410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread**

Open those babies up.......
My wife likes cocktail speed. I don’t because everyone gets to enjoy cocktails while I play chauffeur and get eaten alive by green flys.
If I’m not in a no wake zone I’m at 2400 RPM and usually trying to get back to the dock so I can have some cocktails too.

I’m just about to change the transmission fluid after 25 hours, see what I have. Also trying to make it later in the season, so if I lose a tranny, I’m not shut down in prime time. I need to blow those CATs out...
 
I’m just about to change the transmission fluid after 25 hours, see what I have. Also trying to make it later in the season, so if I lose a tranny, I’m not shut down in prime time. I need to blow those CATs out...

Hopefully all will be well. Did you put together and install the draining system for the transmissions? Interested to here how that work out.
 
I did get the drain system installed over the winter. I just got back from running the boat to get everything up to temp for oil samples (and yes I put her up on plane, ran pretty smooth). Oil samples from the generator and trannys obtained. Ran out of time on getting the engine oil samples, but I'll get to that next week. Changing the oil, and ATF in the Port transmission. We'll see what the results come back as.

The only thing left to do is I have to put the right hose fitting on my drain pump to allow it to hook together. I'll take some pics next time out.
 
I did get the drain system installed over the winter. I just got back from running the boat to get everything up to temp for oil samples (and yes I put her up on plane, ran pretty smooth). Oil samples from the generator and trannys obtained. Ran out of time on getting the engine oil samples, but I'll get to that next week. Changing the oil, and ATF in the Port transmission. We'll see what the results come back as.

The only thing left to do is I have to put the right hose fitting on my drain pump to allow it to hook together. I'll take some pics next time out.

Interested to see your pics since I’m going to set up the drains on my transmissions too later this year before the boat goes away for the winter. I’m planing on connecting the drain to my portable Jabsco pump so I just need to get to 3/4” male hose on the drain side of things.
 
Wow, I would be disappointed with that gas mileage. How fast were you running and what RPM? I have same boat.

OK Stee6043, looks like I was wrong (hate that when that happens). The .69 to .74 statute miles to the gallon is pretty good. I'd be very satisfied if my 400 got that. I misread the 0.6 "nautical" MPG. What RPM and speed were you at to get that? I cruse about 22-23 MPH at 3400 RPM. I'm "guessing" that the optimal speed?
 
OK Stee6043, looks like I was wrong (hate that when that happens). The .69 to .74 statute miles to the gallon is pretty good. I'd be very satisfied if my 400 got that. I misread the 0.6 "nautical" MPG. What RPM and speed were you at to get that? I cruse about 22-23 MPH at 3400 RPM. I'm "guessing" that the optimal speed?

Hah. No worries. I cruise at 3300-3400 at 21kts. I do not have flow meters on my boat (yet) but I imagine we could eek out a little more economy by going a bit slower. I just find that 21kts with a bit of tab is the most comfortable speed for me with good weather. When it gets choppy I'll put the tabs all the way down and cruise at 15-17kts. I really enjoy the way these 400's plow through chop at that speed. You just have to find the sweet spot where you're not aerating the props :) Something those diesel guys don't have to worry about with all the extra junk they keep in the trunk.
 
Is there much cruise difference between the ECs and DAs with same power? I’ve always eyed the 410DAs with diesels but a 410EC with 7.4s came up for sell close to me and it looks incredible. Just not sure I’m big on gas motors especially 7.4s. I had a chance to use a buddies 93’ 440DA with Cummins 5.9s and it cruised around 22kts at 2500RPMs, however it never felt truly on plane. I was hoping for a more leveled out ride.

Any thoughts on a 410 EC with 7.4s?
 
Is there much cruise difference between the ECs and DAs with same power? I’ve always eyed the 410DAs with diesels but a 410EC with 7.4s came up for sell close to me and it looks incredible. Just not sure I’m big on gas motors especially 7.4s. I had a chance to use a buddies 93’ 440DA with Cummins 5.9s and it cruised around 22kts at 2500RPMs, however it never felt truly on plane. I was hoping for a more leveled out ride.

Any thoughts on a 410 EC with 7.4s?
They are really pretty close; at top speeds the EC is a bit faster and some say it's a better handling boat but all in all no real difference at cruise speeds; I've been at the helm on both and ended up buying the DA with the Cat's. For me the DA was a better boat to take to the Bahamas due to (what I think) a better layout for long distance cruising. There is long standing discussions on the economics of gas vs diesel but general consensus for any traveling the diesel is the pick....
 
Is there much cruise difference between the ECs and DAs with same power? I’ve always eyed the 410DAs with diesels but a 410EC with 7.4s came up for sell close to me and it looks incredible. Just not sure I’m big on gas motors especially 7.4s. I had a chance to use a buddies 93’ 440DA with Cummins 5.9s and it cruised around 22kts at 2500RPMs, however it never felt truly on plane. I was hoping for a more leveled out ride.

Any thoughts on a 410 EC with 7.4s?

I cruise 3300-3400 rpm at 21kts. The boat planes quicker and runs at a better angle of attack than my 340 did, same engines. If you can't take a bit of brow beating for owning a 40'+ boat with gas engines you might as well take them off your list. Go with diesels. It takes some thick skin to be in this crowd with such inadequate propulsion :)

FWIW my perception of the difference between the 7.4 and the 8.1 in this boat size range is on the order of "will not be noticeable" in the real world. If you end up buying a 7.4 410 you may find yourself daydreaming about diesels, imagining what it would be like running for months between fill ups while enjoying the supreme steering authority you could have had around the docks...but you will not find yourself longing for a set of the 8.1's.

I would buy a 400/410 again with gas. I've been exceedingly pleased with the boat. Will it be harder to sell my boat when the time comes to upgrade? Yup....but it will have been worth it to get the right boat in great condition....
 
We sure loved our CAT powered 410 that Sea Gull bought new, then the late Dominic owned before we bought her. She is still on our dock and the current owner is going to move up, so she's for sale again. we cruised at 2400 RPM, 24 MPH, 24 GPH total.
 
We sure loved our CAT powered 410 that Sea Gull bought new, then the late Dominic owned before we bought her. She is still on our dock and the current owner is going to move up, so she's for sale again. we cruised at 2400 RPM, 24 MPH, 24 GPH total.
WOW! I didn't know Sea Gull had her before Dom. How cool is that. Bravo CSR.
Good $hit Carter.
 
We sure loved our CAT powered 410 that Sea Gull bought new, then the late Dominic owned before we bought her. She is still on our dock and the current owner is going to move up, so she's for sale again. we cruised at 2400 RPM, 24 MPH, 24 GPH total.

That’s what my 410 Sundancer gets overall. If conditions are really good it is
an MPH or two faster, if they’re bad I lose a MPH or so.
I usually have 3/4 or more of a tank of fuel and the same for water.
 
WOW! I didn't know Sea Gull had her before Dom. How cool is that. Bravo CSR.
Good $hit Carter.
Jeff bought her new and traded her for his 58...I always thank Jeff and Mindy for that beautiful boat!

We traded her for our 58...

So if you buy this boat....
 
The other amazing thing about diesel 410's - mine weighed 1 1/2 times what my 8.1 powered 340 weighed, but it got 50% BETTER fuel economy! Loved those CAT 3126's!
 

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