What are your thoughts about a 45' boat with stern drives

redlightning

redlightning

Active Member
Dec 26, 2016
108
Beaver Lake Arkansas
Boat Info
2012 390EC
Engines
8.2l
I am considering the purchase of a 2011 Sea Ray 450 DA with stern drives. My local mechanic is advising against stern drives with that size boat. Would love to hear any opinions on the subject. TIA
 
What drives does your mechanic recommend? I'm guessing he would recommend I/O's and I would be inclined to agree with him.
 
I surprised it was even offered with outdrives. That’s a heavy boat. Probably more fit for diesels.
I prefer outdrives under 30’. On that boat, oh hell no.
The couplers be begging for mercy.
 
I would shy away. Should have enough room for inboards in that size boat. IO aren't worth the hassle.
 
Yes. Stern Drive = Bravo 3 outdrives. Boat weighs around 24K. I really prefer Diesel motors. At least right now i am only seeing the diesels with Pods and i really dont want to go down that road.
 
I've seen 2 or 3 newer Sea Ray 450's on Boattrader with outdrives. I'm actually shocked those were offered. That said, the layout/styling of that boat is pretty unique and I don't think it lasted very long. I'm wondering if it's a shallower draft boat than the usual Sundancer? Were they trying to complete with Formula (briefly)?

To your question - I'd be a hard pass on I/O's. People think gas engines have no place in a 40' boat. Outdrives? I'd at least think we could all agree on those things not having any place in a boat that big :)
 
Stee6043 said:
I've seen 2 or 3 newer Sea Ray 450's on Boattrader with outdrives. I'm actually shocked those were offered. That said, the layout/styling of that boat is pretty unique and I don't think it lasted very long. I'm wondering if it's a shallower draft boat than the usual Sundancer? Were they trying to complete with Formula (briefly)?

To your question - I'd be a hard pass on I/O's. People think gas engines have no place in a 40' boat. Outdrives? I'd at least think we could all agree on those things not having any place in a boat that big :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. i do really like the layout but not looking for a project or problem. boat has 275 on motors and sub 200 on generator. Seems like a super nice boat but a bit scary. It has new outdrives but the transom assy is what scares me.
 
Like this one?

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2010-sea-ray-450-sundancer-8073336/

It's just a very different layout. Or maybe I'm crazy. But the interior feels more like the big dayboats. Not like a Sundancer.

But man alive you could bunk 4 kids in that engine room!!! That is not even an exaggeration.
upload_2021-12-20_12-38-39.png
 
redlightning said:
Thanks for the input. i do really like the layout but not looking for a project or problem. boat has 275 on motors and sub 200 on generator. Seems like a super nice boat but a bit scary. It has new outdrives but the transom assy is what scares me.
Click to expand...
New outdrives on a 2011 with only 275 hrs is your red flag! IMO that is far too much of a boat (probably almost 30,000lbs loaded up) to be running I/O's and I think the fact that they had to be replaced is the evidence. And if they tell you that they were replaced for some other reason, then that is also a red flag that something is wrong.
 
redlightning said:
Thanks for the input. i do really like the layout but not looking for a project or problem. boat has 275 on motors and sub 200 on generator. Seems like a super nice boat but a bit scary. It has new outdrives but the transom assy is what scares me.
Click to expand...
If the transom assy and the drives are SeaCore I would not be scared as they have a coating inside and out with all hardware being stainless steel.
My last boat had Bravo 3 with SeaCore in salt water and never had any corrosion problems.
 
Out drives are a pain in the rear when they are on any boat. Seems like a bad idea on a boat this size. I wonder how it handles in tight quarters. Straight inboards are almost always better from handling to maintenance to resale.
 
I like outdrive, singular, on a < 6500# boat. They get a bad wrap, but I love Bravos. They are solid FOR THEIR USE. Mine is a well taken care of 30 year old and not a thing wrong with it, solid as the hull. Bravos are built like a Abrams tank.
On this heavy yacht there is no way.
 
redlightning said:
I am considering the purchase of a 2011 Sea Ray 450 DA with stern drives. My local mechanic is advising against stern drives with that size boat. Would love to hear any opinions on the subject. TIA
Click to expand...
I looked at that boat at the Atlanta Boat Show in '09 or '10 -it was powered by 8.1's. It had room in the engine room for another stateroom! I heard the Dr. that bought it and put it on Lake Lanier was very unhappy with it - underpowered among other things. With the torque all at the stern, I bet it would not be easy to handle around the dock...does it have a bow thruster?
 
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they all seem to have joystick control. a buddy of mine had this config on a 400ss. i think that boat weighed loaded up around 20k. This boat is 24k dry.
 
carterchapman said:
I looked at that boat at the Atlanta Boat Show in '09 or '10 -it was powered by 8.1's. It had room in the engine room for another stateroom! I heard the Dr. that bought it and put it on Lake Lanier was very unhappy with it - underpowered among other things. With the torque all at the stern, I bet it would not be easy to handle around the dock...does it have a bow thruster?
Click to expand...
The stern drive ones were set up with Axius systems.
 
i had a sea ray 390MY with the 8.1s . Smokin boat just way under powered. Now have diesels in 44DB any very happy with performance.
 
Great boat, but I'm shocked that Sea Ray ever offered that power package in that boat. I have to agree with your mechanic and the others here who state the boat is under powered.... even for a lake boat.
 
Buddy of mine has a newer Cruisers 380 with twin Bravo 3s. He's blown both stern drives, but other than the $$$ replacing them, he's happy with the boat.

FWIW, he's looking at buying a spare drive to keep onboard for when it happens again.

A 45' should be inboards or pods IMO...
 
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