370DA head clearance at helm

[dgrumm]

Anyone ever put any thought into raising the arch on a 95-97 370DA a few inches to give more head clearance at the helm. I am thinking of buying a 370 but this is my only complaint! SR fixed it in 98, but they are much more expensive!
If it was raised maybe 2" and then tilted back ~3 degrees it might do the trick!
There would be some gaps left behind to the hull, and windshield frame. I was thinking of having some SS trim made to cover it.
Thoughts...

 

[330DA]

Might be easier and cheaper to have a canvas shop fab up a new frame to meet your height requirements. Even easier is adjusting the frame, if you can, and just have a new bimini and eisinglass panels made.

You would never get back the costs of modifying the arch. What would that do to resale? Might as well put the modification money into the 1998-99 model.

 

[osd9]

I agree with the above. The 98-99 370DAs also have a few other updates with the added price.....raised arch, tan gelcoated dash, vitricore cabinets, Hydraulic lift engine hatch and updated materials (leather) in the salon. Some of these might also be available in the 97 models...

On the dark side, many, not all, of the 98-99's also had the 380HP Horizons which had many issues related to water ingestion. If all the mods were made to motors/exhaust, they should be fine, but you could use that in your favor during negotiations....

I'm sure other 370 owners will provide more details, but good luck in your search....

 

[xravenx]

I have a '95 370DA...........my front bimini has been raised, just the short supports attached to the windsheild frame were lengthened just a little bit, the canvas still is attached to the arch, no change there. To look at the profile of the boat you can't even tell the forward part of the bimini has been raised. Notice how the front bimini is level with the rear bimini, by extending those little supports it pushes the front bow up a little. However, you won't be able to use your existing canvas. IMO, I think the arches on Sea Rays from about '97 on, are entirley to high.

Can't seem to get the pic to show up.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l25/ravenvan/DSC_0005.jpg

 

[fwebster]

I like the other guys ideas....later boat or new canvas....but I would spend the money on a later model boat with higher arch rather than modifying an earlier boat. The arch to deck joint is highly engineered and constructed to support a very heavy assembly. To have someone re-engineer that joint and change the mount would be very expensive since it is bolted together with big bolts. When you change the angle, straight bolts will not work any longer. It seems to me that this will be substantially more than sticking a shim between the arch and deck.

 

[Big Al]

I would also go with the option of modifying the canvas/stainless tube , probably a few hundreds $$.

Also, the arch on the 95-97 370 DAs are quite big and heavy. Not simple to modify.

 

[dgrumm]

Thanks for the input guys!
If you raise just the front canvas, won't the arch still be hitting you in the back of the head? Or is the arch far enough back?
I am 6'2" and just want to be able to stand up at the helm. If I can do it with canvas only, that would be great. I am going to go look at the boat again next weekend.

Thanks for the pic of your boat. It looks great!
Any other complaints about the 370 I should know about? I heard fuel mileage but is it worse than any other 37-38ft with 7.4's?

Thanks again guys!

 

[Big Al]

When you stand up, because of the position of the front seat, your head is in front of the arch, under the canvas.


"......Any other complaints about the 370 I should know about? I heard fuel mileage but is it worse than any other 37-38ft with 7.4's?...."

I don't think the fuel mileage is worst than other 37-38 ft with 7.4's. As for other complaints, the 370 is a little sloppy to handle at the docks/marina, but you get use to it quite fast and learn to use some throttle to help it.

Other than that , I would say that the worst complaint is you want to spend so much time in this great boat that you don't have any time left to do anything else..... ;-)

 

[DS410]

Biggest complaints I had with our '95 370 Dancer were the stuffing boxes, (get dripless if you can), and the engine covers, (not hydraulic). As I recall, there were 6 panels, 5 of which were removable and one with gas struts. Every time we needed to work in the bilge, we has to take some, if not all of the panels out.

The other problem we had, which is not limited to the 370, was the A/C system - kept getting clogged with barnacles and other gunk. Had to back flush it several times which was rather involved.

Other than that, I loved the boat.

Good luck.

David

 

[330DA]

I agree with Big Al about close quarters handling. You may need a little help with the throttle to get the bow over with the 3 blade props. Just a few practice runs and you'll have the hang of it.

I look at the manual cockpit floor panels a little defferently than DS410. I can get in the bigle and work with only the center panel with the gas strut. I can put it down and take another panel out, say under the removable seat by the cockpit sink. This gives the Admiral and kids a path to board and go below. My previous 330DA had the hydraulic piston which raised the entire floor. It was a pain when they wanted to get on and off while I was working. I had to keep getting in/out and lowering and raising the floor, so that they could pass by.