1998 Sea Ray 400 Express Cruiser

S

Sean Shollenberger

New Member
Jan 5, 2019
9
Boat Info
1989 Tiara Open
Engines
7.4 horizon
On Saturday I am going to look at a 1998 Sea Ray 400 Express Cruiser. I was very excited until I heard the dreaded BALSA CORE! Please school me in what my concerns should be and what should I be looking for. Thanks in advance.
 
Frank Webster will be your expert to talk to... My 1998 has been rock solid.
 
Sean Shollenberger said:
On Saturday I am going to look at a 1998 Sea Ray 400 Express Cruiser. I was very excited until I heard the dreaded BALSA CORE! Please school me in what my concerns should be and what should I be looking for. Thanks in advance.
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fwebster said:
To start with, I would quit reading sites like thehulltruth and Pasco's site because they just spread concern where very little is warranted. Most of the comments you see elsewhere are unverifiable, made by folks who are anti Sea Ray or are made by people who have a friend whose brother-in-law's father had a wet core, by some guy on another dock who never even saw a 450DA or are about a boat that is a different year/model than what you are interested in.

I am aware of 4- 450DA's that have had wet cores repaired. Two suffered hull damage in storms or accidents, one had docking lights that leaked seawater into the hull, and 1 had a transducer improperly mounted in the wrong spot. None of them were from design or construction causes but instead were from poorly done repairs, a poor light installation by a dealer and an electronics installer who knew nothing about boat construction.

The design of the 450DA makes it highly unlikely to have core problems because there are no factory cuts into the hull to mount anything like hull vents, lights (factory mounted docking lights are an exception), or underwater lighting. In fact, this hull is known by the Customer Service folks at the factory as the "Ice Breaker Hull" because it is so tough.

As you know, this doesn't mean there aren't some damaged boats in the market. So, how does moisture get into the hull structure? Submarining a 450 in heavy seas........running too fast in rough seas causing the bow to go under water and thru a wave rather than over it......if you have docking lights is one way. Another is mounting a transducer of thru hull anyplace other than in the solid areas in the hull (forward and aft bilge sumps are laid up with solid glass; no balsa coring in those areas). Physical damage that is repaired without properly drying the core is probably the most likely way a 450 hull gets moisture in it.

One shouldn't fear a 450DA but you should make any deal contingent upon a marine survey that includes a moisture test. A competent marine surveyor can find any moisture problems there may be. Enjoy the search. There are a few very nice 450's out there but by now it is pretty hard to find an all original unmolested one. Enjoy the search.
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Thanks for the response on the 450DA Would that response be the same for the 400 Express?
 
Thought (and still believe) all 400EC’s hulls were built on a solid core of fiberglass. Top deck and swim platform are wood cored.
 
Even if it were cored (I have no idea) wouldn't we want to rely on a good survey regardless?

If she's dry....she's dry. It's good to be educated on the potential problem areas but I think a solid hull survey (no pun :)) is going to tell you a lot more...
 
Yes of course there will be a survey my friend, but why survey a boat if its prone to having problems (I'm not saying there is problems). I want to educate myself as much as I can before I commit. This will be my last boat for sometime and I want a great relationship with her:). So Sea Ray contacted me and has told me there is no Balsa in the Hull. Thanks everyone for responding. Great customer service from Sea Ray and I have not even purchased yet!!!!!


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Sean Shollenberger said:
Yes of course there will be a survey my friend, but why survey a boat if its prone to having problems (I'm not saying there is problems). I want to educate myself as much as I can before I commit. This will be my last boat for sometime and I want a great relationship with her:). So Sea Ray contacted me and has told me there is no Balsa in the Hull. Thanks everyone for responding. Great customer service from Sea Ray and I have not even purchased yet!!!!!
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Going from a Tiara to a Sea Ray???? Whoa nelly...not the typical progression around these parts. Ha.
 
Stee6043 said:
Going from a Tiara to a Sea Ray???? Whoa nelly...not the typical progression around these parts. Ha.
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LOL. Well Me and the wife will be staying on her more frequently and we want the comforts. Excited to see her! I did go out to Michigan and look at a 370 Sea Ray sedan bridge very nice but the guy wouldn't come down.
 
Somebody linked you to a response I posted a while ago for someone on the 450DA. As you discovered, the 400EC is a solid hull boat that was built in Merritt Island FL. The 450DA is a fully cored boat built in a larger boat factory in Palm Coast FL. The 450 is known as the ice breaker hull by the Palm Coast Customer Service folks....they have had a few wet hull boats but every one could be traced to physical damage, transducers or other fittings mounted in the wrong place in the hull or sealed (bedded) improperly.

But, the 400 and the 450 are 2 different boats built in different plants using completely different methods.
 
fwebster said:
Somebody linked you to a response I posted a while ago for someone on the 450DA. As you discovered, the 400EC is a solid hull boat that was built in Merritt Island FL. The 450DA is a fully cored boat built in a larger boat factory in Palm Coast FL. The 450 is known as the ice breaker hull by the Palm Coast Customer Service folks....they have had a few wet hull boats but every one could be traced to physical damage, transducers or other fittings mounted in the wrong place in the hull or sealed (bedded) improperly.

But, the 400 and the 450 are 2 different boats built in different plants using completely different methods.
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That was me and thank you for setting us straight... Some days I should just sit quietly on the sidelines and be thought a fool rather than open my mouth and remove all doubt...
 
No, Mark. Your post and the link was a valuable addition since it referenced the big picture and the fact that most of what we hear about Sea Ray core issues is just rumor usually spread by boaters whose experience is limited to center consoles or by others with products or books to sell.

The OP is interested in a 400EC and I was afraid that inclusion the 450DA in the discussion would confuse him since the construction of the 2 boats is entirely different.
 
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