OFFICIAL 390/40 Motor Yacht Thread

I just ordered a Vitrifrigo DP2600 to replace my original Norcold De0061 galley refrigerator. Compressor packed up and a new fridge was only 30 percent more than a new cooling unit (with me doing the labor to install it). It looks like it will be very tight getting it into the cabin. Has anyone else done it? Does the vinyl covered trim around the cabin door just pull off? I don't see any screws. It looks like I need the extra 1/2 inch or so clearance by pulling off the trim.
 
All the time. I remove the port fill cap and blow out the port vent line by covering it with a little contraption I made from a suction cup and attaching the air pump I use to inflate the water toys.
Thanks for the tip. My Port tank vent always gets fuel in it when I try to fully fill the tank. I have looked at it and believe there is not a constant slope from the vent back to the tank and fuel accumulates in a low spot. Poor design or installation which was likely from new. When you refuel the tank tries to vent and pushes the accumulated fuel out in a big burb. I believe I have caught 4 to 6 oz. which is enough to make a big mess and I against the law. I will try your approach next time.
 
Are there any drains (sinks) that go directly outside - not through the stink box? Most boats have 1 somewhere. I just can't find it. I tried looking through manuals - but that only got me so far.
 
The sink upstairs behind the helm goes directly outside. All others, including the showers, evap pans and sinks go through the grey water holding tank
 
New to forum. Have contract to purchase 2004 390 MY. Survey this week. Boat has been repowered with new QSB 5.9 480 with less than 10 hours. Have 2 year warranty from Cummings. New props to go with engines. New batteries, generator overhauled, engine room painted while engines out, bottom painted and new carpet after engines installed. Anythingthing I should look out for on the survey
 
New to forum. Have contract to purchase 2004 390 MY. Survey this week. Boat has been repowered with new QSB 5.9 480 with less than 10 hours. Have 2 year warranty from Cummings. New props to go with engines. New batteries, generator overhauled, engine room painted while engines out, bottom painted and new carpet after engines installed. Anythingthing I should look out for on the survey
Congratulations. You will have a unique boat with the QSB 480, the OEM version uses the QSB 425. I bet she will be quite a bit peppier than the rest. I'm sure there were pros doing the repower but I think I would want to make sure the props are exactly correct for the application. Make a note to schedule Cummins for a check just before the warranty runs out.

On the hull, I would have the surveyor look for voids that might be waterlogged. There is a void in center of the forward bilge (where the chargers and the water heater are installed) that several owners including me have had this problem with. If the boat has a washer/dryer, the water heater in that same space might be difficult to get at; I would want to make sure it was sound. All I can think of as to class problems, perhaps others will have more. Good luck.
 
Congratulations. You will have a unique boat with the QSB 480, the OEM version uses the QSB 425. I bet she will be quite a bit peppier than the rest. I'm sure there were pros doing the repower but I think I would want to make sure the props are exactly correct for the application. Make a note to schedule Cummins for a check just before the warranty runs out.

On the hull, I would have the surveyor look for voids that might be waterlogged. There is a void in center of the forward bilge (where the chargers and the water heater are installed) that several owners including me have had this problem with. If the boat has a washer/dryer, the water heater in that same space might be difficult to get at; I would want to make sure it was sound. All I can think of as to class problems, perhaps others will have more. Good luck.
 
New to forum. Have contract to purchase 2004 390 MY. Survey this week. Boat has been repowered with new QSB 5.9 480 with less than 10 hours. Have 2 year warranty from Cummings. New props to go with engines. New batteries, generator overhauled, engine room painted while engines out, bottom painted and new carpet after engines installed. Anythingthing I should look out for on the survey
Welcome sir, you and your family will enjoy.
 
Welcome to the crowd. I can recommend a surveyor and a good diesel mechanic, if you need one. The void, mentioned above, is under the isolation transformer. It's a closed void, however water somehow can migrate into it. I have a 4" inspection port that the previous owner installed. I occasionally find a 1/2 gal or so, no idea where it comes from.
Thinking about what to look for on the survey: I would think about how the re-power was done. What had to be dissembled to R and R the engines. 2 owners ago, my boat had the fuel tanks replaced. The hard top, helm and stairs had to be removed, a lot of work. Replacing 2 very heavy engines that are different had to be tough (I'm assuming the originals were C series 480s). Things like engine mounts, shaft alignment, linkages, various plumbing ect. would be areas of interest. With the very low hours, there hasn't been enough running to really let the gremlins come out. If you can find out who did the re-power, it would be useful to speak with them. Lastly, why the re-power? The original engines were good, excepting the exhaust valve seat issue, which I have just had to rebuild one engine. What was so wrong that the owner paid a bunch to replace both engines when rebuilding the originals is very doable. Nice that the engine room was painted, but why? Was it that bad, maybe it was under water, smoke damage just a bit odd. Perhaps, like me, he had a good insurance policy that paid most of the repair. Get a policy that covers "un-planned mechanical failures". Remember, if if is too good to be true, it probably is. You might have a great deal, just ask a bunch of questions and get a good, through surveys, boat and engines.
My 390 is at Safe Harbor Kent Narrows, formerly Mears Point, but I live in VA.
 
