Anybody want to guess what happened here?

kvduff

kvduff

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2011
712
Long Island N.Y.
Boat Info
1998 450 Sundancer
Engines
Caterpillar 3126 -420hp
travelled to look at a 41 sundancer, everything looked great until.... trying to figure out what is going on with this genny?
My guess is salt water leak that was never cleaned up or noticed.... smh it ran fine... but how does this happen? Is it a walk away item? The rest of the engine compartment was clean... and “rust/corrosion free”...
upload_2019-3-9_18-19-57.jpeg
 
It would be a no for me. Never could let my stuff get to that point. What else didn't the owner care about?
 
tiara in the snow 01.JPG
Looks like the PM program is a can of red spray paint. Painted over the rust in an attempt to make it look somewhat presentable. Did NOT do the job.
 
That looks horrible. Thanks and bye.
 
Before I bought my new to me boat I had two surveys done and walked on both. One I traveled to see after having the first survey done only on the pictures huge mistake. I went to inspect the next and while it passed the survey I could not get past the money for fixing what the sun and salt had done to the boat over the last 11 years. Don’t get bummed out traveling to look at your next boat in the long run it will be worth it.
 
I have a 410 Sundancer with the diesel option just like this boat. This is a known issue on this boat. Mine was like this as were most of those out there. The issue is the engine hatch seal, as it was installed was stretched at the factory, and shrank over time, allowing salt water to drip onto things in the back starboard corner.

On my boat all of it is cosmetic to this point. Go to this section and start reading what I have been up to with the various systems on my 410. A lot of work, but I have been bringing her back to like new, (more for my own happiness) but she runs great from the get go, and a lot of this is preventative maintenance. http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/cat-3126-hex.91223/

This Westerbeke genny, if running fine can be brought back to like new, but mine has been running fine for over a year. I have contemplated pulling mine and refurbishing. Most of the little parts that are rusted are the fuel delivery lines. A set of them is about $200-300. If you take care of this a Westerbeke diesel genny can go thousands of hours. Parts are readily available. My biggest complaint is that its a little loud. I added a dual stage lift muffler, and it has been recommended to me to replace the vibration mounts to quiet her down.

The other thing I have pulled and refurbished are the Heat Exchangers. The starboard one will have rust/peeling paint on it and the outboard expansion tank.. I just pulled mine and sent the shells out to be powder coated. Also descaled all the coolers and redoing all the rubber hoses and new raw water pumps. Big job!! I'll basically have a new cooling system in a couple more weeks.

Bottom line, if everything else checks out, the 410 is one awesome boat and (I'm assuming CAT 3126) solid engines. They all need maintenance and love.

PM me if you would like to discuss. I would not be afraid of this boat based solely on the genny. There is a fine boat under there and a deal may be had. Use that generator as leverage to get a great diesel powered boat at a better price.

BY ALL MEANS spend the $$$ to have the CAT tech come look over the engines. If they start up, they usually will run just fine. Most of the MX can be DIY.

Dave
 
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Here is a pic of mine...

2018-05-17 10.54.34.jpg
 
Also John (JVM225) has a similar vintage 410 w/ CAT 3126's and may be able to shed some light on this.

This is a great boat!!!.. but I'm biased and willing to crank some wrenches!
 
Thanks guys, I felt the same way, I. The sense that there is more good than bad... I read the entire 410/40 thread and had noted the comments about the hatch seal. Very interesting.... thanks dtfeld
 
Only two concerns from me - first the corrosion on the generator's governor adjustment levers and then that coolant expansion bottle.... What is that bottle doing there and why is the fluid level so low?
The governor is an expensive piece of hardware BTW...
 
With a little effort that could look 100 percent better. Unless the price reflects "as is condition" Why would someone not clean that up?
 
I recently purchased a a Sundancer. I shopped for two years. I heeded the advice of several on this site: buy the best boat you can find, even if you have to go down in size. Buy one that has been truly taken care of. Beware of surveys too: I had a survey done on a boat that we knew was very neglected but was much less expensive. We even conferenced with contractors who would bring it back to "new". I was stunned when we got the survey back and it said "average condition". There was nothing terribly wrong. Then, I received the survey on my current boat, which was in massively better condition than the other. It also stated "average condition", and pointed out numerous issues. We bought the boat. We had a budget but exceeded it by 20%. We have no buyers remorse. Of course you will need to budget for expenses related to maintaining systems that cost 3 times what you would expect but its easier to spend money maintaining a boat to the high level commensurate with what the previous owner did, than throwing money down on a substandard boat. my two cents...
 
Is this the one in Carolina beach? If it is, aside from the genset, it looks like a beautiful boat. Given the known issues on this model with the leak I’d give it a go if you can work the price down.

