92' Sundancer 370 Purchased

jrybak

Dock Holiday
Feb 11, 2019
163
Lake Ozark, MO
Boat Info
92' Sundancer 370
Engines
7.4L Mercruisers
Just purchased a 92' DA 370, while I have been on boats my entire life and owned a few fishing/hunting boats this is my first twin-engine cruiser and I am unfamiliar with many of the boat systems and have been trying to read and educate myself on them. As we have a new boat we are now planning a large family w/e over Memorial Day at the lake and I am attempting to get some improvements completed prior to the season starting here. Current plans are to install the below:
  1. Swim Platform w/LED Kits (from swimplatform.com)
  2. Upgrade Electronics w/ Garmin 8616sxv, Airmar B60 Transducer, Garmin Fantom 24 Dome, Fusion MS-UD755 Head Unit, BLUAVE Amps, Speakers, Subs, Docking Camera, Engine Diagnostic Integration Analog/Digital Conversion, LEDs and some other bits
  3. SeaDeck on the swim platform and cockpit floor (Fake Teak Wood Look)
Looking for some input on the above gear and if anyone has converted an Autohelm ST6000 system over to one of the Garmin Reactor AutoPilots or had luck with having it properly communicate with a new 86xx series Garmin.

I also need to replace the galley refrigerator and I am looking to install a cockpit ice maker as currently I just have an open space under my cockpit sink. Looking for advice on mnf/model numbers. I also was wondering if there are model specific deck cushions I can purchase.

Thanks in advance as the learning curve is more than I expected, as is the cost!..lol
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: QT1
Welcome! Were you able to get a good sea trial completed in MO in winter?? I only ask because of the amount of coin you're getting ready to unload on electronics. Hopefully she's rock solid in the engine room!

Silly question - what kind of engine data do you plan to get from '92 Merc's?

Another silly question - is there room to use an autopilot on Lake of the Ozarks?

Hopefully you'll share some pics of your projects. It sounds like you've got a busy few months coming up!
 
Ohh and hey - one tip, the Sundancer is a DA. SD is for Sundeck. EC is for Express Cruiser. Give your dancer the credit she deserves :)
 
any idea what the oem model was
Welcome! Were you able to get a good sea trial completed in MO in winter?? I only ask because of the amount of coin you're getting ready to unload on electronics. Hopefully she's rock solid in the engine room!

Silly question - what kind of engine data do you plan to get from '92 Merc's?

Another silly question - is there room to use an autopilot on Lake of the Ozarks?

Hopefully you'll share some pics of your projects. It sounds like you've got a busy few months coming up!

I purchased her from a friend...perhaps a former friend, lol,.... he had an in water & out of water survey completed in May 2018 with the plan to put it on the market, the survey showed very low moisture readings on the topside and average to average low readings on the hull bottom, it indicated that while the bottom paint was in good condition but the ends of the prop tunnels and a small 4x6 area had exposed glass matt from prop wash, he recommended having the bottom re-painted which was done in June 2018, along with a new windlass, anchor line, and a complete tune-up on both motors and the generator. by reading the survey he was beating on the hull with a hammer and picking at the exposed areas with a screwdriver, both are kinda unsettling when I read them. Engine compartment shows no rot and the propeller struts gave a 14% reading which he indicated was very low. He also indicated it was a well maintained low hour, 500hr, and it was a bonus that it has been an only freshwater vessel.

Engine Date, I don't expect much more than what the existing gauges at the helm show, perhaps some other temps if possible.

Autopilot, this is my first cruiser/ large vessel, hower the former owner said he used it regularly, and I am a bit of a tech junkie.
 
any idea what the oem model was


I purchased her from a friend...perhaps a former friend, lol,.... he had an in water & out of water survey completed in May 2018 with the plan to put it on the market, the survey showed very low moisture readings on the topside and average to average low readings on the hull bottom, it indicated that while the bottom paint was in good condition but the ends of the prop tunnels and a small 4x6 area had exposed glass matt from prop wash, he recommended having the bottom re-painted which was done in June 2018, along with a new windlass, anchor line, and a complete tune-up on both motors and the generator. by reading the survey he was beating on the hull with a hammer and picking at the exposed areas with a screwdriver, both are kinda unsettling when I read them. Engine compartment shows no rot and the propeller struts gave a 14% reading which he indicated was very low. He also indicated it was a well maintained low hour, 500hr, and it was a bonus that it has been an only freshwater vessel.

Engine Date, I don't expect much more than what the existing gauges at the helm show, perhaps some other temps if possible.

Autopilot, this is my first cruiser/ large vessel, hower the former owner said he used it regularly, and I am a bit of a tech junkie.

