indecision
Member
should my buddy buy this boat ? He is coming from a 380 with 8.1 gassers but are there problems with the Zeus Drives ? I have the 500 cummins in my boat are the 480 s good engines also ? any and all comments please ! thanks !
2009 43 dancer with zeus drives and the cummins 480s diesels - Opinion s please ?
- Thread starter indecision
- Start date
Asureyez
New Member
- Apr 22, 2007
- 1,535
- Boat Info
- Sea Ray 460 Sundancer Hardtop 2001 - SOLD
- Engines
- Cummins 450 Diesels
the 480's are a long tested and well known marinization of a long time mfg. truck block ( 6C ). Cummins has reworked this platform time and again. The platform is a solid performer. Now all that said, every engine known to man has its issues. The 450 mechanical and the electronic 480/500 are no exception. I would buy a well found Cummins 480 powered vessel without reservation subject to professional engine survey
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
The 43DA has QSB engines, not a varient of the old C series. And, that is a concern for me. Cummins is getting the hp out of t he b-series block by increasing the rpm's. Perhaps I'm just old school, but I recall when the 6BTA was rated at 300 hp and it couldn't hold up when installed in a the 420-440DA in the early 90's. It just bothers me to try to run a small motor faster to get the desired hp. I'd like the boat better if she had QSC engines.
Having said that, I've run the 43DA Zeus boat and it is a great performing boat.......quick, nimble and a dream to operate. She handles more like a runabout than a big boat. Personally, I am not yet sold on the Zeus drives. Unless they are set up and run properly they can be quirky. The joystick operation on the one I ran was limited to 1800 rpm. At that speed, you could push the stick to port all the way and lay the rubrail in the water, push it all the way stbd and lay the other rubrail in the water. Now at that point you have to stop and put everything back in every cabinet on the boat and scrape your passengers off the walls/floors. I was told that this was corrected by a software upgrade, but the point is you cannot over react with the joystick.
I am sure that any kid with a Wii or GameBoy can run the boat, but I found the ergonomic design of the helm to be very awkward. The joy stick is located almost behind the driver on the stbd sidewall and requires the operator to face the stbd side (where all you can see is the inside of the hardtop) to run with the joystick.
My last worry about Zeus is that, so far (as of about 6 months ago), Mercruiser won't let the dealers touch them. If you need service more than an oil change, someone from Mercruiser must come to the dealer to do whatever you need. The boat I ran in Panama City/Destin needed a different set of zinc annodes on the pods. The dealer, who is one of the top SR dealers in the country, wasn't allowed to change the zincs. Mercruiser came in and did it..........oh yes, the cost of a set of zincs for the pods was $565.
Having said that, I've run the 43DA Zeus boat and it is a great performing boat.......quick, nimble and a dream to operate. She handles more like a runabout than a big boat. Personally, I am not yet sold on the Zeus drives. Unless they are set up and run properly they can be quirky. The joystick operation on the one I ran was limited to 1800 rpm. At that speed, you could push the stick to port all the way and lay the rubrail in the water, push it all the way stbd and lay the other rubrail in the water. Now at that point you have to stop and put everything back in every cabinet on the boat and scrape your passengers off the walls/floors. I was told that this was corrected by a software upgrade, but the point is you cannot over react with the joystick.
I am sure that any kid with a Wii or GameBoy can run the boat, but I found the ergonomic design of the helm to be very awkward. The joy stick is located almost behind the driver on the stbd sidewall and requires the operator to face the stbd side (where all you can see is the inside of the hardtop) to run with the joystick.
My last worry about Zeus is that, so far (as of about 6 months ago), Mercruiser won't let the dealers touch them. If you need service more than an oil change, someone from Mercruiser must come to the dealer to do whatever you need. The boat I ran in Panama City/Destin needed a different set of zinc annodes on the pods. The dealer, who is one of the top SR dealers in the country, wasn't allowed to change the zincs. Mercruiser came in and did it..........oh yes, the cost of a set of zincs for the pods was $565.
Carver370
Well-Known Member
- Mar 30, 2007
- 1,928
- Boat Info
- 2000 Sea Ray 400 Sundancer - Diesel
- Engines
- T-3116 CAT - 350 HP
In my opinion a move from a 380 to a 43 is a lateral move and not a move up in size. There is a huge difference in price I'm sure for not that much larger of a boat.
Ididntdoit
Well-Known Member
Have you seen the boat in question - The zeus dives give it the ability to have a full mid-suite with stand up headroom, changing area, real entry door, etc - not to mention the hardtop, hyd platform, amenities, and updates. as well as an upgrade to diesel power - Don't get me wrong I love the older 38 but this 43 (now called 47) would certainly be a worthy upgrade. I agree the price difference must be HUGE for a boat thats not that much bigger but thats like saying a Bently is not much bigger than an accord so no one should "upgrade" to the Bently even if they can afford it...
Carver370
Well-Known Member
- Mar 30, 2007
- 1,928
- Boat Info
- 2000 Sea Ray 400 Sundancer - Diesel
- Engines
- T-3116 CAT - 350 HP
Yes I have, and honestly wasn't that impressed with the zeus drives in that boat. I have sold many 380's and driven a 43/47 which is where I formed my opinion. I understand the so called upgrade to the zeus drives but if I were a 380 owner I would be shopping for a 2004-2008 420/44 Sundancer with Cummins. There is a large difference.
Its all about what YOU like when you're buying a boat!
Its all about what YOU like when you're buying a boat!
Daniel P Thomas
Member
- Nov 26, 2006
- 755
- Boat Info
- 1992 350 EB
- Engines
- Twin 454 Mercruisers 330 hp each
w/ Bravo II Drives
