48 DA Owners Club

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Looking for some advice from 48 owners. So, after all this work I've done to this boat, today I received an unexpected offer on my boat from a local broker. He knows the boat and he sold the boat to a buyer based on description of the boat (of course everything needs to be surveyed and checked out). He sent over an offer and has a deposit check in hand. The offer is very good, almost great. If I had another boat to buy I'd jump on it. Of course, I've had my eye on the market to move up for some time but there's nothing on the West Coast that interests me or is in my $7 to $800K price range. There's a 2012 54 Sundancer with 270 hours on it down in Southern California but it has pods. I'm not a huge fan of the 54 but it's in an LLC which means no 10% sales tax and the price is right but the pods worry me simply because of the lack of knowledgeable mechanics in my area. Any advice ya'll can share or input? Thanks in advance!
 
That's a tough one Jeffrey! There's a similar lack of knowledge with the pods up in my area, and as we talk about moving up the contenders right now are the 2008 to 2013 55/580DA's. We also feel the master stateroom has a better layout, and the cockpit is more suited for how we use the boat.

-Tom
 
Looking for some advice from 48 owners. So, after all this work I've done to this boat, today I received an unexpected offer on my boat from a local broker. He knows the boat and he sold the boat to a buyer based on description of the boat (of course everything needs to be surveyed and checked out). He sent over an offer and has a deposit check in hand. The offer is very good, almost great. If I had another boat to buy I'd jump on it. Of course, I've had my eye on the market to move up for some time but there's nothing on the West Coast that interests me or is in my $7 to $800K price range. There's a 2012 54 Sundancer with 270 hours on it down in Southern California but it has pods. I'm not a huge fan of the 54 but it's in an LLC which means no 10% sales tax and the price is right but the pods worry me simply because of the lack of knowledgeable mechanics in my area. Any advice ya'll can share or input? Thanks in advance!

So I was in your shoes this summer. I put my boat on the market with little thought of what I would do if it sold. After all the projects and all the tinkering I did over three years to make the boat perfect and just the way I wanted it I sold it to a great guy with a wonderful family that wanted to move up to a larger Sea Ray. I am very happy for them but now I am out of a boat and out of all the little projects that kept me excited about fixing things. For me I am limited to the 50 ft slip that I own so it has become very hard for me to find another boat anywhere close to the quality and style that I had with the 48 Sundancer. I have looked at Formula 45 Yachts, Tiara 47 and 45 Yachts, and others but they do not stand up to the Sea Ray . If I get a newer one I get into the problems of first generation Pods and if I go older and look at 460's then they are starting to really show there age with systems breaking down. If I had it to do over I would have never, ever sold my 48 Sundancer. Make sure you really want to sell the boat before you go on that survey run!
 
Everyone that I've looked at does.
So I was in your shoes this summer. I put my boat on the market with little thought of what I would do if it sold. After all the projects and all the tinkering I did over three years to make the boat perfect and just the way I wanted it I sold it to a great guy with a wonderful family that wanted to move up to a larger Sea Ray. I am very happy for them but now I am out of a boat and out of all the little projects that kept me excited about fixing things. For me I am limited to the 50 ft slip that I own so it has become very hard for me to find another boat anywhere close to the quality and style that I had with the 48 Sundancer. I have looked at Formula 45 Yachts, Tiara 47 and 45 Yachts, and others but they do not stand up to the Sea Ray . If I get a newer one I get into the problems of first generation Pods and if I go older and look at 460's then they are starting to really show there age with systems breaking down. If I had it to do over I would have never, ever sold my 48 Sundancer. Make sure you really want to sell the boat before you go on that survey run!
See I knew you all would understand the dilemma. It all comes back to the 48 is a damn hard boat to beat and the offer is 50K more than I paid for it. However, it's worth it as there's 0 48's for sale on the West Coast. I have had my eye on this boat for awhile:
https://www.boats.com/power-boats/2013-sea-ray-580-sundancer-7571153/
I have a price at $35K to ship to Ensenada and have a Captain that can help with the loading onto the transport....I just don't want to pay $80K in sale tax...(gotta love California). It just had the 400hr MAN service so the next big one isn't for another 600 hours. I do love the 55/58...ughhhh...
 
Grant. $100 for all 4 or $100 each? Think I paid 180 from Marinemax for all four and hardware.
No, each... Looks like I got screwed from Bomar.
 
