Official 400EC thread

Well sad to report, my '98 400EC failed the hull survey today for high moisture in the port stringer. This boat deal was the most backwards deal EVER that I've experienced. I only stuck through it until the end because I was hoping for a decent deal. If you're up for a quick read....

The story I got from the broker was the boat was a voluntary repossession because the owner ran into health problems (or a close family member) and just couldn't keep up with the boat. The boat suffered some swim platform damage in a storm when a line broke free. The new buyer purchased the vessel in April 2017 and then decided he wanted a larger diesel boat. Because Texas is mostly inland lake boating, many lakes don't even supply diesel. I found it somewhat interesting that the new owner wanted to sell within a month or so? Anyway, I contacted the broker and made an offer. It was subject to a few items and the owner refused to do ANYTHING that I requested. It essentially became an 'as is' purchase. Well OK then... I obtained some pricing on repairs for the platform. Side note - no marina locally will allow owners to work on their boats out of the water. Where I grew up, if you wanted the boat hauled, they would haul it, block it, owners could repair as needed, and the boat would be relaunched. Fiberglass doesn't scare me at all, but unfortunately because no marina will support my quest to do the work myself, I'm stuck hiring it out. More on... I hire an engine surveyor and the engines and genset survey fine. Surveyor found a small miss that he thought plugs would correct. He said make sure you install the plugs before the boat is moved. Check. I explain the details to the broker and broker/owner refuse to do anything. How the hell am I supposed to sea trial and get the boat pulled for a survey if I can't move it? After some back and forth, I just tell him I'll come to the marina early on the day of the hull survey and I'll swap in a new set of plugs. They agree. I show up this morning, swap in the plugs, test the engines, no more miss, and all is well. Surveyor shows up and we begin to go over the entire boat. We make our way through the exterior and then to the engine room. Surveyor was pleasantly surprised the boat was very clean down below. Engines and genny sounded good, continued through his check, and finally started hammering away on the stringers. Starboard stringers sounded great. He starts at the rear of the port stringer and the closer he gets to the front near the bulkhead, the more hollow and dense it sounds. We narrowed a small section down to about 6"x6" that sounded questionable. We started discussion options and even comparing moisture readings with the meter from port to starboard just for kicks (even though they're usually inaccurate in a wet environment). Both sides showed medium moisture (probably because there was some moisture in the bilge anyway) and were actually very consistent from one side to the other. I began sounding the stringers myself and found another area in question just about midway or just aft of the engine. After finding a second spot, I was definitely walking from this deal. Fortunately and unfortunately I'm out some money on surveys, but it definitely saved me some long term funds. I know I could have fixed the stringer by cutting it out and fiberglassing a new one in, but this boat isn't supposed to be a project. This is supposed to be something to buy and enjoy fairly quickly. Definitely disappointed for sure.

There's another 370 Sundancer we viewed a couple weeks ago that shows much better than this boat, but I'm on the fence strictly because of the size. I feel like this next boat needs to be an 8-10+ year boat. For that to happen, I felt like a '4' needed to be in front of it to satisfy my long term need. Maybe I'm being greedy, I can't decide. It's a nice boat and would definitely fit the family well. There is a 380 Sundancer that is yet a few bucks more that my wife wants to check out tomorrow for comparison, as well as a couple Carver 355/356 MY's and a Cruisers 3650 MY that she wants to see as well. I never thought I'd see myself in an MY, but some of them don't look too bad and seem to be pretty spacious. Even though these are labeled 35 or 36, there are truly a 13'+ beam boat that is over 41' in length.

Bummer today!
 
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Thanks! I gave them a call. I can send in the unit for repair.
 
T 5182017 074.jpg5182017 088.jpg5182017 089.jpg5182017 095.jpghat cover over the fender holder sure cleans up the the platform. Makes a nice step and good storage. Last year I added the stainless trim to the swim platform. Never stop spending on a boat! Also last year: new canvass, new Nibrals, new sterio, new refrig. This year just ordered a new ice maker...hope that's it for a while.
 
TView attachment 49818View attachment 49819View attachment 49820View attachment 49821hat cover over the fender holder sure cleans up the the platform. Makes a nice step and good storage. Last year I added the stainless trim to the swim platform. Never stop spending on a boat! Also last year: new canvass, new Nibrals, new sterio, new refrig. This year just ordered a new ice maker...hope that's it for a while.


Nice job with the added rubrail....looks great :)
I like the look of the fender storage cover but, would miss the ease of storing 4 large fenders back there.
If I ever decided to go with inflatable fenders, like the BIG yachts all use...I might go for the covered fender storage compartment.
 
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Thanks to this forum thread I was able to replace my old Norcold with a vitrifrigo 2600i series fridge. Pretty much worked exactly as Air O'Nautical indicated.
f943ded4989e43bb3d301feebc9e2e17.jpg
ed42ffb4fde8310f1d805d1de3465d77.jpg
5487259c6e2ef1e72b6b2968ec6b8993.jpg


The only issue I have had was getting the fridge to cool down. Had to adjust the doors to seal but 48 hours later it's 60 degrees in the fridge. The freezer seemed to get cold but the fridge isn't cooling as it should. Continuing to work this issue. Thanks for the information and guidance.


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Thanks to this forum thread I was able to replace my old Norcold with a vitrifrigo 2600i series fridge. Pretty much worked exactly as Air O'Nautical indicated.
f943ded4989e43bb3d301feebc9e2e17.jpg
ed42ffb4fde8310f1d805d1de3465d77.jpg
5487259c6e2ef1e72b6b2968ec6b8993.jpg


The only issue I have had was getting the fridge to cool down. Had to adjust the doors to seal but 48 hours later it's 60 degrees in the fridge. The freezer seemed to get cold but the fridge isn't cooling as it should. Continuing to work this issue. Thanks for the information and guidance.


