1997 450 Sundancer value...

EmrldDvr

EmrldDvr

New Member
Oct 4, 2011
74
Oklahoma
Boat Info
450 DA
Engines
3116 Diesel
Ok guys just found the site. Full of lots of good stuff and have already learned alot. Just did one of those stupid things. Bought a 1997 450 Sundancer w/3116's over the phone. Have seen lots of pics and all looks great! Thought I new approx wholesale value of this thing but this boat seems to cheap! Help with values please.
 
Welcome, you can look at NADA values, asking prices for similar boats or ask a broker to provide prices for what similar boats sold for. I happen to have seen one recently that was a low hour boat and I believe the same year that sold for $139K. I cannot attest to the mechanical condition but the exterior looked pretty clean.
 
That's the sort of numbers I new were base retail. This thing is "much" less... Flying into Galveston for seatrials on sat am... Anyone in that area hear lurking around?
 
Be careful. Most of the time too good to be true is too good to be true. Make sure to have an engine survey from a certified Caterpillar mechanic as well as a hull survey before you hand over any money. A great deal can become a huge money pit!
 
Agreed, I can investigate "most" of the mechanicals to my satifaction. Also will not pay before boat being hauled for bottom inspection. Was just more concerned that I was wrong on the base value for this boat... On another topic. I realize I need to post this somewhere else but isn't that thing a little underpowered by 350hp 3116's?
 
I don’t think there is a real book value for an older boat like the 450DA. The over all condition and deferred maintenance items can make as much as a 50% swing in selling prices. NADA gets is sold data from voluntary dealer reporting. On older larger boats, there are not enough of them sold for there to be statistically accurate price guides. That means some of what you are relying on is from interpolation or just plain guessing. About the only way to determine a real value is to go look at a number of different 450’s, find the best one for you and make the best deal you can on it. At that point, you should have a reasonably decent handle on what the various maintenance requirements are so you can get a decent estimate at what it will take to get the boat, safe, and sea worthy as well as bring the required maintenance current. It isn’t unusual to spend $25K-$30K on a “cheap” boat if you need to replace canvas, isinglass, sea water pumps, cockpit vinyl, clean heat exchangers, interior carpeting, etc. That is where the price swings come in. I saw a 450DA offered for $135K in Texas, but it needed absolutely everything…….My boat is kept under a covered slip, the fiberglass looks better than the 2009 in the next slip, all the electronics work as they should, canvas and vinyl are new, all maintenance is current, and I have the servicee records to support it. My boat isn’t for sale, but it would not be a $135K boat.

Unless you have some experience with marine propulsion systems in boats of this type, the cheapest $800 you will ever spend will be to get a Caterpillar technician to do a mechanical survey. While you may be a decent mechanic in your own right, these engines cost about $35K ea. So you don’t want to be guessing about their condition.

A bottom inspection before you write a check will not protect you from t he potential risk on the boat’s structure either. This is a cored hull boat and the deck is fully cored. At a minimum, you need to have a qualified marine surveyor take moisture readings from the rub rail down and be sure that all transducer installations are in the solid pads in the bottom of the hull. The deck should also be moisture checked around every cut or hole in the deck assembly for windlass, port lights, stanchions, screw holes for windshield mounting, etc. A wet and rotten core can be a really expensive repair.

The 350 hp 3116 is a great engine in this boat, if you don’t expect ski boat speeds. They are high torque diesels that make for a great handling boat around the dock and getting on plane. Cruise speeds will be in the 22-24 kt range and fuel efficiency is the plus side of the speed trade off. At recommended cruise you will get 22.6 gph….back it down to 75% power and you can expect 16-18 gph. Not very many single engine outdrives will do that.

Thew 450DA is one of the top 4-5 boats Sea Ray has ever given us…….hope it works out for you.
 
What's the ballpark figure your looking to buy this boat for? That will give some a better plateau to answer.
 
If I 1st gave the purchase price to the forum then I would get $$ amounts consistant with that amount. By asking for an ACV, read: actual cash value or wholesale amount I can get true individualized assessments of a value assuming above average condition and all mechanical to be properly maintained. I think the boat should between $105k and $115k. How far off am I?
 
Hey Frank. I were you trying to say that you felt that your boat was much more or much less that 135k?
 
My boat is insured for a declared value of $185K and the insurance surveyor didn't quibble with the replacement cost. There are several guys on CSR who have seen my boat in person. If you doubt its condition, I am sure they would respond to a question about it.

If you find a 450DA for $105K-$115k you are buying a project or you have found a desperate seller.
 
Please don't take my question wrong. I was just trying to get a sense for what the forum felt a boat like that should be worth. 450DA is a Sundancer? Correct?
 
Yes....the DA is a Sundancer in Sea Ray-speak.

And that is a good point........are you looking at a Sundancer or an Express Bridge.....EB? Both were offered in the 1996-1999 model years.
 
We were in Washington State for all of September and there was a large boat show at one of the marinas we stayed at. Some prices were very low compared to a few years ago. One boat was a 1992 55 foor SeaRay with upper and lower helm for 179. Looked in good condition. Leather interior and did not look worn out.
 
I saw one 450DA in the $100k range, it needed to have a rebuilt engine put back in. Most of the 450's that I looked at were in the $140-$160k range, this was a little over a year ago. a couple around the $180's or $190's. Condition of everything is king. I looked at about 15 boats I think, and costs to fix things on some were up in the $20k-$40k range. All you have to do is price a new radar package installed and you quickly find out how much stuff costs. Good luck on your purchase.
 
But, don't let us scare you off............

Find a good 450 Dancer, fix what needs to be fixed, spend what you need to to make the boat more current and up to date and you have one of the best values in boating for a fraction of the cost of a newer boat.
 
Plus, this is probably the biggest collection of 450da owners anywhere so don't be afraid to ask questions.
 
WooHoo looks like you have a new SD owner to add to your network. Thanks for all the help...
 
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