Very cool. Well welcome again to the cruiser club. Sounds like you had a thorough survey and hopefully she runs like a champ when the season opens up. Exposed glass fiber sounds concerning? But maybe not to a pro?

I'm impressed by the investment you're considering in electronics. $10k+ right off the bat is no joke. I'm looking at changing just my chartlpotters and VHF this year, leaving the existing radar and autopilot. I like to do things in phases...and still be able to afford gas and beer.

I'd personally skip the autopilot upgrade until you see how much you use it. You can paint the cover on the ST6000 to make it match all your new gear for appearance.

Another thought - in my opinion you have too big a boat to be running a dome vs an array :)
 
Welcome. I can only add a review on the swim platform. When we had our '89 340da we felt the extended platform from Swim Platforms, Inc. was the best investment (of many) that we made in our boat. Scott Samuelson, the owner, and his staff truly understand the concept of a "quality product" and "customer service". I promise you won't be disappointed.
Shawn
 
Another thought - in my opinion you have too big a boat to be running a dome vs an array :)

I really want the Fantom 54 but that additional $3k it would cost me is going towards the new sea-deck flooring....gotta show some restraint! Any thoughts on an ice maker in the cockpit? I have an empty compartment under the sink in the cockpit.

FYI..just got an email back from Sea Ray with the original boat order.... pretty cool.
 
I really want the Fantom 54 but that additional $3k it would cost me is going towards the new sea-deck flooring....gotta show some restraint! Any thoughts on an ice maker in the cockpit? I have an empty compartment under the sink in the cockpit.

FYI..just got an email back from Sea Ray with the original boat order.... pretty cool.

Go with the Ebay version off-brand SeaDeck, skip the autopilot and PRESTO, 4' array is all yours within budget!

There is an outstanding post above on the size/dim's of your current fridge. Defender marine is a good online source for replacements, I'm told. Note that an icemaker will be AC only (will not run on DC) and will require a water line. Also worth mentioning, since you appear to have an upper limit to your budget, to do both your fridge and add an icemaker will cost you another $2500 +/-....big money.

BOAT...Break Out Another Thousand
 
Note that an icemaker will be AC only (will not run on DC) and will require a water line.
BOAT...Break Out Another Thousand
A solution to the AC problem would be to install a large inverter to run the AC appliances when you're on the boat. That will require an additional battery bank but depending how you use the boat it may be a necessity.

BTW, I just looked at LOTO on Google Earth. That is one HUGE lake with a bazillion little coves to tuck into. Can you boat all the way to the dam at H.S. Truman State Park?
 
Go with the Ebay version off-brand SeaDeck, skip the autopilot and PRESTO, 4' array is all yours within budget!

There is an outstanding post above on the size/dim's of your current fridge. Defender marine is a good online source for replacements, I'm told. Note that an icemaker will be AC only (will not run on DC) and will require a water line. Also worth mentioning, since you appear to have an upper limit to your budget, to do both your fridge and add an icemaker will cost you another $2500 +/-....big money.

BOAT...Break Out Another Thousand
The fridge is a must for the galley, still thinking thru the cockpit on a frig, ice maker, or trash compactor.
 
A solution to the AC problem would be to install a large inverter to run the AC appliances when you're on the boat. That will require an additional battery bank but depending how you use the boat it may be a necessity.

BTW, I just looked at LOTO on Google Earth. That is one HUGE lake with a bazillion little coves to tuck into. Can you boat all the way to the dam at H.S. Truman State Park?

I was thinking of replacing the batteries with new AGM types and perhaps a new charger, I think the ProMariner 30 is original. If I added a battery what inverter would you suggest? We will spend 8-10hrs/ day lounging about in the lake coves away from the dock and will want to use many electrical amp drawing items...the stereo being a large part of that.

Damn Challenge 188 miles there and back!!!...yes you can, the record is 2.5hrs.

https://www.lakeexpo.com/boating/sh...cle_f0091a3c-4b69-11e5-a24d-7ff79d471e3f.html
 
Welcome. I can only add a review on the swim platform. When we had our '89 340da we felt the extended platform from Swim Platforms, Inc. was the best investment (of many) that we made in our boat. Scott Samuelson, the owner, and his staff truly understand the concept of a "quality product" and "customer service". I promise you won't be disappointed.
Shawn


One of the first upgrades we did on our 370 was the new swim platform we went with the bigest one they recommended I think it added 45 inches past the built in one. One word of advice is the non skid is not as grippy as the factory instaled Sea Ray stuff and the extended area gets really wet.

My wife drives our Baja so I always dock the big boat solo, well at the end of last season I backed into our club stepped off the built in factory platform onto the new one slipped and hit my neck on the edge built in platform and broke three vertebrae in my neck along with kicking the sea wall and breaking two toes.