I’ve been keeping an eye out for a diesel 410 as well, just not that many on the market right now.
 
If its the one in Carolina Beach, sounds like they have done a lot of work, so I would think she would show well. The engine room is about average for a set of CAT's from what I've seen, but as I mentioned, a lot of it is cosmetic, and needs some preventative MX/corrosioin control.

Regardless, you (or hire someone) are going to have to go through the systems to make sure they are up to snuff. It is a labor of love.
 
As others have said, common issue with the 410da. My generator was replaced before I bought it, for the same reason. I would negotiate based on having to replace the geni. I have a feeling it will be more than 10k, maybe 15k due to the things that have to be done to remove and replace it. Don’t quote me, but I believe what I just said is accurate.

In addition to the rubber seal under the hatch being installed incorrectly, make sure a one way valve is added to the thru hull hose that leads to the drain under the hatch.

Other than this one issue, the 410da is an amazing boat!

I have solo piloted mine from NY to Florida, twice (3,000+ miles) and the only issue I had was a few dirty fuel filters. I point out solo, not because it is recommended, or wise, rather to highlight how easy this 45’ LOA, 14’ beam, boat is to handle and dock! There are not many 410da’s for sale and I have a feeling this won’t change with the price and quality of newer boats similarly sized.

Now that I have said this, I must knock on wood many, many, many times!!!
 
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dtfeld said:
I have a 410 Sundancer with the diesel option just like this boat. This is a known issue on this boat. Mine was like this as were most of those out there. The issue is the engine hatch seal, as it was installed was stretched at the factory, and shrank over time, allowing salt water to drip onto things in the back starboard corner.

On my boat all of it is cosmetic to this point. Go to this section and start reading what I have been up to with the various systems on my 410. A lot of work, but I have been bringing her back to like new, (more for my own happiness) but she runs great from the get go, and a lot of this is preventative maintenance. http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/cat-3126-hex.91223/

This Westerbeke genny, if running fine can be brought back to like new, but mine has been running fine for over a year. I have contemplated pulling mine and refurbishing. Most of the little parts that are rusted are the fuel delivery lines. A set of them is about $200-300. If you take care of this a Westerbeke diesel genny can go thousands of hours. Parts are readily available. My biggest complaint is that its a little loud. I added a dual stage lift muffler, and it has been recommended to me to replace the vibration mounts to quiet her down.

The other thing I have pulled and refurbished are the Heat Exchangers. The starboard one will have rust/peeling paint on it and the outboard expansion tank.. I just pulled mine and sent the shells out to be powder coated. Also descaled all the coolers and redoing all the rubber hoses and new raw water pumps. Big job!! I'll basically have a new cooling system in a couple more weeks.

Bottom line, if everything else checks out, the 410 is one awesome boat and (I'm assuming CAT 3126) solid engines. They all need maintenance and love.

PM me if you would like to discuss. I would not be afraid of this boat based solely on the genny. There is a fine boat under there and a deal may be had. Use that generator as leverage to get a great diesel powered boat at a better price.

BY ALL MEANS spend the $$$ to have the CAT tech come look over the engines. If they start up, they usually will run just fine. Most of the MX can be DIY.

Dave
Click to expand...
Thanks Dtfeld , I appreciate your positive attitude. I’ve read a lot of the thread you noted above. You have had a productive off season! I found another thread from back 2007 that went into great detail about the need for the check valves in the drain thru hull line. I don’t mind turning wrenches and making things clean and right... I asked the broker to fire up the generator, It ran well he put the a/c load on it and it kept running alright. Some replacement parts/lines and some wire brush would get this straightened out. Have a few things to think over but this boat may be “survey worthy”. Again thanks for taking the time to write and post ur link.
 
Dani-Lu said:
As others have said, common issue with the 410da. My generator was replaced before I bought it, for the same reason. I would negotiate based on having to replace the geni. I have a feeling it will be more than 10k, maybe 15k due to the things that have to be done to remove and replace it. Don’t quote me, but I believe what I just said is accurate.

In addition to the rubber seal under the hatch being installed incorrectly, make sure a one way valve is added to the thru hull hose that leads to the drain under the hatch.

Other than this one issue, the 410da is an amazing boat!

I have solo piloted mine from NY to Florida, twice (3,000+ miles) and the only issue I had was a few dirty fuel filters. I point out solo, not because it is recommended, or wise, rather to highlight how easy this 45’ LOA, 14’ beam, boat is to handle and dock! There are not many 410da’s for sale and I have a feeling this won’t change with the price and quality of newer boats similarly sized.

Now that I have said this, I must knock on wood many, many, many times!!!
Click to expand...
Thank you, all good information. I appreciate it.
 
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