390EC air conditioning

F

fighterpilot

Member
Nov 30, 2009
50
panhandle Florida
Boat Info
2550 WA Hydrasport
Stamas 32 Sportfisherman
Californian 34 LRC
Engines
200 Johnsons
454 Crusaders
3208NA 210hp
Been looking for 390 sedans but they are scarce. Will consider the 390EC. Can the helm be closed off and aircondtioned with the existing A/C in the boat? Do you have good forward visibility with full load of fuel, people, and fishing grear? Any out there with Cummins engines? Thanks
 
And you do not have enough generator capacity to run the existing a/c, and other 120V demand + the a/c needed for the cockpit. Additionally, you'd have to give up a significant amount of very nice storage (drawer unit or icemaker) to fit an a/c unit in a 390, but you might re-build a seat base and enclose the aft facing seat to house the a/c, but then there would be a problem with main engine hatch access.

Forward visibility on my 390EC was never a problem..might be if you are a little person.

The only diesel options in the EC was the Caterpillar 3208 in various configurations. There is nothing at all wrong with the 3208, but a BTA series Cummins would be underpowered. Sea Ray didn't use CTA Cummins back then.
 
fwebster--If the Cummins 370b would be underpowered than I guess you are saying the 320, 355, Cat powered boats are also underpowered. Is that what the real world is for the Sea Ray 390 sedan? I know they have 375 Cats in them as well. I would think the 370b Cummins would be comparable.

I hoped someone had pulled out the 24 year old 3208s and replaced with Cummins.

I guess it is a moot point regarding the EC since I need A/C while working the boat. Cruise out two hours--deck hand for the family at the fishing hole, and in the Florida summers it is nice to be able to duck into an A/C space now and than.
 
No......you can't compare the current Cummins specs to 20 year old Cat specs. Besides the 3208 engine has significantly more torque then the 6BTA Cummins. The Cummins in the late 80's would have been a 300 hp engine with torque more like that of a 7.4L Mercruiser gas engine.

Finding a 390EC repowered with Cummins isn't likely, unless someone had run out the Caterpillar 3208s at about 16,000 hours. If that were the case, I"m not sure how desirable the boat would be. Besides, I don't know why one would want the Cummins instead of the 3208 Cat anyway.......the 3208 has a better cooling system, a better, simpler and a more trouble free fuel system, is cleaner burning and easier starting, and is less prone to damage from overloading.

The requirement for cockpit air is your choice, of course. However, at the price point you are shopping, that requirement reduces your potential candidates to almost zero. There are, after all, literally thousands of us without cockpit between Pensacola and Apalachicola who run our boats every day between June and October with no ill effects.
 
Points well made on the cat vs cummins. I know the 3208 is a good engine until one starts pushing the HP.. 375 and below I don't worry. What worries me are 24 year old Cats, whose maintenance has been questionable, versus 10 year old Cummins-- granted maintenace of them could be in question as well. My son-in-law is running a 3208N on his shrimp boat so we know a little bit about them. His oil pan rusted through and than things got expensive. I think the 16000hr in this application is a moot issue, since other conponants will cause failure prior to the main componants such as pistons, etc. I looked at 390 Sedan with the 355HP engines in them. Spray painted with a spray can, but underneath, where I held my camera, they were rusted so bad it was a wonder that oil pan hadn't started leadking. In diesels HP is HP and with a 370B or a C if necessary I figure it would move the boat at least 20 knots. You are correct--the only Cummins I will find will have been a retrofit. But I am looking.

As far as A/C glad you are not suffering from any ill effects of the heat. Unfortunately, or fortunately for me, depends upon how one looks at it, I am a 76 year old, transplanted Yankee, came down here in 1958, and just haven't got adjusted to the heat in July. My family and I, 6 to 8 of us, bottom fish. I am the Captain running out to the fishing grounds, 24 miles to the pass, than out 24 miles, or so for fishing. Once fishing I become the deck hand. I have found it not to be a good experience for me without some relief from the heat. With kids, grandkids, and great grand children the boat will also be used to run the bays an ICW for weekend camping etc. Really need A/C. I have been looking for salon type boats which would meet our needs, but thought I might give the 390 EC a look since the sleeping facilities, galley, etc. would meet our needs---HENCE my post questioning the A/C situation on the boat. The Cummins versus Cat was wishing thinking. Appreciate all the information and guess I will stop looking at SR and go back to the early Hats, Trojans and Chris Crafts. Thanks
 
There was a 3208 powered Topaz in Panama City @ Bay Point Marina that looked very nice for the money. It is a smaller boat that could likely have a small A/C unit added to blow some cold air on the helm station. The boat was on eBay and is being offered by an heir or an executor for the owner who has passed away. I've seen the boat listed at prices from $36K to $75K, but I suspect any offer would be considered.
 
Frank, thanks for the tip. I'll check it out. I am searching boats up to 75,000 but any of the good size boats, such as 37-41 feet with Cummins and lower helms are few and far between at this price level. More with Cats and a few with Yanmars. I have had two boats with Yanmars and would rather have Cummins or Cats--the 3208 version that is. No 3116 or 3126, thank you.
 
I think it would not be difficult to take some air from the air conditioning unit under the setee. The grill is just beneath the cabin door...so you could use that air for the cabin or the cockpit...:huh:

About the 3208, I can only say they are one good reason to go for the 390!
 
I guess the question than becomes, if I divert some air to the helm area will will there be enough capacity left to cool the cabin area etc. And can I divert enough air to cool the helm area. From what I can see of the lay out of the express would have to put eisenglas curtains aft of the helm seat. Is that doable? Thanks
 
Depends upon your tolerance for heat............

Consider the heat loss with a canvas top and no insulation and an isinglass partition at the arch would be needed but would be a nuisance since you'd have to open a bunch of snaps to go from the front to the rear of the cockpit. The other factor is that you need about 24K BTU capacity to make a noticeable difference in the cockpit temperature which is 1.5X (est.) what you have available in the rear of the EC salon. I don't think that cutting a hole and ducting cool air into the cockpit from the existing A/C unit will do much more than blow cool air in your face and it certainly won't cool the cockpit or even 1/2 of it.
 
On my boats sistership, the owner put in cockpit air by adding 52k btu. Wow, what did that cost and was it really worth it.
 
I figured the air might be insufficient. My previous boat had zippered panels across the stern area of the helm and one could just unzip one side and let it hang. But guess I will give up and continue looking for salon type boat.
 
Too bad you missed that 390 SF in Palm City. He had an A/C unit in the Fly Bridge along with a hard top....owner indicated that it worked very well.
 
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