Upgrade to 410 Sundancer/ Express 2000-2003

310sundancer

Active Member
Feb 28, 2012
151
Lake St Clair MI Mac Ray harbor
Boat Info
2003 420DA
6CTA
Engines
6CTA
Just got the OK from the Admiral to start shopping for a 410.
Looking for suggestions and advice on what to look for, what are must-have’s. What are nice to have. Any problem areas in these models. Also we are thinking diesel so we can do some more traveling. Catapillar vs cummins?
Thanks
Steve
 
Sweet...you won't regret the move-up. If you're looking at 400/410's of similar vintage to your 310 you'll find one interesting difference between them is the swim platform setup. Some folks find the difference to be make/break between the two models. Many don't. Personal preference but other than the platform the boats are largely the same.

I won't try to steer you away from diesel. They're clearly a superior power plant. I secretly wish I had the bigger wheels when I'm docking my petrol 400. But it is worth doing some math on your own regarding total cost of ownership if you're into that kind of thing. My copious pre-purchase spreadsheeting would suggest that if you run fewer than 100 hours per year you're not likely to get a return on that initial $20-30k premium you'll pay for the diesel. Of course it gets a little weird when you consider the potential for higher resale in a future year at some lower premium...but...I'm not that fancy.

Enjoy the shopping! Perfect time to start.
 
Mine is a 2002 Caterpillar powered 410 Sundancer and we love it.
Other than gas or diesel, I think all of the 410 Sundancers are equipped and configured pretty much the same. So it’s really just a matter of finding the best one you can find that fits the budget.
Can’t answer for 410 EC’s or any 400’s. Not familiar with them.
 
We have owned our 2001 410 for about a year now. What a great boat! You will want diesels in this beast. You can get a steal on the gas and I passed on several with 7.4’s ,but gas bill will be much higher and resale lower.

I have CAT 3126’s. I run 2200-2400 rpm and usually burn 18-21 gal/ h running 19-21kts. Cat makes a great engine, and I have been able to do all the MX myself with the help of a lot of people on this site. Hopefully I left a few threads to help the next guy. You will need to have CAT do an engine survey. There were problems early on with some CAT engines, but they have largely been corrected and are solid engines.

The only real options were gas vs diesel ( both engines and gen) and the color of fabric. The biggest difference is in the upgrades to electronics and other amenities that previous owners have added, and the condition of the seats, canvas and engines/generator.

We are a family of 3 so my daughter has her own “room” which I was told gets more important as they become teenagers. We have had 8 adults and 8 kids onboard and had plenty of room, and really are limited by the number of life jackets.

I am partial to the 20001-2004 models, as I didn’t like the newer style as much. The late 2002-2004 have a much larger electronics pod at the helm and it’s really the only thing I would prefer over my 2001.

The 2005+ models do have Cummins power available. The difference I boiled it down to was CAT is all mechanical, and the Cummins gets into electronic controls. Both have pros and cons, pick your poison. Oh and the 2005+ models are significantly more money.

Feel free to PM me.

Dave
 
The biggest problem is finding one on the Great Lakes. Have you sold your 33? If not, I'd get it put out there ASAP, especially before the boat show. And I see you're at MR. Is your existing well big enough?
 
Sweet...you won't regret the move-up. If you're looking at 400/410's of similar vintage to your 310 you'll find one interesting difference between them is the swim platform setup. Some folks find the difference to be make/break between the two models. Many don't. Personal preference but other than the platform the boats are largely the same.

I won't try to steer you away from diesel. They're clearly a superior power plant. I secretly wish I had the bigger wheels when I'm docking my petrol 400. But it is worth doing some math on your own regarding total cost of ownership if you're into that kind of thing. My copious pre-purchase spreadsheeting would suggest that if you run fewer than 100 hours per year you're not likely to get a return on that initial $20-30k premium you'll pay for the diesel. Of course it gets a little weird when you consider the potential for higher resale in a future year at some lower premium...but...I'm not that fancy.

Enjoy the shopping! Perfect time to start.
Thanks for the advice. I do tend to overpower anything I buy, car, boat, airplane, lawnmower ,of course if I did the math I probably shouldn’t Buy a boat in the first place.
 
Mine is a 2002 Caterpillar powered 410 Sundancer and we love it.
Other than gas or diesel, I think all of the 410 Sundancers are equipped and configured pretty much the same. So it’s really just a matter of finding the best one you can find that fits the budget.
Can’t answer for 410 EC’s or any 400’s. Not familiar with them.
I do like your Monaco addition. Very rare model !
 
We have owned our 2001 410 for about a year now. What a great boat! You will want diesels in this beast. You can get a steal on the gas and I passed on several with 7.4’s ,but gas bill will be much higher and resale lower.

I have CAT 3126’s. I run 2200-2400 rpm and usually burn 18-21 gal/ h running 19-21kts. Cat makes a great engine, and I have been able to do all the MX myself with the help of a lot of people on this site. Hopefully I left a few threads to help the next guy. You will need to have CAT do an engine survey. There were problems early on with some CAT engines, but they have largely been corrected and are solid engines.

The only real options were gas vs diesel ( both engines and gen) and the color of fabric. The biggest difference is in the upgrades to electronics and other amenities that previous owners have added, and the condition of the seats, canvas and engines/generator.

