480 DB Owners Club

Great boat, I have very few complaints other then outboard engine access but otherwise the engine room is laid out pretty well. I would highly suggest getting one with bridge air/heat and a hydraulic platform. Those two options will keep us in this boat for much longer than our usual 4 year ownership. You will most likely end up with QSM's in the years that you are looking at. They are great engines except for the exhaust manifold leak so do your research....there's plenty of info on the web.
 
Hey there. Just wrapping up season #2 in my 480DB. I'm new to the forum. Let me know if I'm hijacking a thread, but a question for any DDECs out there (6v92s). Have you experienced a loose shifter? There's always been a definitive "stiff spot" as the shifter moves in or out of gear. One side has now loosened up and making me nervous I'm going to see a failure of some sort while underway. Any thoughts?
 
Sounds like a cable wearing through the outer jacket possibly.
Welcome to the forum Carl. Meet you last Winter looking at the club. Passed your boat at last Sat. bumping around in the creeks looking at the fall foliage. Probably the last of the warm weekends.
Chris
 
Hello 480's! Thinking about moving on up from the 400DB to the 480DB (or possibly a 560). Wanted to get some input from the group and see what positives and negatives you guys experience and what to look out for. Im probably looking 2002-2004.

Thanks in advance

KtC
Keith - I was thhiiiiiiissssss close to buying a 400DB until a bad survey item and the seller wouldn't budge with any concessions, so I walked. All the while I knew the 480DB had a bunch of things on my wish list that would be great to have. IMHO they are: A) steering at aft of flybridge giving a 100% stern view backing into a slip; B) two very roomy cabins and the third bunk cabin is at least workable; C) hardtop (my favorite); D) most important to the admiral is that the galley is not down; E) expansive side windows in the salon. When a 480DB fell into my price range I jumped on it. For our family of four, the 400 would have sufficed, but this is soooo much better for us. The only negative I often run into is being too big to easily find a slip for lunch on the waterfront. Especially when those pesky 25 footers can't read the dock signs and take up half a t-head!
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a cable wearing through the outer jacket possibly.
Welcome to the forum Carl. Meet you last Winter looking at the club. Passed your boat at last Sat. bumping around in the creeks looking at the fall foliage. Probably the last of the warm weekends.
Chris
Hey Chris - I do remember you now! Tell me again where you keep Our Place? Yep, I'm still in the water and holding out until after Thanksgiving. Might take a spin with Florida relatives that weekend if warm enough.
 
Carl, Over at Ventnor, Bodkin. Going to do the Baltimore Parade of lights if weather holds out.
Did you try having someone else try shifting while you are watching it in the ER. I'm guessing cable because of age of boat but can't rule out linkage or actual shifter/remote issue.
 
I've noticed that they get louder when low on freon.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Quality Time

Looking at replacing my sump box for the showers, etc. I remember you mentioned upgrading to the SuperSump tank, 2 gallon. How has this worked for you and assume you had to manifold some of the drain lines together? Thanks No Plans
 
Yes, I used the Trionic Supersump and have not dealt with an overflowing sump in 3 years. I did some replumbing to clean up the PO’s mess but don’t recall if it would have been necessary. There are quite a few ports molded in. I swish a brush around in there about once a month and remove the pump cartridge to clean the hair ball out. You can tell when it needs cleared because the pump will run longer than 10 seconds. It also uses a floatless switch so nothing to get gummed up or fail like the old rules do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CdP
Yes, I used the Trionic Supersump and have not dealt with an overflowing sump in 3 years. I did some replumbing to clean up the PO’s mess but don’t recall if it would have been necessary. There are quite a few ports molded in. I swish a brush around in there about once a month and remove the pump cartridge to clean the hair ball out. You can tell when it needs cleared because the pump will run longer than 10 seconds. It also uses a floatless switch so nothing to get gummed up or fail like the old rules do.
I will get mine ordered to day....Thanks!
 
New to me 2004 480DB that my buddy sent up from Central America to get some things sorted out that he was having difficulty with down there. Any chance someone with a 2003 or 2004 480DB w/ QSM11s would post some photos of the exhaust systems on the back of both engines from the turbo charger back? Trying to figure out what's correct, and if anything has been changed? Pulled Turbos, HX, AC and manifolds yesterday for servicing, what a PITA.
 
Narrowing down my 480 search. Whats the general opinion on hydraulic transmission handles?
 
Last edited:
For anyone interested I did buy two AC units and got them from Citimarine in FL. They were great t deal with and beat any price. I just got pricing for Vitrifrigo drawers and OceanLED lights and they bested all. I suggest running any decent purchase by them-
 
What did you end up getting them for? Which ones are you replacing? I was thinking of starting to change mine out too. I added some Freon this past spring and it did the trick, but i know it's just a matter of time..
 
I've been told that the salon unit is a custom configuration with the blower on the opposite side. Just wondering if you bought standard units? If so, I'd be interested to hear how it worked out since Crusair wants almost $4,000 for that unit.
 
What did you end up getting them for? Which ones are you replacing? I was thinking of starting to change mine out too. I added some Freon this past spring and it did the trick, but i know it's just a matter of time..

The bridge unit(s) was done by the PO but I did all three in the cabin. The middle unit I got screwed in FL prior to coming back, was in a hurry and didn’t know any better. The Salon was a 24k btu they don’t make any longer, replaced with a 27k and the forward unit was an 8k I wanted to replace with a 10k but replaced with a 12k. Dometic had a coil manufacturing issue so Citimarine gave me the 12k at the same price. It was about $5600 shipped- both.
 
I've been told that the salon unit is a custom configuration with the blower on the opposite side. Just wondering if you bought standard units? If so, I'd be interested to hear how it worked out since Crusair wants almost $4,000 for that unit.

Funny, I heard that too but it’s not the case. It fit fine and the fan rotates so you can match it right up. Install was pretty straight forward, actually Citimarine actually has YouTube videos posted if you need them. The old one is heavy!
 
Funny, I heard that too but it’s not the case. It fit fine and the fan rotates so you can match it right up. Install was pretty straight forward, actually Citimarine actually has YouTube videos posted if you need them. The old one is heavy!
 
Hello all,
I'm not sure about chat etiquette and this may be a faux pas, but i don't know how to engage the group without tapping on the shoulder and interrupting.
I've now completed 3 seasons with my 1999 48 Sedan Bridge, and have learned much. The day to day operations and idiosyncrasies of my boat are pretty well understood. I would like to add faux teak flooring to my glaringly white cockpit, but the engine room hatch is belly-ed and accumulates water, which I am sure will rapidly ruin the adhesive of any applied flooring. Does anyone have any experience repairing or replacing this hatch so that it sheds water into the surrounding gutter? A necessary first step for my project. This boat was not well cared for before I acquired it, and am only now getting to the point where I can think about making improvements as opposed to repairs.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,877
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top