So word of advise is to cover the platform with something like Sea Deck, Aqua Trax etc.. My company installs this and because I was really busy I waited and Paid the price but it will be installed this winter...

Side note. I love the platform and have nothing bad to say about their product.. I would install it again. 100% my fault I built the platform for our last boat and the first thing I did was put something non-slip on it the farther it sticks out the wetter it gets.

Second side note I am not trying to sell anything...

Ed
 
My wife drives our Baja so I always dock the big boat solo, well at the end of last season I backed into our club stepped off the built in factory platform onto the new one slipped and hit my neck on the edge built in platform and broke three vertebrae in my neck along with kicking the sea wall and breaking two toes
wow, and ouch....I plan to have the seadeck installed prior to the memorial day gathering, thx for the heads up.

Go with the Ebay version off-brand SeaDeck, skip the autopilot and PRESTO, 4' array is all yours within budget!
I may go ahead with the Fantom 54.

A solution to the AC problem would be to install a large inverter to run the AC appliances when you're on the boat. That will require an additional battery bank but depending how you use the boat it may be a necessity.
Anyone have a good location to mount a 3000-3500 inverter on a 92' 370 DA?
 
wow, and ouch....I plan to have the seadeck installed prior to the memorial day gathering, thx for the heads up.


I may go ahead with the Fantom 54.


Anyone have a good location to mount a 3000-3500 inverter on a 92' 370 DA?

Holy crap man...you sure you don't want to skip this upgrade investment and just buy a 2005 Sea Ray Sundancer 420 hardtop with more modern "everything"??? ha. You're going to end up with more value in the electronics than the hull is worth.

I stand in awe of your apparent appetite for investment in this project...
 
Holy crap man...you sure you don't want to skip this upgrade investment and just buy a 2005 Sea Ray Sundancer 420 hardtop with more modern "everything"??? ha. You're going to end up with more value in the electronics than the hull is worth.

I stand in awe of your apparent appetite for investment in this project...
so that has been a question I have ran thru my mind many times, the one thing I keep getting back to is this, I could go buy a 09-10 ish searay, would have to then secure a note for it, and I would still have 10+ year old gear..... since this hull is solid I can invest in the latest and greatest, I know a re-power will be in the cards at some point also, I will most likely spend some $$ on it to make it top notch also...... in this manner I can invest as funds are available and or as I see fit instead of making payments even in months I can't enjoy using it.
 
One of the first upgrades we did on our 370 was the new swim platform we went with the bigest one they recommended I think it added 45 inches past the built in one. One word of advice is the non skid is not as grippy as the factory instaled Sea Ray stuff and the extended area gets really wet.

My wife drives our Baja so I always dock the big boat solo, well at the end of last season I backed into our club stepped off the built in factory platform onto the new one slipped and hit my neck on the edge built in platform and broke three vertebrae in my neck along with kicking the sea wall and breaking two toes.

So word of advise is to cover the platform with something like Sea Deck, Aqua Trax etc.. My company installs this and because I was really busy I waited and Paid the price but it will be installed this winter...

Side note. I love the platform and have nothing bad to say about their product.. I would install it again. 100% my fault I built the platform for our last boat and the first thing I did was put something non-slip on it the farther it sticks out the wetter it gets.

Second side note I am not trying to sell anything...

Ed
Ed, Sorry for your pain dude. A quick question... Did you put the new platform at the same height as the original one you removed or did you raise the new one to the same height as the built in one? I always wondered what it would take to install a new larger swim platform higher up without that having that step down. Thanks
 
I instaled ours same as the factory one where you step down about 6 plus inches onto the extended platform, I know that there were a couple companies that offered platforms that went over the built in one. They come so that you template the back of your boat and then cut and grind in the new platform to the exact contour of your boat then install right over the top of your exsisting platform. Our last boat I custom made the extended platform myself and I went over the original, different type of boat but same principle. The reason I bought one this time is I had way to many customer boats going to spend the time to build one.

I have tons of photos of that build if you want to PM me your email. I am not sure how to upload pics here.

Ed
 
so that has been a question I have ran thru my mind many times, the one thing I keep getting back to is this, I could go buy a 09-10 ish searay, would have to then secure a note for it, and I would still have 10+ year old gear..... since this hull is solid I can invest in the latest and greatest, I know a re-power will be in the cards at some point also, I will most likely spend some $$ on it to make it top notch also...... in this manner I can invest as funds are available and or as I see fit instead of making payments even in months I can't enjoy using it.

If trends from this forum are any indication you can plan on wanting a bigger/newer/different boat in approximately 2.65 years. These (pricey) upgrades will surely make your current boat more sellable, but will not likely make it substanially more valuable. Spend wisely!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,862
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top