock opened the water flow and we can now pump water into the toilet...
thanks!
Matt

Click to expand...


I would have to see the hoses. If the hose is coming straight up from the seacock, the handle is 90* off. If the hose hits a hard 90* turn at the hull, then it is OK...Odd, but OK. As a point of reference valves are normally in the open position when the handle is parallel with the hose they are connected to. It gives you a quick reference in the event of an emergency. The handle attaches with a nut and washer. Removing the handle doesn't cause the valve to leak (one of my former fears). Easy fix.

HTH.
 
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