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

Now I’m committed...

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Ok, fellers, for those of you that have put down a foam decking product 1) share a picture of what the swimplatforms look like (400 DA only) and 2) share who you ordered from? I want to redo mine and want to see the pattern and look at who has them. Thank you!
 
Made some progress on redoing my windlass cover.

I cut the sunbrella with a hot knife.

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Then started by recreating the old one, making a few mistakes, then correcting it till I had about what I thought I started with.

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Then I transferred that to the new sunbrella and made the first part. Turned out pretty well. Now to add the base, and trim it.

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Flange installed. Need to get a screw for my sewing machine to enable me to bind the edges. Then add snaps and fit it.

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A little time consuming, but a pretty easy project. And fun!
Maybe I’ll try a dash cover.
 
Flange installed. Need to get a screw for my sewing machine to enable me to bind the edges. Then add snaps and fit it.

View attachment 82827

A little time consuming, but a pretty easy project. And fun!
Maybe I’ll try a dash cover.

Pretty slick! Nice. Do you have a spot light? Your spot light cover definitely needs to match your windlass cover. :)
 
Ok, fellers, for those of you that have put down a foam decking product 1) share a picture of what the swimplatforms look like (400 DA only) and 2) share who you ordered from? I want to redo mine and want to see the pattern and look at who has them. Thank you!

This is an example of a DIY effort. The material came from Amazon in sheet form. Not perfect...cheap...rather time consuming. If I were to do it over again I'd go with Seadek and use an existing template. Save my self the pain and get a better finished product.

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So after looking for a 400/410DA for years, redirecting our search to a 420DB, but always keeping an eye on the DA market - a boat that I know very well has come up. It’s just about perfect, a 2002 410DA with 3126’s, lifetime great lakes, tons of extras, etc.

my question is since I know this boat and the seller I want to go into it as unemotional as possible. Knowing we’ll have a hull survey, CAT survey, oil samples, etc; what would you recommend I look closely at on my own? I know the obvious, but I'm thinking specifics to a 410DA that your everyday guy might miss.
 
This is an example of a DIY effort. The material came from Amazon in sheet form. Not perfect...cheap...rather time consuming. If I were to do it over again I'd go with Seadek and use an existing template. Save my self the pain and get a better finished product.

43879638585_6949d33e84_c.jpg
Thanks, I had similar done but only the swim platform. Now I want the top deck done too and don't want to mess with doing it again. I was hoping someone that used gatorstep, aquadeck, or similar would chime in so I could see what company has a template for a 400 already.
 
Thanks, I had similar done but only the swim platform. Now I want the top deck done too and don't want to mess with doing it again. I was hoping someone that used gatorstep, aquadeck, or similar would chime in so I could see what company has a template for a 400 already.

You're talking EVA foam for the cockpit floor? If you'd consider marine weave I've used snapincarpet.com on two boats now. They have templates for the 400. I personally prefer the snap-in marine weave (synthetic) over the glue-down for the cockpit for cleaning (remove, hose down) and ease of replacement if I damage it. The EVA foam is awesome stuff but it's definitely not easily removable.
 
Thanks, I had similar done but only the swim platform. Now I want the top deck done too and don't want to mess with doing it again. I was hoping someone that used gatorstep, aquadeck, or similar would chime in so I could see what company has a template for a 400 already.
Aqua Marine Decks has templates for 400 dancer. Material seems very nice and less expensive than others. I’ve had a couple of friends use it on their boats. Looks great and the company is easy to work with.
 
Here’s SeaDek in mocha over camel, templated and installed by a company called SC Wake. We’re 3 seasons in and I have zero complaints. It’s the best boat upgrade we’ve done.
 

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So after looking for a 400/410DA for years, redirecting our search to a 420DB, but always keeping an eye on the DA market - a boat that I know very well has come up. It’s just about perfect, a 2002 410DA with 3126’s, lifetime great lakes, tons of extras, etc.

my question is since I know this boat and the seller I want to go into it as unemotional as possible. Knowing we’ll have a hull survey, CAT survey, oil samples, etc; what would you recommend I look closely at on my own? I know the obvious, but I'm thinking specifics to a 410DA that your everyday guy might miss.