We are a family of 3 so my daughter has her own “room” which I was told gets more important as they become teenagers. We have had 8 adults and 8 kids onboard and had plenty of room, and really are limited by the number of life jackets.

I am partial to the 20001-2004 models, as I didn’t like the newer style as much. The late 2002-2004 have a much larger electronics pod at the helm and it’s really the only thing I would prefer over my 2001.

The 2005+ models do have Cummins power available. The difference I boiled it down to was CAT is all mechanical, and the Cummins gets into electronic controls. Both have pros and cons, pick your poison. Oh and the 2005+ models are significantly more money.

Feel free to PM me.

Dave
I try to do all the maintenance myself. So oil changes and filters and water pumps Dont bother me. That’s interesting fuel flow I run 28 gph
At 30-32 mph.in my 310.
I’m also partial to the 2000 through 2003 years in the 410 Sundancer
I like the 420 Sundancer 2003+ but once you get into the hardtop the price jumps.
 
The biggest problem is finding one on the Great Lakes. Have you sold your 33? If not, I'd get it put out there ASAP, especially before the boat show. And I see you're at MR. Is your existing well big enough?
No I haven’t sold my 31 yet.My well at MR Is too small. They do have one 45 foot well left on amber
 
Were in the same situation. Been looking for a long time, pretty much only considering diesels, but finding one around Lake Ontario is impossible. I shipped our 290 up here and I’m prepared to do the same with a 410.

I also look at 400’s to hush see whats out there but I really like the newer style vinyl up top on the 410’s. We prefer the 400 salon couch over the 410, but it’s a really small difference and I doubt we’ll use the couch much anyways. I really want cherry down below vs the white.
 
In my opinion it doesn’t matter how much you get on your return or how many hours you put on the boat each year. Diesel is the way to go! Both are good engines, but I find Cummins are less expensive to maintain.
 
The biggest problem is finding one on the Great Lakes. Have you sold your 33? If not, I'd get it put out there ASAP, especially before the boat show. And I see you're at MR. Is your existing well big enough?

Shoot, I just found 18 2000-2003 410's listed on boat trader within 500 miles of West Michigan. I only see 2 97-2000 400's listed, however. Clearly the preferred model based on availability. HA!

EDIT: Scratch that - there are more Express Cruisers than Sundancers. I see only 6 410 DA's. Still wildly more available than the highly sought after late 90's 400. :)
 
In my opinion it doesn’t matter how much you get on your return or how many hours you put on the boat each year. Diesel is the way to go! Both are good engines, but I find Cummins are less expensive to maintain.

In this size boat...absolutely!
 
Shoot, I just found 18 2000-2003 410's listed on boat trader within 500 miles of West Michigan. I only see 2 97-2000 400's listed, however. Clearly the preferred model based on availability. HA!

EDIT: Scratch that - there are more Express Cruisers than Sundancers. I see only 6 410 DA's. Still wildly more available than the highly sought after late 90's 400. :)

I still have the diesel 400 da , fresh water , great condition that you considered before going with gas. Excellent condition, fresh water and always stored under cover. Check it out on craigslist, Roanoke, VA. https://roanoke.craigslist.org/boa/d/sea-ray-400-sundancer/6797047088.html
 
https://roanoke.craigslist.org/boa/d/sea-ray-400-sundancer/6797047088.html
Were in the same situation. Been looking for a long time, pretty much only considering diesels, but finding one around Lake Ontario is impossible. I shipped our 290 up here and I’m prepared to do the same with a 410.

I also look at 400’s to hush see whats out there but I really like the newer style vinyl up top on the 410’s. We prefer the 400 salon couch over the 410, but it’s a really small difference and I doubt we’ll use the couch much anyways. I really want cherry down below vs the white.
 
I still have the diesel 400 da , fresh water , great condition that you considered before going with gas. Excellent condition, fresh water and always stored under cover. Check it out on craigslist, Roanoke, VA. https://roanoke.craigslist.org/boa/d/sea-ray-400-sundancer/6797047088.html

I can't believe you still have that thing! It's a really great price for diesels.

It sounds the OP is set on wanting the 410. If the 400 were on the table for him I doubt he'd find one more aggressively priced than yours.

Good luck with your sale, MT. Have you considered putting it on Boattrader?
 
Nice looking boat, and that gotta be a beautiful lake to be on.

Looking at the spec's it basically the same hull and layout of the 2001-2004 410 Sundancer, but the interior is white and the accents & styling just slightly different. At that price, you could have the interior redecorated in a wood grain and still be way ahead. The 2001-2004 wood grain laminate peels and separates anyway, and might be in need of some MX.
 
Nice looking boat, and that gotta be a beautiful lake to be on.

Looking at the spec's it basically the same hull and layout of the 2001-2004 410 Sundancer, but the interior is white and the accents & styling just slightly different. At that price, you could have the interior redecorated in a wood grain and still be way ahead. The 2001-2004 wood grain laminate peels and separates anyway, and might be in need of some MX.

The dark cherry was an option on the 400's as well...
 
The dark cherry was an option on the 400's as well...

Did not know that! One of the known issues with most of the Sea Rays of this vintage is that the laminate separated/peeled. It can be repaired, or if this boat suits you, the white could easily be resurfaced. Regardless of color, you would have a sweet ride!
 

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