Those MAN's are very expensive to maintain and operate but are great engines. That is a great boat, a dock mate had one (sold it about the same time i Sold mine) it is a great running boat and very comfortable to stay on over the weekend. In every way it is a much bigger and more substantial Yacht than the 48 Sundancer. I captained his many times. I'm not sure how you guys on the left coast use your boats but for us on an inland lake we tend to anchor out and go bar hopping at different marinas. When we would go to bars at Marina's we would usually take my boat as it was easier to find a place on the dock for my 48 than his really big boat. By the way if it has the E-Plex system check it out very carefully as it is now 8 year old computer system living in a salt water environment that runs just about everything in the boat including the head.
 
Great question! I only have two Fusion remotes. I stuck one on the transom shower door, right above the opening latch. I did this so in the future, I wouldn't have to mess with the gelcoat finish if I wanted to replace it. I can just replace the shower door if it doesn't come off clean. The second one I plan to put in place of the old Clarion remote on the starboard side above the couch...the original location.....That is, if I can figure out how to get the old Clarion remote off. My arm isn't long enough to reach it from the above access panel and from the below speaker hole, access is blocked by the arch support. The new Fusion puck remote is smaller than the hole the Clarion remote leaves so I ordered 3" and 4" Starboard circle's to cover the Clarion hole and then I'll just stick the new Fusion remote to it. Any suggestions on getting the old Clarion remote out? I'm going to try and get my GF to do it..she'll complain about her nails getting messed up but she needs to take one for the team! Her arms are like toothpicks so se may be able to reach it with a wrench.

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If I remember right there was a trim ring that popped off to ge tto the screws. I ended up putting a conmplete control head remote there with another trim ring so i had full control there. I did install a white puck remote on the port side arch next to the TV and I find I use it this one the most.
 
55/58 is an awesome boat! If you can find one in good shape it is a really nice upgrade.

I am on the fence on the sale of our 48.. Plan was to move on to a live aboard but wife and I are working through some personal stuff. So who knows.. Have a trip this weekend and looking at a 44 sundancer just to keep my options open.
 
See I knew you all would understand the dilemma. It all comes back to the 48 is a damn hard boat to beat and the offer is 50K more than I paid for it. However, it's worth it as there's 0 48's for sale on the West Coast. I have had my eye on this boat for awhile:
https://www.boats.com/power-boats/2013-sea-ray-580-sundancer-7571153/
I have a price at $35K to ship to Ensenada and have a Captain that can help with the loading onto the transport....I just don't want to pay $80K in sale tax...(gotta love California). It just had the 400hr MAN service so the next big one isn't for another 600 hours. I do love the 55/58...ughhhh...
Beautiful boat and I love the layout. Only issue I have with the 58 is you still have canvas in the back to deal with. When I get that big I want a door. MAN's don't scare me just another engine.
 
Those MAN's are very expensive to maintain and operate but are great engines. That is a great boat, a dock mate had one (sold it about the same time i Sold mine) it is a great running boat and very comfortable to stay on over the weekend. In every way it is a much bigger and more substantial Yacht than the 48 Sundancer. I captained his many times. I'm not sure how you guys on the left coast use your boats but for us on an inland lake we tend to anchor out and go bar hopping at different marinas. When we would go to bars at Marina's we would usually take my boat as it was easier to find a place on the dock for my 48 than his really big boat. By the way if it has the E-Plex system check it out very carefully as it is now 8 year old computer system living in a salt water environment that runs just about everything in the boat including the head.
I've been on a 55/58 and it is significantly bigger than the 48. Just standing next to it, it's very noticeable. I had no knowledge of the eplex system. Is that computer specific to the boat itself or is it related to the MAN's as well? Thanks for the heads up on that!
 
Beautiful boat and I love the layout. Only issue I have with the 58 is you still have canvas in the back to deal with. When I get that big I want a door. MAN's don't scare me just another engine.
I hear ya on that! I had my eye on a 2012 57 Princess as well but it sold about two weeks ago.
 
I've been on a 55/58 and it is significantly bigger than the 48. Just standing next to it, it's very noticeable. I had no knowledge of the eplex system. Is that computer specific to the boat itself or is it related to the MAN's as well? Thanks for the heads up on that!

My understanding is the eplex was phased out of these models sometime in '09, and they are specific to the boat itself. We had a local 55 come on the market that I could get for a decent price, however all things considered our 48 is completely dialed-in and is a really great boat for us.

-Tom
 
My understanding is the eplex was phased out of these models sometime in '09, and they are specific to the boat itself. We had a local 55 come on the market that I could get for a decent price, however all things considered our 48 is completely dialed-in and is a really great boat for us.

-Tom
Yep, back to the fact that the 48 is a hard boat to beat! Ohh, and one big factor in my decision that I forgot to mention, where am I going to find another forum like this one? The help that you all provide is of tremendous value! Thanks all!
 
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OCGrant-Yes port side on the arch. That’s what I was thinking also. Tuff call Jeffery. Bigger isn’t always better. Really think it over.
 

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