You listed the obvious. I guess it depends on the asking price? Updated electronics and canvas are big investments. It seems like you'd want to check all of the things you'd know from your 290 but in a few cases there will now be two instead of one - AC/Heat, shower sumps, head/vacuflush.

Things that would suggest an above average asking price for me (in addition to surveying "above average") would be newer canvas, upgraded from original electronics (including audio and TV's), batteries <2 years old, newer charger, decent cockpit carpet, decent cabin carpet/runners, not so faded dash panels, obvious maintenance records for the mains and generator, newer hot water heater. With all of these things it would be damn near a new boat!
 
So after looking for a 400/410DA for years, redirecting our search to a 420DB, but always keeping an eye on the DA market - a boat that I know very well has come up. It’s just about perfect, a 2002 410DA with 3126’s, lifetime great lakes, tons of extras, etc.

my question is since I know this boat and the seller I want to go into it as unemotional as possible. Knowing we’ll have a hull survey, CAT survey, oil samples, etc; what would you recommend I look closely at on my own? I know the obvious, but I'm thinking specifics to a 410DA that your everyday guy might miss.

You’re ahead of the game since you know the boat. That probably means that things like canvas, electronics, cosmetics, etc., are probably in line with what you think a fair price is and you’re ready to move to the next step.
After almost 3 1/2 years of ownership I can’t think of any problem areas on a 2002 410 that are specific to the model.
You pretty much want to check the same things you would check on any other model of that vintage.
Anything problematic should show up in the hull and engine surveys you’re planning. Being hands on with your surveyors and asking lots of questions is always best.
Maintenance on the boat is pretty straightforward.
The two most difficult tasks are the 5 zincs in the aftercoolers that tend to break off or freeze in the holes, and changing the waste tank filter which is near impossible to get at.
Changing the 11 zincs per motor twice a year, before they get too deteriorated, helps a bit with that task.
Pumping out the waste tank before it’s full and using Noflex Digestor can mean you change that filter less often.
Doing most things on the generator can be made easier by removing the brace between the bilge hatches.
 
You’re ahead of the game since you know the boat. That probably means that things like canvas, electronics, cosmetics, etc., are probably in line with what you think a fair price is and you’re ready to move to the next step.
After almost 3 1/2 years of ownership I can’t think of any problem areas on a 2002 410 that are specific to the model.
You pretty much want to check the same things you would check on any other model of that vintage.
Anything problematic should show up in the hull and engine surveys you’re planning. Being hands on with your surveyors and asking lots of questions is always best.
Maintenance on the boat is pretty straightforward.
The two most difficult tasks are the 5 zincs in the aftercoolers that tend to break off or freeze in the holes, and changing the waste tank filter which is near impossible to get at.
Changing the 11 zincs per motor twice a year, before they get too deteriorated, helps a bit with that task.
Pumping out the waste tank before it’s full and using Noflex Digestor can mean you change that filter less often.
Doing most things on the generator can be made easier by removing the brace between the bilge hatches.

Perfect, thanks. The local CAT dealer did "top to bottom" on the motors last year. I don't know exactly what that means yet (i'll be looking at the invoice) but I believe it was hoses, belts, zincs, oil, valve lash adjustment, all filters, and impellers. The canvas is new as of last august, motors have about 700 hours
 
Sounds like a great fresh water boat. 700 Diesel hours on 3126 Cats is nothing. I own my 2001 410 Sundancer for over a decade. Bought it with 600 hours and now have 1400. I went from a 310da dancer we loved to this - Huge improvement in so many ways. I truly look forward to docking this boat. Ask it to do something and it does it with authority! I have solo piloted it from NY to Florida twice and it has performed excellent in all types of seas.

Don’t fall in love until everything checks out. If it does check out, don’t lose it over a few thousand dollars. Everyone wants to feel like they got a good deal, but you will forget about the savings or extra dollars spent immediately after one weekend on your new to you 410da. Best of luck.
 

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