Last edited:
New to forum. Have contract to purchase 2004 390 MY. Survey this week. Boat has been repowered with new QSB 5.9 480 with less than 10 hours. Have 2 year warranty from Cummings. New props to go with engines. New batteries, generator overhauled, engine room painted while engines out, bottom painted and new carpet after engines installed. Anything thing I should look out for on the survey

Ron-
Congrats!!! I wish someone would pull my engines and paint the engine room... (smile)

My neighbor has an early 2000 48MH just mentioned he had blisters on his hull bottom. I am not real familiar with the repair process but he said they are not that bad and a local company was going to address them this fall. I am sure your surveyor will be taking a close look at the hull anyway.
 
Ron-
Congrats!!! I wish someone would pull my engines and paint the engine room... (smile)

My neighbor has an early 2000 48MH just mentioned he had blisters on his hull bottom. I am not real familiar with the repair process but he said they are not that bad and a local company was going to address them this fall. I am sure your surveyor will be taking a close look at the hull anyway.

My neighbor went through that on his 420, last year. According to him, it was a big deal and cost over 10K....FWIW
 
My neighbor went through that on his 420, last year. According to him, it was a big deal and cost over 10K....FWIW
I had "blisters" on mine. They were found on a haulout a year or so after my boat was out of warranty. SeaRay stepped up and covered most of the cost, but I would guess it's too late for somebody who found them today. I think the cost to fix depends on which kind of blisters are there. Mine were slight and it was explained to me that they were caused by imperfections on the final gelcoat mold process. So, the fix was pretty simple and I think were only worth a couple thousand. I think there are other kinds of blisters that are much worse and more expensive to fix. If I got them I would seek good advice. My haulout was at a SeaRay dealer so they knew the problem and also knew who to call at SeaRay to get help.
 
Thought I would post a relatively easy mod. I wanted to have USB charging near the helm and had already installed a charger in a blank on the row of switches. Then I noticed the engine C-Cruise switch pad had what looked like a blank and sure enough it was. The charger was very easy to install as there are a couple of power sources available in the compartment right below the pad. This is the charger I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076MSVQ9S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

IMG_1239.jpeg

Not sure how many boats have a pad in this location, perhaps it's just for the QSB-425 equipped boats but it's an ideal location right next to the captain's chair on mine.
 
Just started this project (well, started paying somebody to do this project). Am replacing all of the salon, aft cabin, and forward cabin with vinyl planks -- leaving the galley flooring alone. Will post pics once it's a little further along. Initial obstacles: floor underneath the carpet is very uneven. Will require some grinding and then likely 1/4" of subfloor. Floor in the forward cabin will need subfloor to stay even with the galley flooring.

Ken
Just wanted to see if you took pictures of upgrades.
 
We use the spring loaded cleat. I just tie a knot on the line so fender hangs at whatever height is needed. What do you not like?
Thanks Mike
 
Good day everyone. We are very recent owners of a 2003 390MY as of Nov. 1, 2020. Have LOTS to learn from everyone willing to offer some advice. Our past experience with boating has been only a 19 ft. R.I.B., used for diving the wrecks on the bottoms of all the Great Lakes. I delightfully can say I took the RIB to the Abacos on four separate adventures from Lake Worth Inlet.
The purchase of the 390 took place a couple of weeks prior to winter layup in heated storage. We performed our due diligence, prior to final purchase, and feel comfortable with our new toy. Fortunately, we have access to our vessel during the winter months for minor repairs and familiarization. Today, while I was changing out the Bennett trim tab switch to the new led auto retract switch and relay/sensor, I was unable to understand how to turn off the circuit breaker switches on the DC Breaker Panel in the forward bilge bulkhead (photo attached), prior to re-attaching the port side battery bank. Would someone please explain how these breakers are switched to the "off" position. thanks, and look forward to possibly meeting you all at your favourite anchorages.

In my next post, I have a question about water retention.
 

Attachments

  • BulkheadDCPanel.jpg
    BulkheadDCPanel.jpg
    242.7 KB · Views: 150

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,747
Members
60,928
Latest member
rkaleda
Back
Top