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I swear mine didn't get cold right away either.....I was worried the ice cream wasn't going to be solid.
After setting to max and leaving it for 5 days while away at work....I returned to frozen bottled water on the top shelf of the fridge and solid as a rock ice cream in the freezer.

Adjusted the temp. to 3/4 of max and seems fine since.

Give it a chance.
 
I swear mine didn't get cold right away either.....I was worried the ice cream wasn't going to be solid.
After setting to max and leaving it for 5 days while away at work....I returned to frozen bottled water on the top shelf of the fridge and solid as a rock ice cream in the freezer.

Adjusted the temp. to 3/4 of max and seems fine since.

Give it a chance.

After 5 days at 3/4 max I have 36 in the freezer and 55 in the fridge. Today I propped opened the cooking elements next to the fridge box to allow more ventilation. Will check tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll pull the fridge out into the cabin and put it on max like you indicated. The dealer warned about ventilation but it's not particularly warm in the boat at any time. Thanks!


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After 5 days at 3/4 max I have 36 in the freezer and 55 in the fridge. Today I propped opened the cooking elements next to the fridge box to allow more ventilation. Will check tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll pull the fridge out into the cabin and put it on max like you indicated. The dealer warned about ventilation but it's not particularly warm in the boat at any time. Thanks!


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Doesn't sound good :(

Propping open the the stove top will definitely give more air a chance to vent.
I'd set up a fan blowing down there and leave it for a few days..just to eliminate the possibility of a lack of venting problem.

I recall a small fan on the unit...wonder if it's working..?

Do you recall when you had it out if the space was vented via, several large holes drilled through the rear of the cabinet into the sliding door recess? Pic of the holes I'm referring to are on page 29 of this thread post #290.

Hummmmm
 
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Doesn't sound good :(

Propping open the the stove top will definitely give more air a chance to vent.
I'd set up a fan blowing down there and leave it for a few days..just to eliminate the possibility of a lack of venting problem.

I recall a small fan on the unit...wonder if it's working..?

Do you recall when you had it out if the space was vented via, several large holes drilled through the rear of the cabinet into the sliding door recess? Pic of the holes I'm referring to are on page 29 of this thread post #290.

Hummmmm

Herring2on, I am curious, when you transported the unit to the boat, did you have the refrigerator on it's side? If memory serves me correctly, the units are only intended to stand up upright or be put on their side, if they must, in a particular way. I also believe it is recommended that the unit once stood upright again be kept that way for at least as long as they were on their side before starting them up so that the coolant has time to return to the compressor and reservoir.

Just thinking out loud.
 
It turns out the compressor fan does not work, so they are sending another one. It takes an 18 inch Phillips screwdriver to get the old one out. Should be fun?


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TView attachment 49818View attachment 49819View attachment 49820View attachment 49821hat cover over the fender holder sure cleans up the the platform. Makes a nice step and good storage. Last year I added the stainless trim to the swim platform. Never stop spending on a boat! Also last year: new canvass, new Nibrals, new sterio, new refrig. This year just ordered a new ice maker...hope that's it for a while.

The stainless trim is sweet! I'd like to add it to my 400, can you tell me where you bought it?
 
My starboard side right bank exhaust manifold gasket failed over the 4th of July holiday. :smt089 So today I replaced the manifold gasket hoping that the leak was just from a bad gasket. After starting the engine I found that the new exhaust manifold gasket only corrected the problem about 90%, so I removed the manifold and off to the machine I go tomorrow. Hopefully resurfacing the manifold will fix my leak. :smt038

 
It turns out the compressor fan does not work, so they are sending another one. It takes an 18 inch Phillips screwdriver to get the old one out. Should be fun?


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At least you have found the culprit. A see a trip to Harbor Freight or Sears.com (tools) in your future for the long screwdriver
 
Thanks...I bought the stainless from a marina in Port Clnton, OH. Skipper Bud's) It was actually leftover piece of stainless from one of their jobs. Then had them order the correct size white rubber. In the barn last winter there was a 45 next to me and I liked the finished look.
 
Thanks...I bought the stainless from a marina in Port Clnton, OH. Skipper Bud's) It was actually leftover piece of stainless from one of their jobs. Then had them order the correct size white rubber. In the barn last winter there was a 45 next to me and I liked the finished look.

Thanks for the info.
 
We replaced the fan (requires an 18 inch #2 Phillips), and it worked. Looks like 11 to 14 degrees in the freezer and 39 to 42 in the fridge once we tucked it back into the box. Thermostat is about 85% of max. Looking at additional venting, perhaps drilling out at 3 or 4 inch vent hole in top back of the box above the fridge.

Yes, we travelled with the fridge on its side in a truck. We installed it in the boat and left it overnight before we turned the power on. The dealer was adamant about that.


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Looking to replace the standard size Vacuflush toilet, to a elongated bowl. Any suggestions?
 
Raritan Marine Elegance or Atlantes Freedom. Probably the best you can buy. If you wanted to downgrade, they also have the electric Sea Era version which sounds like a blender. Works well but noisy.

How did the exhaust manifold work go?
 
Raritan Marine Elegance or Atlantes Freedom. Probably the best you can buy. If you wanted to downgrade, they also have the electric Sea Era version which sounds like a blender. Works well but noisy.

How did the exhaust manifold work go?

Thanks for the toilet info!

After having the manifold resurfaced all is good!
 

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