2000 380 sundancer w/Diesels

I am thinking about buying a 2000 380 sundancer with 3126 Diesels it has 1350 hrs on them and the generator has 658 hrs. my question is how many hours do these Diesels go before rebuild there 350 H.P.

I’ve got those motors in my 410. They’re great. Lots of 400/410 and bigger owners with those motors on this forum. FWebster is the best source of info and very generous about sharing it.
One thing to consider though.
I started out my search for my current boat looking at gasser 380’s back in early 2016. Loved the layout. Even came across a couple with diesels. The diesel ones are rare though and I found pricing to be premium on them because of it.
But it did start me leaning towards a diesel boat.
Then I realized that diesel 410’s are fairly common which gave me more boats to choose from and the prices were about the same as the premiums ones they were asking for the rare diesel 380’s.
Basically the same boat but with a little wider beam, larger aft cabin with a pocket door and a second head back there.
While I didn’t need the second head, that and the bigger private aft are kind of nice to have.
But the real bonus was that extra foot of beam, especially down in the bilge.
Not a bad deal for about the same price.
Just food for thought.
 
I did the same as John...started looking for a gasser 380, ended up with a diesel 410 with 3126s. Very happy with the boat.

Great engines and 1350 isnt a lot. You definitely want to know as much service history and have CAT inspect.

The major service interval is 250 hours and 2000 hours for valve lash and injector fuel timing.
 
Me three? Not quite. I started out looking at 380's last spring and ended up with a 400...gas.

Shoot 1350 hours is plenty manageable for a gas engine, should be just barely "broken in" for diesel?? Gobs of life left if well maintained.
 
Caterpillar rates the engines at WOT, then measures life span at max recommended cruise rpms with is 2400. That gives us an inflated number go gallons as far an engine life span. Going by the formula and charts, you should expect a 6000 hour life span if you maintain the engines a according to Cat's numbers. But.....none of us run the engines at 2400 constantly. We go thru no wake zones, we cruise at 2200-2250 rpm because the ride is quieter and the engines burn less fuel.

In the real world, I have a friend who is a charter captain on the. Gulf Coast and he as about 14,000 hours on a pair of 3116's...with no major failures, just a few injectors, a couple of alternators, and regular maintenance....but I spend most of every day at rpms between idle and 1200.

Asfar as a 380DA with Cat Diesels is concerned.........buy the boat! They are great boats, quick, handle well and easy to maintain.........did I say "buy the boat". Get it under contract as soon as you can because they don't stay on the market long.


Frank
 
Asfar as a 380DA with Cat Diesels is concerned.........buy the boat! They are great boats, quick, handle well and easy to maintain.........did I say "buy the boat". Get it under contract as soon as you can because they don't stay on the market long.

Frank

Of course don't buy the boat just because it has diesels. Buy the boat if it surveys well and is a good value. A wet 380 torn up on the inside, not well maintained...but with diesels...would clearly be a questionable purchase.

OP, regardless of how rare or well optioned a boat is I think everyone on CSR would tell you that a solid survey (and diesel inspection) is priority # 1 when buying a boat. Don't get too terribly intoxicated by the appeal of this particular boat/configuration. It's got to be the right boat...
 
I have that exact boat purchased a year ago. Had almost the same hours as you mention. Love the boat. Buy it if the survey is good!
 
We have the 3126 version with 1400 hours on the meter and actually 1100 on the new blocks that CAT replaced under warranty. Gen. has approx 800 hours. All have been great !! Before we bought though I was looking at the 400 long & hard but decided to expand my search parameters and found our 450 12+ years & still loving it...
 
Of course don't buy the boat just because it has diesels. Buy the boat if it surveys well and is a good value. A wet 380 torn up on the inside, not well maintained...but with diesels...would clearly be a questionable purchase.

OP, regardless of how rare or well optioned a boat is I think everyone on CSR would tell you that a solid survey (and diesel inspection) is priority # 1 when buying a boat. Don't get too terribly intoxicated by the appeal of this particular boat/configuration. It's got to be the right boat...
I'd like to have had diesels too but way off the price point for me, soooo I'm happy with the 8.1's as I've had plenty of experience with running one HARD in my 27 Fountain, an exceptional motor but it likes fuel, but as far as I can see diesel is ALWAYS more $$ for a gallon of fuel so it's all good. Love my 6.6 Duramax in my 2500 4x4
 
I'd like to have had diesels too but way off the price point for me, soooo I'm happy with the 8.1's as I've had plenty of experience with running one HARD in my 27 Fountain, an exceptional motor but it likes fuel, but as far as I can see diesel is ALWAYS more $$ for a gallon of fuel so it's all good. Love my 6.6 Duramax in my 2500 4x4

Off road diesel delivered to the boat at the dock is actually a little cheaper than gas around here.
I was scared of the unknown with diesels, still am a bit, but man are they strong and fuel efficient. I basically burn the same amount of fuel (mpg) in this boat as I did in my old 300 Sundancer.
 

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